Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, great uncle of King Charles III and Governor of the Isle of Wight, was murdered by the IRA on this day 45 years ago – 27th August 1979. Irish Republican killer Thomas McMahon had placed a 50lb gelignite bomb on Mountbatten’s boat while it harboured overnight in Mullaghmore, Sligo, Republic of Ireland. It was detonated several hours later, after Mountbatten, his family and crew, had boarded it and gone offshore. Lord Louis was found alive by fishermen who rushed to the scene of the explosion but he sadly died before reaching shore. Mountbatten’s young grandson Nicholas Knatchbull and Paul Maxwell – a boy from Enniskillen serving as crew – were also killed. 4 others on board – Mountbatten’s daughter Patricia, her husband John Knatchbull, their son Timothy and John Knatchbull’s mother Doreen – were all seriously injured. Doreen Knatchbull died the following day.
3 days after the bombing, Irish terrorist group the IRA claimed responsibility. The terrorists described the murders as:
“A discriminate act to bring to the attention of the English people the continuing occupation of our country.”
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Sinn Féin politician Gerry Adams stated Mountbatten was a military target in a war situation. The same day, Irish Republican terrorists had murdered 19 (mainly British Army personnel) at the Warrenpoint massacre. Fortuitously, 2 hours before the explosion, McMahon had been arrested by the Garda Síochána (Irish police) on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle. Paint from Mountbatten’s boat and traces of nitroglycerin were found on his clothes. On 23rd November 1979, McMahon was convicted of the killings and sentenced to life imprisonment. McMahon was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement as part of the Northern Ireland peace process which brought an end to the troubles. McMahon has twice refused to meet Paul Maxwell’s father, John, who has asked him to explain the reasons for his son’s death.
The killing was condemned by then-UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach Jack Lynch. Many international figures offered their condolences to the Royal family, including US President Jimmy Carter and Pope John Paul II. Earl Mountbatten’s funeral was held at Westminster Abbey under tight security on 5th September 1979. It was attended by Queen Elizabeth II, members of other European royal houses and thousands of mourners. He was buried in Romsey Abbey. Lord Louis is commemorated here on the Isle of Wight by a bust in St James’ Square. Newport Library has been named in his honour, as has the local hospice.
What an amazing story thank you IE
The post-1969 IRA were (and still are in some places) total scum. A bunch of egomaniac, psychopathic, gangsters pretending to be freedom fighters.
Not as Easy to say when your country is STILL occupied by another country
So why do you think the IRA opposed the Good Friday Agreement? Because it was the end of their protection rackets and other gang activities that is why. They never wanted an end to the troubles because it was bad for business. Total scum.
Ireland should belong to Ireland, same as Ukraine should be Ukrainian, surly your own land is your own?
It is never that simple.
Ukraine has only existed as a country since 1939. Parts of it were in Russia, Poland, and Hungary until Germany and Soviet Russia made it a separate country for logistical reasons. Big chunks of it were in Russia until then.
Ooh ahh up the ra
But no ones calls the Ukrainians terrioists for trying to protect there land, other than the Russians,
But English people are labelled far right thugs for trying to protect their children from knife wielding immigrants!!
Obviously, they are just far right thugs looking for trouble rather than protecting anyone. They got their just deserts.
No.
You are labelled far right thugs for actually being far right thugs
You are labelled stupid for believing the obvious lies spouted by multi-millionaire grifters.
Interesting FBI files on this man.
He caused partition and war in India.