40th Anniversary of Brighton Bombing

On October 12, 1984, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated a bomb at the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party Conference, aimed at killing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. The bomb, planted by IRA volunteer Patrick Magee, exploded at 2:54 AM, resulting in five deaths and 34 injuries, marking it as one of the most significant attacks in the Troubles. Magee, who was later convicted and released under the Good Friday Agreement, expressed regret for the lives lost but justified the attack as a response to British actions in Northern Ireland. The bombing fundamentally altered the discourse on Irish reunification and highlighted the ongoing tensions between unionists and republicans. Commemorative documentaries and retrospectives are being produced to mark the 40th anniversary, reflecting on the attack's historical context and lasting impacts. This event remains a pivotal moment in British and Irish history, illustrating the complexities of the conflict.