Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
18th July
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Tuesday 18 July 1972
The 100th British soldier to die in the conflict was shot by a sniper in Belfast.
A Protestant man was found shot dead in Belfast.
Harold Wilson, then leader of the Labour Party, held a meeting with representatives of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Wednesday 18 July 1973
The ‘Northern Ireland Constitution Act‘ received its Royal Assent. The Act officially abolished the Stormont Parliament
Wednesday 18 July 1979
Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), tried to interrupt Jack Lynch, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) and President of the European Council, but was shouted down by other Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
Saturday 18 July 1981
There were serious clashes between Republican demonstrators and Gardaí following a demonstration outside the British embassy in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Over 200 people where hurt during the clashes.
Wednesday 18 July 1984
The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons said that the loss of £77 million of public money on the De Lorean Motor Company was one “of the gravest cases of misuse of public resources in recent years”.
Friday 18 July 1986
The Orange Order announced the results of its inquiry into rioting in Portadown. The Orange Order blamed the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) for the trouble.
Tuesday 18 July 1995
Secret Meeting Between British and SF
Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Michael Ancram, then Political Development Minister at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), held a secret meeting in Derry with Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), and Martin McGuinness, then Vice-President of SF.
News of the meeting was not broken until 24 July 1995; see Irish Times. John Major, then British Prime Minister, had authorised the meeting. It was also disclosed that there had been an earlier meeting between the two sides.
Friday 18 July 1997
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), and Martin McGuinness, then Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), both called on the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to renew its ceasefire.
Most commentators felt that this statement meant that an IRA ceasefire was imminent.
John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Adams also issued a joint statement.
Saturday 18 July 1998
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) released figures on the level of violence that had been associated with the Drumcree disturbances which showed that there had been a total of 2,561 public order offences, and 50 RUC families had been forced to leave their homes.
Sunday 18 July 1999
The planned transfer of legislative powers from Westminster to the Northern Ireland Assembly did not take place because of the failure to appoint an Executive.
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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.
5 People lost their lives on the 18th July between 1972 – 1991
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18 July 1972
James Jones (18)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while inside Vere Foster School British Army (BA) base, Ballymurphy, Belfast.
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18 July 1972
Thomas Mills (50)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Security man. Found shot inside Finlay’s factory, Ballygomartin Road, Belfast.
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18 July 1976
Gordon Liddle (28)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb, in laneway of his home, Drumgole, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh
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18 July 1989
John McAnulty (48)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot, Lough Moss Road, Ballynacarry Bridge, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh. Alleged informer.
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18 July 1991
John McMaster (47)
Protestant
Status: Royal Navy (RN),
Killed by: Irish People’s Liberation Organisation (IPLO)
Off duty Royal Navy (RN) reservist. Shot at his shop, Church Lane, Belfast
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Belfast Child 