Timeline of Irish National Liberation Army actions

This is a timeline of actions by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group. Most of these actions took place as part of its 1975–1998 campaign during "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland.

1970s

1974

• 10 December : the INLA, along with its political wing the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), was founded at the Spa Hotel in the village of Lucan near Dublin

1975

• 25 February : The INLA shot dead Official Irish Republican Army (Official IRA) volunteer Sean Fox in the Divis Flats area of Belfast. This was part of a feud between the two republican groups.
• 6 April : The Official IRA shot dead INLA volunteer Daniel Loghran on Albert Street, Belfast. Part of a republican feud.
• 12 April : The INLA shot dead Official IRA volunteer Paul Crawford on Falls Road, Belfast. Part of a republican feud.
• 28 April : The INLA shot dead Official IRA volunteer Liam McMillen on Falls Road, Belfast. Part of a republican feud.
• 24 May : A Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer was killed by an INLA booby trap bomb left in a car in Ballinahone, near Maghera, County Londonderry.
• 5 June : The Official IRA shot dead INLA volunteer Brendan McNamee on Stewartstown Road, Belfast. Part of a republican feud.
• 26 July : An INLA sniper shot dead an RUC officer shortly after he left his Armoured Personnel Carrier in Dungiven, County Londonderry.
• 10 October : A British soldier died two weeks after being shot by an INLA sniper while on patrol on Iniscarn Road, Derry.
• 2 December : Two civilians were shot dead while sitting in the Dolphin Café on Strand Road, Derry. Gunmen carrying pistols picked them out and opened fire without warning. The INLA later admitted responsibility and claimed it thought the two men were members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).^[1]

References for this year:^[2] and ^[3]

1976

• 7 February : A fourteen-year-old was killed when he triggered a booby-trap bomb hidden behind a row of derelict cottages on Derryall Road, near Portadown. It is believed to have been left by the INLA for use against the security forces
• 3 August : An INLA sniper shot dead a British soldier on patrol in Dungiven

14 September : INLA and IRA prisoners in Maze Prison began the blanket protest

• 25 September : The INLA launched a gun attack on a house at Ormonde Park, Finaghy. Gunmen opened fire in the hallway, killing two civilians. A detective said that it was thought to be a case of mistaken identity. In the Belfast Street Directory the man who lived there was described as a "chief inspector" and it was assumed the gunmen thought he was an RUC officer. In fact he had been a chief inspector of bank branches until two months before his death.^[4]
• 25 November : The INLA shot dead a British soldier when he arrived at the scene of an armed robbery at Monagh Post Office, Belfast
• 22 December : The INLA killed an RUC officer with a booby-trap bomb attached to his car in Maghera
• 29 December : A civilian security guard was shot dead as he tried to stop an INLA bomb attack on The Tavern Bar in Portadown.^[5] He was also a member of the Orange Order.^[6]

References for this year:^[7] and ^[8]

1977

• 23 January : An INLA sniper shot dead a British soldier on patrol on Eliza Street, Belfast
• 1 March : The INLA shot a magistrate on Thomas Street, Portadown. He died of his wounds on 29 June 1977. He was a member of Prince of Wales Orange Lodge and brother of a former Unionist Party Convention member. The INLA volunteer who shot him was only 16-years-old at the time and his mother and brother had died in separate loyalist attacks.^[9]
• 5 October : INLA founder and leader Seamus Costello was shot dead by the Official IRA in Northbrook Avenue, Dublin. Part of a republican feud.
• 12 December : Undercover British Army soldiers shot dead INLA volunteer Colm McNutt in Derry

References for this year:^[10] and ^[11]

1978

• 8 March : The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) shot dead INLA volunteer Thomas Trainor and a civilian as they walked along Armagh Road in Portadown^[12]

