Relatives mark La Mon IRA bombing

Twelve people were killed and many more badly burned on 17 February 1978

A memorial service to mark the 30th anniversary of an IRA bombing has taken place.

Twelve people were killed and many more badly burned in the La Mon House Hotel attack on 17 February 1978.

The bomb turned the small country hotel, east of Belfast, into an inferno. The commemoration took place at Castlereagh Borough Council.

However, some victims' relatives asked First Minister Ian Paisley to stay away from the event.

Last month, Lilly McDowell, who was injured in the 1978 attack, said DUP leader Mr Paisley had let victims down by sitting in government with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.

The DUP's Jeffery Donaldson said the party respected the victim's feelings.

All those who died in the bombing were attending the annual dinner dance of the Irish Collie Club. Three of them were married couples and seven were women.

They were all Protestants and included a reservist in the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Other senior members of the DUP, which has a majority on the council, were expected to attend.