Killeeshil ambush
Killeeshil ambush | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Troubles and Operation Banner | |||||||
Killeeshil crossroads, the site of the ambush | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
East Tyrone Brigade |
United Kingdom • RUC | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1 active service unit 1 technical vehicle | 1 mobile patrol | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None |
3 wounded 1 vehicle disabled | ||||||
2 civilians wounded | |||||||
The Killeeshil ambush took place on 15 July 1994, when an armour plated vehicle of the
Background
Expectations regarding a Provisional IRA permanent ceasefire were high by mid-1994; that decision would have the potential of moving the political process forward, which could lead to an everlasting peace in the region. The situation on the ground, however, revealed that the IRA was in a state of “high alert”, quizzing the experts on whether the IRA was bracing for a new phase in their military campaign or preparing to end the game from a position of force.[1] The mood was dampened not only by the continuing cycle of violence, but also by the prevalent skepticism among republicans, especially those from Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA. The Downing Street Declaration had proved to be incapable of convincing the IRA to stop violence.[2] In east and south County Tyrone meanwhile, the IRA East Tyrone Brigade, after taking heavy casualties in the previous years, was compelled since 1992 to change tactics, relying mostly on barrack buster mortar attacks on British security bases in the region.[3] There were also a number of shootings on security facilities such as at Dungannon (June 1992),[4] Omagh (December 1992),[5] Killymeal (May 1993)[6] or Aughnacloy (May 1994)[7] as well as on RUC/British Army patrols in Cookstown (June 1992)[8][9] and Pomeroy (August 1992).[10] The most notable of these incidents was a double ambush that took place in Fivemiletown on 12 December 1993, when two RUC constables were killed and a British Army Lynx helicopter shot at.[11]
Previous incident: Pat Treanor’s arrest
On 15 July 1994, Pat Treanor, a farmer and Sinn Fein councillor for
IRA ambush
Unaware of Treanor's arrest, an IRA team had been in the meantime lurking at Killeeshil crossroads since 8:30 a.m., waiting for information from other units placed along Dungannon Road about any RUC mobile patrol travelling from
Aftermath
The shootout at Killeeshil increased the pessimism and uncertainty about the chances of an IRA ceasefire.[12][19] The IRA ambush was described as “indiscriminate, foolhardy and mad” by local SLDP councillor Anthony McGonnell, who stressed that “It was an absolute miracle that nobody was murdered”.[12] Two of the RUC constables wounded in the incident were airlifted to Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast, while the remainder injured were taken to the South Tyrone Hospital at Dungannon. The lorry was abandoned by the IRA unit in a hilly area a few miles away.[17] An RUC statement reports that an improvised grenade launcher and a grenade were found in the follow-up operation.[20] Pat Treanor was released from custody on 21 July 1994, and, on 31 August, he was granted a U.S. visa along with veteran IRA leader Joe Cahill.[21] The same day, a Provisional IRA "permanent" ceasefire came into force at 12:00 p.m.[2]
See also
- 1993 Fivemiletown ambush
- 1990 Lough Neagh ambush
- Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1992–1999)
- Improvised tactical vehicles of the Provisional IRA
References
- ISBN 0815605978.
- ^ a b O´Brien, Brendan (1999), p. 317
- ISBN 978-1-78537-444-9.
- ^ "Shots fired". Mid-Ulster Mail. 26 June 1992. p. 26.
- ^ "'Naive' terrorist jailed for 12 years". Belfast Newsletter. 3 February 1994. p. 10.
- ^ "Month in Focus", Police Beat, Volume 15 No. 6, Police Federation for Northern Ireland, 1993
- Evening Herald, 28 May 1994, p.6.
- ^ "Gun Battle", Mid-Ulster Mail, 25 June 1992, p. 12.
- ^ "North Young Flees Gunmen". Evening Herald. 23 June 1992.
- ISBN 978-1-78337-939-2.
- ISBN 978-1-5267-2155-6.
- ^ a b c d e McKittrick, David (1994-07-15). "Sinn Fein politician caught in IRA gunfire". The Independent. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ a b c "IRA Ambush RUC After Councillor's Arrest". ulib.iupuidigital.org. The Irish People. 23 July 1994. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
- ^ “Five injured in Ulster terrorist ambush”, Aberdeen Press and Journal, 16 July 1994, p. 7
- ^ a b “Five injured in IRA squad ambush”, Western Daily Press, 16 July 1994, p.8
- ^ a b c d e f "3 RUC officers wounded in Tyrone ambush". indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org. The Irish People. 30 July 1994. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ a b c “RUC men hurt in car ambush”, Belfast News Letter, 16 July 1994, p. 3
- ^ “Sinn Fein man shot”, Irish Independent, 16 July 1994, p. 1
- ^ "Deadlock speculation off course". Belfast News Letter. 18 July 1994. p. 4.
- ^ “IRA launcher recovered after ambush”, Sunday Life, 17 July 1994, p. 11
- ^ “Visa for Cahill”, Belfast Newsletter, 31 August 1994, p. 5