45th anniversary of La Mon House bombing

Early day motion 836, tabled 6 February 2023 by Jim Shannon (DUP). Signed by 7 members.

That this House notes with sadness the 45th anniversary of the incendiary La Mon bombing attack by the Provisional IRA on the 17 February 1978; further notes this has been described as one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles and that the attack created a fireball, killing 12 people and injuring 30 more, many of whom were severely burnt and treated at the Ulster Hospital; highlights that the IRA may have been targeting RUC officers they believed were meeting in a restaurant that night, but had got the wrong date and that the RUC officers had taken place exactly a week before, but there can never be a justification for a bomb in this place and manner; underlines the struggle emergency services had with identification due to excessive fire damage and that a Belfast man Robert Murphy, received 12 life sentences in 1981 for the murder of those killed; expresses disappointment that he was freed from prison on license in 1985 and justice was never truly served; and reminds the victims and their families that this atrocity will never be forgotten.

Signatures by party: DUP 5, Alliance 1, Conservative 1.