Background
The Provisional IRA, in particular the South Armagh Brigade, had repeatedly used home-made mortars but with limited success. Between 1973 and early 1978 a total of 71 mortar attacks were recorded, none of which resulted in direct British Army or RUC fatalities. The IRA only conducted two deadly mortar attacks prior to 1985. The first was on 19 March 1979, when Private Peter Woolmore of the Queen's Regiment was killed at Newtownhamilton army base in County Armagh. The second was on 12 November 1983, when a police officer was killed and several injured when Carrickmore police station in County Tyrone was attacked.
Read more about this topic: 1985 Newry Mortar Attack
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