On 17 February 1978, the Provisional IRA's Belfast Brigade left a large incendiary bomb outside the La Mon House hotel and restaurant in Comber, County Down, near Belfast. The attack, commonly known as the La Mon restaurant bombing, has been described as one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles.
The bomb, containing a napalm-like substance, was left outside one of the restaurant's windows. At the time of the attack, 450 diners, hotel staff, and guests were inside of the building. The IRA stated they tried to send a warning from a public telephone, but were unable to do so until nine minutes before the bomb detonated. The blast created a fireball, killing 12 people and injuring 30 more, many of whom were severely burnt. Many of the injured were treated in the Ulster Hospital in nearby Dundonald.
A Belfast native, Robert Murphy, received twelve life sentences in 1981 for the manslaughter of those who were killed. Murphy was freed from prison on licence in 1995.
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