1979

• 6 March : The INLA exploded a booby-trap bomb underneath the car of a Ulster Defence Regiment soldier on West Street, Portadown. He died on 13 March.
• 30 March : Airey Neave, British Conservative Party Member of Parliament and adviser to Margaret Thatcher, was killed when the INLA exploded a booby-trap bomb underneath his car at the House of Commons, London
• 19 April : The INLA shot dead a prison officer during a sniper and grenade attack outside Armagh Prison.
• 27 July : A former RUC officer was killed when the INLA exploded a booby-trap bomb underneath his car on Corcrain Drive, Portadown. He was also a member of the Orange Order.^[6]
• 31 July : The INLA shot dead an RUC officer in a drive-by shooting outside Armagh courthouse.
• 7 November : The INLA shot dead a man employed by the Northern Ireland Prison Service at a bus stop near Crumlin Road Prison in Belfast.

References for this year:^[13] and ^[14]

1980s

1980

• 13 January : A civilian died seven months after being shot during the robbery of his post office in Blackwatertown.
• 9 August : An INLA sniper accidentally shot dead a civilian during an attack on a British Army patrol on Shaw's Road, Belfast.
• 29 August : A civilian died when he triggered a booby-trap bomb hidden in a hedgerow at Carnagh, near Keady. It is believed to have been left by the INLA for use against the security forces.
• 15 October : The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) shot dead INLA leader Ronnie Bunting and INLA volunteer Noel Little at Bunting's home in Downfine Gardens, Belfast. Suzanne Bunting was also wounded in the attack. The IRSP and INLA maintain that British Intelligence was involved in the killings.
• 19 November : The INLA shot dead a civilian outside his workplace, Ulster Bank on Boucher Road, Belfast. It emerged that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity. The intended target had been an RUC reservist who worked at the bank. The reservist had sold a car to him two weeks earlier. He had taken the precaution of changing the vehicle's registration number but the gunmen had identified the car by its make and colour.^[15]
• 10 December : The INLA shot dead a British Army UDR soldier on Fox Row, Belfast.
• 28 December : The INLA shot dead a British soldier outside his home at Umgola Villas, Armagh.

References for this year:^[16] and ^[17]

1981

• 8 January : The INLA fired shots at an RUC patrol on Great Victoria Street, Belfast. One RUC officer was wounded and died on 14 January.
• 8 February : The INLA shot dead an RUC officer on My Lady's Road, Belfast.

1 March : A republican hunger strike began in the Maze Prison. Four INLA and nineteen IRA prisoners would join.

• 27 March : The INLA shot dead a British Army UDR soldier on Cromac Street, Belfast.
• 27 April : The INLA killed an RUC officer with a booby-trap bomb hidden in a lorry in the Andersonstown area of Belfast.
• 7 May : INLA volunteer James Power was killed in a premature bomb explosion at a house on Friendly Street, Belfast.
• 12 May : A British Army sniper shot dead INLA volunteer Emmanuel McClarnon from Divis Tower, Belfast.

21 May : INLA prisoner Patsy O'Hara died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison.

• 31 July : The INLA shot dead an ex-RUC officer at a house in Strabane.

1 August : INLA prisoner Kevin Lynch died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison.

20 August : INLA prisoner Michael Devine died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison.

• 29 September : The INLA shot dead a British Army UDR soldier on Springfield Road, Belfast.
• 16 October : The INLA shot dead a member of the UDA outside his home on Denmark Street, Belfast.
• 28 October : A civilian was found shot dead at a rubbish dump in the Shantallow area of Derry. The INLA claimed he was an informer.
• 24 November: The INLA claimed responsibility for exploding a bomb outside the British Consulate in Hamburg, West Germany.^[18]
• 25 November : The INLA claimed responsibility for exploding a bomb at a British Army base in Herford, West Germany. One British soldier was hurt.^[18]

References for this year:^[19] and ^[20]

