Attack on RUC Birches barracks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Attack on The Birches RUC barracks |
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| Part of The Troubles | |
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| Location | The Birches, County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°27′45.02″N 7°1′50″W / 54.4625056°N 7.03056°W |
| Date | 11 August 1986 |
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Attack type
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shooting, bombing |
| Weapons | automatic rifles explosive charge |
| Deaths | 0 (RUC Barracks destroyed) |
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Non-fatal injuries
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7 civilians |
| Perpetrator | Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade |
On 11 August 1986, a group called the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacked a police station in The Birches, near Portadown, Northern Ireland. This station belonged to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), which was the police force in Northern Ireland at the time. The station was empty when the attack happened. The attackers first shot at the building, then drove a large construction vehicle, called a digger, through the gate. The digger carried a 200-pound bomb, which destroyed the station.
Contents
Understanding the Background
Why the Attack Happened
In 1985, a part of the IRA called the East Tyrone Brigade started a plan. Their goal was to destroy police stations in faraway areas. They also wanted to stop anyone from rebuilding them. This was to create "no-go zones" where the police could not easily operate.
Previous Attacks by the IRA
The East Tyrone Brigade had carried out similar attacks before.
- On 7 December 1985, they attacked the RUC station in Ballygawley. They destroyed the building and two police officers died.
- On 22 January 1986, they fired mortars at a military base in Dungannon. Two soldiers were hurt, and the base was damaged.
- Just over a week later, on 1 February, they used a large van bomb to attack the Coalisland RUC station. This damaged the station and many nearby homes and shops.
The Attack on The Birches
How the Attack Was Carried Out
This attack was very planned and involved many different teams. There were teams to watch for danger, a team with weapons, people to make the bomb, and a team to create a distraction.
- A fake bomb attack was set off in Pomeroy. This was to make security forces go there instead of to The Birches.
- Another team took over a JCB digger, getaway cars, and scout cars in Washing Bay.
Delivering the Bomb
The digger was used to carry the bomb to the police station. The IRA knew the RUC station was empty, so they did not expect any fighting. First, the IRA members shot at the station with automatic guns. While this was happening, the digger, with the bomb in its front bucket, drove through the strong wire fence around the station. This fence was there to protect the building from bombs.
A young IRA volunteer likely drove the digger. He had experience driving these machines on his family's farm. After the digger was in place, someone lit a fuse on the bomb. The IRA team then quickly left in a waiting van. The bomb exploded, destroying most of the police station. The explosion also damaged buildings nearby, even blowing the roof off a pub across the road.
The Escape
After the attack, the IRA team escaped. A journalist named Mark Urban reported that the armed members avoided police roadblocks. They escaped by crossing Lough Neagh in a boat.
About 35 people were involved in the Birches attack. This included planning, carrying out the attack, and making sure there was an escape route. Seven civilians were slightly hurt in the explosion. This included an American tourist who had some disabilities.
What Happened Next
Impact of the Attack
A member of the British security forces talked about the attack. He said that destroying the RUC station caused problems for the authorities. They had to figure out how to rebuild it. He also noted that the IRA unit in Tyrone was very skilled. They could make bombs and weld things for mortars. They also had good resources. Their members used modern assault rifles and often wore body armor. This armor was like what the security forces used, protecting them from smaller guns. By 1987, they even had night-vision equipment. This allowed them to aim weapons or watch their enemies in the dark.
Another Attack and Its Outcome
The IRA unit's next big target was the RUC station in Loughgall. They planned to attack it in the same way. However, this operation went very wrong for the IRA. The IRA unit was ambushed by a special British army unit called the SAS. All eight IRA members were stopped, along with a civilian. Many of the IRA volunteers involved in the Loughgall incident had also taken part in the Birches attack. These included Padraig McKearney, Jim Lynagh, and Patrick J Kelly.
See also
- Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1980–1989)
