2009 Massereene Barracks shooting

2009 Massereene Barracks shooting
2009 Massereene Barracks shooting (Northern Ireland)
Location	Massereene Barracks, Antrim, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Date	7 March 2009 (2009-03-07) ~21:40[1] (UTC)
Attack type	Ambush
Weapon(s)	H&K G3A3 battle rifles[2][3]
Death(s)	2 soldiers
Injured	2 soldiers, 2 civilians
Perpetrator	Real IRA

The 2009 Massereene Barracks shooting occurred on 7 March 2009, when two off-duty soldiers of the 38 Engineer Regiment were shot dead outside Massereene Barracks in Antrim town, Northern Ireland. Two other soldiers and two civilian delivery men, one Polish and one Northern Irish, were also shot and wounded during the attack. An Irish republican paramilitary group, the Real IRA, issued a statement claiming responsibility.

The attack

The attack began at approximately 21:40 that evening when four off-duty British Army soldiers of the Royal Engineer regiment walked outside the barracks to receive a pizza delivery from two delivery men.^[4][5] As the exchange was taking place, two gunmen in a nearby car (a green Vauxhall Cavalier) opened fire with Heckler & Koch G3A3 battle rifles. The firing lasted for more than 30 seconds with more than 60 shots being fired.^[6] Two of the soldiers, Sappers Mark Quinsey from Birmingham and Patrick Azimkar from London, were killed^[7][8] and the other two soldiers and two deliverymen were injured.^[9][10] After the initial shots which wounded the victims, the gunmen walked over to them and fired again at the wounded prone figures at close range, killing two of the soldiers.^[4][11] A few hours later, the car involved was found abandoned near Randalstown, eight miles from the barracks.^[12] The soldiers were wearing desert fatigues and were to be deployed to Afghanistan the next day.^[4][13]

A Dublin-based newspaper, the Sunday Tribune, received a phone call from a caller using a recognised Real IRA codeword. The caller claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the Real IRA, adding that the civilian pizza deliverymen were legitimate targets as they were "collaborating with the British by servicing them."^[14]

The shootings were the first British military fatalities in Northern Ireland since Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was shot dead by the South Armagh Sniper in February 1997, during the period known as "The Troubles".^[15] The attack came days after a suggestion by Northern Ireland's police chief, Sir Hugh Orde, that the likelihood of a terrorist attack in Northern Ireland was at its highest level for several years.^[16] The barracks were shut down in 2010 as part of a further reduced presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland.^[17]

Related incidents

In January 2009, security forces had to defuse a bomb in Castlewellan,^[18] and in 2008 three separate incidents saw dissident republicans attempt to kill Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers in Derry, Castlederg and Dungannon, County Tyrone.^[16] In all three cases, PSNI officers were seriously wounded. Two of the attacks involved firearms while the other employed an under-car booby-trap bomb.

Two days after the Massereene Barracks shooting, PSNI officer Stephen Carroll was shot dead by a sniper in Craigavon, County Armagh. This was the first killing of a police officer in Northern Ireland since 1998.^[19] The Continuity IRA claimed responsibility for this shooting and stated that "As long as there is British involvement in Ireland, these attacks will continue".^[20]

Arrests

On 14 March 2009, police in Northern Ireland arrested three men in connection with the killings, one of whom was former IRA prisoner Colin Duffy, 41, who has broken away from mainstream republicans and criticised Sinn Féin's decision to back the new Police Service of Northern Ireland.^[21] On 25 March 2009, after a judicial review of their detention, all the men were ordered to be released by the Belfast High Court, however, Duffy was immediately re-arrested on suspicion of murder.^[22] On 26 March 2009, Duffy was formally charged with the murder of the two soldiers and the attempted murder of five other people, and the following day he appeared in court for indictment and was remanded in custody to await trial after it was alleged that his full DNA profile was found on a latex glove inside the vehicle used to commit the killings.^[23][24]

Forty-four-year-old Brian Shivers was also charged with the murders of two soldiers and the attempted murder of six other people. He has also been charged with possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He was arrested in Magherafelt in July 2009.^[25][26]

Reaction

The morning after the attack worshippers came out of St Comgall's Church after mass and kept vigil near the barracks. They were joined by their priest and clerics from the town's other churches.

