The murders of Lord Louis Mountbatten and 18 soldiers by the IRA on one of the bloodiest days of the Troubles have been commemorated 40 years on.
In Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, a service was held to remember the Queen’s second cousin and three others killed when republican paramilitaries blew up their fishing boat.
And at Narrow Water, Co Down, veterans gathered at the roadside spot where two IRA bombs were detonated as troops passed later on the same day in 1979.
The mother and father of Paul Maxwell, a Co Fermanagh teenager who died alongside Lord Mountbatten, were among those who attended the outdoor service on a clifftop overlooking the scene of the atrocity.
John Maxwell and Mary Hornsey laid a wreath together, while Mr Maxwell read a Seamus Heaney poem to the crowd of local people who had come to show support.
At Narrow Water, more than 200 people including veterans and politicians were present for the service and wreath-laying ceremony at the Newry River.
Among those who attended were survivors of the August 27 attack when the IRA set off the remote control devices from a firing point on the far bank in the Republic.
General Sir Mike Jackson, the former head of the British Army, was among those present.
During the cross-community religious service at Mullaghmore, Church of Ireland Archdeacon Isaac Hanna said the day offered an opportunity for everyone on the island to rededicate themselves to the goal of reconciliation.
As Paul Maxwell’s parents watched from the front row, he added: “The events of 40 years ago are hard to imagine as we look out over this scene.
“And yet they speak of innocence lost, they speak of a time when horror visited this coastline and this place, they speak of a time of confusion and fear.
“I also want to say they speak of a time when a community rallied around those that had lost loved ones, when this community stood with this family in particular and all those who had been affected in some way and said, ‘This was not done in our name’.
“We stand with you and there is comfort and strength in knowing you have this support in this place at this time.
“Fear can have a stifling effect on those who are coerced and are intimidated in any way and perhaps that was the intention that day. But the opposite has been the effect.
“Today is as much about rededicating ourselves to the cause of justice, the cause of reconciliation and the cause of freedom so that no person should have to go through what you as a group have gone through.”
After the service, Ms Hornsey said it had been a privilege to attend.
She added: “I think it was absolutely wonderful the community came out today and organised this lovely service of remembrance.
“I would like to say thank you to all of those people who took part in this.
“It has helped us enormously because I feel in this service there was love and support for our family and we appreciate that.”
As well as killing Lord Mountbatten and 15-year-old crew member Paul, the blast also claimed the life of the earl’s grandson Nicholas Knatchbull, who was 14.
Lady Doreen Brabourne, the 83-year-old mother-in-law of Lord Mountbatten’s daughter, died from her injuries the following day.
At Narrow Water, in addition to the 18 soldiers killed, there was also a 19th victim.
William Michael Hudson, 29, a civilian visiting the Republic from London, was hit by a bullet fired by troops across the Newry River. His cousin Barry Hudson was injured.
After the service in Co Down, Graham Eve – a former member of the Parachute Regiment who was deployed to secure the scene in the aftermath of the bombs – urged politicians to restore the powersharing government at Stormont.
He said: “What I am bitter at now is the politics of the country and why we still haven’t got this sorted out.
The Secretary of State should turn around to the politicians of this country and say, ‘Stormont will be open on Monday morning. You turn up, you get paid. You don’t turn up, you get sacked’.
“Let’s take it from there and sort this bloody thing out.
“Why are they still arguing? Why is there so much hatred? Put the orange away, put the green away, let’s move forward.
“It’s terrible and I am so annoyed by the politicians. I appreciate the history of the past but that’s the problem – it’s the past.
“Let’s forget about the word ‘past’ and let’s move forward, please.
“I am not going to die a bitter man. I have no bitterness in me.”
