OPERATION 'JUDY'

The IRA's description of the ambush is shown at this page.

An Phoblachts version.

The Guardian

The Buildup

Intelligence said that the PIRA was planning to mount a massive bomb attack on the small village police station at Loughall. So, on the 8th of May 1987, Operation Judy was put in place. This envolved forty SAS men, with RUC Headquarters Mobile Support Unit and regular army units standing by to seal off the area. The SAS group was Ulster Troop, armed with G3's and at least two GPMG's. The rest of the SAS were from G Squadron and were armed with M16's and designated the cutoff group, to stop the IRA's escape.

The Ambush

1. At 19 15, a blue Toyota van and a mechanical digger approached the police station. The digger was carrying a 100kg bomb in its bucket, and the Toyota was the getaway vehicle.
2. The van stops outside the police station, and the occupants jump out, spraying the station with gunfire from G3 and FNC assault rifles.
3. Then, the SAS ambush group open fire on the IRA, pumping over 1000 rounds into the body of the two vehicles.
4. The IRA, in the confusion, managed to detonate the bomb, flattening part of the police station.
5. All eight members of the IRA present, although wearing body armour, were still killed by the SAS.

The Aftermath

After the incident, all members of the IRA East Tyrone Brigade lay dead, with no SAS or RUC seriously injured. Unfortunately, one innocent civilian was killed as he drove through one of the cut off groups. When the shooting had stopped, the support units completely sealed off the area, and airlifted the SAS out before the World's media decended on the scene of the SAS's most sucessful assault on the IRA.