South Armagh Sniper (1990–1997) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Armagh sniper campaign (1990–97)
Part of the Troubles and Operation Banner
Date March 1990 to March 1997 Location Southern County Armagh Result IRA victory Mobility of foot patrols further restricted
Belligerents
Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade	United Kingdom • British Army • RUC
Commanders and leaders
Frank McCabe	Captain Rupert Thorneloe Staff Sergeant Gaz Hunter
Strength
2 sniper teams 1 improvised armoured vehicle	British Army patrols RUC patrols 3 SAS units
Casualties and losses
1 sniper team captured	7 soldiers killed 2 constables killed 1 constable wounded
Another soldier in Belfast and an RUC officer in County Fermanagh were killed by IRA snipers in the same period

The South Armagh Sniper is a name given to members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army's (IRA) South Armagh Brigade. From 1990 to 1997, these members carried out a sniping campaign against the British Army. Snipers are skilled shooters who fire from a hidden position, often at long distances. This campaign was known for using powerful long-range rifles, like the Barrett M82 and M90.

How the Sniper Campaign Started

One of the first leaders of the Provisional IRA, Seán Mac Stíofáin, believed in using snipers. He liked the idea of "one shot, one kill." Many soldiers who died in 1972, a very violent year in the Troubles (a period of conflict in Northern Ireland), were killed by IRA snipers.

Between 1971 and 1991, about 180 British soldiers, police officers (from the Royal Ulster Constabulary or RUC), and prison staff were killed this way. The AR-18 Armalite rifle was a common weapon for the IRA during this time.

The British Army later said that the IRA's sniping skills were not always as good as those of highly trained snipers. However, they noted that the South Armagh sniper units developed a new and effective way of attacking.

Sniper Teams in South Armagh

Rifles Used

In the 1980s, the IRA mainly got its weapons through smuggling from places like Libya. Before that, many weapons came from the United States. However, these shipments became harder to get after 1981.

Later, in the mid-1980s and 1990s, the IRA bought US-made Barrett M82 and M90 rifles. These became key weapons for the South Armagh snipers. These powerful rifles could shoot through body armor. One IRA member said the Barrett rifle had "huge kinetic energy" and could "walk through a flak jacket." This made it very effective in South Armagh.

Some attacks also used 7.62×51mm rounds. A Belgian FN FAL rifle found in 1998 might have been the source of these bullets. Security forces also thought a Heckler & Koch PSG1 sniper rifle might have been used in some attacks.

Sniper Attacks

There was not just one sniper, but two different teams. One team operated in eastern South Armagh, near Dromintee. The other was in the west, around Cullyhanna. Frank "One Shot" McCabe led the Cullyhanna team.

Each team had at least four members. Others helped by looking for targets and driving cars. The teams used hidden spots to stay out of sight from British observation posts.

Between 1990 and 1997, 24 shots were fired at British forces. The first eight shots (1990–1992) missed their targets. On March 16, 1990, the Barrett M82 was used for the first time by the IRA. A single .50 round hit a soldier's helmet, but he survived. By April 1997, seven soldiers and two police officers had been killed.

The snipers usually fired from less than 300 meters away. This was despite the rifles being able to shoot effectively up to 1 kilometer. In 16 attacks, the sniper fired from the back of a vehicle. The vehicle had armor to protect the sniper if the soldiers fired back. These vehicles were often escorted by scout cars to warn about police checkpoints.

Some sniper attacks also happened outside South Armagh. One police officer was killed in Belcoo, County Fermanagh. A British soldier was killed in West Belfast. An investigation after the Belfast attack found a Barrett M82 rifle hidden in a house. This rifle was linked to the first killing in South Armagh in 1992.

Guardsman Daniel Blinco was the last soldier killed by snipers in South Armagh before the first IRA ceasefire in 1994. His death was covered by the BBC. The newspapers at the time called the sniper 'Goldfinger' or 'Terminator'. The last British soldier to die from hostile fire during the Troubles was Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, killed on February 12, 1997.

Sniper Team Captured

An IRA ceasefire began on August 31, 1994. This gave the British forces a chance to gather information on the snipers. When the IRA ended the ceasefire in February 1996, some members had left the group.

After two attacks in 1997, a Special Air Service (SAS) unit captured four men from the western sniper team on April 10. These men were responsible for several deaths. James McArdle, Michael Caraher, Bernard McGinn, and Martin Mines were arrested at a farm near Freeduff. A Barrett M90 rifle was found, which was linked to the 1997 shootings.

One of the key people in the British effort against the snipers was Captain Rupert Thorneloe. He worked to share information between the British Army and the police. Another important figure was SAS Staff Sergeant Gaz Hunter.

Michael Caraher, one of the captured IRA members, was the brother of Fergal Caraher. Fergal was killed by British Royal Marines in 1990. Michael was also shot and injured in the same incident. Michael Caraher was thought to be involved in several attacks.

The capture of this sniper unit was a big success for the security forces. However, the men were later released 18 months later, as part of the Good Friday Agreement. The other sniper team, based in Dromintee, was never caught.

What Happened Next

The IRA's sniper attacks made it harder for the British Army to move around in South Armagh. The British Ministry of Defence had to create new, heavier, and more expensive body armor for soldiers. The sniper campaign also affected the spirits of some soldiers and police officers.

The IRA's strategy also made the British forces use a lot of their resources to deal with the sniper threat. Even the SAS, a special forces unit, could not stop the attacks before the 1994 ceasefire. The ceasefire helped the police and army gather information, which led to the capture of the Caraher team.

By the time of the second IRA ceasefire, another sniper team was still active. Two Barrett rifles were still not found. This campaign is seen as one of the most effective IRA operations in Northern Ireland during this time.

The IRA put up a sign near Crossmaglen that said "SNIPER AT WORK." This sign became a symbol for the republican cause. After the Good Friday Agreement, the "at work" part of the sign was sometimes covered with other messages like "on hold" or "job seeking."

See also

• Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1990–1999)
• Attack on Cloghogue checkpoint
• Operation Conservation
• Drummuckavall ambush
• Glasdrumman ambush

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