6th September
Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
Monday 6 September 1971
A 14 year old girl was shot dead by a British soldier in Derry. Edward Heath, then British Prime Minister, met with Jack Lynch, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), at Chequers in England to discuss the situation in Northern Ireland.
William Craig and Ian Paisley spoke at a rally at Victoria Park in Belfast before a crowd of approximately 20,000 people. They called for the establishment of a ‘third force’ to defend ‘Ulster’ This was taken to mean the establishment of a paramilitary force in addition to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army.
Wednesday 6 September 1978
Adams Cleared of IRA Membership Gerry Adams, then Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), was cleared of a charge of membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) when the Judge hearing the case ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that he was a member of the organisation.
Sunday 6 September 1981
The family of Laurence McKeown, then on day 70 of his hunger strike, intervened and asked for medical treatment to save his life. The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) issued a statement saying that it would not replace men on hunger strike at the same rate as before.
[At this stage the INLA had only 28 prisoners in the Maze Prison compared to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) which had approximately 380 prisoners.]
Cahal Daly, then Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, called on Republican prisoners to end the hunger strike.
Thursday 6 September 1984
The government announced that the proposed project to build a pipe-line to bring natural gas from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland would be cancelled. It was also announced that subsidies to the ‘town gas’ industry in Northern Ireland would end with the loss of 1,000 jobs.
Sunday 6 September 1987
Chris Mullin, then English Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP), claimed that he had tracked down and interviewed those who were really responsible for the Birmingham pub bombs.
See: Birmingham Pub Bombings – 21st November, 1974
Tuesday 6 September 1988
A loyalist paramilitary gun ‘factory’ was discovered by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) near Ballynahinch, County Down.
[A former member of the Ulster Defense Regiment (UDR) was jailed for his involvement in the gun ‘factory’ in March 1989.]
Tuesday 6 September 1994
Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), publicly shook hands following a meeting in Dublin. The three leaders issued a joint statement. Andrew Hunter, then MP and Chairman of the Conservative Party’s Committee on Northern Ireland, described the meeting as a “dangerous miscalculation” by Reynolds. John Major, then British Prime Minister, cut short a meeting he was having with Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), at Downing Street.
[It was reported that Major told Paisley, and the other DUP members, to leave after they refused to accept his word that he had not made a secret deal with the Irish Republican Army (IRA).]
Wednesday 6 September 1995
Johnny Adair, believed to be a leader of one of the six brigades of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for directing the activities of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the UDA.
Friday 6 September 1996
The Forum met for business after a break for the summer. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin (SF) did not attend.
Monday 6 September 1999
Start of Mitchell Review of the Good Friday Agreement George Mitchell, former Chairman of the multi-party talks, was in Castle Buildings to open the Review of the Good Friday Agreement. He made clear that the review would concentrate specifically on breaking the deadlock over decommissioning and the formation of an Executive. The talks adjourned until the following week to give politicians time to study the Patten report on policing. Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), held discussions with Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, to review the political situation in Northern Ireland.
Thursday 6 September 2001
Loyalists held another protest on the Ardoyne Road in north Belfast as Catholic parents and their children made their way to Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School. The protest was peaceful but very noisy as protesters used air horns (klaxons), blew whistles, and banged metal bin lids, as the children passed along the security cordon.
Four parents in the ‘Right to Education’ group were warned by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) that death threats had been made against them by the Red Hand Defenders (RHD), a cover name that has been used by members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). The RHD said they would be killed if they were seen taking their children to the school.
John Reid, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, cut short his holiday and returned to Northern Ireland because of the situation in north Belfast. There was much less violence in the area overnight than on previous nights.
An Orange Order hall was damaged in an arson attack in Warrenpoint, County Down. Sean Neeson, then leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI), announced that he was stepping down as party leader.
[It is expected that a new leader will be appointed in October.]
Remembering all innocent victims of the Troubles
Today is the anniversary of the follow people killed as a results of the conflict in Northern Ireland
To the innocent on the list – Your memory will life forever
– To the Paramilitaries –
“There are many things worth living for, a few things worth dying for, but nothing worth killing for.
6 People lost their lives on the 6th September between 1971 – 1983
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06 September 1971
Annette Annette (14)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during street disturbances, while standing at the corner of Blucher Street and Westland Street, Derry.
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06 September 1972
Samuel Boyde, (20)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot in entry off La Salle Drive, Falls, Belfast.
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06 September 1972
William Moore, (20)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: not known (nk)
Shot from passing car while walking along Castlereagh Street, Belfast.
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06 September 1972
Bridget Breen, (33)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed by bomb thrown into the home of James O’Kane, Republican Labour Party Councillor, Cedar Avenue, off Antrim Road, Belfast.
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06 September 1974
William Elliott, (48)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA)
Shot during armed robbery at Ulster Bank, The Diamond, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
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06 September 1983
John Wasson, (61)
Catholic
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Off duty. Shot outside his home, Dukes Grove, off Cathedral Road, Armagh.
Main source CAIN Web Service
Major Events in the Troubles
- The Shankill Butchers – Documentary & BackgroundDuring the 1970s a group of Protestant paramilitaries embarked on a spree of indiscriminate murder which left thirty Northern Irish Catholics dead. Their leader was Lenny Murphy, a fanatical … Continue reading The Shankill Butchers – Documentary & Background
- Sergeant Michael Willetts 13th Aug 1943 – 25th May 1971In memory of Sergeant Michael Willetts , GC & all other members of HM Armed Forces murdered by Irish Terrorists. See below for the full story of this brave … Continue reading Sergeant Michael Willetts 13th Aug 1943 – 25th May 1971
- Bloody Friday Background & Documentary – 21st July 1972.Bloody Friday is the name given to the bombings by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Belfast on 21 July 1972. Twenty-six bombs exploded in the space of … Continue reading Bloody Friday Background & Documentary – 21st July 1972
- Omagh Bombing – The IRA’s Deadliest Massacre of CiviliansOmagh Bombing – The IRA’s Deadliest Massacre of Civilians See real IRA page See 29 people Slaughtered by the Real IRA The Omagh bombing was a deliberate massacre of … Continue reading Omagh Bombing – The IRA’s Deadliest Massacre of Civilians
- The Shankill BombDisclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in these documentary are soley intended to educate and provide background information to those interested in the Troubles of Northern Ireland. They … Continue reading The Shankill Bomb
See: Birmingham Pub Bombs
See: 7th September
Belfast Child 