Mountainview Tavern Bomb
5th April 1975
This was another act of terrorism on my local community by republican terrorists and things could have been so much worse, for my family at least. My uncles and grandfather had been in the pub shortly before the attack and had just left to visit another pub further down the Shankill.
The victims were known by my family and their deaths left a lasting mark on the Shankill and local community. Acts such as this drove young protestant men and women to join the loyalist paramilitaries and take the war to the IRA and their nationalist/republican sympathisers. The sectarian slaughter was self perpetuating and countless innocent lives were lost as death stalked the streets of west Belfast and the loyalist community mourned the deaths of five of their own
.The attack happened at about 6pm. When Two youths opened fire with handguns before detonating the bomb.
Five men, aged between 18 and 52 were killed. One of them, William Andrews, was a member of the UDA.
It was the second pub bombing in Belfast that day. Earlier the UVF had killed two people in an attack on a pub in the New Lodge area of north Belfast
The bar was packed with people waiting to watch the Grand National horse race when the attack happened on the afternoon of Saturday April 5.
Two youths walked in and one opened fire with a handgun before they left the bomb at the door. It exploded moments later, killing four people instantly. One died later in hospital.
While a telephone caller claimed a rival loyalist group was responsible, police blamed the IRA.
The getaway car used in the attack was found abandoned in the nationalist Springfield area.
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The Victims
Mountainview Bar Plaque
On the front wall of the public house close to the front door.
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05 April 1975
Williams Andrews, (33)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast.
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05 April 1975
Alan Madden, (18)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast.
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05 April 1975
Albert Fletcher, (32)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast
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05 April 1975
Nathaniel Adams, (29)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast.
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05 April 1975
Joseph Bell, (52)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast
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Shankill Road Victims Memorial Services 2013
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Update
Published 01/03/2012
A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly bar bomb attack in Belfast 37 years ago.
The blast at the Mountainview Tavern on the Shankill Road in April 1975 killed five people and injured 60 others.
The 54-year-old suspect was arrested by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch in Co Antrim.
The investigation into the attack was reopened after a review by the police’s Historical Enquiries Team (HET).
The bar was packed with people waiting to watch the Grand National horse race when the attack happened on Saturday April 5.
Two youths walked in and one opened fire with a handgun before they left the bomb at the door. It exploded moments later, killing four people instantly. One died later in hospital.
The bar was known to be frequented by members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).
While a telephone caller claimed a rival loyalist group was responsible, police blamed the IRA.
The getaway car used in the attack was found abandoned in the nationalist Springfield area.
The arrested man is being questioned in the police’s Serious Crime Suite in Antrim town.
See Belfast Telegraph for full story
Belfast Child 
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