Bank Buildings in Belfast which housed Primark lasted 43 years longer than the IRA ever intended it to last

Like everyone else in Northern Ireland I was deeply saddened to see the terrible damage done to the historic Bank Buildings which housed the Primark store in Belfast city centre in Tuesday's fire.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Aug 2018, 14:22 BST
Updated 3rd Sep 2018, 12:16 BST
Bank Buildings, which housed Primark, before this week's fireBank Buildings, which housed Primark, before this week's fire
Bank Buildings, which housed Primark, before this week's fire

I was however struck by the comments of Belfast’s first citizen, Sinn Fein’s Deirdre Hargey, who said that the city needed to “rally round those who need support now”.

“Not only has this impacted on the Primark employees and the business itself but it will have a knock-on effect for neighbouring businesses and city centre retailers.”

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The reality is that Sinn Fein remain silent on the impact on employees and businesses of the decades of IRA bombs in the city centre.

Bank Buildings on Wednesday, the day after it was destroyed by fire. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker PressBank Buildings on Wednesday, the day after it was destroyed by fire. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
Bank Buildings on Wednesday, the day after it was destroyed by fire. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

I’m sure some of her older party colleagues could remind her of the days when the IRA regularly targeted the Victorian architecture of Belfast — including the Linenhall Library — and in particular she might ponder the fire cause by three IRA bombs at Bank Buildings in April 1975 which were intended to create the very sorry site we now see.

Ms Hargey should ponder this — as tragic as today’s sight is, Bank Buildings lasted 43 years longer than the IRA ever intended.

Mr SB, Bangor

Related topics:PrimarkIRABelfastDeirdre HargeyNorthern IrelandSinn FeinVictorian