Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

23^rd December

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Wednesday 23 December 1970

A Protestant man was shot dead at his home in Belfast

. [‘Lost Lives’ speculated that the incident resulted from an attempted robbery of guns stored in the house.]

Thursday 23 December 1971

Edward Heath, then British Prime Minister, visited Northern Ireland and expressed his determination to end the violence.

Monday 23 December 1974

Edward Heath, then leader of the Conservative Party, paid a visit to Northern Ireland. He said that he believed there was sufficient consensus within the region on power-sharing.

Thursday 23 December 1982

Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister, paid a one day visit to Northern Ireland. She mainly spent the time visiting members of the security forces.

Sunday 23 December 1984

Tomás Ó Fiaich, then Catholic Primate of Ireland, said that Catholics in Northern Ireland felt an ‘unprecedented level’ of alienation.

Tuesday 23 December 1986

Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister, paid a visit to Northern Ireland. During the visit she stated her government’s commitment to the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA). She also said that she did not believe a change in government in the Republic of Ireland would affect the Agreement.

The Court of Appeal in Belfast quashed the convictions of 24 men jailed on the evidence of ‘supergrass’ informer Harry Kirkpatirck. The men were freed.

Sunday 23 December 1990

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) announce a three-day ceasefire over the Christmas period. This was the first Christmas ceasefire for 15 years.

Monday 23 December 1991

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a series of incendiary devices at train stations in London and caused disruption to rails services. The IRA later announced that it would be observing a three-day ceasefire over the Christmas period.

Thursday 23 December 1993

Two British Army marines were acquitted of the murder of Fergal Caraher (20) on 30 December 1990. Caraher was a Sinn Féin (SF) member at the time he was killed was shot dead while travelling in a car in Cullyhanna, County Armagh. The marines were acquitted on the grounds of “reasonable doubt”.

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) announced that there would be a three-day ceasefire beginning at midnight.

Tuesday 23 December 1997

The multi-party talks at Stormont broke up for the Christmas holiday without real progress. Parties blamed each other for the lack of progress. George Mitchell, then Chairman of the multi-party talks, said that he remained optimistic that progress would be made in the new year. Despite the booming economy in the Republic of Ireland the Punt (the Irish pound) fell to its lowest level against sterling for almost 10 years when it was traded at 86.7p.

Wednesday 23 December 1998

As part of a regular Christmas parole programme, 170 paramilitary prisoners were release on a temporary basis for the holiday period.

[All the prisoners returned on schedule when the parole was over.]

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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.

1 Person   lost their lives on the 23rd December in 1970

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23 December 1970

Andrew Jardin,   (65)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Shot at his home, White Gables, Hannahstown, Belfast.

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