Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
21st July
Friday 21 July 1972
‘Bloody Friday’ ‘
Bloody Friday‘ is the name given to the events that occurred in Belfast on Friday 21 July 1972. During the afternoon of ‘Bloody Friday’ the Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted and exploded 22 bombs which, in the space of 75 minutes, killed 9 people and seriously injured approximately 130 others. In addition to the bombs there were numerous hoax warnings about other explosive devices which added to the chaos in the streets that afternoon. Many people believe these hoax warnings were deliberately used to reduce the effectiveness of the security forces in dealing with the real bombs.
The killings and maimings had a profound impact on most people in Northern Ireland. ‘Bloody Friday’ also led to the decision by the British Government to implement ‘Operation Motorman’ (31 July 1972) when, in the biggest British military operation since the 1956 Suez crisis, the British Army entered and ended the ‘no-go’ areas of Belfast and Derry.
See Bloody Friday
Joseph Rosato (59), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) at his home, Deerpark Road, Belfast. Rosato was the father of the intended target and the killing was part of a feud between the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) and the PIRA.
Saturday 21 July 1973
Two members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) died when a bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely.
Wednesday 21 July 1976
British Ambassador to Ireland Killed
Christopher Ewart Biggs (54), then the British Ambassador to Ireland, was killed in a landmine attack on his official car in Sandyford, Dublin. His secretary, Judith Cook (25), was also killed in the explosion.
Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, was originally to have travelled in the car as well.
A British soldier was killed by a booby trap bomb in an Army base in Derry.
Sturday 21 July 1979
It was announced that Pope John Paul II would pay a visit to Ireland on 29 September 1979. Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and the Orange Order warned that he should not visit Northern Ireland.
Thursday 21 July 1983
Gerry Fitt, formerly the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Belfast, was made a life peer. James Molyneaux, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), was appointed as a Privy Councillor.
Sunday 21 July 1985
The United Ulster Loyalist Front (UULF) was formed in Portadown, County Armagh, to oppose the re-routing of Loyalist parades away from Catholic areas.
Tomás Ó Fiaich, then Catholic Primate of Ireland, was reported in an interview in the Universe, a Catholic religious newspaper, as having said that he believed that 90 per cent of religious bigotry in Northern Ireland was found among Protestants.
Thursday 21 July 1988
The British government announced that Shorts aircraft company in Belfast was to be privatised.
Monday 21 July 1997
Following a meeting with Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), said that he could not support the proposals on decommissioning being put forward by the British and Irish governments. SF representatives were admitted to Castle Buildings in Stormont, Belfast, in order to establish their offices for the forthcoming talks.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) immediately left the building and urged the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) to do likewise.
Wednesday 21
July 1999
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement rejecting demands for it to decommission its arsenal “in the current political context”, but confirmed its “definitive commitment” to the success of the peace process.
While it did not rule out the prospect of decommissioning, the IRA declined to confirm whether it supported the Sinn Féin (SF) initiative in signing up to the principle that decommissioning should take place before May 2000.
The 32 County Sovereignty Committee called for “an alternative peace strategy” to the ‘Way Forward’ proposals.
Eamonn Molloy
The first of the ‘Disappeared’ to be recovered, Eamonn Molloy, was buried in Belfast seven weeks after his remains were left in a graveyard in County Louth by the IRA
. Molloy had been abducted from his home in Ardoyne, Belfast, in 1975. There were accusations that he had been an informer for the security forces.
See The Disappeared
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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.
19 People lost their lives on the 21st July between 1972 – 1991
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21 July 1972
Anthony Davidson (21)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot at his home, Clovelly Street, off Springfield Road, Belfast.
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21 July 1972
Stephen Cooper (19)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion at Oxford Street Bus Station, Belfast. Inadequate warning given
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21 July 1972
Philip Price (27)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion at Oxford Street Bus Station, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.
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21 July 1972
William Crothers (15)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion at Oxford Street Bus Station, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.
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21 July 1972
William Irvine (18)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion at Oxford Street Bus Station, Belfast. Inadequate warning given
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21 July 1972
Thomas Killops (39)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion at Oxford Street Bus Station, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.
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21 July 1972
Jackie Gibson (45)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion at Oxford Street Bus Station, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.
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21 July 1972
Margaret O’Hare (34)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion outside row of shops, Cavehill Road, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.
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21 July 1972
Brigid Murray (65)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion outside row of shops, Cavehill Road, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.
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21 July 1972
Stephen Parker (14)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion outside row of shops, Cavehill Road, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.
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21 July 1972
Joseph Rosato (59)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot at his home, Deerpark Road, Oldpark, Belfast.
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21 July 1972
Joseph Downey (23)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle, Cromac Street, Markets, Belfast.
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21 July 1973
Alphonsus Cunningham (21)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in premature bomb explosion while travelling in car, Newcastle, County Down.
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21 July 1973
Pauline Kane (21)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in premature bomb explosion while travelling in car, Newcastle, County Down.
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21 July 1976
Christopher Ewart-Biggs (54)
nfNIRI
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
British Ambassador to Ireland. Killed in land mine attack on his official car, Sandyford, County Dublin
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21 July 1976
Judith Cook (25)
nfNIRI
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
British Ambassador to Ireland’s secretary. Killed in land mine attack on his official car, Sandyford, County Dublin.
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21 July 1976
David Evans (20)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb left inside Ebrington British Army (BA) base, Waterside, Derry
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21 July 1981
John Hazlett (43)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while renovating premises, Bank Square, Maghera, County Derry. Fellow worker, off duty Ulster Defence Regiment member, the intended target.
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21 July 1991
Thomas Oliver (43)
nfNI
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
From County Louth. Found shot, Belleek, near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. Alleged informer
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Belfast Child 