Decoy driver recounts SAS ambush that killed three IRA operatives in Tyrone
George Simm, who acted as a decoy for a planned IRA attack, described how SAS forces intercepted and killed three IRA members near Drumnakilly.
In a remote area near Drumnakilly, County Tyrone, George Simm posed as a coal-truck driver to act as bait for an IRA team that intended to target the real driver, who also worked part-time for Northern Ireland security forces. As the IRA men approached, Simm heard gunfire and saw a vehicle speed toward him before the SAS, hidden in a hedgerow, opened fire, killing all three assailants—Gerard Harte, Martin Harte, and Brian Mullan.
The operation, known as Operation Triennial, was described by the SAS ground commander as an automatic response to an active attack, leaving no chance for arrest. The killings have been cited in ongoing controversies over alleged “shoot-to-kill” policies and were highlighted in a recent podcast series about secret British special-forces missions. Families of the deceased continue to seek accountability, while the UK government debates new legislation that could affect immunity for former security personnel. The case illustrates the lingering legal and moral complexities of the Troubles era.
