Monthly Archives: December 2015

Islamic State’s – Medieval Brutality in the 21st Century

 

Islamic State’s  medieval Brutality in the 21st century

It’s only right that the country should debate the consequences of the decision to step up our role in the mess that is Syria/Iraq and the insane actions  of IS and other global Islamic extremists.

Regardless of where you stand on the issues in question ( and there are many , both political and ethical ) spare a thought for the UK pilots ( and all pilots & other  personnel)  whom are now pawns in this new kind of war and will be flying over enemy territory as they take the fight to IS and their deluded followers.

How can anyone forget the brutal execution of Jordanian   pilot Muath Al-Kasasbeh , burnt alive in a cage after a demonic stage show that saw him make his past masked IS fighters lining the route to the cage that would be his final destination and brutal execution.

Moath1

Anyone unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of IS should be in no doubt that they face a brutal and possible prolonged and excruciating death.

For IS are an enemy that love to shock and terrorise and they have no boundaries or humanity when dealing with captured enemies or those unfortunate enough to live under their savage rule.

For this is unlike any other war that has gone before and all normal rules of engagement are redundant against the mad men of IS and their twisted ideology.

Unfortunately the mercy of a bullet as a form of execution is seldom available to those facing  death at the hands of these Islamic demons.

Flight Lieutenant John Peters

 

Flight Lieutenant John Peters’

In previous wars prisoners had at least a chance of freedom and even Saddam Hussein exercised some caution when faced with international scrutiny and more or less treated his prisoners within the terms of the Geneva Conventions

His UK hostages and Pilots ( whom were abused)  were eventually released and returned the United Kingdom

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The Geneva Conventions

The Geneva Conventions are a series of treaties on the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war (POWs) and soldiers who are otherwise rendered hors de combat, or incapable of fighting.

See Below for a Summary of the  Basic rules of international humanitarian law in armed conflicts

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  The daily treatment and executions of innocent people in Raqqa and Mosul  are testament to ISIS,s total disregard for the sanctity of life and global opinion.

Their brutal beheadings and other forms of public executions have almost lost their power to shock and sadly these gruesome acts dominate News headlines and social media and the world has instant access to the almost daily sick propaganda of these murdering psychopathic madmen .

 Islamic State  practice medieval brutality in front of a shocked worldwide stage and all right minded people  have been shocked and outraged at the depths  of their inhuman cruelty

 Theirs is a war without rules or a political masters and the only outcome they expect is total victory or martyrdom. This is a new era in international terrorism and the world has to unite to destroy these mad men and their sick, twisted ideology.

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Below is a brief summary of some of the most barbaric and medieval  executions that Islamic State have carried out. I have not included video’s or beheadings as it is not my aim to promote the acts of these mad men and to be honest I can’t watch people being killed in the most brutal fashion and sleep peacefully in my bed.

The few executions I have watched have hunted my soul  and I can’t get the images out of my mind for days and weeks afterwards. Even compiling this list made me feel physically sick , but I wanted to catalogue some of the insane actions of these psychopath’s that are a stain on humanity.

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Death by  concrete blocks onto the head

ISIS carries out one of its worst executions yet, as murderers who bludgeoned women to death have their heads crushed with concrete blocks in horrific ‘eye for an eye’ punishment

is cconcret death

Shocking pictures show the militants hurling the concrete blocks onto the heads of the accused

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is cconcret death 2

The execution is known as a qisas punishment – ‘eye for an eye’ retribution
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  • Shocking pictures show militants hurling blocks onto the prisoners’ heads
  • The brutal punishment was carried out in Nineveh province in Iraq
  • The men had been arrested by Islamic police for killing three women

See Daily Mail for full story

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Death by being run over by a tank

The self-proclaimed Islamic State militants released new video footage on Saturday purportedly showing a Syrian army soldier in Homs being run over by a tank and executed.

See ABNA24 for full  story  ABN24

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Thrown off Tower Block for being Gay

A man has reportedly been blindfolded and thrown off a tower block in Syria for ‘being gay’ before being stoned to death after surviving the fall.

ISIS Throws Man Off Tower Block

Full Story Nigeriane News Watch

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Death by drowning  in a cage

TERROR group ISIS has released new footage that appears to show prisoners being lowered in a cage into a swimming pool and left to drown.

Full Story Before its News

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Death by Bombing

Ten prisoners made to kneel above bombs that have been buried in the ground

Full Story Daily Mail

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Death by bombs on the necks

IS killers strapped a string of bombs around the necks of a line of prisoners – then blew them up!

Full Story The Gateway

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Death by Crucifixion

Islamic extremists have publicly crucified two Syrian rebels in northeastern Syria in revenge for a grenade attack on members of their group.

Punishment: Two men in Raqqa, Syria, were crucified this April for allegedly killing an Isis fighter

Brutal: The images, which could not be independently verified, appear to demonstrate Isis's uncompromising brand of hardline Islamist justice

Full Story Daily Mail

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The Geneva Conventions

The Geneva Conventions are a series of treaties on the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war (POWs) and soldiers who are otherwise rendered hors de combat, or incapable of fighting.

 A Summary of the  Basic rules of international humanitarian law in armed conflicts

 

  1. Persons hors de combat and those who do not take a direct part in hostilities are entitled to respect for

their

lives and their moral and physical integrity. They shall in all circumstances be protected and treated

humanely

without any adverse distinction.

  1. It is forbidden to kill or injure an enemy who surrenders or who is hors de combat.
  2. The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for by the party to the conflict which has them in its

power.

Protection also covers medical personnel, establishments, transports and equipment. The emblem of the red

cross or the red crescent is the sign of such protection and must be respected.

  1. Captured combatants and civilians under the authority of an adverse party are entitled to respect for their

lives,dignity, personal rights and convictions. They shall be protected against all acts of violence and

reprisals. They shall have the right to correspond with their families and to receive relief.

