17 July 1997 Edition
Back issue: RUC murder bid
Tyrone trio lucky to be alive
after their car is riddled with RUC gunfire.
A Sinn Féin member's cool head, coupled with sheer good fortune, saved himself and two women pasengers from death or serious injury when an undercover RUC squad raked his car with gunfire near Greencastle, County Tyrone early on Sunday morning 5 July. And the RUC, incredibly, arrested two of the victims following the attempt on their lives.
Michael Ward, a 38-year-old farmer with five children, together with his housekeeper, Mary (21) and her younger sister, Roisín (15), had just put a cover on hay at Ward's isolated farm in the townland of Coneyglen, near Greencastle.
They were returning towards the Ward home a few miles away at 1.30am when two cars hemmed them in on the lonely road. Ward's immediate suspicion was that it was a loyalist attack.
He attempted to overtake the lead vehicle but, just as he moved out, a flare was fired into the rear car, a light blue Ford Orion, and there was a burst of automatic fire followed by several single shots and yet another automatic burst.
At least six or seven bullets struck Michael Ward's car, a white Peugeot 305 Estate, shattering the windows and grazing Ward's arm.
after their car is riddled with RUC gunfire.
A Sinn Féin member's cool head, coupled with sheer good fortune, saved himself and two women pasengers from death or serious injury when an undercover RUC squad raked his car with gunfire near Greencastle, County Tyrone early on Sunday morning 5 July. And the RUC, incredibly, arrested two of the victims following the attempt on their lives.
Michael Ward, a 38-year-old farmer with five children, together with his housekeeper, Mary (21) and her younger sister, Roisín (15), had just put a cover on hay at Ward's isolated farm in the townland of Coneyglen, near Greencastle.
They were returning towards the Ward home a few miles away at 1.30am when two cars hemmed them in on the lonely road. Ward's immediate suspicion was that it was a loyalist attack.
He attempted to overtake the lead vehicle but, just as he moved out, a flare was fired into the rear car, a light blue Ford Orion, and there was a burst of automatic fire followed by several single shots and yet another automatic burst.
At least six or seven bullets struck Michael Ward's car, a white Peugeot 305 Estate, shattering the windows and grazing Ward's arm.