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

1976

13 January 1976: Two IRA volunteers, along with two civilians, were killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in North Street, Belfast.
17 January 1976: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun attack on a British checkpoint in Derry City.
17 January 1976: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA in the Andersonstown area of Belfast. The IRA claimed he was an informer.
22 January 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Claudy, County Londonderry.
22 January 1976: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA in Dungannon, County Tyrone. The IRA claimed he was an informer.
23 January 1976: The IRA ceasefire was officially called off.
30 January 1976: A civilian was killed when an IRA carbomb exploded outside Klondyke Bar, a pub frequented by loyalist paramilitaries in the Sandy Row area of Belfast.
6 February 1976: Two RUC officers were shot dead in an IRA gun attack on their patrol in the Cliftonville area of Belfast.
7 February 1976: Two civilians were killed when they triggered an IRA booby-trap bomb, which had been placed in a crashed car in Cookstown, County Tyrone. The bomb was intended for members of the security forces.
12 February 1976: IRA volunteer Frank Stagg (34) died on his 62nd day of hungerstrike in Wakefield Prisonin England.
12 February 1976: An RUC Officer was shot dead in an IRA gun-attack on a foot-patrol in Claudy, County Londonderry.
13 February 1976: An IRA volunteer died in a premature explosion in the Falls Road area of Belfast. Three mortars hit Fort Monagh British Army base in West Belfast. There were no casualties.
15 February 1976: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army while escaping from a gun attack on the Ballygomartin Road in Belfast.
22 February 1976: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA during an attempted hijacking of her car near Killeen, County Armagh.
26 February 1976: Joseph McCullough, a UDR soldier, was stabbed to death by an IRA unit while arriving to his farm in Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. IRA member Anthony McCooey, later convicted for taking part in the killing, claimed that another IRA man slit the soldier throat with a bayonet. McCullough was also a member of the Orange Order. In 1998, author Toby Harnden interviewed a Real IRA member which told him that McCullough was targeted because he supplied the Loyalist with arms and was also involved in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.
27 February 1976: A UVF member was shot dead by the IRA in a drive-by shooting in the Donegall Pass area of Belfast.
27 February 1976: A civilian was wounded when he triggered an IRA booby-trap bomb in a derelict house on Landseer Street, Belfast. The man was an electricity meter-reader and accidentally triggered the anti-handling device on a bomb hidden in the meterbox. It is believed a British foot-patrol was the intended target. The man died on 28 February.
7 March 1976: The IRA launched six mortar rounds into Belfast International Airport, injuring an RUC member and damaging cars in a parking area and the arrival lounge door.
10 March 1976: Former UDA spokesman Sammy Smyth was shot dead by the IRA on Alliance Avenue in Belfast.
13 March 1976: An ex-British soldier was shot dead on Alliance Avenue in Belfast.
15 March 1976: A Tube-train driver was shot dead by the IRA shortly after a bomb exploded prematurley on his train.
18 March 1976: The IRA attacked a British base in the Creggan area of Derry with nine mortars and sniper fire.
30 March 1976: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb left near an Orange Order hall at Ballygargan, County Armagh.
31 March 1976: Three British soldiers were killed when their patrol-vehicle detonated an IRA landmine near Belleeks, County Armagh.
1 April 1976: A UDR soldier was killed in an IRA gun attack in Castledawson, County Londonderry.
2 April 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Maghera, County Londonderry.
5 April 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA at his home near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. He was also a member of the Orange Order.
5 April 1976: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the RUC shortly after carrying out a bomb attack on the Conway Hotel in Dunmurry, County Antrim.
6 April 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack on a British mobile-patrol near Middletown, County Armagh.
7 April 1976: Three civilians were killed when IRA firebombs exploded in their Drapery shop at The Square in Dromore, County Down. They lived above the shop. The owner was a member of the Royal Black Perceptory.
15 April 1976: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army shortly after having been arrested near Forkill, County Armagh.
16 April 1976: Two civilians were killed when a bomb exploded inside their workplace on Servia Street, Belfast. Although no group claimed responsibility it was reported that the blast was likely caused by "an IRA bomb stored on the premises".
19 April 1976: A Prison Officer was shot dead by the IRA in Dunmurry, County Antrim.
22 April 1976: An RUC Officer was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on patrol in Coalisland, County Tyrone.
29 April 1976: A UDR soldier and a civilian were killed in an IRA gun-attack in Dunamony, County Tyrone.
15 May 1976: Three RUC officers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on their patrol in Belcoo, Fermanagh. Another RUC officer was killed in a sniper attack in Warrenpoint, County Down.
16 May 1976: The IRA shot dead an RUC officer outside his home in Derryfubble, County Tyrone. Two civilians were shot dead as they stood outside a social club on Alliance Road, Belfast.
17 May 1976: An IRA volunteer was killed when British soldiers opened fire on a bus in the Strand Road, Derry.
21 May 1976: A civilian was killed when a bomb exploded on a train near Moira, County Down. A warning was given but the bomb detonated before the area could be evacuated.
22 May 1976: An RUC officer was shot dead in an IRA gun attack in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
2 June 1976: Two RUC officers were shot dead in separate IRA attacks in Derry and Belfast.
2 June 1976: A UDA member was shot dead at his home on the Shankill Road in Belfast by an IRA unit.
11 June 1976: Four British bases in Belfast were attacked with mortars and gunfire within minutes of each-other. Several British soldiers were hurt and an IRA volunteer was shot.
19 June 1976: A UDA member was shot dead at his home in Dunmurry, County Antrim.
