La Mon bomb: 39 years since IRA blast

Yesterday marked the 39th anniversary of the La Mon Hotel bombing.

About 400 people were inside the hotel attending dinner dances when an IRA bomb exploded, killing 12 people and injuring 30 others.

Aftermath of the La Mon house hotel fire in 1978. PACEMAKER BELFAST ARCHIVEplaceholder image
Aftermath of the La Mon house hotel fire in 1978. PACEMAKER BELFAST ARCHIVE

The University of Ulster’s CAIN website notes that all victims were Protestants, and seven were women.

Three Scottish Soldiers Campaign For Justice posted on Facebook that February 17, 1978, was “a dark, dark day” and an example of the “cowardly” nature of the PIRA’s campaign.

Belfast man Robert Murphy received a life sentences for the manslaughter of those who died, but was released in 1995.

A second man was acquitted.

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