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IRA Brighton bomb: Patrick Ryan admits link to 1984 attack | IRA Brighton bomb: Patrick Ryan admits link to 1984 attack |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A man who helped arm the IRA has admitted links to major bomb attacks, including one which targeted Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984. | A man who helped arm the IRA has admitted links to major bomb attacks, including one which targeted Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984. |
Patrick Ryan, a former priest from Tipperary, gave an interview to a BBC NI Spotlight series on the Troubles. | Patrick Ryan, a former priest from Tipperary, gave an interview to a BBC NI Spotlight series on the Troubles. |
Mrs Thatcher once described him as having an "expert knowledge of bombing". | Mrs Thatcher once described him as having an "expert knowledge of bombing". |
Asked if she was right to connect him to events like the Brighton bomb, he replied: "One hundred per cent." | Asked if she was right to connect him to events like the Brighton bomb, he replied: "One hundred per cent." |
Five people died when an IRA bomb exploded inside the Grand Hotel, where Margaret Thatcher's ruling Conservative Party was holding its annual conference. | Five people died when an IRA bomb exploded inside the Grand Hotel, where Margaret Thatcher's ruling Conservative Party was holding its annual conference. |
The prime minister narrowly escaped injury in the attack on 12 October 1984. | The prime minister narrowly escaped injury in the attack on 12 October 1984. |
Episode three of Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History explores Mr Ryan's key role in IRA arms shipments from Libya. | Episode three of Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History explores Mr Ryan's key role in IRA arms shipments from Libya. |
In the programme, he takes credit for introducing the organisation to a type of timer unit it used to set off bombs. | |
Asked if he had any regrets, Mr Ryan said: "I regret that I wasn't even more effective, absolutely. | Asked if he had any regrets, Mr Ryan said: "I regret that I wasn't even more effective, absolutely. |
"I would have liked to have been much more effective, but we didn't do too badly." | "I would have liked to have been much more effective, but we didn't do too badly." |
Brighton victims | |
Mr Ryan was once the subject of an extradition battle after being arrested with cash and bomb-making materials in Belgium in 1988. | Mr Ryan was once the subject of an extradition battle after being arrested with cash and bomb-making materials in Belgium in 1988. |
Repatriated to Ireland, the country refused to extradite him to the UK believing he would not receive a fair trial. | Repatriated to Ireland, the country refused to extradite him to the UK believing he would not receive a fair trial. |
Those who died in the Brighton bomb were Anthony Berry MP, Roberta Wakeham, Eric Taylor, Muriel Maclean and Jeanne Shattock. | Those who died in the Brighton bomb were Anthony Berry MP, Roberta Wakeham, Eric Taylor, Muriel Maclean and Jeanne Shattock. |
Many more were injured including Norman Tebbit, now a peer, and his wife. | Many more were injured including Norman Tebbit, now a peer, and his wife. |
The then trade secretary and his wife Margaret were lying in bed when their ceiling collapsed. Lady Tebbit remains paralysed to this day. | The then trade secretary and his wife Margaret were lying in bed when their ceiling collapsed. Lady Tebbit remains paralysed to this day. |
Patrick Magee, who planted the bomb, subsequently received eight life sentences, seven of them related to the bombing. | Patrick Magee, who planted the bomb, subsequently received eight life sentences, seven of them related to the bombing. |
Four members of an IRA "active service unit" were also jailed for involvement in the plot. | Four members of an IRA "active service unit" were also jailed for involvement in the plot. |
Magee was released under the Good Friday Agreement in 1999. | Magee was released under the Good Friday Agreement in 1999. |
Episode three of Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History will be shown Tuesday 24 September at 21:00 BST on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Four. Episodes one and two can be viewed now on the BBC iPlayer. | Episode three of Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History will be shown Tuesday 24 September at 21:00 BST on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Four. Episodes one and two can be viewed now on the BBC iPlayer. |