‘She never truly left us’: Brothers mark 50 years since IRA bomb killed mother

The sons of a woman killed in an IRA firebomb attack 50 years ago have paid tribute to their mother, saying “life has been very tough” but they feel “she has never truly left us”.

Yvonne Dunlop was 27 years old when she was killed by a provisional IRA bomb in the shop where she worked in Ballymena, Co Antrim, in October 1976.

She shouted a warning to her nine-year-old son, Denis, who was blown through the shop window with his hair on fire.

Provisional IRA man Thomas McElwee was arrested for his involvement in the attack and was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for possession of explosives and the manslaughter of Ms Dunlop.

In prison he became involved in the blanket protest before going on hunger strike and died on August 8 1981 at the age of 23, after 62 days on the strike.

Ms Dunlop’s two surviving sons Geoffrey and Terry Dunlop said they were releasing the statement to mark 50 years since the “brutal murder of our Mummy”.

“Provisional IRA terrorists stole away her innocent life, a life that mattered, a life that should have had so much more living to be done,” they said.

“Three of us were left without our Mummy, we were vulnerable then and remain vulnerable now, searching for answers but none have yet arrived. But we are also strong of mind and know what is right and what is wrong.

“We lost Denis in 2007 who was there on the day with Mummy, he just found life so difficult to live beyond what he experienced that day, and died a premature death. Dad is still around but he too has medical challenges.”

The statement continued: “The man convicted of our Mum’s murder, downgraded to manslaughter went on to starve himself to death (Thomas McElwee) as one of the hunger strikers, he had a choice to live, our Mummy was denied that right.

“Neither he nor the others involved in that cruel murder have ever publicly accounted for what they have done, they have not repented of that crime, they have not accepted that their actions were wrong and unjustified – and we cannot and will not forgive against this reality.”

The brothers said they had remained silent for many years.

They added: “Life has been very tough but we have come through and we believe that our Mummy’s presence has been a constant, she has never truly left us.

“We don’t hate anyone but we will not give the terrorists and their many apologists any get out of conscience free card, it’s not ok what they did.

“Neither of us claim to be saved Christians but we do understand the core message of Christianity.

“Christ forgave the sinner on the cross who acknowledged Him as Lord and who asked for Him to remember him and that man was told he’d be in Paradise with Him but the other who continued to mock and rebuke Him was not given that assurance.

“Our beautiful Mummy brought light in the dark world that we were required to live within, and her flame is brighter than any fire caused by terrorists which stole away her innocent life.

“Sunday will be another tough day, our Mummy should be around getting spoilt on it, being Mother’s Day.

“We won’t have such an opportunity and neither will her grandchildren, we’ve all lost so much.

“But the terrorists cannot take away the memories we hold of her goodness, and we will talk to her, just as we do each and every day.”