Dissident Republicans Blamed for Lyra McKee's Death
Dissident republicans are accused of firing shots aimed at police officers that killed 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee during disorder in Londonderry on April 18, 2019. The incident is one in a line of sporadic attacks on the security forces over the last 18 years committed by violent extremists opposed to Northern Ireland's peace process.
Early Attacks: 2008-2010
In May 2008, a Catholic Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer sustained serious leg injuries when a bomb detonated under his car near Castlederg, Co Tyrone. In March 2009, two soldiers, Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey, were shot dead by the Real IRA outside Massereene military barracks in Co Antrim. Just 48 hours later, police officer Stephen Carroll was shot dead while responding to a call in Craigavon, Co Armagh.
In January 2010, Catholic police constable Peadar Heffron, 33, was seriously injured when a booby trap device detonated under his car about a mile from his home in Randalstown, Co Antrim. That same month, the Real IRA fired shots at a police station in Bessbrook, Co Armagh, with no injuries reported. In February 2010, Kieran Doherty, 31, was found shot dead close to the border in Co Londonderry; the Real IRA claimed responsibility, stating Doherty was one of its members. Also in February 2010, a bomb exploded outside Newry courthouse, damaging the gates but causing no injuries.
In April 2010, a bomb exploded outside Newtownhamilton police station, causing considerable damage. Another bomb in a hijacked taxi exploded outside Palace Barracks in Holywood, which includes MI5 headquarters, injuring one man. In August 2010, three children suffered minor injuries when a bomb exploded in a bin in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
Deadly Attacks: 2011-2013
In April 2011, Catholic police recruit Ronan Kerr, 25, was killed when a bomb exploded under his car at his home in Omagh, Co Tyrone. In September 2011, the Real IRA was blamed for two bomb attacks at the home of a Catholic police officer and a retired doctor who works for the police near Claudy, Co Derry. In October 2011, a bomb exploded outside the UK City of Culture offices in Derry.
In January 2012, a Scottish soldier found a bomb inside his car parked at his girlfriend's house in the Ligoniel area of north Belfast. In November 2012, prison officer David Black, 52, was gunned down as he drove along the M1 motorway to work at Maghaberry high security jail; the New IRA claimed responsibility. In December 2012, an off-duty police officer discovered a bomb under his car in east Belfast.
In March 2013, police escaped injury when a device exploded in a bin during a parade in Lurgan. In October 2013, dissident republicans were blamed for a series of letter bomb attacks; packages addressed to secretary of state Theresa Villiers and two senior police officers were made safe. In November 2013, a bomb in a hijacked car partially exploded close to the Victoria Square shopping complex in Belfast city centre, with no injuries. In December 2013, a bomb in a sports bag exploded in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, disrupting Christmas celebrations.
Continued Violence: 2014-2019
In February 2014, letter bombs were sent to Army careers offices in Oxford, Slough, Kent, Brighton, Hampshire and Berkshire, with dissident republicans blamed. In March 2014, police were attacked with a mortar in west Belfast; no injuries and minimal damage were reported. In May 2014, the reception area of a hotel in Londonderry was damaged by a fire bomb. In April 2015, a bomb exploded outside a Probation Service office in Derry, with no one hurt. In June 2015, a bomb was discovered under a police officer's car in Eglinton, Co Derry; the target's wife also served with the PSNI.
In October 2015, a police recruitment event in Londonderry was cancelled after a bomb was discovered in the grounds of the venue. In November 2015, police officers escaped injury after eight high velocity shots were fired at their patrol car in west Belfast. In March 2016, prison officer Adrian Ismay died two weeks after a bomb exploded under his van at Hillsborough Drive in east Belfast.
In January 2017, a police officer was injured in a shooting at a filling station on the Crumlin Road in Belfast; the garage's busy forecourt was sprayed with automatic gunfire. In February 2017, a device exploded close to a police officer's car in the Culmore area of Derry. In January 2019, a bomb placed in a van exploded outside the courthouse in Derry; police blamed the blast on the New IRA. In March 2019, the New IRA claimed responsibility for sending small explosive devices in the post to two airports and a train station in London and the University of Glasgow.
Lyra McKee Killing and Aftermath: 2019-2026
In April 2019, journalist and author Lyra McKee, 29, was shot dead by dissidents while observing rioting in the Creggan area of Derry. The New IRA claimed the attack. In June 2019, an unexploded bomb was found under a police officer's car parked at Shandon Park Golf Club in Belfast; the New IRA claimed responsibility for the failed murder bid. In July 2019, a device exploded in Craigavon; police blamed dissident republicans and said it was a clear attempt to murder police officers. In August 2019, a bomb detonated near the border in Co Fermanagh; the attack at Wattlebridge was blamed on the Continuity IRA, seen as another bid to target police and Army bomb disposal officers. In September 2019, a bomb in an "advanced state of readiness" was found in the Creggan area of Derry; police said the device, attributed to the New IRA, was designed to kill police officers.
In August 2020, the alleged leadership of the New IRA suffered a major blow with a series of arrests prompted by an MI5 surveillance operation. In April 2021, a bomb was placed beside a car parked outside the home of a female officer in Dungiven, Co Derry. In March 2022, the Government lowered the threat level for dissident republican attacks in Northern Ireland from severe to substantial; the threat had been severe—the highest level—since 2010. In November 2022, a police patrol vehicle sustained damage after being targeted by an explosive device in Strabane, Co Tyrone; days later, a viable explosive device was discovered in a hijacked car left outside Waterside PSNI station in Derry.
On February 22, 2023, senior police officer Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot at a sports complex in Omagh, Co Tyrone in an attack blamed on the New IRA. In March 2023, the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland was increased from substantial to severe, meaning the risk of attack was increased to "highly likely" from "likely". Also in March 2023, dissident republicans were reported to have gathered information on serving police officers mistakenly published online in a PSNI data breach.
On April 21, 2025, police were attacked during a dissident republican Easter Rising commemoration in Derry. On March 30, 2026, a delivery driver was hijacked in the Kilwilkie area of Lurgan and forced at gunpoint to drive a device in his vehicle to the town's police station, sparking a security alert. On April 25, 2026, a delivery driver was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast, a device placed inside the vehicle and ordered to drive to Dunmurry police station where the car later exploded. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said he believes it was likely to have been the work of the New IRA.
