The date of July 21st 1972,is one that shall alway's be etched on the minds of Ulster Folk.
At 14:10hrs that day,the first of many bombs exploded in Belfast.Explosions followed one after the other throughout Belfast,killing 9 people and injuring 130 others.Due to Extent of remains of victims,it was initially stated that 11 people had died.
The brutal sick acts of the Provisional I.R.A.,inflicted horrific injuries and devastation to ordinary folk.The sights which the rescue services faced will no doubt live with them forever.Firemen,Policemen,Army and Ambulance men,had to shovel up remains of human beings,putting some into bags.Parts belonging to victims lay everywhere,including a mutilated head.The oldest person killed that sad day,was Brigid Murray who was 65,at the same spot the youngest victim died,he was Stephen Parker,who was only 14 years old.His father was the Reverend Joseph Parker,who had the horrific task of identifying his only son,by way of a scout belt and a trick box of matches,that Stephen had kept in his pocket.The Army lost two of their men,in the explosion at the Oxford street bus station.
Sinn Fein/I.R.A. are always demanding an apology for 'BLOODY SUNDAY',it seems to fail their memory that they committed 'BLOODY FRIDAY',plus many other Atrocities,for which they had never expressed remorse,A fact many politicians should well remember,in years ahead.
Between 2:10 and 3:15 on the afternoon of July 21 a total of 19 Bombs exploded in various parts of Belfast.Nine people died in the explosions-seven civilians and two soldiers.The injured were-77 women and girls and 53 Men and boys.This is the timetable of terror on this day of murderous,ruthless bombing of the civilian population:
Timetable
2:10-Smithfield bus station.Explosion in a car left in an enclosed yard.Extensive damage to houses in near by Samuel street.Many buses damaged.
2:16-Brookvale hotel,Brookvale avenue,Antrim road.Three men armed with a sub-machine gun planted a bomb in the building in a suitcase.The hotel was wrecked and houses damaged.
2:23-LMS Railway station,York road.Explosion in a suitcase left on the platform.Extensive damage to the station interior and the roof was blown off.
2:45-Star taxis,Crumlin road.The explosion was in a car beside the houses of the warders from the crumlin road prison.The blast wrecked the taxi offices and caused damage to houses.
2:48-Oxford street bus station.Explosion in a car which had been driven into the rear of the station.Extensive damage to the office block.Six people killed and nearly 40 injured.
2:48-Great northern railway station,great Victoria street.Explosion in a Bedford van which was driven into the station.Four buses were completely wrecked and 44 others were damaged.
2:50-Corner of the Limestone road.The explosion was in a hi-jacked car and caused damage to the Ulster bank,houses and cars.Several people were hurt.
2:50-York hotel,Botanic Avenue.The explosion was in a bread van outside the hotel which was badly damaged.Surrounding property and cars were also damaged.
2:55-Queen Elizabeth Bridge.The explosion was in a ford car left on the bridge,which normally carries heavy traffic,including bus services.Some damage.
2:57-Liverpool ferry terminus.Explosion in a mini car.Nearby Liverpool bar extensively damaged.superficial damage to the terminus itself.
2:57-Gas Dept office,Ormeau Ave.Explosion in a car left outside the building.
2:59-Premises of John Irwin,seed merchants,Garmoyle street.The explosion was in a box planted by armed gang.The premises were wrected.
3:04-Bridge spanning M1 Motorway at Bellevue arms,Antrim road.A car believed to have contained explosives went on fire but not all the bombs went off.No Damage.
3:05-Creightans Garage,upper Lisburn Road.The explosion was in a car which was demolished.Petrol Pumps set ablaze.
3:05-Junction of Salisbury Avenue and Hughenden Avenue.The explosion was in a van and caused extensive damage to an electricity sub-station.
3:05-Railway bridge at Finaghy road north.The explosion was in a van and caused only minor damage.
3:09-Footbridge over the railway line at Windsor Park Football Grounds.The explosion was in a bag left on the centre span of the bridge.Concrete sleepers were blown on to the line,blocking it.Windows broken in many nearby houses.
3:09-Footbridge over the railway line at Windsor Park Football Grounds.The explosion was in a bag left on the centre span of the bridge.Concrete sleepers were blown on to the line,blocking it.Windows broken in many nearby houses.
3:12-Eastwoods Garage,Donegal Street.Extensive damage and several injuries.
3:15-Cavehill road shopping centre.The explosion was in a hi-jacked vehicle and caused extensive damage to three shops and lesser damage to others.Three People Died-one a mother of seven,another a 14 year old boy.
