WATCH LIVE: Anniversary service of Narrow Water massacre

A commemoration is taking place this morning to mark the anniversary of the Narrow Water Bombing near Warrenpoint.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 27th Aug 2020, 10:50 BST
Updated 27th Aug 2020, 10:58 BST

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The 40th Anniversary Remembrance service, last year, in memory of those who died in the Narrow Water Bombings on the 27th August 1979. Photo: Stephen Hamilton/PresseyeThe 40th Anniversary Remembrance service, last year, in memory of those who died in the Narrow Water Bombings on the 27th August 1979. Photo: Stephen Hamilton/Presseye
The 40th Anniversary Remembrance service, last year, in memory of those who died in the Narrow Water Bombings on the 27th August 1979. Photo: Stephen Hamilton/Presseye

Forty-one years ago today, 18 young soldiers and a civilian had their lives extinguished as a result of the IRA bomb attack.

The attack resulted in the highest single death toll experienced by the Army in a single incident over the Troubles.

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A commemoration from the scene can be watched live at 11am this morning on the Facebook of victims group SEFF by clicking here.

On that same day in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, the lives of Lord Mountbatten, other members of his family and a young civilian, Paul Maxwell, were taken in an IRA bomb attack on their small fishing boat.

Today’s event was jointly organised by victims group FAIR based in Markethill and South East Fermanagh Foundation through its’ South Armagh and South Down Gateway services offices in Rathfriland and Bessbrook.

Commenting FAIR’s project manager Molly Carson said: “Our thoughts, prayers and support remains with the bereaved families of The Narrow Water massacre and all those injured, physically and psychologically. We also remember those who witnessed the event and the security and ancillary services who did their best to care for the dying and injured. A striking aspect of the atrocity was the loss of young life, cut down in what was their prime”.

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“It is so important that we honour the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives so that we might have some semblance of Peace, regular army soldiers are often maligned and marginalised, we within FAIR and SEFF will by allow their contribution to be airbrushed away”.

SEFF’s Director of Services Kenny Donaldson added: “We were honoured to once again work alongside Markethill-based victim’s group FAIR in organising a formal act of remembrance”.

“On that fateful day in Warrenpoint and also Mullaghmore, Sligo The Provisional IRA murdered men, women and children, they mercilessly murdered legitimate soldiers and civilians”.

“The Provisional IRA may have won a temporary boost to their ‘Propaganda War’ but ultimately the security forces and intelligence services defeated them and wider terrorism,” concluded Mr Donaldson.