Families to gather to remember 50th anniversary of M62 bombing

Relatives of those killed in the M62 coach bombing in West Yorkshire will gather to remember the dead at a memorial service on the 50th anniversary on Sunday.

Twelve people were killed, including two children aged five and two, on February 4 1974, when a IRA bomb hidden in the luggage compartment of the coach exploded.

The coach was carrying soldiers and their families back to their Catterick base.

Victims’ organisation the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), will be supporting many of the families on the anniversary of the massacre on Sunday.

SEFF director Kenny Donaldson said: “Nine off-duty soldiers, two from the Royal Artillery, three from the Royal Corps of Signals and four from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, and three civilians were slaughtered and 38 others physically or psychologically injured.

“Amongst those murdered were the Haughton family; Clifford, his wife Linda and their two wee boys aged just five and two – an entire family wiped out.

“The boys had wanted to sit in the back seat of the bus oblivious to the bomb which had been planted in the boot.”

Families and survivors of the attack will come together at 11am on Sunday at Westbound services on the M62 at Hartshead Moor, where a memorial to those who died is located.

Mr Donaldson added: “SEFF are privileged to support many of the bereaved families and injured survivors and I will be there to join with those impacted, supported by two of my SEFF GB staff colleagues.”