1982

• 29 January : The INLA shot dead leading loyalist figure John McKeague at his shop on Albertbridge Road, Belfast.
• 20 February : The INLA shot dead a Garda Síochána officer at a house in Tallaght, County Dublin.
• 2 June : A sixteen-year-old was killed when he triggered an INLA booby-trap bomb attached to a motorcycle on Rugby Road, Belfast.
• 4 June : The INLA shot dead Official IRA volunteer James Flynn on North Strand Road, Dublin. Part of a republican feud.
• 1 September : The INLA shot Billy Dickson, then a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member of Belfast City Council. Dickinson survived the attack.
• 16 September : The INLA exploded a remote-control bomb hidden in a drainpipe as a British patrol passed Cullingtree Walk, Belfast. A British soldier and two children were killed.
• 20 September : The INLA claimed responsibility for bombing a radar station on Mount Gabriel in County Cork. Five INLA volunteers hijacked a car carrying an engineer to the station. They forced their way inside, tied-up several workers and planted the bombs. The INLA said it attacked the radar station because the station was linked to NATO.^[21]
• 26 September : The INLA shot dead a civilian at his home on Harland Walk, Belfast.
• 27 September : The INLA killed a British soldier with a booby-trap bomb attached to a security barrier on West Circular Road, Belfast.
• 7 October : An INLA sniper killed a British Army UDR soldier and a female Prison Officer in Kilmore. The soldier had been shot while driving his car. The car then went out of control and crashed into the Prison Officer's car, killing her.
• 16 October : A civilian died three weeks after being shot by the INLA outside a church hall on Albertbridge Road, Belfast.
• 18 October : An INLA shot a former UDR soldier while teaching a class at a school in Newry. In another attack, the son of prominent Loyalist Robert Overend was badly injured when an INLA bomb exploded under his vehicle on the family farm.
• 19 October : The INLA exploded a bomb at the headquarters of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) on Glengall Street, Belfast. The building was badly damaged by the blast.
• 16 November : The INLA shot dead two RUC officers at a security barrier in Markethill.
• 30 November: An incendiary parcel bomb exploded in the 10 Downing Street offices of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. An official who opened the letter was burned. The INLA claimed responsibility.^[22]
• 6 December : Droppin Well bombing - The INLA killed 11 British soldiers and 6 civilians when it exploded a time bomb at a disco in Ballykelly, County Londonderry. The disco was frequented by British soldiers.
• 12 December : Undercover RUC officers shot dead unarmed INLA volunteers Seamus Grew and Rodney Carroll at a checkpoint at Mullacreevie Park, Armagh.

References for this year:^[23] and ^[24]

1983

• 2 February : Undercover British soldiers shot dead INLA volunteer 23 year old Eugene Cornelius (Neil) McMonagle at Leafair Park, Derry.
• 7 May : The INLA shot dead one of its own members near Killeen. It claimed he was an informer.
• 26 May : The INLA shot dead an RUC officer outside the RUC base in Cookstown.
• 4 June : A British Army UDR soldier was killed by an INLA booby-trap bomb attached to a digger near Eglish.
• 13 July : Two civilians were found shot dead in a car near Crossmaglen. It is believed the INLA was responsible.
• 13 August : Undercover RUC men shot dead two INLA volunteers, James Mallon and Brendan Convery, as they were about to attack RUC officers in Dungannon.
• 6 September : The INLA shot dead an RUC officer outside his home at Dukes Grove, Armagh.
• 26 October : The INLA shot dead one of its own members near Redhills, County Cavan. It claimed he was an informer.
• 5 December : The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) shot dead INLA volunteer Joseph Craven on Church Road, Newtownabbey.

References for this year:^[25] and ^[26]

1984

• 20 January : The INLA shot dead a British Army UDR soldier at his home on Sunnymede Avenue, Dunmurry.
• 13 April : The INLA shot dead a man at his home on Thornhill Crescent, Belfast. It claimed he was a local criminal.
• 6 May : Four armed and uniformed members of the INLA emerged from a crowd during a commemoration to mark the third anniversary of Bobby Sand's death. They tried to reach the stage but were prevented by Sinn Féin officials.
• 15 June : An RUC officer and an INLA volunteer were killed in a gun battle on Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast. The RUC had surrounded an INLA unit who had taken up position in a house.