The killings were condemned by all mainstream political parties in Northern Ireland, the Irish government, the United States government and Pope Benedict XVI.^[27][28][29] Initially, Sinn Féin was criticised for delaying its response and describing the killings as simply "wrong".^[30]

• First Minister Peter Robinson suggested that the shooting was a "terrible reminder of the events of the past" and that "These murders were a futile act by those who command no public support and have no prospect of success in their campaign. It will not succeed."^[2]
• Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said "I was a member of the IRA, but that war is over now. The people responsible for last night's incident are clearly signalling that they want to resume or restart that war. Well, I deny their right to do that."^[31] He later stated that the shooters of the PSNI officer killed two days later were "traitors to the island of Ireland".^[32]
• Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams condemned the shootings saying that those responsible had "no support, no strategy to achieve a United Ireland. Their intention is to bring British soldiers back onto the streets. They want to destroy the progress of recent times and to plunge Ireland back into conflict. Irish republicans and democrats have a duty to oppose this and to defend the peace process."^[33]

• British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the scene of the attack on 9 March 2009 and met political leaders in Northern Ireland to urge a united front in the face of the violence. He stated that "The whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attacks on soldiers serving their country" and also that "No murderer will be able to derail a peace process that has the support of the great majority of Northern Ireland."^[31]
• Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen said "A tiny group of evil people can not and will not undermine the will of the people of Ireland to live in peace together. Violence has been utterly rejected by the people of this island, both North and South."^[34][35]

• On 11 March 2009, thousands of people attended silent protests against the recent killings at several venues in Northern Ireland.^[36]
• At a press conference on 25 March 2009, Richard Walsh, the spokesman for Republican Sinn Féin, a party linked to the CIRA, said the killings were "an act of war" rather than murder. "We have always upheld the right of the Irish people to use any level of controlled and disciplined force to drive the British out of Ireland. We make no apology for that." He also described the PSNI as "an armed adjunct of the British Army."^[37]

See also

• Timeline of Real Irish Republican Army actions
• Timeline of the Northern Ireland Troubles and peace process

