Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
29th February
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Wednesday 29 February 1984
The Northern Ireland Assembly voted by 20 votes to 1 against a proposal to extend the 1967 Abortion Act, which covered Britain, to Northern Ireland.
Monday 29 February 1988
Martin McGuinness with masked IRA men at the funeral of Brendan Burns in 1988
Two Irish Republican Army (IRA) members were killed in a premature explosion in County Armagh.
Thursday 29 February 1996
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a stamen following talks between John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), and representatives of the IRA.
Irish Republican Army (IRA) Statement, 29 February 1996
The IRA released a statement in Dublin on 29 February 1996 following a meeting between the IRA Army Council and the leaders of Sinn Féin and the SDLP.
The IRA statement said there had been a detailed and open exchange of views.
“We listened attentively to the case presented by both leaders and noted their shared commitment to restoring the peace process.”
The statement continued:
“For our part we restated our absolute commitment to our republican objectives which include the free exercise by the Irish people of our inalienable right to national self-determination. We also took the opportunity to reiterate what we said on February 9th, stressing that a resolution of the conflict in our country demands justice and an inclusive negotiated settlement without preconditions.
We pointed out to Mr Hume and Mr Adams that the failure of by the British government to put in place inclusive negotiations free from preconditions, the abuse of the peace process by the British over 18 months and the absence of an effective and democratic aproach capable of providing an irrevocable momentum towards a just and lasting peace in Ireland, were the critical elements which led to the failure, thus far, of the Irish peace process. We repeat that we are prepared to face up to our responsibilities; others need to do likewise.”
P O’Neill,
Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, Dublin.
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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.
4 People lost their lives on the 29th February between 1972– 1998
Bizarrely three of the people killed on the 29th of February were called Brendan.
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29 February 1972
Henry Dickson, (46)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at his home, Lawrence Street, Lurgan, County Armagh.
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29 February 1980
Brendan McLaughlin, (32)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot from passing car while walking along Clonard Street, Lower Falls, Belfast. Sinn Fein (SF) member intended target.
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29 February 1988
Brendan Burns, (30)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in premature explosion while loading bomb into van, Creggan, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
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29 February 1988
Brendan Moley, (30)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in premature explosion while loading bomb into van, Creggan, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
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Belfast Child 