Almost half a century ago, Northern Ireland’s home affairs minister John Taylor was ambushed leaving the family engineering business in his home town of Armagh.
Two men raked the 34-year-old’s car with machine-gun fire. He was hit five times in the face and neck and left for dead, slumped over the steering wheel.
Somehow, the politician, just about to become a father, survived. But his wounds were so severe he spent a year in hospital, requiring reconstructive surgery to the jaw.
The Official IRA claimed responsibility for what was the first assassination attempt on a member of the Northern Ireland government.
Sacked minister Johnny Mercer to lead respect our veterans march through London on May 8 after daughter of soldier shot dead in The Troubles tells of joy as trial of troops accused of murdering IRA leader COLLAPSES
Johnny Mercer expressed frustration at a lack of progress on legislation to protect British veterans who served during the Troubles from prosecution
Soldier A and Soldier C accused of murdering Official IRA leader Joe McCann
A judge in the landmark trial of ruled crucial evidence inadmissible yesterday
Mercer last night announced he would be helping to organise a march on May 8
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But the Crown lawyer said the statement had a provenance and had been located in original case files that were re-examined by the police s historical inquiries team in 2010.
He said a gateway had been established to admit it as hearsay evidence to the trial with the agreement of both the defence and prosecution.
The family of Joe McCann arrive at Laganside Court with Solicitor Niall Murphy on Monday morning
Joe McCann s long IRA career in full over just seven years of attacks
1965 - Joins the IRA at the age of 17
Dec 3, 1965 - Convicted of possessing Army bayonets and being an IRA member and was sentenced to a year in prison.
IRA commander killed 15 British soldiers before he was allegedly murdered dailymail.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymail.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
THE £1MILLION money laundering trial of a director of one of Belfast s most famous bars may have to be held at the Waterfront Hall due to Covid-19.
The possibility was revealed at Belfast Crown Court during a brief hearing of the case of Elizabeth Lily Mulholland, who is accused, along with eight others, of a construction industry VAT fraud.
The 66-year-old is one of the directors of Kelly s Cellars, one of the city s oldest bars and famed for its links to the United Irishmen.
Mulholland, of the Cavehill Road in north Belfast, is charged with converting criminal property valued at £1,168,060 between June 2010 and March 2012.