References

1. ^ "Two British troops killed in N. Ireland". CNN. 2009-03-08. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/03/07/northern.ireland.shooting/. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "'Real IRA was behind army attack'". BBC. 8 March 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7930995.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
3. ^ Mallie, Eamonn (2009-03-08). "Two soldiers dead in N Ireland army base shooting: police". Yahoo! News. Yahoo!. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090308/wl_uk_afp/britainnirelandmilitarycrimetollsoldiers_20090308001419. Retrieved 2009-03-08. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Two soldiers shot dead in attack on Antrim barracks". Irish Times. 2009-03-08. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0308/breaking2.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
5. ^ "Pizza delivery men among wounded in Northern Ireland terrorist attack". Belfast Telegraph. 2009-03-08. Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/pizza-delivery-men-among-wounded-in-northern-ireland-terrorist-attack-14217891.html. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
6. ^ "Terrorists murder Ulster policeman (para 7)". The Scotsman. 2009-03-10. Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Massereene-attack-60-shots-in.5054144.jp. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
7. ^ Booth, Jenny; Evans, Michael; Sharrock, David (2009-03-09). "Army names Sappers killed in Ulster attack and defends guards who did not fire back". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5873840.ece. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
8. ^ MOD press release: Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey killed in Northern Ireland
9. ^ "Army attack 'brutal and cowardly'". BBC. 2009-03-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7933530.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
10. ^ "Pole Wounded in IRA Attack". Krakow Post. 2009-03-09. http://www.krakowpost.com/articles/2009/03/09/1248.html. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
11. ^ "How the barracks attack unfolded". BBC. 2009-03-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7931260.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
12. ^ "PM Brown in terror summit in wake of RIRA double murder at Massereene". Belfast Telegraph. 2009-03-09. Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/pm-brown-in-terror-summit-in-wake-of-rira-double-murder-at-massereene-14218521.html. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
13. ^ Massereene Barracks attack started with pizza order. 2009-03-08. Retrieved on 2009-03-08
14. ^ "Real IRA Group 'Claims Army Barracks Attack'". Sky_News. 2009-03-08. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Northern-Ireland-Shooting-South-Antrim-Brigade-Of-Real-IRA-Claims-Attack-In-Call-To-Sunday-Tribune/Article/200903215237131?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15237131_Northern_Ireland_Shooting%3A_South_Antrim_Brigade_Of_Real_IRA_Claims_Attack_In_Call_To_Sunday_Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
15. ^ "Two die in 'barbaric' Army attack". BBC News. 2009-03-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7930837.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
16. ^ ^{a b} Nikkhah, Roya (2009-03-08). "Two killed in attack on Antrim Army base in Northern Ireland". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/4955494/Two-killed-in-attack-on-Antrim-Army-base-in-Northern-Ireland.html. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
17. ^ Army base savings ‘should be used to fight dissidents' Belfast Telegraph, 23 July 2009
18. ^ "Two British soldiers killed in Northern Ireland attack". Reuters. 2009-03-08. http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKTRE52700320090308?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
19. ^ "Policeman shot dead in N Ireland". BBC News. 2009-03-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7933990.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
20. ^ "Two men held over PSNI murder". Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/craigavon.html. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
21. ^ "Police Under Attack After Antrim Arrests". Independent Television News. 2009-03-15. Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://itn.co.uk/f46fee10c7510fdfacb8ee0630661760.html. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
22. ^ "Duffy Rearrested after High Court Judge overturns detention ruling". Belfast Telegraph. 2009-03-26. Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/duffy-rearrested-after-high-court-judge-overturns-detention-ruling-14242584.html. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
23. ^ O'hara, Victoria (2009-03-27). "Colin Duffy in DNA link to soldiers’ killings, court told". London: The Independent. Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/duffy-charged-with-murdering-two-soldiers-1655488.html. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
24. ^ "Man charged over soldier murders". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-03-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7967147.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
25. ^ BBC Northern Ireland: Man in court over soldier murders
26. ^ BBC Northern Ireland: Murder gang 'taped themselves'
27. ^ "Taoiseach says tiny, evil group will not undermine peace". Irish Times. 2009-03-09. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0309/1224242515482.html. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
28. ^ "British prime minister visits scene of Co Antrim killings". Irish Times. 2009-03-09. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0309/breaking7.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
29. ^ Protests over Dissident Murders. BBC News
30. ^ Gerry Adams defends response to murder of soldiers guardian.co.uk, Monday 9 March 2009 09.16 GMT
31. ^ ^{a b} "'Real IRA was behind army attack'". BBC News. 2009-03-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7930995.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
32. ^ "'McGuinness: 'These people are traitors". BBC News. 2009-03-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7934894.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
33. ^ "Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams Condemns NI Shootings". Sky News. 2009-03-08. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Northern-Ireland-Shootings-Sinn-Fein-Condemns-Attack/Article/200903215236927?lpos=UK_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15236927_Northern_Ireland_Shootings%3A_Sinn_Fein_Condemns_Attack. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
34. ^ "Two U.K. Soldiers Killed in Northern Ireland Attack". Bloomberg. 2009-03-08. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aXMElMs02.Pk&refer=europe. 
35. ^ "Two British soldiers shot dead in Antrim". RTÉ News. 2009-03-08. Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0308/massereene.html. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 
36. ^ "'Standing in silence for NI peace'". BBC News. 2009-03-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7936691.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
37. ^ Sharrock, David (2009-03-26). "PC's killing an act of war, not murder, says Republican Sinn Fein". London: Times Online. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5982536.ece. Retrieved 2009-03-08.