The backdrop to Claudy:

Although very close to a city which had become immersed in violence and bloodshed since the outset of the troubles, the rural idyll of Claudy had until the morning of July 31, 1972, remained unscathed from the mayhem that virtually sat on its doorstep. But, by lunchtime of that summer day the serenity of Claudy would be shattered forever.

The shockwaves of violence that would claim nine lives in the village had its epicentre in Londonderry that morning as the Army launched its biggest operation since the Suez Crisis of 1956.

By the end of 1971, 29 barricades were in place in Londonderry to prevent security force access to what had become known as 'Free Derry'. It is estimated that 16 of these barricades were impassable even to the heaviest of Army vehicles. The republican 'no-go areas' in the city were openly patrolled by both the Official and Provisional IRA.

Operation Motorman began around 4am on July 31. Its aim was to smash and re-take 'no-go areas'.

In the days before Operation Motorman about 4,000 additional troops were brought into Ulster. It is thought that almost 22,000 soldiers were involved in the operation. And, it is also thought that the large and quick escalation in military activity alerted both wings of the IRA that a major event was being planned.

In the 'no-go areas' of 'Free Derry' sirens were sounded by residents to alert the population to the coming Army incursions. Both the Provisionals and Officials were not equipped to handle such a scenario and did not attempt to defend their areas in the face of overwhelming odds. In fact the majority of IRA members had exited the 'no-go areas' in advance of Motorman, which resulted in the clearance of the barricades and the flooding of the areas by British troops within a matter of hours.

During the operation in Creggan the Army shot dead 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty and 19-year-old IRA member Seamus Bradley.

Speaking recently to the Sentinel, one of those badly wounded at Claudy, UUP Councillor Mary Hamilton recalled the hours before the attacks and the first conversation she had had that morning.

She said: "I remember it as vividly as yesterday. A neighbouring woman came into the shop and said the Army were going into the Bogside."