1 December 2002:

30th Anniversary of Car bombings in Sackville Place, Dublin
1 December 1972 and 20 January 1973

Justice for the Forgotten, on behalf of the bereaved families and survivors will commemorate the 30th anniversary of these atrocities with a Mass at 12.45 pm in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in Sackville Place at 2.00 pm on Saturday, 30 November 2002.

Some basic facts

Two car bombs exploded in Dublin on 1 December 1972 on the third night of the Dáil debate on the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Bill.

The first car bomb exploded at Eden Quay, near Liberty Hall, at 7.58 pm. There were no fatalities but several people were injured.

The second car bomb exploded in Sackville Place at 8.15 pm.

George Bradshaw and Thomas Duffy, a bus driver and bus conductor, were killed and many were injured.

As a direct result of the bombings Fine Gael reversed its opposition to the Bill, which was passed early the following morning.

On the afternoon of 20 January 1973, at 3.18 pm, another car bomb exploded in Sackville Place killing Thomas Douglas, a CIE bus conductor.

Current Issues

For the past thirty years suspicion has surrounded these bombings. Currently Mr. Justice Henry Barron is reviewing the files on these incidents as part of his inquiry into the Dublin & Monaghan Bombings of 17 May 1974. The bereaved families and survivors hope that the Barron Report will shed light on these crimes for which no one has been called to account and which led to the tragic loss of their loved ones.

Biographical Notes:

George Bradshaw
29 Years of Age
Survived by his wife Kathleen and children Lynn and Rory, mother, brothers and sisters.
CIE Bus Driver
Fethard, Co. Tipperary

Thomas Duffy
23 Years of Age
Survived by his wife Monica and children Caroline and Thomas, parents, brothers and sisters
CIE Bus Conductor
Dublin & Castlebar, Co Mayo

Thomas Douglas
21 Years of Age, Engaged to be married.
Survived by his parents, brothers Martin, Joe and Andrew and sister Maureen
CIE Bus Conductor
Dublin and Stirling, Scotland

Key Political Events in this Period

Sacking of the RTE Authority
Seán MacStiofáin - Hunger Strike
Amendment of the Offences Against the State Act
Arrest of Garda Patrick Crinnion and John Wyman, British Spy
Bombing of Belturbet and Clones on 28 December 1972
Arrest and extradition of the Littlejohns
General Election - March 1973.

Reference Material

• Oireachtas Debates on the Bill – now available on Oireachtas website
• The Memoirs of TF O ’Higgins, A Double Life, refers to events in the Fine Gael Party on the night of the bombing.
• Bowyer Bell, In Dubious Battle
• Article by Jim Cantwell, Evening Herald, 21 August 1973.
• Comments on bombings by Jack Lynch, Former Taoiseach in interview with Geoffrey Archer, ITN, on 11 August 1973, expressing belief that the bombings were caused by British Agents. There was an official denial by the British Government on 13 August 1973.
• Press Photographs: Irish Times, Irish Independent, Irish Press Archives
• RTE Library has some film and sound footage.
  

For further information please contact:

Margaret Urwin,
Campaign Secretary.

Tel: 01 85 54 300

Fax: 01 81 93 258

e-mail: 1974bombings@esatlink.com