SBP editorial: Apathy and amnesia about the Troubles’ worst atrocity

The scene of one of the Dublin bombings

May 17, 1974, was a Friday. Just as people in Dublin were streaming out of work to enjoy the weekend, three car bombs exploded in Dublin city centre.

The bombs had been planted on Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street, and went off within four minutes of each other – at 5.28pm, 5.30pm and 5.32 pm. Twenty-seven people were killed.

An hour and 36 minutes later, at precisely 6.58pm, a bomb ...