guard THE Army's Ulster headquarters should have been the Province's most guarded installation. But someone managed to plant two car bombs which were detonated, injuring 31 people including two children.

There is speculation that terrorists posed as site workers to dodge security checks or that members of staff were forced to plant the bombs following death threats to their families.

So far no one has claimed responsibility for the devices at the barracks in Lisburn, County Antrim.

But whoever planted the bombs knew exactly what they were about. One bomb was in a car park near an officers' mess and the other was some distance away on a road leading to the base's medical centre.

It was a cold-blooded exercise and it is amazing the casualty list was not longer given the size of the bombs.

The Lisburn barracks was supposed to be one of the most secure British bases in the world. And troops felt it was relatively safe because of its location in a strong Unionist area. Obviously there can never be room for complacency and constant reassessment of security measures is necessary.

Meanwhile, the peace process seems to be taking an interminable length of time to get going after the summer recess. Are the politicians still on holiday, or do party conferences take precedence over peace?

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