Clones historian, Brian MacDonald was 15 years old at the time of the attack in 1972.
He said he remembers the explosion vividly and the flash of blue across the sky, with the sound of the bomb coming first and the flash quickly following.
Like many teenagers, Brian attended what was known as ‘The Hop’ that night in St Joseph’s Hall.
Something which he described as a blessing in disguise as it took young people away from the Fermanagh Street area that night, a place which back then would have been a busy area for young people to congregate.
Brian revealed that he remembers the days in the aftermath of the attack, and seeing the ladder used by Mr McCabe against the wall following his fall, and Mr McCabe lying on the ground covered-up.
The Clones historian went on to describe this period of events as “seriously traumatic” and something which hasn’t been dealt with or spoken about openly until now.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Mr MacDonald said, “It was a formative period and I think it’s so important to highlight that this trauma has never been adequately addressed.
“The trauma of those years. It was the unspoken. It’s so great to see Mr McCabe’s death being acknowledged as a consequence of the bomb - which it was.
“His family can at least now know that their loss is at least recognised. Eight children were left bereaved by his death which obviously had consequences for them.
“It is a multi-generational trauma that is unfortunately only being addressed at this stage.
“It is such a relief to have lived through it and to see the years of silence finally opening up.”
