Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
17th June
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Monday 17 June 1974
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb at Westminster Hall in London, 11 people were injured in the explosion.
Thursday 17 June 1976
Brendan Meehan & Gerard Stitt
Two Catholic civilians were shot dead, by the UDA or (UVF), as they travelled on a bus on Crumlin Road, Belfast. A Catholic civilian died 11 days after being shot by the IRA in a case of mistaken identity.
Saturday 17 June 1978
Hugh McConnell & William Turbitt
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out a gun attack on an Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) patrol car near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
One officer, Hugh McConnell (32), was killed at the scene and a second officer, William Turbitt (42), was kidnapped.
A Catholic priest was kidnapped the following day in retaliation but was later released.
On 10 July 1978 the body of Officer Turbitt was discovered.
In December 1978 three RUC officers were charged with kidnapping the Catholic priest. The same officers were also charged, along with two additional officers, of killing a Catholic shopkeeper in Ahoghill on 19 April 1977.
Kevin Dyer, Kevin
A Catholic civilian was found beaten to death on a rubbish tip in Belfast. He had been killed by Loyalists.
Tuesday 17 July 1979
Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), interrupted the opening proceedings of the European parliament to protest that the Union flag was flying the wrong way up on the Parliament Buildings.
Monday 17 June 1991
Political Talks Began
The four main political parties met at Stormont, Belfast, to begin talks on the future of Northern Ireland.
The talks (later known as the Brooke / Mayhew talks) began with opening statements from each of the parties. Prospects of a breakthrough however are slim given the fact that a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) is scheduled for the middle of July.
This event is important given the fact that Unionists have stated that they will withdraw from the talks once the two governments begin their preparations for the AIIC.
Friday 17 June 1994
Three Men Shot by UVF
Gerald Brady (27), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Brady was a taxi driver and was found shot in his car, Blackthorn Park, Sunnylands, Carrickfergus, County Antrim.
Cecil Dougherty (30), a Protestant civilian, was shot dead by the UVF) during a gun attack on a workers hut, Rushpark, off Shore Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
He was assumed to have been a Catholic.
In the same attack William Corrigan (32), a Protestant civilian, was also shot and mortally wounded.
He died 10 July 1994.
Corrigan was also assumed to have been a Catholic.
A meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference took place in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, stated that there would be no successful political solution in Northern Ireland unless Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution were amended.
Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs), replied by saying that the British government would have to make changes to Section 75 of the Government of Ireland Act.
Saturday 17 June 1995
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), said that preliminary talks with British ministers had run their course and were now over.
Tuesday 17 June 1997
There were arson attacks on the homes of two Prison Officers.
[The attacks were blamed on the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).] Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, held separate meetings with representatives of the Orange Order and representatives of the residents of the Garvaghy Road in an attempt to find a settlement to the dispute over the parade planned for Sunday 6 July 1997.
Thursday 17 June 1999
Martin McGartland, formerly a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) who turned informer, was shot seven times and seriously injured at his home in Whitley Bay, England. McGartland blamed the IRA for trying to kill him.
The High Court in London passed a ruling (by 2 to 1) that the 17 former soldiers giving evidence to the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday could remain anonymous.
See Bloody Sunday
The ruling was criticised by relatives of the victims. Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), corrected a statement he had made in the Dáil earlier in the day.
In the statement he had said that he believed the Garda Síochána (the Irish police) had given up on some of the sites being searched for the remains of those killed and buried in secret by the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
See The Disappeared Northern Ireland’s Secret Victims
He said he had discussions with officials from the Department of Justice and had been assured that the Garda had not given up on the searches.
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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.
13 People lost their lives on the 17th June between 1973 – 1994
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17 June 1973
Joseph Kelly (25)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Found shot by Corr’s Corner, Larne Road, near Glengormley, County Antrim.
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17 June 1976
Daniel McCann (50)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died 11 days after being shot at a relative’s home, Ringford Park, Suffolk, Belfast. Mistaken for Ulster Defence Association (UDA) member.
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17 June 1976
Brendan Meehan (48)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot while sitting in Citybus travelling along Crumlin Road, Belfast.
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17 June 1976
Gerard Stitt (21)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot while sitting in Citybus travelling along Crumlin Road, Belfast.
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17 June 1978
Kevin Dyer (26)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found beaten to death on rubbish tip, Glencairn Road, Belfast.
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17 June 1978
Hugh McConnell (32)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by snipers while travelling in Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) civilian type car, Sturgan Brae, by Cam Lough, near Belleek, County Armagh.
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17 June 1978
William Turbitt (42)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by snipers while travelling in Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) civilian type car, Sturgan Brae, by Cam Lough, near Belleek, County Armagh.
Apparently still alive, abducted by the IRA from the scene of the ambush. Body found, on information supplied by the IRA, in derelict farmhouse, Drumlougher, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh, on 10 July 1978.
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17 June 1981
Christopher Kyle (25)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot near to his home, Beragh, County Tyrone.
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17 June 1991
Brian Lawrence (34)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at his workplace, tyre depot, Duncrue Street, Belfast.
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17 June 1993
John Murphy (38)
Catholic
Status: ex-Royal Ulster Constabulary (xRUC),
Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Shot while inside York Hotel, Botanic Avenue, Belfast.
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17 June 1994
Gerard Brady (27)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Taxi driver. Found shot in his car, Blackthorn Park, Sunnylands, Carrickfergus, County Antrim.
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17 June 1994
Cecil Dougherty (30)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot, during gun attack on workers hut, Rushpark, off Shore Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim. Assumed to be a Catholic.
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17 June 1994
William Corrigan (32)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot, during gun attack on workers hut, Rushpark, off Shore Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim. Assumed to be a Catholic. He died 10 July 1994.
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Belfast Child 