Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

28^th November

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Tueday 28 November 1972

Two members of the IRA were killed in a premature bomb explosion in the Bogside area of Derry. A RUC officer was killed in an IRA rocket attack in Fermanagh. A member of the bomb disposal team of the British Army was killed in Derry.

Wednesday 28 November 1973

Assembly proceedings were halted due to verbal assaults on those who had been named as members of the proposed Executive. The disruption was caused by Loyalists and those opposed to the new Executive. Eventually the meeting of the Assembly had to be adjourned.

 

Friday 22 November 1974

See Birmingham  Bombing

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) denied responsibility for the bombs in Birmingham on 21 November 1974.

Thursday 28 November 1974

The Irish government introduced legislation which would allow people to be tried for offences committed outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland. Paul Hill was arrested in Southhampton and taken to Guildford for questioning about the bombings on 5 October 1974. [On 29 November 1974 Hill signed a statement admitting his involvement in the Guildford bombing. Hill became the first of the ‘Guildford Four’ to be charged with the bombing.]

Tuesday 28 November 1978

Increase in Number of MPs A Bill was passed in the House of Commons to increase the number of Northern Ireland Members of Parliament (MPs) at Westminster. The number was increase from 12 to 17 seats.

Wednesday 28 November 1979

John Hume succeeded Gerry Fitt as leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

Friday 28 November 1986

The Fair Employment Agency (FEA) published a report that concluded that the geographical distribution of government sponsored jobs did not disadvantage Catholics.

Sunday 28 November 1993

Secret Talks Between British and Republicans The nature and extent of a series of secret talks between the British Government and the Republican Movement was revealed by the Observer (a British Newspaper). The report indicated that a secret channel of communication had existed between the British government and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) for three years and the two sides had been in regular contact since February 1993. Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, claimed that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) had initiated the contacts with an oral message on 22 February 1993 that stated:

“The conflict is over but we need your advice on how to bring it to a close. We wish to have an unannounced cease-fire in order to hold dialogue leading to peace.”

[Sinn Féin (SF) denied that it had sent the message. The Observer carried a report on 28 June 1998 in which it claimed that Denis Bradley, a former Catholic priest, had acted as a means of contact between the Republican movement and the British and Irish governments over a 20 year period. The report also claimed that Bradley was responsible for the message of 22 February 1993.]

Tuesday 28 November 1995

Joint Communiqué by British and Irish Governments The British and Irish Governments issued a Joint Communiqué stating that: “the two governments have agreed to launch a “twin-track” process to make progress in parallel on the decommissioning issue and on all-party negotiations”. The governments hoped to have all-party negotiations begin by the end of February 1996. They also invited the parties to intensive preparatory talks. The governments also undertook to: “… establish an international body to provide an independent assessment of the decommissioning issue”. [George Mitchell, a former American Senator, was asked to lead this body.]

Thursday 28 November 1996

John Major, then British Prime Minister, replied in the House of Commons to proposals for a new Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire. The proposals were developed during meetings between John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF). Essentially the proposals called for the entry of SF into the Stormont talks immediately following an IRA ceasefire. Major rejected the central proposal stating that the British government would make its own assessment of the permanence of any new ceasefire. Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), warned against any changes to the Act of Succession which forbids any English monarch from marrying a Catholic.

Saturday 28 November 1998

George Mitchell, formerly Chairman of the multi-party talks, held meetings with Northern Ireland political leaders in Belfast. Seamus Mallon, Deputy First Minister designate, spoke of a “distinct possibility” that President Clinton would try to resolve the decommissioning row but added that he had no specific knowledge of the such a move. Peter Robinson, then deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), addressed the Annual Conference of the DUP and urged members of the Ulster Unionists Party (UUP) to “topple” their leader David Trimble. Robinson went on to say: “Better by far that you topple Trimble now rather than give him time to drag this province step by step to Dublin.” The conference was also addressed by the party leader Ian Paisley.

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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.

6 People lost their lives on the 28th  November between 1972 – 1983

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 28 November 1972

 Robert Keys,  (55)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in rocket attack on Belleek Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) / British Army (BA) base, County Fermanagh.

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28 November 1972

John Brady,   (21)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died in premature bomb explosion in house, Meenan Drive, Bogside, Derry.

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28 November 1972

James Carr,   (19)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died in premature bomb explosion in house, Meenan Drive, Bogside, Derry.

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28 November 1972
Paul Jackson,  (21)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Member of British Army (BA) bomb disposal team. Killed while sitting in British Army (BA) Armoured Personnel Carrier monitoring bomb which exploded, Strand Road, Derry.

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28 November 1981

William Coulter,   (23)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden behind fencing while on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) foot patrol, Unity Flats, Peter’s Hill, Belfast.

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28 November 1983

Brigid Foster,  (77)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Passerby. Shot shortly after armed robbery at Post Office, Pomeroy, County Tyrone.

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