Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
19th February
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Wednesday 19 February 1969
People’s Democracy March
Tuesday 19 February 1974
Patrick Moll John Wylie
A Catholic civilian and a Protestant civilian were killed in a bomb attack on Trainor’s public house, near Loughgall, County Armagh.
Thursday 19 February 1981
James Molyneaux, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), dismissed as ‘ludicrous’ claims by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), that the UUP were conspiring to kill him.
Friday 19 February 1982
The DeLorean Motor Company was put into receivership. [The remaining jobs were lost when the factory in west Belfast closed in May 1982. The government had provided public funds of £80 million, most of these were lost with the collapse of the company.]
Tuesday 19 February 1985
The government in the Republic of Ireland introduced legislation that allowed it to freeze the bank accounts of people believed to be holding funds on behalf of paramilitary organisations.
Thursday 19 February 1987
A general election was held in the Republic of Ireland.
[Fianna Fáil won 81 seats, three short of an overall majority. A minority government was formed on 10 March 1987.]
Monday 19 February 1990
A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programme on the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) was shown as part of the ‘Panorama’ series. The programme highlighted the number of members of the UDR who had been convicted of serious offences.
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A tribute to the Ulster Defence Regiment
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[The programme sparked an intense debate on the future of the regiment.]
Wednesday 19 February 1992
Joe Doherty, a former member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), was deported from the United States of America (USA) to Northern Ireland.
Saturday 19 February 1994
Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), held a meeting with John Major, then British Prime Minister, in Downing Street, London.
Thursday 19 February 1998
The body of Kevin Conway (39), a Catholic civilan from Lurgan, County Armagh, was discovered in a derelict farmhouse near Aghalee, County Antrim.
Conway had been abducted from his home on 17 February 1998 and was shot in the head.
[The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) later blamed local Irish Republican Army (IRA) elements for the killing.]
Two letter bombs were sent to the homes of Nationalists in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, and to the village of Toombridge, County Antrim.
Friday 19 February 1999
A rally in support of the Orange Order’s stand on the Drumcree parade was held in Portadown, County Armagh. Following the rally approximately 100 young people attacked Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers.
The Northern Ireland Bar Council stated that it supported a United Nations call for a judicial inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane on 12 February 1989.
Saturday 19 February 2000
David McIlwaine Andrew Robb
Two Protestant men, David McIlwaine (18) and Andrew Robb (19), were found stabbed to death, by the side of the road near Tandregee, County Armagh. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was believed to have been responsible for the killings.
[There was some speculation in the media at the time that the killings were part of a feud between Loyalist paramilitaries however this turned out not to be the case.]
David Shayler, a former intelligence officer with MI5, alleged that British intelligence services believed that John Lennon, former member of the Beatles, had given funds to the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Tuesday 19 February 2002
It was announced that Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), would be appointed as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary.
[Flanagan had given notice of his resignation from the PSNI in November and was expected to stand down at the end of February.]
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) undertook a reshuffle of its posts at Stormont. Sam Foster (70), then Environment Minister, was replace by Dermot Nesbitt who had been a junior minister in the Office of the First Minster and Deputy First Minister. Nesbitt’s position was filled by James Leslie.
The High Court in Belfast rejected an application to prevent police witnesses from giving evidence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry from behind screens. The action was taken on behalf of one of the families of those killed was an attempt to change the Inquiry’s decision to allow police evidence to be given from behind a screen.
At a meeting of Fermanagh District Council, Sinn Féin (SF) introduced a motion to have all Royal and military symbols removed from the council offices. The motion was rejected and a Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) amendment to establish a sub-committee to consider ways of creating a neutral environment was accepted instead.
[SF had argued that the best place for the symbols was the local museum.]
As part of a nation-wide protest students in Northern Ireland gathered at the Northern Ireland Assembly building to protest about the continued poverty of those in third level education.
[Student demands included the abolition of tuition fees and the restoration of grants and benefit entitlements.]
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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 19th February between 1973– 2000
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19 February 1973
William Cooke, (29)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot Wolfhill Quarry, Ligoniel, Belfast.
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19 February 1974
Patrick Molloy, (48)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Killed in bomb attack on Trainor’s Bar, Aghinlig, near Loughgall, County Armagh
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19 February 1974
John Wylie, (49)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Killed in bomb attack on Trainor’s Bar, Aghinlig, near Loughgall, County Armagh
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19 February 1975
James Breen, (45)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot at his home, North Circular Road, Lurgan, County Armagh.
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19 February 1976
Desmond Finney, (25)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot as he arrived at his workplace, Manderson Street, off Newtownards Road, Belfast. Assumed to be a Catholic.
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19 February 1977
Brian Canavan, (35)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot at his home, Clifton Crescent, off Cliftonville Road, Belfast.
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19 February 1983
Alan Price, (53)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while delivering mail, Arney, near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Usual postman, off-duty Ulster Defence Regiment member the intended target.
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19 February 2000
David McIlwaine, (18)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found stabbed to death, by the side of Druminure Road, near Tandragee, County Armagh.
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19 February 2000
Andrew Robb, (19)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found stabbed to death, by the side of Druminure Road, near Tandragee, County Armagh.
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Belfast Child 