  1. Everyone shall be entitled to benefit from fundamental judicial guarantees. No one shall be held

responsible for an act he has not committed. No one shall be subjected to physical or mental torture,

corporal punishment or cruel or degrading treatment.

  1. Parties to a conflict and members of their armed forces do not have an unlimited choice of methods and

means of warfare. It is prohibited to employ weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause

unnecessary losses or excessive suffering.

  1. Parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants in order

to

spare civilian population and property. Neither the civilian population as such nor civilian persons shall be

the

object of attack. Attacks shall be directed solely against military objectives.

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ISIS Female Terrorist Executes Iraqi Woman by ‘Teeth’

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ISIS terrorist group has once again shown its brutality nature after punishing a woman because of her neglecting to cover herself according to the Shariah Law.

She was free to choose one of these sentences: to cut her body skin or to bite her hand.

‘Mo’sam’ who was thinking that biting her hand could be less painful in comparison with another one let them to bite her hand.

An ISIS female terrorist, from Al-Khansaa Brigade, became known for eating the wrist of an Iraqi woman from Mosul, leading to her death.

See Al-Khansaa

ISIS judge ordered ‘Balva’, an Asian female soldier of ISIS, to execute the sentence at the church of ‘Hai al-Nabi Jerjes’ in the center of Mosul, al-Hadath News reported.

ISIS bloodthirsty executioner, Balva, accepted this request and in public she sank her teeth into the meat of Mo’sam’s wrist, cut a part of his hand and…

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Shaker Aamer – Prisoner Number 239

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Shaker Aamer: Last UK Guantanamo Bay detainee released

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Shaker Aamer Released From Guantanamo Bay Jail

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Guantanamo Bay prison Shaker Aamer was detained at Guantanamo for 13 years

The last British resident to be held in Guantanamo Bay has been released, having been detained there for 13 years, the foreign secretary has said.

Philip Hammond said Shaker Aamer had left the US military base in Cuba and will return to the UK “later today”.

Shaker Aamer's file

The Saudi national, 48, whose family live in London, has never been charged.

Campaigners say his release was “long overdue”, while a Downing Street spokeswoman said any necessary security measures “will be put in place”.

Number 10 said Prime Minister David Cameron “welcomes” the release of Mr Aamer, who has four children and has permission to live in the UK indefinitely because his wife is British.

Mr Aamer’s father-in-law, Saeed Siddique, said his release was a “miracle”.

A…

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13th December – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

13th December

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Tuesday 13 December 1988

John Murray, then Attorney-General of the Republic of Ireland, refused an extradition request from Britain for Partick Ryan, a Catholic priest.

Wednesday 13 December 1989

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) launched an attack on a border post at Derryard, County Fermanagh, killing two British Army soldiers.

Sunday 13 December 1992

A Sinn Fein member was shot dead by Loyalists in Ballymoney, County Antrim.

A Catholic civilian died five days after being the subject of a ‘punishment’ shooting in Derry. An unidentified Loyalist paramilitary group launched a rocket attack at an area of Crumlin Road Prison that was believed to be occupied by Republic prisoners. There were no injuries in the attack.

[The attack was believed to be in retaliation for the killing of two Loyalist inmates on 24 November 1991 when the Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a bomb inside the prison.]

Tuesday 13 December 1994

A two-day investment conference began in Belfast. The 300 delegates were addressed by John Major, then British Prime Minister, and Ron Brown, then United States Commerce Secretary. The event was picketed by Republicans in protest at the exclusion of Sinn Féin (SF) representatives.

Friday 13 December 1996

Tony Blair, then leader of the British Labour Party, paid a visit to Northern Ireland where he met representatives of the main political parties, with the exception of Sinn Féin (SF).

An application for bail on behalf of Róisin McAliskey, whose extradition was being sought by the German government, was rejected despite being pregnant and in poor health. A report on alleged boycotts of Protestant businesses in some rural parts of Northern Ireland was presented to the Forum. The report claimed that the boycotts were being organised by SF.

Saturday 13 December 1997

There was serious rioting in Derry by Catholic youths following an Apprentice Boys of Derry march through the city centre. All attempts to find an agreement between the Bogside Residents Association and the Apprentice Boys prior to the march had failed. The security forces said that 1,000 petrol bombs were thrown and they replied with 169 plastic bullets.

[It was later estimated that £5 million pounds worth of damage was done to the centre of the city. Business leaders were angry at both the damage and also the loss of trade on what should be one of the busiest Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas.]

Sunday 13 December 1998

It was reported that there had been a General Army Convention of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) which had taken the decision that there would be no decommissioning of firearms or explosives.

Monday 13 December 1999

The inaugural meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council was held in Armagh. The Northern Ireland Executive led by David Trimble (UUP), then First Minister, and Seamus Mallon (SDLP), then deputy First Minster, met with the full cabinet of the Irish government led by Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister). The two Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) members of the Executive refused to attend the meeting.

Wednesday 13 December 2000

Clinton Visit to Belfast Bill Clinton, the President of the United States of America (USA), travelled to Northern Ireland as he continued his visit to the island. The President was accompanied by the First Lady Hillary Clinton. He gave a keynote address at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

He urged all the parties to reach a compromise:

“We have to keep going. I do not think reversal is an option.”

Hillary Clinton addressed a gathering of community activists and politicans at the Grand Opera House, Belfast.

Thursday 13 December 2001

A Catholic family of five escaped injury after a pipe-bomb exploded outside their home at 5.00am (0500GMT) in Articlave, County Derry.

[Loyalist paramilitaries were believed to have been responsible for the attack. The police later arrested a man (19) who appeared in court on Friday 14 December 2001 on explosives and intimidation charges.]

David Trimble (UUP), then First Minister, and Mark Durkan (SDLP), then Deputy First Minister, travelled to Downing Street, London, for talks with Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister. The meeting dealt with matters related to the devolved institutions and administration in Northern Ireland. Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), and Martin McGuinness, then Vice-president of SF, also held a meeting with Blair. The SF representatives raised the issue of alleged security force collusion with Loyalist paramilitaries.

