Former IRA members claim that Martin McGuinness supplied the car used to bomb the garage along the border in 1972.
His details were disclosed by Eddie Gallagher, an IRA member of Donegal.
He claimed in Sean O’Driskol’s new book, “Heirs, Rebels, Alerts, Bombers.” This tells us that London’s heirs have turned to IRA member Rose Dougdale.
Gallagher met Dougdale in the 1970s and had a son McGuinness became a godfather.
near
Martin McGuinness taken in January 1973
O’Driscoll’s book claims that Dugdale himself was involved in the production of the explosives used in some of the famous IRA bombings.
In this book, Gallagher recalls his attempt to kill Marvin Johnston, a part-time soldier of the Ulster Defense Regiment in 1972.
A mechanic specializing in mini repairs, his garage was on the Fermanagh side of the Petigo village and border.
Several attempted murders were made, including shooting Johnston at customs and leaving numerous incendiary bombs in the garage.
Given the imminent possible IRA ceasefire, the frustrated Gallagher decided that if he couldn’t kill Johnston, he would at least destroy his business.
On July 21, 1972, Gallagher set up a bomb with two other IRA members.
“We got up early one morning because we decided to put a car bomb in his garage and destroy his business,” he quotes in the book.
“It was the first time Martin McGuinness was involved with us. He gave us a car for a car bomb.”
At that time, McGuinness was the commander of the IRA in Delhi, but eventually entered politics and became Deputy Prime Minister.
Gallagher continued. “As usual, I put it there (garage) with a one-hour timer and returned to Donegal.”
He later stopped in the town of Donegal to call for a bomb warning, but was stopped by a Garda patrol before passing through.
Members of the IRA warned Garda’s sergeant. Garda’s sergeant immediately ordered him to clear Petigo’s main street, and RUC members did the same. The blast destroyed a garage on the Northern Ireland side, but they were charged with fewer crimes as Gallagher and two other IRA members were arrested across the border.
At that time, there was no extradition treaty between Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Gallagher is said to have met Dagdale at a later time in England and attended a small IRA training camp with him in Pettigo in 1973.
The pair later cooperated in the 1974 bombing of the Stravan police station using a hijacked helicopter.
Last week, a group of victims of trouble called on police to investigate claims of Rose Dougdale’s IRA activities.
Dublin, now living in Dublin at the age of 80, has previously been in prison for nine years for stealing the art used to fund the escape of IRA prisoners.
Sean O’Driscoll’s book claims she was involved in the development of the bomb-making technology used in several IRA attacks.
They are said to have killed three people in a 1992 attack on the Baltic Exchange and two more in a 1996 London Docklands bomb.
Heiress, Rebel, Vigilante, Bomber: Rose Dugdale’s extraordinary life by Sean O’Driscoll, publications from Sandycove can be purchased at bookstores and online for £ 18.99.