28 June 1976: A British soldier was killed when the landing zone of his helicopter-borne patrol was the subject of an IRA landmine attack near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
30 June 1976: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun-attack on the Springfield Road in Belfast.
30 June 1976: An IRA volunteer was killed during an attack on a British patrol when a grenade he was handling exploded prematurely.
1 July 1976: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA in the Finaghy area of Belfast. The IRA claimed he was an informer.
3 July 1976: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while manning a checkpoint on Butcher Street in Derry.
6 July 1976: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA in Hannahstown, Belfast. The IRA claimed he was an informer.
7 July 1976: Two senior RUC officers were seriously injured after an IRA double agent led them to an arms dump outside Portadown. When the officers picked up one of the weapons it triggered a booby trap which detonated. One of the officers lost an arm, a leg and an eye in the explosion.
17 July 1976: Two IRA volunteers died when the bomb they were transporting exploded accidentally near Castlederg, Tyrone.
18 July 1976: A civilian was killed by a booby-trap bomb planted in the laneway of his home at Drumgole, County Fermanagh. It is thought that the bomb was planted by the IRA and was meant for two close relatives who were RUC reserve officers.
21 July 1976: An IRA landmine killed Christopher Ewart-Biggs, the newly appointed British ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, and his secretary Judith Cook. A British soldier was also killed in a bomb attack in Derry City.
30 July 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Moneymore, County Londonderry.
31 July 1976: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA sniper on Church Street in Lurgan.
8 August 1976: A British soldier was killed by an IRA bomb hidden in a booby-trapped bicycle in Crossmaglen.
10 August 1976: An IRA volunteer was killed when he was shot while escaping from a British Army patrol. After being shot his car went out of control, crashing and killing three children.
11 August 1976: A civilian was killed during an IRA gun attack on a British observation post at Meenan Square, Derry.
19 August 1976: There was a gun attack on the home of the Grand Master of the Orange Order at West Circular Crescent, Belfast. His son was shot and died of his wounds on 26 August 1976. The attack was blamed on the IRA. The Grand Master, a frequent critic of the IRA, was thought to have been the target.
26 August 1976: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA unit in the Andersonstown area of Belfast.
1 September 1976: A British Army post in Crossmaglen was hit by 10 mortars. It caused extensive damage and some British soldiers were hurt.
14 September 1976: The blanket protest began when IRA prisoner Kieran Nugent refused to wear prison clothing, in protest at the loss of Special Category Status.
18 September 1976: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA unit while directing traffic in Portadown.
1 October 1976: A Protestant man died one month after being shot at his relative's house on Copperfield Street, Belfast. The Sutton Database claims he was a civilian who was shot by the IRA. However, Lost Lives claims he was a former British soldier. It also notes that a man was imprisoned for his murder but that there was no charge of IRA membership.
8 October 1976: An RUC officer and a Prison Officer were killed in IRA gun attacks in Derry.
9 October 1976: A civilian was killed when IRA firebombs exploded in a shop on Bridge Street, Ballymena.
13 October 1976: The IRA shot dead a UVF member outside his home in Annaghmore, County Armagh. IRA volunteers opened fire on his car as he arrived home. Although the Sutton Database lists him as a civilian, Lost Lives lists him as a UVF member and notes that he had received a two-year suspended sentence for handling ammunition which he was said to have bought from a UDR soldier. His son was wounded in the attack and died on 25 October 1976.
16 October 1976: Garda Michael Clerkin was killed in a booby-trap bomb attack in Mountmellick, near Portlaoise in County Laois.
16 October 1976: Three IRA volunteers died when a bomb they were transporting exploded accidentally at Belfast Gas Works.
24 October 1976: Two British soldiers were killed when an IRA sniper team ambushed a British patrol in Ardoyne, Belfast.
26 October 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead at his workplace on Eglish Street, Armagh town.
28 October 1976: A UDR soldier was killed in an IRA gun-attack in Pomeroy, County Tyrone.
2 November 1976: An Undercover RUC Officer was shot dead by the IRA on the Falls Road in Belfast.
7 November 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA outside his home on Abercorn Road, Derry.
9 November 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun-attack in Desertmartin, County Londonderry.
11 November 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA outside his home in Kilrea, County Londonderry.
11 November 1976: A former IRA quartermaster was shot dead inside a social club on Saul Street, Belfast. He allegedly gave information to the RUC under interrogation and was then ordered to leave the district. It was reported he was shot for repeatedly returning to the district.
15 November 1976: A UDR soldier was killed in an IRA sniper attack on a British foot-patrol in Lurgan.
18 November 1976: A UDR soldier was shot dead in an IRA attack in Altnagelvin, Derry.
27 November 1976: In Lurgan, a civilian accidentally triggered an IRA booby-trap bomb attached to a derelict house on Mary Street that had been used as a British Army observation post. In Derry, a civilian accidentally triggered an IRA booby-trap bomb left in an entry off Lecky Road. The IRA admitted planting the Derry bomb, which was also intended for the security forces. Apologising, the IRA statement said that when it was clear the bomb plan had failed they had contacted the British Army and a local priest. Soldiers and the priest had then warned people to stay away.
1 December 1976: An IRA rocket hit a British APC in Belfast. No injuries were reported.
3 December 1976: An RUC Officer was shot dead by the IRA in Dungannon.
11 December 1976: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on patrol in the Bogside area of Derry.
15 December 1976: An RUC Officer was shot dead by an IRA unit while manning a security barrier in Portadown.

Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army Actions (1970-1979) - 1976