McWhirter Assassinated: IRA Targets a Symbol

Provisional IRA gunmen assassinated Ross McWhirter, co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records, at his London doorstep on November 27, 1975, days after he publicly offered a reward for information on the IRA's English bombing campaign. McWhirter and his twin brother Norris had created the Guinness Book of Records in 1955, compiling a compendium of superlatives that became one of the best-selling books in publishing history. By the 1970s, Ross McWhirter had become increasingly active in conservative political causes and was outspoken in his opposition to Irish republican violence. He announced at a press conference that he was personally offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a series of IRA bombings and shootings across England in the autumn of 1975. The campaign had included bombings of London restaurants, pubs, and government buildings that killed and injured dozens. Two IRA volunteers, Harry Duggan and Hugh Doherty, shot McWhirter on his doorstep in front of his wife as he answered the door on the evening of November 27. The killing silenced one of the most prominent civilian voices opposing IRA violence and demonstrated the organization's willingness to target public figures on British soil who challenged their campaign. The Balcombe Street Gang, as the unit became known, was captured after a siege in London the following month. All four members received life sentences. McWhirter's brother Norris continued editing the Guinness Book and established a charitable foundation in Ross's memory.