Service to remember La Mon bomb victims

Service to remember La Mon bomb victims

3 January 2018

A SPECIAL service will be held next month to remember victims of the La Mon Hotel massacre 40 years ago.

Officials from Lisburn and Castlereagh Council will host the commemorative service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn to remember the victims of the IRA attack on February 17, 1978, in which 12 people died and many others were injured.

Organisers are appealing to survivors and relatives of the 12 victims to contact them if they would like to attend the service.

Several people who were caught up in the bomb, many of whom were members of the Irish Collie Club which was hosting its annual dinner dance at the time, have since passed away, including Lily McDowell, one of the most critically injured who had campaigned for an inquiry.

A spokeswoman for the council said anyone affected by the bomb who was not yet involved in the plans for the commemorative service should get in touch with the council.

Councillor Scott Carson, who sits on the working group organising the service, said the horror and tragedy of the bombing would never go away for those affected and the council wanted to ensure they are remembered.

“We also know that it is a very personal decision for people as to whether they would want to attend the service, but what we want most is to make the occasion meaningful and memorable and to involve people who were affected in a sensitive way,” he said.