The killers were apprehended a mile from the factory after a disastrous getaway. Their Vauxhall Astra got stuck in rough ground a short distance away, so they hijacked a passing car. However, they somehow crashed this vehicle and attempted to flee on foot before being spotted by soldiers.
Four men from County Tyrone received life sentences for the murder, including the man who knew Private Hardy.
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| Private John Hardy |
Private Hardy was 48 and lived in Dungannon. He had served in the UDR for almost twenty years, since its foundation in 1970. He had previously served with the Territorials. He was survived by his wife and two sons. Ulster Unionist MP Ken Maginnis had served with Private Hardy in the UDR for 11 years and was quickly on the scene after hearing of the attack. He told reporters: "I knew him from the regiment, I knew him from church and I knew his wife and two children. He was a quiet, sensible man whose main concern was for his family and after that for his job and the regiment. In many ways he was the typical soft target the terrorists always go after. Like every other UDR man he simply went about his normal work while daily running the gauntlet of IRA terrorism".
