Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
25th June
Monday 25 June 1973
Three members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) were killed when a bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely on the Gortin Road, near Omagh, County Tyrone.
A Protestant civilian was shot dead by Loyalists in Belfast.
Friday 25 June 1976
Three Protestant civilians were shot dead during a gun attack on The Store Bar, Lyle Hill Road, Templepatrick, County Antrim.
The attack was carried out by a group called the Republican Action Force (RAF), believed to be a covername for some members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Wednesday 25 June 1980
The Democratic Party in the United States of America (USA) adopted as policy a proposal put forward by Edward Kennedy, then a Senator. The new policy called for an end to the divisions of the Irish people and a solution based on the consent of all of the parties.
Tuesday 25 June 1985
The United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) sign a bilateral treaty that would prevent people facing extradition from claiming that their crimes had a political motive.
Thursday 25 June 1992
James Molyneaux, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), together with Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), put a motion before the House of Commons which called for the setting up of a Northern Ireland Select Committee.
The motion was supported by the Liberal Democrats, and the Welsh and Scottish Nationalist parties. However the government opposed the motion which failed to gain sufficient suppport.
Wednesday 25 June 1997
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) carried out a search of a house in Dunmurray, Belfast, and found a number of AK47 rifles.
The police had earlier gone to the wrong address.
Colin Duffy was charged with the murder of two RUC officers in Lurgan on 16 June 1997. Duffy’s solicitor alleged that the RUC had mistreated Duffy while in custody.
The British and Irish governments announced that they were giving the Irish Republican Army (IRA) a period of five weeks during which to call an unequivocal ceasefire.
Following any ceasefire a further period of six weeks would then elapse before Sinn Féin (SF) could enter the talks at Stormont when they resumed on 15 September 1997. The talks were scheduled to conclude in May 1998.
[SF later called for “clarification” of the statement but were told that they would not be given any.]
Friday 25 June 1999
Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, rejected demands for an Inquiry into the killing of Billy Wright inside the Maze Prison on 27 December 1997.
See Billy Wright
Tony Blair, the British Prime Minster, and Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), travelled to Belfast for a series of meetings at Stormont with the political parties.
[These meetings were held prior to a week of intensive negotiations, beginning on Monday 28 June. The deadline for overcoming the political impasse had been set for 30 June.]
——————————————
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 25th June between 1972 – 1987
——————————————
25 June 1972
James Bonner (19)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while travelling in stolen car, Whiterock Road, Ballymurphy, Belfast.
——————————————
25 June 1973
Joseph Cunningham (36)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot at his home, Nore Street, Lower Oldpark, Belfast. Alleged informer.
——————————————
25 June 1973
Sean Loughran (37)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died in premature bomb explosion while travelling in car, Gortin Road, near Omagh, County Tyrone.
——————————————
25 June 1973
Patrick Carty (26)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died in premature bomb explosion while travelling in car, Gortin Road, near Omagh, County Tyrone.
——————————————
25 June 1973
Dermot Crowley (18)
nfNI
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA), Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
From County Cork. Died in premature bomb explosion while travelling in car, Gortin Road, near Omagh, County Tyrone.
——————————————
25 June 1976
Ruby Kidd (28)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Republican Action Force (RepAF)
Shot during gun attack on Walker’s Bar, Lyle Hill Road, Templepatrick, County Antrim.
——————————————
25 June 1976
Francis Walker (17)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Republican Action Force (RepAF)
Shot during gun attack on Walker’s Bar, Lyle Hill Road, Templepatrick, County Antrim
——————————————
25 June 1976
Joseph McBride (56)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Republican Action Force (RepAF)
Shot during gun attack on Walker’s Bar, Lyle Hill Road, Templepatrick, County Antrim
——————————————
25 June 1978
Patrick McEntee (54)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot, Ballsmill, near Forkhill, County Armagh. Alleged informer.
——————————————
25 June 1978
Alan Ferguson (23)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot during sniper and landmine attack on British Army (BA) Armoured Personnel Carrier, Belcoo, County Fermanagh
——————————————
25 June 1987
Dominic O’Connor (30)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot outside his home, Springfield Road, Belfast.
——————————————
Belfast Child 