Home / War and Conflict / 50 Years On: Forgotten Troubles Victim Honored
50 Years On: Forgotten Troubles Victim Honored
15 Sep
Summary
- Victim's granddaughter highlights overlooked suffering.
- Bombing injured 15, printer died days later.
- Newspaper produced a special 'Penny Marvel' edition.
The 50th anniversary of the death of Joseph Paton, a printer at the Belfast Telegraph, highlights the often-forgotten victims of the Troubles. Paton died in hospital days after an IRA bombing on the newspaper's offices on September 15, 1976. His granddaughter, Amanda Pollock, emphasized the need to remember the grief and suffering endured by families during that violent period.
The bombing, which involved 50-100 pounds of explosives in a van, injured fifteen people. Despite the destruction, including damaged printing presses, the Belfast Telegraph’s staff were determined to publish. They produced a special four-page edition the following day, sold for a penny, earning the nickname 'Penny Marvel'.
Pollock, who was ten when her grandfather died, described him as a non-political family man. She noted the immense pressure on the workforce, who had to resume work shortly after the attack without adequate time to grieve. The attack remains a poignant reminder of the personal toll the Troubles exacted.
A memorial service is scheduled at St Anne's Cathedral to honor Joseph Paton and all those affected by the bombing. Two individuals were convicted for their involvement in the attack.
