Dunmurry train bombing facts for kids

The Dunmurry train bombing was a terrible accident. It happened when a bomb exploded too early on a passenger train. This train was traveling from Ballymena to Belfast on January 17, 1980. The bomb was placed by a group called the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).

The explosion caused a fire that quickly spread through a train car. Three people died, and five others were hurt. Two of the people who died or were badly injured were members of the IRA. After the event, the IRA said they were sorry for the harm caused. They called it a "grave and distressing" accident that happened because of the "war situation."

What Happened on the Train?

The train was a Northern Ireland Railways service. It was carrying people in the afternoon. The train was going from Ballymena railway station to Belfast Central railway station. It was almost empty when it left Dunmurry railway station.

As the train neared Belfast, it went under the M1 motorway. This was just before 4:55 p.m. Suddenly, a huge fireball burst out in the back train car. The train stopped, and scared passengers quickly got off. Smoke and flames spread fast.

The people who survived walked along the tracks to safety. Emergency services, like firefighters and police, worked together to put out the blaze. It took several hours to control the fire. One firefighter had minor injuries. The two damaged train cars were taken away for examination. They were later fixed and used again for many years.

Who Was Affected?

Four people were in the train car where the bomb exploded. Three of them died. Their injuries were so severe that it was hard to identify them at first. One of the people who died was a 17-year-old student named Mark Cochrane. He was from Finaghy. Another person who died was Max Olorunda, a 35-year-old accountant from Lagos, Nigeria. He had a wife and three daughters. His youngest daughter, Jayne, later wrote a book about her father's death. Max Olorunda was the first African civilian to die during The Troubles.

The third person who died was Kevin Delaney, a 26-year-old IRA member. He had a child and his wife was pregnant. Patrick Joseph Flynn, another IRA member, was also in the car. He was badly burned on his face, body, and legs. He was very close to death when he arrived at the hospital. Besides Flynn and the firefighter, four other people were injured. This included two teenagers with minor injuries and an older man with more serious burns.

Other Bomb Discoveries

After this event, more bomb warnings were given in the area. Two similar bombs were found on other trains. One was at York Road railway station in Belfast. The other was at Greenisland railway station. Both bombs were safely removed and exploded by experts.

These bombs were simple devices. They had a block of explosives attached to a petrol can. They also had a timer. The plan was for the bombs to explode later, when the trains were empty. However, the bomb on the Dunmurry train went off too soon. It is believed that Kevin Delaney was arming the bomb when it exploded by accident. He died instantly, and Patrick Joseph Flynn had to jump from the burning train. Flynn was watched by police in the hospital and arrested once he was well enough.

How People Reacted

The IRA released a long statement about the event. They called it a "bombing tragedy." They said the police were being "hypocritical." They also said:

The explosion happened too early. We did not mean to hurt the people on the train. We always try our best to keep everyone safe during our operations. This mission was no different. But sometimes unexpected things happen in a war. The results can be very sad, as this accident shows.
...
We are very sad to lose Kevin Delaney, a young married man. We are also sad about the deaths of Mr. Olorunda and Mark Cochrane. We offer our deepest sympathy to all their families.

In Britain, a politician named Winston Churchill said that people who commit such acts should face the death penalty. The police responded to the IRA's statement. They said:

The truth is that innocent people are dead. The Provisional IRA is responsible. They have caused harm many times before. The world condemns their actions.

This was not the first time an IRA bomb on a train had caused deaths or injuries. In 1978, a woman named Letitia McCrory was killed by an IRA bomb. This happened on the Belfast-Dublin line near Belfast Central station. In that case, not enough warning was given. This meant authorities did not have time to get everyone off the train before the bomb exploded.

What Happened Next?

Patrick Flynn, who was 24, was identified as one of the people involved in the bombing. After he recovered from his severe burns, he faced consequences for his actions. His face and body were badly scarred from the fire. The court considered his injuries when deciding his outcome.

The court determined that Flynn was responsible for the deaths. This was because he was very close to the explosion. Also, he was known to be part of the IRA. Police also found phone numbers for bomb warnings in his jacket. The court decided that he was involved in placing the bombs. The judge said that while Flynn and his partners did not mean to kill anyone, the explosion caused the deaths of three people in a terrible way. The judge also noted that Flynn's severe burns would always remind him of that day. He was sent to prison for his part in the event.

See also

• List of terrorist incidents involving railway systems