In particular the recent killing of William Stobie on 12 December 2001 and the killing of Pat Finucane, a Belfast solicitor killed on 12 February 1989.

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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.

8 people   lost their lives on the 13th  December between 1972 -1993

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13 December 1972


James Nixon,   (49)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot outside Chester Park Hotel, Antrim Road, Belfast.

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13 December 1976
Roy Young,  (23)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot, trying to stop bomb attack at his workplace, Hall’s Brush Factory, Wilson Street, off Millfield, Belfast.

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13 December 1988


John Corry,   (31)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot at his garage, Fountain Street, Portadown, County Armagh. Contractor to British Army (BA) / Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

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13 December 1989
Michael Patterson,  (21)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in gun, grenade and bomb attack on permanent British Army (BA) Vehicle Check Point (VCP), Derryard, near Rosslea, County Fermanagh.

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13 December 1989
James Houston,  (23)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in gun, grenade and bomb attack on permanent British Army (BA) Vehicle Check Point (VCP), Derryard, near Rosslea, County Fermanagh.

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13 December 1992
John Collett,  (36)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died five days after being shot in the legs, at his home, Drumleck Gardens, Shantallow, Derry. Alleged criminal.

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13 December 1992


Malachy Carey,  (36)

Catholic
Status: ex-Irish Republican Army (xIRA),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Sinn Fein (SF) member. Died several hours after being shot while walking along Victoria Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim.

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13 December 1993
Noel Cardwell,   (26)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Found shot in unoccupied flat, Boundary Walk, Shankill, Belfast. Alleged informer 

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12th December – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

12th December

Thursday 12 December 1968

Terence O’Neill , then Northern Ireland Prime Minister, received overwhelming support from Unionist Members of Parliament (MPs) at Stormont.

Sunday 12 December 1971

John (Jack) Barnhill, then a Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) member of the Northern Ireland Senate, was shot dead by the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) at his home in Strabane. He was the first politician to be killed in the conflict.

Sunday 12 December 1976

The Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee (ULCCC) claimed that some loyalist politicians had been involved in the past in the arrangements to purchase arms and explosives, and in choosing potential bomb targets.

Monday 12 December 1977

Colin McNutt (18), a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was shot dead by undercover British Army soldiers at the junction of William Street and Little James Street, Derry. [It was claimed that the soldiers were members of the Special Air Service (SAS).]

Tuesday 12 December 1978

Four people were injured by parcel bombs in Belfast and Lisburn. Three of those injured were the wives of prison officers and the fourth was a postman

Wednesday 12 December 1979

In a number of cities across Britain 24 people were arrested on suspicion of being members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This was an attempt to disrupt an anticipated bombing campaign.

Friday 12 December 1980

Six members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in the Maze prison start a hunger strike in support of their demand for segregation from Republican prisoners.

[This Loyalist hunger strike was called off on 17 December 1980.]

Sunday 12 December 1982

 

‘Shoot to Kill’ Allegation Rodney Carroll (22) and Seamus Grew (31), both members of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), were shot dead by an undercover unit of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) at a Vehicle Check Point (VCP) in Mullacreavie, County Armagh.

[This became the third incident where allegations were made that the security forces were operating a ‘shoot to kill’ policy.]

Monday 12 December 1983

The Political Committee of the European Parliament held the first of a series of meetings to consider its draft report on Northern Ireland. The Rapporteur was Mr N.J. Haagerup and the report called for power-sharing and the preparation of a plan by the (then) European Economic Community (EEC) to aid the economic development of Northern Ireland.

[The Committee had been asked to prepare the report on 23 February 1983. The report was passed by the European Parliament on 29 March 1984.]

Wednesday 12 December 1990

An attempt by the Workers’ Party (WP) to begin a process of amending Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution is defeated in the Dáil.

Thursday 12 December 1991

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb, estimated at 2,000 pounds, outside a police station in Craigavon, County Armagh. Nearby buildings were also damaged in the attack.

Sunday 12 December 1993

Two Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The two officers were travelling in an unmarked car in Main Street, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone.

Monday 12 December 1994

Albert Reynolds, then acting Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), said that it was not a “sensible precondition” to require the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to had over weapons before the commencement of multilateral talks.

Saturday 12 December 1998

There were disturbances during an Apprentice Boys march in Derry. David Trimble, then First Minister designate, said the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons would have to be carried out in front of television cameras so that ordinary people could believe it had taken place.

The Labour Party and Democratic Left voted at separate delegate conferences in Dublin to merge the two parties. The former endorsed it overwhelmingly by a show of hands, and the latter in a secret ballot by 171 votes to 21.

Tuesday 12 December 2000

Clinton Visit to Ireland Bill Clinton, the President of the United States of America (USA), arrived in Ireland for his third visit as President. Bill Clinton was accompanied by the First Lady Hillary Clinton. The first part of the visit included Dublin and Dundalk [Bill and Hillary Clinton then travelled to Northern Ireland.] While in Dublin Hillary Clinton held a reception for 40 women involved in Irish political life at the American ambassador’s residence.

Wednesday 12 December 2001

Loyalists Kill William Stobie and Ombudsman’s Report on Omagh William Stobie (51) was shot dead by Loyalist paramilitaries as he left his home, at approximately 6.15am (0615GMT), in Forthriver Road, in the Glencairn area of Belfast. Stobie was a self-confessed former Ulster Defence Association (UDA) quartermaster and a Loyalist police agent. The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the UDA, claimed responsibility, however some nationalists alleged that there had been security force collusion in the killing.

[Stobie had been accused of aiding and abetting in the murder of Pat Finucane, a Belfast solicitor killed on 12 February 1989, but the case against him collapsed on 26 November 2001.]

