Canary Wharf Bombing; 20 years on

Just off the back of Bill Clinton’s historic first visit to Belfast in November 1995 the Norther Ireland peace process looked on the road to resolution. But after a 17 month ceasefire the IRA shattered that ceasefire by re-engaging in their bombing campaign.

At one minute past seven in the evening a 100 tonne truck bomb decimated Canary Wharf in the middle of London’s business district.

Though the IRA had sent coded warnings to RTE tipping the police off to evacuate the area, two people were killed by the explosion. John Jeffries and Imam Bashir were locking up the newsagents they worked in as the bomb detonated. A further 100 people were injured by the explosion that caused over £150 million in damages.

British Prime Minister John Major was criticized for allowing Sinn Fein to enter peace process talks after the bombing. US congressman Bruce Morrison, who was involved in the peace process described it as showing that Sinn Fein could “bomb their way to the negotiating table.”

In 1997 the bomber, James McArdle, was arrested as part of a sniper team in South Armagh. McArdle was convicted of conspiracy to cause an explosion but not of the murders of Jeffries and Bashir.

After serving 23 months of his 25 year sentence McArdle was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.