26/08/2002

Memorial to murdered soldiers destroyed by fire

A memorial in Co Tyrone dedicated to eight British Army soldiers murdered by the IRA has been destroyed by fire.

Police report that wreaths were also set on fire and scattered across the road during the overnight attack.

The memorial was set up near the site where eight British Army soldiers were killed when the IRA exploded a bomb on the Ballygawley Road on August 20 1988. A further 28 soldiers were injured in the atrocity.

The bombing took place during a period of heightened army and IRA activity. Two months previously, on June 15 1988, six soldiers were killed in a similar attack in Lisburn.

Then 10 days after the Ballygawley explosion, three IRA members were shot dead by soldiers of the Special Air Service a short distance away near Drumnakilly, Co Tyrone.

Anyone with information relating to last night's incident should contact police.

(GMcG)

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