Derek Lenehan (27), originally from Dublin and a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), died several hours after being found shot in the legs, by the side of New Road, near Forkhill, County Armagh. It was believed that he had been shot by the INLA as a result of an internal INLA dispute.

Nuala O’Loan, then Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI), met the relatives of the victims of the Omagh bombing (15 August 1998) and presented them with the findings and recommendations of her report into the bombing and the handling of the subsequent police investigation. The report found that there had been two non-specific warnings given to police prior to the bombing.

One telephone warning about a planned attack in Omagh on 15 August 1998 was received on 4 August 1998, but Special Branch officers took the decision not to pass on the information to the local police commander in Omagh. A second warning given three days before the bombing by “Kevin Fulton” (a pseudonym), then a police agent, did not mention the town of Omagh. The report states that had the information been passed on and security checkpoints been put in place, the bombers may have been deterred.

The report also accused Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), of flawed judgement and of damaging the chances of arresting those suspected of being responsible for the Omagh bomb. The report also recommended that, “an independent senior investigative officer from outside Northern Ireland be appointed to conduct the investigation and that that investigation be properly resourced and it be given access to all material.

” [O’Loan had decided to publish the findings of the report when Flanagan failed to respond to the draft report by the deadline.]

Immediately after the release of the findings Ronnie Flanagan gave a press conference in Belfast at which he threatened to begin legal action on a “personal and organisational basis” to have the report withdrawn. He claimed the report was full of “wide and sweeping conclusions” and was unfair. He also said that if the conclusions were true he would publicly commit suicide.

[Flanaghan later withdrew the remarks about suicide. O’Loan later responded and said that the findings of the report were based on facts and were carefully established.]

The Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) agreed a new emblem for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The British government had published seven draft emblems on 19 November 2001 but they were all rejected by Unionist members of the Board.

[The NIPB recommendation required final approval before being adopted.]

The Equality Commission held a conference in Belfast to examine ways of improving the law on equality in Northern Ireland. The Commission wanted to discuss ways of bringing together all the current equality laws.

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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.

11 people   lost their lives on the 12th  December between 1971 -2001

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12 December 1971
John Barnhill,  (65)

Protestant
Status: Civilian Political Activist (CivPA),

Killed by: Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA)
Ulster Unionist Stormont Senator. Shot during bomb attack on his home, Brickfield House, near Strabane, County Tyrone.

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12 December 1977

Colm McNutt,  (18)

Catholic
Status: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by undercover British Army (BA) member at car park, junction of William Street and Little James Street, Derry.

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12 December 1982


Seamus Grew,   (31)

Catholic
Status: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot by undercover Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) members at Vehicle Check Point (VCP), Mullacreevie Park, Armagh.

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12 December 1982


Rodney Carroll,   (22)

Catholic
Status: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot by undercover Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) members at Vehicle Check Point (VCP), Mullacreevie Park, Armagh.

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12 December 1983


Anthony Dawson,  (18)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot by off duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) member from passing car while standing in Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, Belfast.

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12 December 1983


John Molloy,   (20)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot at his home, Tyndale Gardens, Ballysillan, Belfast.

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12 December 1986
Desmond Caldwell,  (44)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb attached to cab of lorry, at his workplace, Killen, near Castlederg, County Tyrone. Mistaken for off duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) reservist.

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12 December 1993


Andrew Beacom,   (46)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while travelling in Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) civilian-type car, Main Street, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone.

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12 December 1993


Ernest Smith,   (49)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while travelling in Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) civilian-type car, Main Street, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone.

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12 December 2001

William Stobie,   (51)

Protestant
Status: ex-Ulster Defence Association (xUDA),

Killed by: Red Hand Defenders (RHD)
Shot outside his home, Forthriver Road, Glencairn, Belfast. Alleged informer.

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12 December 2001
Derek Lenehan,   (27)

nfNI
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
From Dublin. Died several hours after being found shot in the legs, by the side of New Road, near Forkhill, County Armagh.

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11th December – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

 

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

11th December 

Wednesday 11  December 1968

Terence O’Neill, then Northern Ireland Prime Minister, sacked William Craig, then Home Affairs Minister, because of differing opinions on the legality of Westminster intervention on devolved matters.

Saturday 11 December 1971

balmoral furnish bomb

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed four Protestant civilians in a bomb attack on a furniture shop on the Shankill Road in Belfast. Two of those who were killed in the explosion were children.

The dead were: Hugh Bruce (70), Harold King (29), Tracey Munn (2) and Colin Nicholl (1).

Wednesday 11 December 1974

A debate on the reintroduction of capital punishment for acts of terrorism was held in the House of Commons, London. The specific motion came in the form of an amendment which was proposed by a Conservative MP. Following a five-hour debate the amendment was defeated by a free vote of 369 to 217.

While the debate was taking place the Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out a bomb attack on the Long Bar of the Naval and Military Club in Piccadilly, London. At 6.30pm IRA members threw a small bomb through the window of the bar; no one was injured.

As two IRA members were leaving the scene they were followed by a taxi cab and they fired two shots at the driver; the driver was not injured. Almost at the same time a second group of IRA members carried out a gun attack on the Cavalry Club; again there were no injuries.

Wednesday 11 December 1985

The first meeting of the new Inter-Governmental Conference established under the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA) was held.

Protestant workers from a number of firms in Belfast staged walk-outs and marched to Maryfield where the Anglo-Irish Secretariat was based. There were violent clashes between the demonstrators and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) with 38 officers being injured.

Saturday 11 December 1993

The Irish Times (a Republic of Ireland newspaper) reported the results of a poll on Anglo-Irish relations. Of those questioned 59 per cent were in favour of talks between John Major, then British Prime Minister, and Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister). The figure for Catholic respondents was 88 per cent in favour while the figure for Protestants was 37 per cent.

Sunday 11 December 1994

Gary McMichael, then leader of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), said it was unrealistic to expect paramilitaries to hand in weapons at this stage.

