Irish Republican News · July 23, 2004

Sackville Place victims remembered

The Mayor of Dublin has unveiled a memorial this morning in memory of three CIE transport workers killed in two explosions in the city in December 1972 and January 1973.

The memorial was unveiled on the footpath on Sackville Place, near O’Connell Street, and will be dedicated to George Bradshaw, Thomas Duffy and Tommy Douglas who died in the two attacks.

The memorial is in the form of a bronze design, depicting randomly strewn flowers and a dedication plaque and was designed by Tom Duffy, son of the late Thomas Duffy.

On December 1st, 1972, a Friday evening, the Dublin parliament was debating a Bill to amend the Offences Against the State Act which would introduce repressive measures against republicans.

The Fianna Fail government was facing defeat on the issue as members of both the opposition and government parties were against it.

During this third night of debate and in an atmosphere of political tension, two car bombs exploded in Dublin.

The first was at 7.58 p.m. and exploded near Liberty Hall. There were no fatalities but many people suffered injuries.

At 8.15 p.m. a second car bomb exploded at Sackville Place, killling two -- bus driver George Bradshaw from County Tipperary and bus conductor, Thomas Duffy from County Mayo.

The bomb, which also injured 127 people, was to have an immediate political effect.

As a direct result of the bombings Fine Gael reversed its opposition to the Bill, which was passed early the following morning.

Over a month later, on the afternoon of 20 January 1973, another car bomb exploded in Sackville Place killing bus conductor Thomas Douglas.

Over the 30 years, no organisation has ever claimed responsibility for either of the bombings and nobody has ever been charged in connection with the attacks.

It has long been believed that the bombs were planted in a British-inspired peration to influence the outcome of the legislation.

Relatives of the deceased men attended the ceremony along with serving and retired work colleagues.

The chairman of CIE, Dr John Lynch and Bernie McNally, chair of Justice for the Forgotten, also attended today’s ceremony.

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