Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
24th November
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Monday 24 November 1971
A woman was killed when members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out an attack on British soldiers in Strabane, County Tyrone. A British Army (BA) bomb-disposal specialist was killed by a bomb in Lurgan, County Armagh.
Friday 24 November 1972
Jack Lynch, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), met Edward Heath, then British Prime Minister, in London to give Irish approval to Attlee’s paper that said new arrangements should be ‘acceptable to and accepted by the Republic of Ireland.’
Wednesday 24 November 1982
‘Shoot to Kill’ Allegation Michael Tighe (17), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by an undercover Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) unit at a farm in Derrymacash, near Lurgan, County Armagh.
Martin McCauley, a Catholic civilian, was shot and seriously injured in the same incident. Police officers said the two men were armed and they issued a warning before opening fire. McCauley denied that he and Tighe had been armed and said the police opened fire without warning. The police fired 47 shots but none were fired at them.
[The hayshed where the shooting occurred was being used by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to store weapons and it was believed that the young men had discovered the arms by accident. This shooting, following on from the shooting on 11 November 1982, convinced many Nationalists that the security forces were operating a ‘shoot to kill’ policy.]
[Three years after the incident McCauley was convicted of the possession of three rifles found inside the shed. On 20 May 2014 the Court of Appeal ruled that the conviction was unsafe and was therefore quashed.] There was a General Election in the Republic of Ireland. [When the count was finished a new coalition government of Fine Gael (FG) and the Irish Labour party was elected. Garret FitzGerald became the new Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).]
Thursday 24 November 1983
Don Tidey, an American supermarket executive, was kidnapped by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The kidnap took place in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland. [Tidey was rescued on 16 December 1983.]
Saturday 24 November 1990
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) held their annual conference. The Apprentice Boys of Derry rejected £277,500 from the International Fund for Ireland to cover part of the costs of a heritage centre.
Sunday 24 November 1991
Explosion Inside Crumlin Prison Two Loyalist paramilitary prisoners were killed by an explosion inside Crumlin Road Prison in Belfast. The explosives had been smuggled into the prison, and fabricated into a bomb, by Republican paramilitary prisoners.
Wednesday 24 November 1993
A consignment of arms that was being shipped to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was intercepted by British police at Teesport, England. The arms contained 300 assault rifles, thousands of bullets, 4,400 pounds of explosives, and detonators, and had originated in Poland. Representatives of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) held a meeting at Downing Street, London, with John Major, then British Prime Minister.
Thursday 24 November 1994
The two government ministers responsible for tourism in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland launched a joint marketing initiative.
Friday 24 November 1995
There was a referendum in the Republic of Ireland on a change to the constitution. There was a narrow majority, 50.2 per cent, in favour of the right to divorce.
Suday 24 November 1996
A planned march by the Orange Order through the Catholic village of Dunloy was stopped by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). Following this RUC decision Loyalists resumed their weekly picket of the Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena.
Monday 24 November 1997
Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, gave a press conference in Stormont, Belfast, and told journalists that she would like to see “more direct communication between Sinn Féin [SF] and the UUP”
Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), went to Downing Street, London, for a meeting with Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister. Paisley criticised Blair for making concessions to SF and said that the peace process and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire were both “a sham
Wednesday 24 November 1999
Peter Mandelson, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, speaking in the House of Commons, Westminster, criticised the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and accused the party of “breathtaking hypocrisy” for being prepared to take up its two seats on the proposed Executive but not having contributed to the Mitchell Review of the Agreement.
All 860 members of the Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) were sent a letter signed by James Molyneaux, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Robert Salters, then Grand Master of the Orange Order, urging them to vote against the proposed deal on 27 November 1999. Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), gave an address to a special meeting of the SF Ard Chomhairle in Dublin and told those present that the proposals from the Mitchell Review were “the historic compromise between Nationalism and Unionism”.
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Remembering all innocent victims of the Troubles
Today is the anniversary of the death of the following people killed as a results of the conflict in Northern Ireland
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die
– Thomas Campbell
To the innocent on the list – Your memory will live forever
– To the Paramilitaries –
There are many things worth living for, a few things worth dying for, but nothing worth killing for.
9 People lost their lives on the 24th November between 1971 – 1991
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24 November 1971
Colin Davies, (38)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed attempting to defuse bomb left in car showroom, William Street, Lurgan, County Armagh.
See: The Long Walk
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24 November 1973
David Roberts, (25)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Carlingford Street, Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
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24 November 1973
Michael Marley, (17)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army Youth Section (IRAF),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while involved in a bomb attack on a British Army (BA) foot patrol, Divis Flats, Belfast.
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24 November 1978
Patrick Duffy, (50)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by undercover British Army (BA) members, at arms cache in unoccupied house, Maureen Avenue, off Abercorn Road, Derry.
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24 November 1981
Stephen Murphy, (19)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Died ten days after being shot at his home, Oldpark Avenue, Belfast.
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24 November 1982
Michael Tighe, (17)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot by undercover Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) members at farm, Ballynerry Road North, near Lurgan, County Armagh.
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24 November 1988
Phelim McNally, (28)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot during gun attack on the home of his brother, a Sinn Fein (SF) Councillor, Derrycrin Road, Coagh, County Tyrone.
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24 November 1991
Robert Skey, (27)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed when time bomb exploded in dining hall of ‘C’ wing, Crumlin Road Prison, Belfast.
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24 November 1991
Colin Caldwell, (23)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Injured when time bomb exploded in dining hall of ‘C’ wing, Crumlin Road Prison, Belfast. He died 28 November 1991
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Belfast Child 