Forty one years ago today, four explosive devices detonated in Dublin and Monaghan. 33 people, including a heavily pregnant woman, lost their lives that day.
Three car bombs went off in the capital just before 5.30pm on Friday May 17, 1974.
Two of the bombs were located on Talbot and Parnell Streets. The third one exploded on South Leinster Street near Trinity College.
A few minutes later, a fourth device detonated outside a pub in Monaghan, killing seven people. Scores of people were injured in the blast.
The then Taoiseach Liam Cosgrove condemned the atroticies, saying “I do not know which evil men did this but everyone who has practised violence or preached violence or condoned violence must bear his share of responsiblility. It will bring home to us what the people of Northern Ireland have been suffering for five long years.”
Both the Ulster Defence Association in Belfast and the Provisional IRA denied planting and setting off the bombs.
It was later discovered that all four cars used in the attacks had Ulster registration plates, and two of them had been hijacked in Protestant areas in Belfast.
Speaking at an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the bombings last year, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said those who died in the attacks “will never be forgotten”.