LCpl Alan Coughlan

Attachment 2683Attachment 2684LCpl Alan Coughlan was killed by the IRA on the 28th October 1974 at Ballykinlar Camp Northern Ireland. The terrorists had placed a large device close to the Sandes Centre, which was a Christian managed canteen that provided a recreational area and refreshments to the Ballykinlar based soldiers and their families. As a result of the attack, Alan and another soldier Pte Mick Swanick DERR were killed and another 30 people including some civilians were injured.

Alan was 22 yrs old and from Newport, South Wales. He served with the 1st Battalion in Hong Kong before being attached to the Duke Of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (DERR) in Northern Ireland. He was serving with the DERR when he was killed.

He was fully accepted into the DERR regimental family, he was a popular member of their battalion, and known to them as "Taff". Alan represented their Bn in rugby.
His funeral took place at St Woolas Cemetery, Newport, his grave is inscribed with a DERR cap badge.

An Andersontown man was later charged with the murder of the two soldiers. After two trials he was eventually acquitted.

In 1986 a memorial dedicated to LCpl Alan Couglan and Pte Swanick was unveiled outside of the Sandes Centre at Ballykinlar. A memorial plaque is also located at the Garrison Church

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I was serving with the Bn in Londonderry, I also went to school in Birkenhead with Micky Swanick, He lived on the woodchurch estate and was a cracking lad

i have known alan froam our schooldays and sort part of his service a cracking lad who is sadly missed by those of ous who knew him,rip alan.