References for this year:^[27] and ^[28]

1985

• 24 February : The INLA shot dead an ex-member of the British Army on Glenvale Road, Derry.^[29]
• 26 February : The INLA bombed a petrol station near the ground where England's football team had earlier played against Northern Ireland. In a statement the INLA warned that future sporting events involving teams from Great Britain could be targeted.
• 20 April: The INLA claimed responsibility for firebombing a store in Dublin which was selling South African goods in protest against the apartheid regime. There were no injuries as the building had been cleared following a telephone warning.^[30]
• 9 May : The INLA killed an ex-member of the organisation in Paris, France. His body has never been recovered.
• 27 June : A Garda officer was killed during the robbery of a post office in Ardee, County Louth. It is believed the INLA was responsible.
• 9 September : An INLA member was found shot dead in Killeen. The INLA claimed it shot him because he was an informer.

References for this year:^[31] and ^[29]

1986

• 4 April : The INLA claimed responsibility for bombing the council offices in Newry.
• 28 August: The INLA claimed responsibility for bomb attacks across Northern Ireland: two car bombs exploded outside the RUC bases in Newry and Downpatrick, a third bomb exploded in a disused factory in Derry and a fourth was found under an RUC officer's car in Antrim.^[32]
• 18 September: The INLA claimed responsibility for an attempted bombing in Downpatrick. INLA members planted a 40 pounds (18 kg) suitcase bomb outside a closed pub and then sent a telephone warning. An RUC officer carried the bomb to a field about 80 yards (73 m) away, where it exploded 15 minutes later.^[33]
• 21 December : The Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) shot dead INLA volunteer Thomas McCartan on Commedagh Drive, Belfast. This was part of a feud between the two republican groups.^[34]

1987

• 8 January: The INLA claimed responsibility for shooting unionist politician David Calvert as he got into his car near Portadown. He was shot in the head and stomach.^[35]
• 20 January : The IPLO shot dead INLA volunteers Thomas 'Ta' Power and John O'Reilly in Rossnaree Hotel, Drogheda, County Louth.
• 31 January : Mary McGlincehy, an INLA activist and the wife of INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey was shot dead at her home in Dundalk, County Louth. It is not known who was responsible.
• 5 February : The INLA shot dead an IPLO member in Middletown. Part of a republican feud.
• 7 February : A civilian died five weeks after being shot by the INLA at her home in Markethill. The intended target of the attack was her son, who was a British soldier.
• 18 February : The IPLO shot dead INLA volunteer Michael Kearney in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. Part of a republican feud.
• 7 March : The INLA shot dead a member of the IPLO near Forkill. Part of a republican feud.
• 14 March : The INLA shot dead IRSP member Fergus Conlon near Forkill. Part of a republican feud.
• 15 March : The INLA attacked the car of IPLO member Gerard Steenson in Ballymurhpy, Belfast. Steenson and his passenger were killed. Part of a republican feud.
• 21 March : The IPLO shot dead INLA volunteer Emmanuel Gargan in the Hatfield Bar, Belfast. Part of a republican feud.
• 22 March : The IPLO shot dead INLA volunteer Kevin Duffy in Armagh. Part of a republican feud.
• 4 October : The INLA shot dead an alleged criminal and left his body in a car near Crossmaglen.
• 26 November : INLA volunteer Martin Bryan was shot dead by the Gardaí at a checkpoint in Urlingford, County Kilkenny.
• 8 December : A civilian was found shot dead at a deserted farm in Castleblayney, County Monaghan. He had been kidnapped several months beforehand by the INLA. It is believed the killing was related to the INLA/IPLO feud.

References for this year:^[36] and ^[37]

1988

• 10 August : The British Army shot dead INLA volunteer James McPhilemy during a gun battle at a vehicle checkpoint in Clady, County Tyrone.
• 17 August : The INLA shot dead an ex-member of the UVF at his shop on Shankill Road, Belfast.

