Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army Actions (1970-1979)

1974

1 January 1974: A civilian was shot dead during an IRA sniper attack attack on a British Army patrol on McClure Street, Belfast.
17 January 1974: The IRA shot dead an off-duty UDR soldier near his home at Trillick, County Fermanagh.
20 January 1974: A UDR soldier was found shot dead in a field near Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. He had been shot by the IRA.
21 January 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA remote-controlled bomb hidden in an electricity distribution box on Lone Moor Road, Derry. It was detonated when a British foot-patrol passed.
23 January 1974: An IRA unit which included Rose Dugdale and Eddie Gallagher hijacked a helicopter and used it to drop bombs on Strabane RUC station. One of the bombs landed on the grounds of the station, but failed to explode.
25 January 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA landmine as he and his patrol searched a field near Ballyronan, County Londonderry.
26 January 1974: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Antrim Road in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
29 January 1974: An IRA sniper fired at a bus carrying Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel at Shimna Parade in Newcastle, County Down. The RAF personnel returned fire, killing a civilian.
29 January 1974: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Dungiven Road in Derry.
4 February 1974: Twelve people were killed in the M62 Coach Bombing, when a bomb exploded on a coach as it was travelling along the M62 motorway at Birkenshaw. The dead included nine soldiers, and two young children.
18 February 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb while on foot-patrol at Moybane, County Armagh.
23 February 1974: A large gun battle between the IRA and the British army occurred near Strabane, County Tyrone. The engagement also involved mortar rounds fired by the IRA. Some 25 gypsy caravans were trapped between the warrying factions, and one of the vehicles was destroyed by a mortar bomb.
24 February 1974: A civilian was found shot dead at Rathlin Drive in Derry. He was killed by the IRA as it believed he was an informer.
2 March 1974: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Donegall Street, Belfast.
3 March 1974: An IRA landmine exploded and killed an UDR soldier at Donaghmore, County Tyrone.
10 March 1974: Two civilians were killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb hidden in a car at Drumintee, County Armagh. It was meant for a British foot-patrol.
12 March 1974: A Fine Gael senator, Billy Fox, was kidnapped by the IRA and later found shot dead near Clones, County Monaghan.
13 March 1974: The IRA shot dead a British soldier at a checkpoint on Chapel Lane, Belfast.
15 March 1974: Two IRA volunteers were killed when their landmine prematurely exploded on Aughnacloy Road in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
15 March 1974: A civilian was killed by an IRA lorry bomb on Queen Street in Magherafelt, County Londonderry. The warning sent by the IRA had been inadequate.
16 March 1974: IRA snipers shot dead two patrolling British soldiers at Moybane, County Armagh.
17 March 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling RUC officer in Craigavon, County Armagh.
17 March 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Foyle Road, Derry.
19 March 1974: An off-duty RUC officer was killed by an under-car booby-trap bomb at his home on Glenkeen Avenue in Greenisland, County Antrim.
21 March 1974: An IRA sniper shot a patrolling British soldier on Antrim Road, Belfast. He died on 28 March.
23 March 1974: The IRA shot dead a former British soldier as he sat in his car in Mountfield, County Tyrone. He had recently retired.
26 March 1974: A civilian was killed by an IRA car bomb on Springfield Road, Belfast. He had been driving past at the time.
1 April 1974: It was reported that "small arms fire, mortar bombs and possibly rockets were used" in an attack on a British base in Derry. Two British soldiers were hurt.
9 April 1974: The IRA shot dead a British commanding officer at his home near Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland, England.
10 April 1974: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier at his workplace in Derrylin, County Fermanagh.
11 April 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA landmine near Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh.
11 April 1974: A patrolling UDR soldier was killed by a remote controlled bomb in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
14 April 1974: The IRA shot dead an undercover British soldier who was watching a republican commemoration parade at Meenan Square, Derry.
16 April 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead an RUC officer outside Newtownhamilton RUC base, County Armagh.
18 April 1974: A civilian was killed when he triggered a booby-trap bomb near Loup, County Londonderry. It exploded about 8 ft from his tractor as he drove past Saltersland church hall. There had been a small explosion there earlier in the day. It is believed both bombs were planted by the IRA and that the second bomb was for security forces investigating the first.
20 April 1974: A civilian was found shot dead by the side of Upper Springfield Road, Belfast. The IRA shot him because it believed he was an informer.
22 April 1974: A civilian who worked for the British Army was found shot dead in his car at Silverbridge, County Armagh.
1 May 1974: A British outpost came under IRA attack at Crossmaglen, County Armagh. It was hit by three rockets and a 15-minute gun-battle followed. No injuries were reported.
2 May 1974: Up to 40 members from the Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade attacked a British army/UDR base at the Deanery in Clogher, County Tyrone with machine gun and RPG fire resulting the death of one female UDR soldier.
10 May 1974: The IRA shot dead two patrolling RUC officers on Finaghy Road North, Belfast.
13 May 1974: Two IRA volunteers were killed when their bomb prematurely exploded at a petrol station at Donnydeade, County Tyrone.
31 May 1974: A former Royal Navy serviceman was killed by a booby-trap bomb left in a bin at his home on Strabane Old Road, Derry. He worked for the Department of Environment at Ebrington British Army base in Derry. It is believed to have been planted by the IRA.
5 June 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Irish Street in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
17 June 1974: A bomb exploded at the Houses of Parliament in London, causing extensive damage and injuring 11 people.
18 June 1974: A patrolling RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an entry off Market Street, Lurgan, County Armagh.
22 June 1974: An RUC officer was shot dead from a passing car driven by IRA volunteers in Belfast.
22 June 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on New Lodge Road, Belfast.
24 June 1974: Two IRA volunteers died when the bomb they were planting in Derry exploded prematurely.