Monday 11 December 1995

Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that £100 million would be redirected from the security budget to other areas of government expenditure over the following three years if the ceasefires held. [£180 million had already been cut from the security budget.]

Wednesday 11 December 1996

Robert Saulters was elected as Grand Master of the Orange Order following the resignation of Martin Smyth. He repeated earlier comments he had made about Tony Blair, then leader of the British Labour Party, being “disloyal” for marrying a “romanist” (Roman Catholic).

Chuck Feeney, an Irish-American businessman, confirmed that he had donated $240,000 to the establishment of Sinn Féin’s (SF) office in Washington.

Thursday 11 December 1997

Sinn Féin Delegation at Downing Street Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), led a SF delegation into 10 Downing Street, London to meet Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, and other members of the British government. These were the first talks between a British Prime Minister and leaders of SF at Downing Street for 76 years. The meeting lasted one hour and afterwards Adams said that it was a “good moment in history”.

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) criticised the meeting and rejected calls for a direct meeting between David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Adams. Francie MacKey, then a SF councillor based in Omagh, County Tyrone, called on SF to renounce the Mitchell Principles. MacKey also announced that the would join the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.

Tuesday 11 December 2001

The Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday began an appeal in the Court of Appeal in London against a decision that military witnesses should not have to travel to Derry to give their evidence. Soldiers who were on duty in Derry on 30 January 1972 had claimed in the High Court that their lives would be in danger if they were forced to attend the Inquiry in the Guildhall in Derry. The High Court had ruled in their favour and against Lord Saville.

[The appeal lasted two days. The court’s decision was announced on 19 December 2001 when the Court upheld the decision of the High Court that the soldiers would not have to travel to Derry to give evidence.]

John Reid, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that he would challenge in the High Court the new rates of pay awarded to Queen’s Councils (QCs) and barristers at the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday. The new daily rate for a senior barrister was set to rise by £250 to £1,750. The barristers can also claim up to £250 per hour, to a maximum of £750 per day, for preparation work and £125 an hour travelling to and from the Guildhall. Junior barristers’ daily fees will rise from £750 to £875, and preparation rates from £100 to £125 an hour. They also receive £62.50 for travelling time.

[The cost of the Inquiry to date has been estimated at £60 million.]

Figures released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) showed that the unemployment rate for Catholics (8.8 % in 2000) remained higher than that for Protestants (5.2 %). The gap in the figures had narrowed from 1993 when there was an unemployment rate among Catholics of 18.1 per cent as opposed to 9.4 per cent for Protestants. The report showed that the religious composition of Northern Ireland’s economically active population was 43 per cent Catholic and 57 per cent Protestant, which closely mirrored those in employment at 42 per cent Catholic and 58 per cent Protestant.

However, among the unemployed, the religious composition was 56 per cent Catholic and 44 cent Protestant. There was a higher proportion of Catholics than Protestants who had qualifications above ‘A-Level’. The Audit Office published a report into the financial practices and accounting by government departments in Northern Ireland. The report criticised several departments for poor management of public funds and it showed that in some cases millions of pounds was unaccounted for or had been paid our incorrectly. The biggest loss occurred in the social 8security budget with £50 million being lost through fraud or error. Then Northern Ireland Assembly debated and voted on the budget for the financial year 2003-2004. Of the 108 members of the Assembly, 76 were present and cast votes and of these 49 voted in favour of the budget.

At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, twin brothers were sentenced to jail for having a “real” Irish Republican Army (rIRA) bomb-making ‘factory’. Alan Patterson was jailed for nine years and his brother Kenneth Patterson received a sentence of seven years. Four men were arrested in the Republic of Ireland after police and customs officers seized a consignment of up to 80 million smuggled cigarettes. The haul, valued at IR£13 million, is thought to be the biggest haul of contraband tobacco in the Irish Republic.

[It was not clear at the time if there were any paramilitary connections with the smuggling.]

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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.

7 people   lost their lives on the 11th  December between 1971 -1976

————————————————————

11 December 1971
 Harold King,   (29)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in bomb attack on Balmoral Furnishing Company, Shankill Road, Belfast.

————————————————————

11 December 1971
Huge Bruce,  (70)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in bomb attack on Balmoral Furnishing Company, Shankill Road, Belfast

————————————————————

11 December 1971


Tracey Munn,   (2)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in bomb attack on Balmoral Furnishing Company, Shankill Road, Belfast

————————————————————

11 December 1971


Colin Nicholl,   (0)

Protestant
Status: Civilia (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in bomb attack on Balmoral Furnishing Company, Shankill Road, Belfast

————————————————————

11 December 1972
James Ward,   (53)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot as he walked past North Queen Street Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) / British Army (BA) base, Belfast.

————————————————————

11 December 1973


Maurice Rolston,  (37)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Killed by booby trap bomb attached to his car outside his home, Newcastle, County Down.

————————————————————

11 December 1976
Howard Edwards, (24)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Elmwood Road, Bogside, Derry

————————————————————

 

 

 

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Shia, Sunni Muslims’ anti-Isis march in London

Shia, Sunni Muslims’ anti-Isis march in London not covered by mainstream media outlets

Organisers of an anti-Isis march in London have spoken of their frustration after mainstream media outlets failed to cover the demonstration.

Thousands of people took part in the annual UK Arbaeen Procession, coordinated by the Husaini Islamic Trust UK, on Sunday.

Although Shia Muslims take part in the march each year to mark the Arbaeen, or mourning, anniversary of Imam Husain – a seventh-century leader who fought for social justice – this year organisers decided to use the event as a platform to denounce terrorism following the recent Isis attacks in Paris, Beirut and elsewhere.

Organiser Waqar Haider said:

“This year we had hundreds of placards which were basically saying ‘no’ to terrorism and ‘no’ to Isis. A very direct message.

