Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, was known for his close friendship with India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Mountbatten belonged to the British royal family and played a pivotal role in the transition of India to independence. After serving as the Governor of INDIA, he returned to Britain. His life was tragically cut short by extremists.
The Assassination and Initial Beliefs in Lord Mountbatten Bomb Blast
In August 1979, Lord Mountbatten was killed in a bomb blast. For many years, it was widely believed that his murder was carried out by an Indian revolutionary. However, it has now been revealed that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was responsible for the attack. The IRA sought independence for Ireland from British rule.
The Recent Revelation
After 45 years, a shocking revelation has come to light. Michael Hayes, in a conversation with the British news website Daily Mail, confessed that he was the mastermind behind the assassination of Lord Mountbatten, not Thomas McMahon, who was previously convicted for the crime.
Motivations for the Murder of
Michael Hayes, now 90 years old, explained that the motivation behind the murder was revenge.
He stated that the British occupation was causing significant harm to the people of Ireland, and in retaliation, he planned and executed the assassination. As a commanding officer of an IRA battalion, Hayes felt compelled to take drastic measures.
Execution of the Plan
According to Hayes, the decision to assassinate Lord Mountbatten was made after thorough deliberation among IRA commanders. The aim was to send a strong message to Britain to deter its attempts to control Northern Ireland. As a bomb expert, Hayes was entrusted with the mission. Thomas McMahon and other IRA militants planted a 50-pound bomb on Mountbatten’s fishing vessel, Shadow V. The blast killed Mountbatten, his grandson, and another teenager.
Hayes’ Life and Confession
Despite being a suspect, Michael Hayes never faced legal action over the past 45 years. He revealed that he was the primary planner and executor of the attack. On the day of the assassination, Hayes was with his family in Donegal on the north-western coast of Ireland. Today, he lives alone in Dublin, having finally disclosed his role in one of the most infamous assassinations of the 20th century.