29 June 1974: An IRA sniper shot a patrolling British soldier on Whiterock Road, Belfast. He died on 4 July.
2 July 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in a derelict house near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
12 July 1974: The IRA shot dead a UDA member at Tiger's Bay, Belfast.
17 July 1974: The IRA bombed the Tower of London. One civilian was killed.
20 July 1974: A former British soldier was found shot dead in a derelict house on Arundel Street, Belfast.
23 July 1974: A UDR soldier is killed by an IRA car bomb on Bridge Street, Garvagh, County Londonerry.
30 July 1974: The IRA devastated the commercial centre of Bangor town, County Down, in an overnight firebomb attack.
30 July 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Hillman Street, Belfast.
13 August 1974: Two Royal Marines were killed when the IRA detonated a remote-controlled bomb in their observation post at Drummuckavall, County Armagh.
23 August 1974: The IRA shot dead an undercover RUC officer in Diamond Bar on George Street, Omagh, County Tyrone.
23 August 1974: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier at Cabragh, County Tyrone.
26 August 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA sniper in Craigavon, County Armagh.
27 August 1974: An IRA volunteer died when his bomb prematurely exploded in a house on Barcroft Park, Newry.
7 September 1974: A civilian was shot dead during an IRA sniper attack on a British patrol in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
8 September 1974: A Catholic man died three weeks after being shot on Newington Street, Belfast. A piece of cardboard was found nearby that had written on it: "this is the penalty for a sexual assault on a child of seven years old at the Waterworks". After the shooting a caller rang the Irish News and said it had been a "punishment shooting" carried out by the IRA.
16 September 1974: The IRA shot dead a judge and a magistrate in Belfast. The judge was shot dead at his home in Beechlands and the magistrate was shot dead at his home on Belmont Road.
22 September 1974: The IRA shot dead a former prison officer at his home on Hillmount Gardens, Belfast.
29 September 1974: Twenty-three mortar bombs were launched by the IRA at a British Army facility in Crossmaglen. The facility was also hit by automatic fire. The attack was to be combined with an air strike that was eventually called off.
29 September 1974: An aerial bombing was attempted on the British Army base at Crossmaglen by two IRA members who hijacked a three-seat Cessna plane from a flying club at Dundalk, while another two IRA men remained on the ground to prevent the members of the club from raising the alarm. The IRA unit loaded the aircraft with four cylinder bombs and forced the pilot to fly over the border. The attack failed after the hijackers became lost, and one of them launched a bomb five miles away from the intended target before flying back to the Republic. The dropping of the bomb was witnessed by British soldiers manning a border outpost. The Cessna eventually made a safe landing in a field near Ravensdale, County Louth. The strike was intended to support the mortar attack on the same compound.
5 October 1974: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on an RUC patrol at Greenhaw Road, Derry.
5 October 1974: Guildford pub bombing - four British soldiers and a civilian were killed and 182 were hurt when the IRA bombed a pub frequented by off-duty soldiers. Four people, dubbed the "Guildford Four", would be convicted for the bombing and imprisoned for life. Fifteen years later Lord Lane of the Court of Appeal would overturn their convictions noting "the investigating officers must have lied". Some had spent the entire 15 years in prison, years after the IRA volunteers who carried out the attacks came forward. No police officer was ever charged.
8 October 1974: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb on West Street in Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
21 October 1974: The IRA kidnapped and shot dead a British Territorial Army soldier in Belfast. His body was found in a derelict house.
23 October 1974: A British soldier died three weeks after being shot by an IRA sniper on Racecourse Road, Derry.
28 October 1974; The IRA detonated a van bomb outside the British Army base at Ballykinlar in County Down, killing two soldiers.
30 October 1974: An IRA volunteer died when his bomb prematurely exploded at a garage on Strand Road, Derry.
6 November 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead two patrolling British soldiers in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
7 November 1974: Two British soldiers were killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb at an electricity substation near Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
7 November 1974: An off-duty British soldier and a civilian were killed when a bomb was thrown through the window of the Kings Head pub in Woolwich, England. Twenty-eight people were injured. Two British soldiers were killed by a bomb near Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
12 November 1974: Two civilians who worked for the British Army were found shot dead by the side of Sheriffs Road near Derry.
14 November 1974: An IRA volunteer died after the bomb he was planting outside a telephone exchange in Coventry exploded prematurely.
15 November 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA sniper in Strabane, County Londonderry.
16 November 1974: A patrolling UDR soldier was killed by an IRA sniper in Newry.
20 November 1974: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in Craigavon, County Armagh.
21 November 1974: The Birmingham pub bombings kill 19 people. The "Birmingham Six" would be tried for this and convicted. Many years later, after new evidence of police fabrication and suppression of evidence, their convictions would be quashed and they would be released. The IRA has never claimed responsibility.
2 December 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in a field near Derrylin, County Fermanagh.
2 December 1974: An IRA volunteer was wounded when her bomb prematurely exploded in a house on Crawford Square, Derry. She died on 7 December.
7 December 1974: An IRA volunteer died when his bomb prematurely exploded in a house on Bridge Street, Derry.
14 December 1974: IRA snipers shot dead a British soldier and an RUC officer at Killeavy, County Armagh.
17 December 1974: An IRA bomb exploded at Tottenham Court Road, London, killing a passer-by.
21 December 1974: A bomb was defused in Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, London. A second bomb was defused in the King's Arms public house in Warminster, Wiltshire.
22 December 1974: The IRA leadership declared a temporary ceasefire, pending talks with British government officials. Shortly before the ceasefire came into effect, the IRA bombed the London home of the Conservative Party leader and former Prime Minister Edward Heath.

Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army Actions (1970-1979) - 1974