References for this year:^[38] and ^[39]

1990s

1990

• 22 November : Undercover British soldiers shot dead INLA volunteer Alex Patterson as he tried to assassinate an off-duty soldier in Strabane.^[40]

1991

• 29 June : The INLA shot dead one of its own members in Ballymurhpy, Belfast. It claimed he was an informer.
• 21 December : The INLA unintentionally shot dead the son of an ex-RUC officer during a gun attack in Moy intended to kill his father.

References for this year:^[41] and ^[42]

1992

• 13 April : The INLA shot a British soldier outside a recruiting office in Derby, England. He died of wounds the following day.^[43][44]
• June : Nine incendiary devices were planted in various stores in Leeds, England. Four of the devices went off, causing over £50,000 worth of damages.

1993

• 14 January: The INLA claimed responsibility for attempting to kill prominent loyalist John "Bunter" Graham. He was hit by rifle shots fired through the window of his home in the Shankill area of Belfast.^[45]
• 21 January : The INLA shot dead a civilian at his home on Rosewood Street, Belfast. The INLA said it killed him because he was a UDA member, a claim which was denied by his family. It was reported that he had recently bought a car from a leading loyalist in the Shankill area and thus it may have been a case of mistaken identity.^[46]
• 17 June : The INLA shot dead an ex-member of the RUC inside York Hotel on Botanic Avenue, Belfast.

References for this year:^[47] and ^[48]

1994

• 10 February : Dominic McGlinchey, the INLA's former Chief of Staff, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Drogheda.
• 24 February : The INLA shot dead a security guard outside Bob Cratchits Bar on Lisburn Road, Belfast. The INLA claimed he was linked to the UDA/UFF.^[49]
• 27 April : The INLA shot dead a civilian at his shop in Northcott Shopping Centre, Glengormley.
• 3 May : The INLA shot dead a civilian outside his workplace, Northern Ireland Electricity Headquarters on Stranmillis Road, Belfast. The INLA claimed he was a high-ranking loyalist.^[49]
• 16 June : The INLA shot dead three UVF members in a gun attack on Shankill Road, Belfast.

References for this year:^[50] and ^[51]

1996

• 30 January : The INLA shot dead one of its leaders, Gino Gallagher, inside Department of Health and Social Services office on Falls Road, Belfast. Internal dispute.
• 5 March : INLA volunteer John Fennell was beaten to death by other INLA volunteers in Bundoran, County Donegal. Internal dispute.
• 15 March : The INLA shot dead a civilian in Ashfield Gardens, Belfast. Her relative was the intended target. Internal dispute.
• 25 May : INLA volunteer Dessie McCleery was shot dead by other INLA volunteers on Bankmore Street, Belfast. Internal dispute.
• 9 June : INLA volunteer Francis Shannon was shot dead by other INLA volunteers in the Turf Lodge area of Belfast. Internal dispute.
• 3 September : INLA volunteer Hugh Torney was shot dead by other INLA volunteers in Lurgan. Internal dispute.

References for this year:^[52] and ^[53]

1997

• 9 May : The INLA shot dead an RUC officer in the Parliament Bar, Belfast.
• 4 June : INLA volunteer John Morris was shot dead by the Gardaí during an armed robbery in Inchicore, Dublin.
• 7 July: INLA gunmen fired on British soldiers in Ardoyne, Belfast as part of the widespread violence that followed Mo Mowlam's decision over the Drumcree parade. See 1997 nationalist riots in Northern Ireland.^[54]
• 8 July : In a statement the INLA warned that it would attack an Orange Order parade if it were allowed to go through the mainly Nationalist Ormeau Road area.
• 27 December : INLA prisoners shot dead Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) leader and fellow prisoner Billy Wright inside Maze Prison.^[55]

References for this year:^[56] and ^[57]

