Attack on RUC Birches barracks

On 11 August 1986, the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacked the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) base at The Birches near Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The unmanned base was raked with gunfire before being destroyed by a bomb, which was driven through the gate of the base in the bucket of a JCB digger.

Background

In 1985 the IRA's East Tyrone Brigade, commanded by Patrick J Kelly, began a campaign of destroying remote RUC stations and preventing anyone from rebuilding them, to create no-go zones.

On 7 December 1985 it launched an attack on the RUC barracks in Ballygawley, destroying the base and killing two RUC officers.

On 22 January 1986 the East Tyrone Brigade fired mortars at the UDR base in Dungannon, injuring two UDR soldiers and damaging the base. Just over a week later, on 1 February, it carried out a large van bomb attack on Coalisland RUC base, damaging the base and several houses and shops.

Attack

It was a complex attack that involved several units, including teams of lookouts, an armed team and bomb-makers as well as a team to carry out a diversionary attack. A diversionary bomb attack was staged at Pomeroy to draw security forces away from the real target at the Birches. Another team hijacked a JCB digger, getaway vehicles and scout cars at Washing Bay.Mark Urban. ''Big Boys' Rules: The SAS and the Secret Struggle against the IRA'', pp. 221-23

The digger would be used to deliver the bomb to its target. The IRA did not expect any resistance as the RUC station was unmanned at the time of the attack. The IRA first raked the base with automatic gunfire while the digger, with a bomb in its bucket, was driven through the high wire perimeter fence; the fence was to protect the base from grenade or mortar attack. The digger was most likely driven by young IRA volunteer Declan Arthurs from Galbally, County Tyrone, the armed members of the unit evaded British security force roadblocks by escaping in a boat across Lough Neagh.

About 35 people were reportedly involved in the Birches attack, from planning, executing the attack and creating an escape route. A partially-disabled American tourist and six local civilians were slightly injured in the blast.

Aftermath

A member of the British security forces told Mark Urban of the attack:

"The Birches RUC station was destroyed by the bomb, creating problems for the authorities about how to re-build it. The Tyrone IRA was able to combine practical skills such as bomb-making and the welding needed to make mortars with considerable resources. Its members went on operations carrying the latest assault rifles and often wore body-armour similar to that used by the security forces, giving them protection against pistol or sub-machine-gun fire. By 1987 they had also succeeded in obtaining night-sights, allowing them to aim weapons or observe their enemy in darkness."

The IRA unit's next major target was the RUC station at Loughgall, which was attacked in the same way. This operation was a disaster for the IRA as the IRA unit was ambushed by the SAS and the whole IRA unit of eight, along with a Catholic civilian, were shot dead. Many of those IRA volunteers killed at Loughgall had taken part in the Birches, like Padraig McKearney, Jim Lynagh and Patrick J Kelly.

See also

*Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1980–1989)

References

{{PIRA

Ireland
1986 crimes in the United Kingdom
1986 in Northern Ireland
Improvised explosive device bombings in Northern Ireland
Military actions and engagements during the Troubles (Northern Ireland)
Military history of County Armagh
Provisional Irish Republican Army actions
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Troubles in County Armagh
August 1986 events in the United Kingdom
Attacks on police stations in the 1980s