Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
19th June
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Monday 19 June 1972
Desmond Mackin (37), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in the Cracked Cup Social Club, Leeson Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.
Mackin was involved in an altercation with PIRA members, part of a feud between the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) and the Provisionals.
Representatives of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) held another meeting with William Whitelaw, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
There was a hunger strike at Crumlin Road Jail at the time and Whitelaw conceded ‘special category’ status, or ‘political status’ for paramilitary prisoners.
Wednesday 19 June 1974
Representatives of Loyalist paramilitaries held a ‘conference’ which announced their support for the negotiated independence of Northern Ireland.
Sunday 19 June 1977
Robert Muldoon, then New Zealand Prime Minister, held talks with representatives of the Peace People in Belfast.
One of the items discussed was the possibility of of ex-paramilitaries being allowed to emigrate to New Zealand.
Monday 19 June 1978
Margaret Thatcher, then leader of the Conservative Party, paid a visit to Northern Ireland.
Thursday 19 June 1980
The European Commission on Human Rights rejected a case brought on behalf of Republican prisoners taking part in the ‘blanket protest’ at the Maze Prison.
The Commission found that the conditions were self-inflicted but the Commission also criticised the British government for being inflexible.
Friday 19 June 1992
There was a meeting between representatives of the British and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland parties to discuss an agenda for Strand Two of the political talks (later known as the Brooke / Mayhew talks).
Wednesday 19 June 1996
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement in which it said: “We are still prepared to enhance the democratic peace process”.
Friday 19 June 1998
In a debate in the House of Commons on the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Bill there were divisions over the issue of the release of paramilitary prisoners. David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and John Taylor, then deputy leader of the UUP, abstained from voting but six UUP Members of Parliament (MPs) voted against the bill along with Conservative MPs.
Saturday 19 June 1999
David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), invited Jeffrey Donaldson, a critic of the Good Friday Agreement, to rejoin his talks team in preparation for meetings with the British and Irish governments over the 30 June 1999 devolution deadline.
[The move seemed to dispel hopes in London and Dublin that the UUP leader might be persuaded to form the Northern Ireland Executive without a hard and fast agreement on IRA decommissioning.]
Ten men were arrested on both sides of the Border in connection with the bombing of Omagh on 15 August 1998. A further two men were arrested on 21 June 1999.
Tuesday 19 June 2001
School-children Face Loyalist Protest
Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers had to protect children and parents entering the Catholic Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School in north Belfast after they were attacked by Loyalist stone throwers. Police described the attack as “vicious”.
The school is on the Ardoyne Road next to the Loyalist Glenbryn estate.
Following the incident a blockade of the school developed.
[The blockade was to continue each morning during the remainder of the school term (until 29 June 2001) with Loyalists standing across the road and RUC officers refusing Catholic children and their parents permission to proceed along the road to the school.
Some of the school-children and their parents were forced to enter the building through the grounds of another school. The protests resumed on 3 September 2001 when the school reopened for the new term.]
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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 19th June between 1972 – 1991
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19 June 1972
Desmond Mackin (37)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot during altercation with Irish Republican Army (IRA) members in Cracked Cup Social Club, Leeson Street, Lower Falls, Belfast. Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) / Irish Republican Army (IRA) feud.
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19 June 1972
Bryan Sodden, (21)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) mobile patrol, Brompton Park, Ardoyne, Belfast.
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19 June 1975
Francis Bradley (16)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Killed by bomb left in oil can at Shamrock Filling Station, Great Patrick Street, Belfast.
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19 June 1976
William Rankin (32)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot at his home, Westland Road, Belfast.
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19 June 1976
Wesley Nicholl (40)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot at his home, Larch Grove, Seymour Hill, Dunmurry, near Belfast, County Antrim
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19 June 1977
Robert Whitten (73)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Magistrate. Died three months after being shot from passing car while walking along Thomas Street, Portadown, County Armagh.
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19 June 1979
John Hannigan (34)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while on his way to work, Omagh, County Tyrone.
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19 June 1991
Anthony Harrison (21)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at his girlfriend’s home, Nevis Avenue, Strandtown, Belfast.
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Belfast Child 