“For us it was a controversial move to go political. Normally we don’t mix politics with mourning. However with what’s happened recently, we thought we had to make sure we as a community totally disassociate ourselves with what’s happening elsewhere in the world.”

Despite this, Mr Haider said the demonstration still failed to garner attention in the mainstream media because of “stereotyping”.

“It is the oldest annual Muslim event in London but unfortunately it is very difficult to get any media coverage,” he said.

“I think it’s because of stereotyping. People see the entire Muslim community as one community.
“[But] the Muslim community is a very diverse community, with the vast majority of us horrified by Isis.

“With our event, we had so many people from different ethnic backgrounds. It’s more of a family event in terms of people it attracts.”

Volunteer Mohammed Al-Sharifi also commented on the lack of media coverage for the event.

In a tweet, he said: “Hundreds of Muslims flooded the streets of London yesterday to condemn terrorism. Media’s response: Silence.”

His post has been re-tweeted more than 5,000 times.

Other social media users also believed the demonstration should have been more widely covered.

Mr Al-Sharifi told The Independent: “I think the reason the mainstream media hasn’t covered the story is because I don’t think it’s juicy enough to sell papers. It’s simply not interesting enough.”

“Unfortunately [some] media outlets have gone for stories that to some extent can be divisive. If a group of Muslims do something good, it’s not mentioned or the religion is not mentioned. But if someone does something [negative], it is on the front page and their religion is mentioned.”

“It’s feeding this hatred and divisiveness and demonisation, I think, of Muslims.”

He said the media had an increased level of responsibility to create a cohesive society.

“The reason my tweet went viral… is because I think people realise there is a huge disparity between what they’re being fed in the media and the reality of the day-to-day interactions they have with Muslims at work, at school.”

Mr Al-Sharifi called on the country’s leadership to counter Islamophobia.

The Arbaeen processions take place in other locations around the world including Iraq, Nigeria and the US.

During this year’s event in Kano, a Boko Haram suicide bomber killed at least 21 people.

Arba’een (Arabic: الأربعين‎, “forty”), Chehelom (Persian: چهلم‎‎, the fortieth [day]”) is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUT), which falls on the 20th day of the month of Safar. Imam Hussain ibn Ali and 72 companions were martyred by tyrant Yazid I’s army in the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE). Arbaeen is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, in which up to 30 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq.

Arbaeen is the world’s largest annual gathering, with the number of pilgrims far exceeding the two million visitors who descend on Mecca for the Hajj. The Kumbh Mela, a mass Hindu pilgrimage, attracts more pilgrims but is held only every three years.

Original Story Abna24

10th December – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

10th December

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Friday 10 December 1971

Kenneth Smyth (28), a Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) member, and Daniel McCormick (29), a former UDR member, were killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) near Strabane, County Tyrone.

A man was shot dead by British soldiers in Belfast.

Monday 10 December 1973

Loyalists announced the establishment of the Ulster Army Council (UAC) to resist the proposed Council of Ireland. The UAC was an umbrella group for the main Loyalist paramilitary groups and included the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

Tuesday 10 December 1974

Feakle Talks

Canon William Arlow

 

[Senior representatives of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) held secret talks with a group of eight Protestant clergymen from Northern Ireland at Smyth’s Village Hotel in Feakle, County Clare, Republic of Ireland. The IRA was represented by Ruairi O’Bradaigh, Daithi O’Conaill, Maire Drumm and three others. Among the group of clergymen were: Dr Arthur Butler, Dr Jack Weir, Revd Ralph Baxter and Revd William Arlow. The clergymen presented the IRA with a policy document that had been cleared with the British government (Coogan, 1995; p.217). The meeting ended abruptly went the IRA representatives got a tip-off that the officers in the Irish Special Branch were on their way to arrest them. The talks at Feakle set in train a process that was to lead to a meeting between the clergymen and the Secretary of State on 18 December 1974 and to an IRA ceasefire that began on 22 December 1974.]

 

Wednesday 10 December 1986

Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), was reported, at the launch of his book Politics of Irish Freedom, as saying that he had never been a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Thursday 10 December 1992

The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), carried out a series of seven incendiary bomb attacks on shops in Dublin and in other Irish towns near to the border.

The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) carried out a gun attack and wounded a man who worked for Belfast City Council. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted three incendiary bombs in an industrial estate in Belfast and damaged three buildings.

The IRA also carried out two bomb attacks at a shopping centre in Wood Green in London. Eleven people including a number of police officers were injured in the attack

Friday 10 December 1993

John Major, then British Prime Minister, held a meeting with Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), at a European Community summit in Brussels.

John Smith, then leader of the Labour Party, paid a visit to Derry during which he said that Sinn Féin (SF) could enter all-party talks after the Irish Republican Army (IRA) had ended its campaign of violence.

Tuesday 10 December 1996

Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that the extra security costs associated with the disturbances surrounding Drumcree and the ending of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire would have to be met from the existing budget. Hence there were to be cuts of £120 million from the provision for public services with training for the unemployed and housing facing the greatest cutbacks.

Wednesday 10 December 1997

Liam Averill, then an Irish Republican Army (IRA) life-sentence prisoner, escaped from the Maze Prison. Averill managed to escape from the highest security prison in the United Kingdom (UK) by dressing up as a woman during a Christmas party for prisoners’ families and getting onto the coach taking the families out of the prison.

The Independent (a London newspaper) published a leaked internal Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) document which claimed to show that one in three of the Catholic officers of the RUC had suffered discrimination or harassment from Protestant officers.

[At this time Catholics made up 8 per cent of the total number of officers in the RUC.] Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), rejected criticism that he or his party were “equivocal” about, or sympathetic towards, the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).

Paisley had been criticised by an article in the Irish News, and by the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI), the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP).

The Orange Order was forced to move the location of a meeting to re-elect Robert Salters as Grand Master of the Orange Order because of protest action. The protest was carried out by the Spirit of Drumcree (SOD) whose leader, Joel Patton, criticised the leadership of the Order and also the “undemocratic” means to elect the senior posts.

