Attack on Derryard checkpoint Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Attack on Derryard PVC

Part of the Troubles and Operation Banner

Republican memorial at Carragunt bridge, on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, often crossed by Provisional IRA forces during the Troubles to attack British targets inside County Fermanagh

Date	13 December 1989
Location	Derryard, near Rosslea, County Fermanagh 54°15′27.9″N 7°10′58.4″W / 54.257750°N 7.182889°W / 54.257750; -7.182889
Result	British Army complex stormed IRA bombing attempt failed

Belligerents

Provisional IRA

United Kingdom
•

British Army
•

RUC

Commanders and leaders

Thomas Murphy
Michael Ryan

Corporal Robert Duncan

Strength

1 Improvised armoured vehicle
11 in attacking unit
9 providing tactical support

9 in the complex
4 on nearby patrol
1 helicopter

Casualties and losses

None

2 killed
2 wounded

On December 13, 1989, a group called the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacked a British Army checkpoint. This checkpoint was a small base for soldiers near the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It was located in a place called Derryard, in County Fermanagh.

The IRA unit used a special armoured truck, firing heavy machine guns, grenades, rockets, and even a flamethrower. Soldiers from the King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) were defending the base. A British Army patrol nearby quickly arrived, and a big fight started. The IRA left a van with a bomb inside the base, but it did not explode fully. Two soldiers were killed and two were hurt in this attack.

Why Did the IRA Plan This Attack?
How the Attack Happened
What Happened After the Attack?
See also

Why Did the IRA Plan This Attack?

According to a journalist named Ed Moloney, the leaders of the IRA (called the IRA Army Council) were worried. They thought that spies might have joined their group. To avoid problems like a past event called the Loughgall Ambush in 1987, they decided to try a new way of attacking.

Instead of their usual small groups, they formed a special, larger group called a "flying column." This group would carry out a big attack on a permanent checkpoint along the border. This way, they hoped to keep the plan secret and prevent any information from leaking out.

Journalist Ed Moloney said that Thomas Murphy was in charge of planning the attack. He was thought to be a leader of the IRA's South Armagh group. The attack itself was supposedly led by Michael "Pete" Ryan from the East Tyrone group. Another journalist, Ian Bruce, claimed that the IRA unit was led by someone from Ireland who had served in the British Army's Parachute Regiment. About 20 experienced IRA members from different parts of Northern Ireland were part of this special group. Eleven of them took part in the actual attack.

How the Attack Happened

The target was a permanent checkpoint at Derryard. It was like a small army base with living areas and strong defensive positions called "sangars." Nine people were defending it: eight soldiers from the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, and one police officer from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

The 11 IRA members arrived in a homemade armoured truck. They had powerful weapons like AK-47s, Armalite AR-18s, two large DShK machine guns, RPG-7 rockets, different types of grenades, and a flamethrower. The heavy machine guns and the flamethrower were set up on the back of the truck. The plan was to also use a van bomb after the first attack to cause a lot of damage.

The attack began just after 4 PM. Before the attack, IRA members blocked roads leading to the checkpoint. This was to stop regular people from getting caught in the fighting. The armoured truck drove from the border and stopped at the checkpoint. As a soldier named Private James Houston went to check the back of the truck, the IRA started shooting. They fired assault rifles and threw grenades into the base.

Two RPG-7 rockets were fired at one of the observation posts, and the flamethrower was aimed at the main command post. Heavy shooting continued as the truck drove backward, smashing through the gates of the base. At least three IRA members got out of the truck inside the checkpoint. They shot at the buildings and used the flamethrower. They also threw grenades and nail bombs. The soldiers defending the base had to hide in their strong posts and shoot back into their own base. A farmer nearby saw a huge orange flame and heard intense gunfire.

As the truck left the damaged base, a red van with a 400-pound (182 kg) bomb was driven inside. The bomb was set to explode after the IRA unit escaped. However, only a small part of the bomb went off, not the whole thing.

The attack was finally stopped by four soldiers from the checkpoint who were on patrol nearby. A Wessex helicopter also helped. The patrol fired over 100 shots at the IRA unit. The helicopter was shot at and had to fly away quickly to avoid being hit. The IRA group, worried about being surrounded, drove their armoured truck towards the border. The truck was later found abandoned at the border with a 460-pound (209 kg) bomb still inside.

Two soldiers died in the attack: Private James Houston (22) from England and Lance-Corporal Michael Patterson (21) from Scotland. Corporal Whitelaw was badly hurt by metal pieces from explosions and was flown to a hospital. Another soldier had minor injuries.

What Happened After the Attack?

People in the British government and those who supported staying part of the United Kingdom were very angry. They were upset that a supposedly well-protected border post had been taken over by the IRA, and two soldiers had been killed.

On the other hand, some IRA members were a bit disappointed. Even though the attack made them look strong, the quick and tough response from the soldiers made some high-ranking IRA members think there might be a secret spy (a "mole") within their own group.

British Army officers and security experts believed that the IRA unit involved was not made up of local members. They thought the attackers were from other areas, like Clogher in County Tyrone and South Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland.

After the Derryard attack, the British Army in Northern Ireland started using a new type of grenade called the Luchaire 40mm rifle grenade. This grenade could be fired from their SA80 rifles. It helped soldiers deal with the threat of improvised armoured vehicles. Also, permanent checkpoints along the border were given more powerful GPMG machine guns.

From 1990 until the end of the IRA campaign in 1997, there were more small attacks on these checkpoints. These attacks often used automatic weapons and homemade mortars, especially in County Fermanagh.

Two soldiers, Corporal Robert Duncan and Lance Corporal Ian Harvey, received a special award called the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for their bravery. Lance-Corporal Patterson, who died, was also recognized for his actions.

Attack on Derryard checkpoint facts for kids

Contents

Why Did the IRA Plan This Attack?

How the Attack Happened

What Happened After the Attack?

See also