INLA bomb attack in Gilford 50 years ago: Witness recalls father pulling victims from rubble
A man who was present in the INLA bombing of a Gilford pub 50 years ago says he still suffers flashbacks of the carnage today.
The INLA left a 5lb bomb with no warning at the Central Bar in Gilford on 31 December 1975. It exploded just after 9pm killing three people and injuring 28 others.
A large crowd turned out for a memorial service in Gilford on New Year’s Eve, organised by Stramore Community Association.
Those killed were Richard Beattie (44), a married father of five, William Scott (28) a single civil servant, and Sylvia McCullough (31) a single married woman, who died the next day.
The attack was carried out in the midst of a series of sectarian murders.
On 4 January 1976 the UVF murdered three members of the Reavey family in Whitecross, south Armagh and three members of the O'Dowd family near Gilford.
Lenny Deans was only 18 when his father Sydney invited him to the central Bar in Gilford bar for his first drink as an adult.
They went through the bar into the back lounge, both of which were very crowded, as it was New Year's Eve.
"We weren't in the back lounge for five minutes until I heard this massive boom," he told the News Letter.
"When we tried to get out through the door we couldn't, and people started to panic because it was so full."
Eventually they got a door opened which took them back into the front bar.
"And that's when we saw the carnage."
The ceiling had been blown away and he could see into the pool room above.
He saw his father, a charge nurse pulling those who were fatally injured from the rubble.
Lenny walked around the next few days "stunned" at what he had seen, however he locked the memories away in his mind.
It was only in 2000 when he was working as a roofer and had a 40 foot fall that it all came back.
"The doctor said to me that I had a near death experience with the fall and the trauma had just automatically kicked in."
In more recent years he had two serious car accidents, which had a similar impact, one of which caused him "vivid" nightmares.
He knew both men who were killed, Billy (William) Scott having taught him how to play bowls six months before.
"They were just two gentlemen, there was always plenty of craic out of them," he said.
Also approaching is the 50th anniversary of the Reavey and O'Dowd murders by the UVF on 4 January.
The gunmen attacked the Reavey family home at Whitecross in County Armagh, killing John Martin, 24 and Brian, 22.
Anthony, aged 17, died several days later from his injuries.
The same day saw the terror group murder Joe, Barry and Declan O'Dowd at their home near Gilford.
Speaking to the BBC Eugene Reavey said he is still fighting for justice for his brothers.
"Before they could even draw their breath, this big fella opened fire on John Martin sitting by the fireplace," Mr Reavey said.
"The other boys tried to get out of the room. Brian was shot in the back and Anthony dived on to the bed, but the gunman followed him and sprayed the bed."