Thursday 10 December 1998

Nobel Peace Prize John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), received their Nobel Peace Prizes at an awards ceremony in the City Hall, Oslo. [Hume speech; Trimble speech]

Friday 10 December 1999

Five men representing the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), held a meeting with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD). The five men were: Johnny Adair, William Dodds, John Gregg, Jackie McDonald, and John White.

The IICD later issued a report.

 The announcement that the Castlereagh Holding Centre in east Belfast would be closed by the end of December 1999 was welcomed by Sinn Féin (SF). The recommendation had been contained in the Patten Report. Bríd Rodgers (SDLP), then Minister of Agriculture, had eggs thrown at her by loyalist protestors as she was on an official visit to a training centre in Portavogie, County Down.

Six human rights organisations called for an independent Inquiry into the killing of Rosemanry Nelson, a Lurgan solicitor killed on 15 March 1999

Monday 10 December 2001

A man (30) was beaten in a paramilitary ‘punishment’ attack (?) at his home in Glencolier Street, north Belfast. A number of masked men beat him with wooden bats. The man was treated in hospital for bruising to his arms and legs.

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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 10th  December between 1971 -1980

————————————————————

10 December 1971


Kenneth Smyth,   (28)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while travelling to work in car, Clady, near Strabane, County Tyrone.

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10 December 1971


Daniel McCormick,   (29)

Catholic
Status: ex-Ulster Defence Regiment (xUDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while travelling to work in car, Clady, near Strabane, County Tyrone.

————————————————————

10 December 1971


 Joseph Parker,   (25)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during altercation with British Army (BA) patrol, Toby Hall, Butler Street, Ardoyne, Belfast.

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10 December 1972
Stewart Middlemass,   (33)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb attached to rocket launcher in Fort Monagh British Army (BA) base, Turf Lodge, Belfast.

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10 December 1973


James Hesketh,  (21)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Leeson Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

————————————————————

10 December 1980
Colin Quinn,   (19)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Off duty. Shot shortly after leaving his workplace, Fox Row, off Durham Street, Belfast.

————————————————————

 

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9th December – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

 

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

9th December

————————————————-

Monday 9 December 1968

Terence O’Neill, then Northern Ireland Prime Minister, made a television appeal for moderate opinion in what became known as the ‘Ulster stands at the Crossroads’ speech. The speech gained a lot of public support. The Derry Citizen’s Action Committee (DCAC) called a halt to all marches and protests for a period of one month.

Sunday 9 December 1973

A communiqué was issued which announced that agreement had been reached at the talks at Sunningdale; this communiqué was to become known as the Sunningdale Agreement.

Tuesday 9 December 1975

A poll published in the Daily Telegraph (British Newspaper) showed that 64 per cent of people in Britain wanted the British Army to be withdrawn from Northern Ireland.

Thursday 9 December 1976

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a series of fire-bombs in shops in Derry which caused an estimated £1 million in damages.

Tuesday 9 December 1986

Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was expelled from the European Parliament for constantly interrupting a speech by Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister.

Monday 9 December 1991

Peter Brooke, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that there would be freeze on spending on capital projects in Northern Ireland. The reason given was the increased cost of bomb damage.

[The decision was widely criticised.]

Brian Mawhinney assumed responsibility for law and order at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

Friday 9 December 1994

A first meeting took place between a Sinn Féin (SF) delegation, led by Martin McGuinness, then Vice-President of SF, and Northern Ireland Office (NIO) officials on behalf of the British Government.

[The British officials raised the issue of the handing in of weapons while SF pressed for ‘parity of esteem’ for the party. This was the first meeting between SF and British officials for over 20 years.]

Wednesday 9 December 1998

Garda Síochána (the Irish police) warned that dissident members of the “real” Irish Republican Army (rIRA) and the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) were joining the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA).

Sunday 9 December 2001

A series of protests were organised by Sinn Féin Youth (SFY) at British Army observation posts in south Armagh to protest at the lack of progress on demilitarisation of the area. The protests turned violent and 21 police officers, 3 soldiers, and a number of protesters were injured as petrol bombs, fireworks, and stones were thrown, and the security forces fired a number of plastic bullets.

The protest began at Creevekeeran watchtower, and then the protesters moved to Drummuckavall watchtower, before finishing with another protest at the joint police and army barracks at Crossmaglen.

There was serious rioting in the Whitewell Road area of north Belfast at approximately 11.00pm (2300GMT). An eight year old girl suffered cuts to her face when the car she was travelling in was attacked by rioters. Petrol bombs were also thrown on to the M2 motorway from the Longlands Estate. Earlier, a petrol bomb was thrown at a house in Serpentine Gardens and another house in Merston Gardens had its windows broken.

————————————

———————————————————————————

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 9th December  in 1986

————————————————————

09 December 1986


Paul Bradley,   (30)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Died three days after being badly beaten in Tavern Bar, Bridge Street, Lisburn, County Antrim .

 

 

 

 

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8th December – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

8th December

Tuesday 8 December 1970

Cardinal William Conway, then head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, published a pamphlet on the topic of segregation in education in Northern Ireland.

Wednesday 8 December 1971

Sean Russell (30), an off duty member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), was shot dead by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in his home in Ballymurphy, Belfast.

[Russell was the first Catholic member of the UDR to be killed in the conflict.]

A British soldier died found days after being shot in Belfast.

Sunday 8 December 1974

The Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) was formed following a split within the Official Sinn Féin (OSF). Among its leading members were Séamus Costello, leader of the IRSP, and Bernadette McAliskey, a former Member of Parliament (MP).

[The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) was formed in 1975 and many people viewed it as the military wing of the IRSP.]

Monday 8 December 1980

British PM in Dublin Summit Meeting A senior British government team comprised of Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister, Lord Carrington, then Foreign Secretary, Geoffrey Howe, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Humphrey Atkins, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, went to Dublin for talks with Charles Haughey, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), and senior members of the Irish government.

