A special memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of the La Mon bombing, in which 12 people were killed and 23 injured, was held yesterday in east Belfast. A statement issued by the IRA two days after the attack on the La Mon House Restaurant in Castlereagh on February 17th, 1978, admitted responsibility and accepted that a "totally inadequate" warning had been given.
Relatives of the victims and survivors attended yesterday's service in St Finnian's parish church. Canon Noel Batty told the congregation that the last thing needed was the reopening of old wounds, but the service was also for the rest of the population "who forget too easily" as the focus of interest moved to other things.