Name/Title
Framed set of photographs of the Salcey Forest IRA weapons and explosives cache 1984Entry/Object ID
2399Description
Large glass fronted picture frame 76cm x 80cm, containing a collection of 10 mounted photographs of an IRA weapon's/explosive's cache, together with a Northamptonshire Police photographic exhibits booklet marked "Salcey Forest 25.1.84"Use
Photographic evidence relating to an IRA weapons and explosives cache discovered in 1984 and part of a group of items relating to the Grand Hotel Bombing investigation.Context
In January 1984 a police surveillance operation led to the discovery of an IRA weapon's and explosive's cache, hidden inside a buried plastic dustbin, in Salcey Forest in Northamptonshire. Forensic examination of the items found, recovered evidence, including fingerprints, that were subsequently linked to a number of bombing investigations, including that into the subsequent Grand Hotel explosion. The cache included a number of long delay timers which were numbered 1 to 7, with number 4 missing. It is believed that this missing timer was the one used in the Grand Hotel bomb, later that year.
On 12th October 1984 this bomb exploded at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, whilst it was hosting guests staying for the Conservative party Conference being held in Brighton, killing 5 people and injuring 31. The bomb was planted by the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) in an attempt to kill the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and members of her government.
In September 1986 Patrick Magee was convicted of planting the bomb and five counts of murder.
This framed set of photographs of the Salcey Forest cache, forms part of a collection of Grand Hotel bomb enquiry items that came from Sussex Police and are thought to have been part of display that at one time was located at Police HQ in Lewes.