Belfast riots after Gib. shooting

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 10

Belfast riots after Gib. shooting

MIKE HEDGE

NZPA-AAP London The British Parliament’s overwhelming condemnation of [the I.R.A. was matched by a storm of outrage in Belfast as rioters took to the streets in protest at Monday’s killing of three Republican terrorists in Gibraltar.

Praise for the action taken by the security forces: in Gibraltar came from all sides of the Parliament after (the Foreign Secretary; Sir Geoffrey Howe, told M.P.s a car linked to the dead terrorists did not contain explosives as was first thought. Sir Geoffrey also told the Commons that none of the three, Donald McCann, Mairead Farrell ]and Sean Savage, 'was armed. A hunt is now] on for the real bomb which the security forces still believe has been planted in the colony and for a fourth member of the terrorist squad. In his explanation of the incident, Sir Geoffrey emphasised that there was no doubt that the two men and ] a woman who were ] shot dead had been planning a bombing which could have* killed more (than 100 people.-

The I.R.A. has] admitted that the three were “volunteers killed on active service.”

It was first thought a car that] one of the dead terrorists | had been seen working on contained the Sir Geoffrey said in the Commons that the presence of the three near the car “gave rise to strong suspicion that it contained a bomb, which appeared to be corroborated by a rapid technical examination of the car.” , ] In west Belfast violence erupted in coordinated riots staged in protest at I the shootings. ]