Horror in Belfast

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32783, 7 December 1971, Page 17

Horror in Belfast

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BELFAST, Dec. 6. The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (Mr Faulkner), who is flying to London today for talks with the British Home Secretary (Mr Reginald Maudling), has condemned the explosion in a Belfast tavern on Saturday night, in which 16 people were killed and 13 were injured, as the work of insane fanatics. And the Northern Ireland Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Taylor) has commented: "I am horrified that Irishmen should kill fellow-Irishmen in this manner. Obviously, the objective of the LRA. is to get Protestants and Roman Catholics at each other’s throats.”

Speaking in Armagh Cathe- . dral yesterday, the Roman . Catholic Primate of All Irei alnd (Cardinal William Con- . way) said: “Last night's ex- ' plosion represents a new development It is a new and

vicious twist in this terrible spiral of violence and coun-ter-violence. Such bombing must give rise to feelings of revulsion to anyone with a human heart in his breast." The explosion that destroyed McGurk’s Tavern, in North Queen Street, Central Belfast, when it was full of Saturday-night drinkers was the worst bombing incident in the British province for two years and a half.

A silent crowd today stared at the heap of nibble that is all that remains of the building. Until early yesterday morning, rescuers were clawing away debris to reach the trapped and the dead. The death toll included two children. The leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (Mr Gerry Fitt), who represents the district as a member of Parliament, said: "This is the most heartbreaking sight I have ever seen.” Mr John Irvine, who was sipping stout when his wife, at his side, was killed by the blast, today told of the moments of horror after he found himself pinned under a roof beam.

i Bruised and battered, and ■ with a deep, three-inch scar ; on his forehead, he said that ' the only thing he could rei member was "a thundering in my ears.” "The next thing, chairs and tables were piled up all : round me, and a roof beam ! was slung across my chest, pinning me in my seat,” he said. “I shouted ‘Kathleen’ several times, but she didn’t answer. “An old lady who had been sitting nearby was holding my hand. All of a sudden, her hand went limp. "I was surrounded by flames and sparks from blazing timber. I do not know how long' I was there. I heard someone shout to bring the hose. The firemen doused me, and all round me, to stop the fire getting to me. "I was conscious all the time, but I went out after they freed me. “I was given drugs in hospital to make me sleep, but I > vas awake all the time. "I only hope people will read the papers, and digest it all, and realise what is happening." I