Memorial service marks 'dark day' of Lord Mountbatten's murder

The shame and embarrassment of the Irish nation at the murder of Lord Mountbatten when the IRA blew up his fishing boat while he holidayed on the west coast of Ireland 30 years ago was remembered yesterday.

August 27, 1979 was described as one of the darkest days in modern Irish history at a memorial service overlooking the Atlantic Ocean where the Earl died at Mullaghmore, County Sligo.

A few hours after his death, as the shockwaves continued to reverberate around the globe, the IRA struck again some 150 miles away at Warrenpoint, County Down.

Two 800-pound bombs were detonated beside the Norman Castle at Narrow Water. The first explosion killed 16 members of the Parachute Regiment, the second two members of the Queen's Own Highlanders sent to the scene.

The bombs were detonated from a short distance across Carlingford Lough in the Irish Republic and when troops returned fire a civilian died in the crossfire.

Ironically Londoner Michael Hudson, who was out bird watching, was one of the Queen's Royal coachmen at Buckingham Palace.

Lord Mountbatten was on holiday at Classiebawn Castle in Mullaghmore where he had spent the month of August for decades.

He went out in his 27-foot fishing boat Shadow V and it was blown to smithereens. He lost his legs and died almost immediately.

Killed alongside the 79-year-old cousin of the Queen was one of his twin grandsons, Nicholas Knatchbull, 14, and a County Fermanagh schoolboy who was with them, 15-year-old Paul Maxwell.

The Dowager Lady Brabourne, 83, died the following day from her injuries. The Earl's son and his other grandson recovered.

In Mullaghmore yesterday a church bell tolled 30 times to mark the anniversary at 11.45 a.m. and a small group of villagers gathered on a headland overlooking the spot where the boat went down.

Later an ecumenical service was held in the Star of the Sea Church overlooking the harbour from which Lord Mountbatten set out.