The Gibraltar Shootings

On 6th March 1988, three members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) were shot dead by the British Special Air Service in Gibraltar. The incident, known as the Gibraltar Shootings, sparked a cycle of violence that shocked the public.

The three IRA members were believed to be planning a bomb attack. The British authorities claimed that they were shot in response to their actions, which were perceived as threatening. However, controversy arose as it was later revealed that the three were unarmed, and no bomb was found on them.

The Funerals and Retaliation

The funerals of the three IRA members were marred by violence. During one of the funerals, a loyalist paramilitary attacked the mourners with grenades and pistols, killing three and injuring more than 60 people.

This incident led to a cycle of retaliation, with both loyalist and republican paramilitaries carrying out revenge attacks. The violence shocked the public and led to increased tension in Northern Ireland.