RUC murder bid
Tyrone trio lucky to be alive
after their car is riddled with RUC
gunfire.
A Sinn Féin member's cool head, coupled with sheer good fortune,
saved himself and two women pasengers from death or serious
injury when an undercover RUC squad raked his car with gunfire
near Greencastle, County Tyrone early on Sunday morning 5 July.
And the RUC, incredibly, arrested two of the victims following
the attempt on their lives.
Michael Ward, a 38-year-old farmer with five children, together
with his housekeeper, Mary (21) and her younger sister, Roisín
(15), had just put a cover on hay at Ward's isolated farm in the
townland of Coneyglen, near Greencastle.
They were returning towards the Ward home a few miles away at
1.30am when two cars hemmed them in on the lonely road. Ward's
immediate suspicion was that it was a loyalist attack.
He attempted to overtake the lead vehicle but, just as he moved
out, a flare was fired into the rear car, a light blue Ford
Orion, and there was a burst of automatic fire followed by
several single shots and yet another automatic burst.
At least six or seven bullets struck Michael Ward's car, a white
Peugeot 305 Estate, shattering the windows and grazing Ward's
arm.
Phoblacht, Thursday 16 July 1987
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