40 Years Of Hell For IRA Murder Victim's Family

Third generation carries scars of soldier’s killing

- Rebecca Black

The family of a British soldier murdered by the IRA 40 years ago said the time has not healed their hurt.

Ivan Toombs, 42, was shot in his office at the docks at Warrenpoint, Co Down, on January 16, 1981.

His eldest son Paul – who was 16 at the time – recalled a difficult time for his family with his mother ill in hospital.

Mr. Toombs, a part-time UDR officer, had survived a previous attempt on his life in 1976, which led Paul to hope his father would also survive this attack.

He said: “The drive from Newry High School to Warrenpoint seemed to go on for ages. Some of the girls thought it was our mum as she had a serious operation.

“It was just a horrendous time. We got by with the help of our grandmother and friends.

“It takes an exceptional person like my mum to hold the whole thing together.”