1998

• 1 January: A home in Newtownbutler belonging to a member of the RUC was sprayed with gunfire by an INLA unit.^[58]
• 19 January : The INLA shot dead UDA leader Jim Guiney at his carpet shop in Dunmurry.
• 28 February : INLA volunteers launched a hand grenade attack on RUC officers at Hazelwood Integrated College, Belfast.
• 27 March : The INLA shot dead an ex-member of the RUC on Dobbin Street Lane, Armagh. He was also a member of the Orange Order.^[6]
• 8 April : The INLA shot dead Trevor Deeny, an ex-member of the UVF and Derry leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force outside his home in Derry.
• 17 April : The INLA shot dead an ex-member on Shaws Road, Belfast.
• 24 June : The INLA exploded a 200 lb car bomb in the centre of Newtownhamilton. The group issued a 50-minute warning about the bomb but six people were wounded.
• 22 August : After a twenty-four year campaign, the INLA declared a ceasefire.

References for this year:^[59] and ^[60]

1999

• 8 August : The INLA stated that "There is no political or moral argument to justify a resumption of the campaign".
• 10 October : INLA volunteer Patrick Campbell was killed in a confrontation with a criminal gang in Dublin. The event dubbed the "Ballymount Bloodbath" saw the INLA tie up and torture a criminal gang before associates of the gang entered armed with machetes to free them. During this attack, Patrick Campbell was stabbed and bled to death.

References for this year:^[61] and ^[62]

2000s

2000

• 29 April : The INLA shot dead a man in Inchicore, County Dublin. The INLA claimed he was part of the gang responsible for killing INLA volunteer Patrick Campbell.^[63]

2001

• 12 December : A man died several hours after being shot in the legs by the INLA near Forkill.^[64]

2007

• 3 June : The INLA claimed responsibility for the shooting dead of drug dealer Brian McGlynn in Derry.^[65]

2009

• 15 February : The INLA shot dead drug dealer Jim McConnell in Derry.^[66]
• 19 August  : The INLA shot and wounded a man in Derry. The INLA claimed that the man was involved in drug dealing although the injured man and his family denied the allegation.^[67] However, in a newspaper article on 28 August the victim retracted his previous statement and admitted that he had been involved in small scale drug-dealing but has since ceased these activities.^[68]
• 11 October : Speaking at the graveside of one of its founding members in Bray, the INLA formally announced an end to its armed campaign, stating that the current situation allows it pursue its goals through peaceful political means.^[69]

2010

• 8 February : It was announced that the INLA had put its weapons out of commission.

2013

• 21 March: Sinn Féin blamed elements close to the INLA for shooting two men in the legs in Derry, and urged those close to the INLA to pass on any information they have.^[70]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northern Ireland Troubles.

• Timeline of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions
• Timeline of Continuity Irish Republican Army actions
• Timeline of Real Irish Republican Army actions
• Timeline of the Northern Ireland Troubles
• Timeline of Ulster Defence Association actions
• Timeline of Ulster Volunteer Force actions

References

INLA and the IRSP General The Troubles Official Sinn Féin Official IRA Irish Republican Socialist Movement The Starry Plough Marxist-Leninism Blanket protest Dirty protest HM Prison Maze Anti H-Block 1981 Irish hunger strike July 1997 riots Northern Ireland peace process Good Friday Agreement Organized crime Illegal drug trade Attacks Droppin Well bombing Darkley massacre (denied) Personalities Seamus Costello Ronnie Bunting Bernadette Devlin Tony Gregory Miriam Daly Johnnie White Stephen King Michael Plunkett Mary Reid Raymond Gilmour Gerard Steenson Sammy Ward Patsy O'Hara Kevin Lynch Mickey Devine Thomas 'Ta' Power Gino Gallagher Dominic McGlinchey Harry Kirkpatrick Seamus Grew Dessie Grew Jimmy Brown Hugh Torney Dessie O'Hare Colm Murphy Christopher "Crip" McWilliams Patrick Campbell Associates Republican Socialist Youth Movement Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America Derivatives Independent Socialist Party Irish People's Liberation Organisation Republican Socialist Collective Prominent killings Billy McMillen Airey Neave Henry Byrne John Morley William McCullough John McKeague Patrick Joseph Morrissey Trevor King Billy Wright