soldiers injured when two gas cylinders planted in Jackson's Sport on Bedford Street exploded. Attempted assassination of a part-time 51-year-old UDR soldier at his farm in Ballymena, County Antrim. A bomb exploded beneath his tractor causing serious injuries and a leg was amputated in hospital. 14 December 1977: An undercover British soldier was shot dead in an IRA ambush in the Turf Lodge area of Belfast. Two RUC officers injured by IRA bomb planted outside a florist on Lisburn Road, Belfast. Two bombs exploded in Derry, damaging McDowell's electrical shop and Monaghan's furniture store. 15 December 1977: An UDR mobile border patrol was attacked by IRA gunmen with automatic weapons in Kinawley, County Fermanagh. 16 December 1977: The IRA attempted the assassination of a suspected informer. Two gunmen opened fire at Ford's Cross in Crossmaglen on the lorry driver who veered across the road and overturned. He was treated for cuts and bruises. The IRA failed to kill an off-duty RUC officer in Bangor as he drove home along Newtownards Road. The officer fired back and managed to survive the attack. 17 December 1977: The IRA fired on a RUC mobile patrol at Dromore, County Tyrone. Two officers suffered injuries. 18 December 1977: James Clifford, a 53-year-old Protestant civilian, was shot dead outside his home on Belgrave Street in the Shankill area of Belfast. 20 December 1977: An RUCR officer was maimed by an IRA booby-trap device planted beneath his car on Ashley Avenue, Belfast. 21 December 1977: Five hotels across Northern Ireland were damaged when IRA firebombs exploded in them. 22 December 1977: The IRA announced a Christmas ceasefire. 1978 12 January 1978: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Newry. 13 January 1978: The IRA seriously damaged the Guildhall, Derry, in a bomb attack. There were no injuries. 23 January 1978: A number of British soldiers were wounded and had to be airlifted to hospital following an IRA mortar attack on the British Army/RUC base in Forkill, County Armagh. The mortars were fired from a flatbed truck and hit the sleeping quarters. Afterward, three RUC officers were hurt by a booby-trap bomb planted in the truck. 30 January 1978: Bernard Brown, a Catholic supermarket employee (aged 50), originally from Northern Ireland, was shot and wounded during an IRA robbery of the premises in Killygordon, County Donegal. He died of his injuries on 3 February. 4