It was agreed at the meeting to conduct joint studies on a wide range of subjects.

[This represented the first visit to Dublin by a British Prime Minster since partition in 1921. The phrase ‘totality of relationships’ was first used at this meeting. However it was later revealed that the constitutional position of Northern Ireland had not been discussed at the meeting.

Wednesday 8 December 1982

William Whitelaw, then British Home Secretary, imposed a banning order on Gerry Adams, then Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), and Danny Morrison, then a leading member of SF. The order was imposed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and meant that Adams and Morrison could not enter Britain. The two men had received an invitation from the Greater London Council (GLC) to go to London for a series of meetings.

Thursday 8 December 1983

The Fair Employment Agency (FEA) found that Catholics were under-represented in the higher levels of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Sunday 8 December 1991

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a number of incendiary devices in shops in Blackpool and Manchester, England.

[Other firebombs exploded in the same cities on the following day.]

Friday 8 December 1995

Paul Devine (35), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Claremont Street, off Lisburn Road, Belfast.

[It was alleged that Devine was a drug dealer and this was the reason why he was shot. On 11 December 1995 Joe Hendron, then SDLP MP, said that the killing of Devine constituted a breach of the IRA ceasefire.]

A soccer team based in west Belfast withdrew from an Irish Cup match against a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) team. The withdrawal came after a ‘strong recommendation’ from Sinn Féin (SF) representatives.

Monday 8 December 1997

Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), made a visit to Northern Ireland. In west Belfast Ahern was greeted by Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF). Ahern also visited Belfast City Hall where he was greeted by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) mayor, Alban Maginness. This was the first visit by a Taoiseach to Belfast City Hall.

The Taoiseach also made his first visit to the multi-party talks at Stormont and seemed to have healed a recent rift with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

[The problem arose following comments made by David Andrews, then Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, about the powers of any future cross-border bodies.]

In Dublin a group of Republicans launched a new organisation called the 32 County Sovereignty Committee. One of the most prominent members was Bernadette Sands McKevitt, a sister of Bobby Sands who died on hunger strike on 5 May 1981. The new Committee opposed the stance of Gerry Adams on the peace process.

[Later a number of commentators were to associate the Committee with dissident Irish Republican Army (IRA) members who formed the ‘real’ IRA.

Tuesday 8 December 1998

A leaked Northern Ireland Office (NIO) report shows that the number of families being forced to leave their homes because of intimidation is at its highest level since 1973. Efforts to find agreement on the setting up of departments and the North-South Ministerial Council continued in Dublin and London, as Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), warned that slippage beyond Monday 14 December 1998 would be “an awful mistake”.

In Washington President Clinton urged Northern Irish politicians to move the peace process forward, reminding them they should “obey not only the letter of the Good Friday Agreement but its spirit as well”.

Wednesday 8 December 1999

Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), called a press conference to reveal that a car he used during the review of the Good Friday Agreement had been bugged.

He said: “I feel shafted by the discovery of this”.

Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, declined to comment on the matter. The Northern Ireland Assembly Committees met for the first time at Stormont, Belfast.

Samuel McBratney (42), a “computer expert” from Ballycraigy Ring, Larne, County Antrim, appeared before the high court in Belfast. McBratney was alleged to have helped Loyalist paramilitaries make pipe-bombs by downloading bomb-making information from the Internet. In addition to possessing incriminating computer records he also faced charges of possessing pipe-bomb components and of having four devices with intent to endanger life. A crown lawyer said police carried out a planned search of McBratney’s home last May and seized computer records, books and literature about making bombs, parts of pipe-bombs and 97 cartridges, the propellant used in the making of pipe-bombs.

The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), announced that it had selected five members to meet with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD). The announcement was made at a press conference which was addressed by six masked men in a hall close the Shankill Road, Belfast.

[The meeting took place on 10 December 1999.] David Trimble (UUP), then First Minister, was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government at a ceremony in Paris. Robert Salters, then Grand Master of the Orange Order, was re-elected to the post.

Saturday 8 December 2001

The Civic Forum held its 8th plenary meeting in Cookstown, County Tyrone. The meeting called for additional funding to be made available to tackled sectarian tensions across Northern Ireland.

The American government announced that it would resume training officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) following the suspension of the arrangements in 1999. The training had been suspended over concerns about the human rights record of officers in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). Any PSNI officers involved will have to be vetted to ensure they have not abused human rights in the past. The training will also include a component on human rights.

Brendan O’Leary (Prof.), then a Professor at the London School of Economics, said that partition was no longer “an internationally approved instrument” in attempting to resolve territorial disputes. O’Leary was speaking at a conference convened by the Keough Institute for Irish Studies in the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He said that Northern Ireland had been persistently unstable and the United Kingdom had suffered the highest level of internal political violence of any established European democracy.

——————————-

———————————————————————————

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.

7 People lost their lives on the 8th  December  between 1971 – 1995

————————————————————

08 December 1971


Sean Russell,   (30)

Catholic
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at his home, New Barnsley Crescent, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

————————————————————

08 December 1971
Jeremy Snow,  (35) nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died four days after being shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, New Lodge, Belfast.

————————————————————

08 December 1972
John Joesbury,  (18)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died two days after being shot while on British Army (BA) mobile patrol, Whiterock Road, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

————————————————————

08 December 1972


Joseph Kelly,   (47)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot while travelling on bus, Castlereagh Street, Belfast.

————————————————————

08 December 1973
James Gibson,   (42)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot at his shop, Stranmillis Road, Stranmillis, Belfast.

————————————————————

08 December 1976


Geraldine McKeown,  (14)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Died three days after being shot at her home, Mountainview Gardens, off Crumlin Road, Belfast

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08 December 1995
Paul Devine,   (35)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot, while walking along Claremont Street, off Lisburn Road, Belfast.

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