Ballygawley Bus Bomb, did the British Army know?..........La Sorcière Rouge

20 Aug 1988, 8 British Army soldiers were killed and 27 seriously injured by the IRA bombing a bus, near Ballygawley. They were returning home from visiting their families in England. After landing at Aldergrove airport (Belfast) they were driven back to their barracks in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, by bus. The bomb was of such magnitude that it left a 30' crater in the road.The IRA team used nearly 100 kilos of Semtex in the attack, which hurled the coach 100' through the air. It was a devastating attack. All of these men were from the 1st Batallion Light Infantry.

These buses took 1 of 3 approved routes, the route would be chosen as the bus left Aldergrove airport and cleared with the UDR (Ulster Defence Regiment) by radio at stages along the way. On this occasion the driver saw a diversion sign along the approved route and decided to follow the diversion. Unfortunately this was to be a fatal mistake, it was the IRA that had placed this sign.

Now before this all happened, it was common practice for both married and single soldiers to travel together on these buses along with wives and children. On this occasion all of the married soldiers along with women and children were taken off the bus by the UDR before it left the airport, they were flown back the barracks in Omagh by Chinook. These days most journeys are by helicopter or private car.

I lived in that barracks in Omagh, I had driven that route to Aldergrove on many an occasion when returning home to England for a holiday. I knew some of those men who were killed, they had futures and lives to build. They were willing to give up their lives for their country, but unfortunately on this occasion, I feel that their country and it's Army failed them.

You tell me, did those in control know that there was a chance this bus would be attacked? I think they did. I also think that the wives and children were removed from the bus to avoid any worse publicity than the British Army were already heading for.

La Sorcière Rouge

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