Yearly Archives: 2016

20th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

20th July

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Saturday 20 July 1974

The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) stepped down as a member of the Ulster Workers’ Council (UWC) and the Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee. The UDA also issued an invitation to representatives of the Catholic community to hold talks with them.

[On 1 August 1974 representatives of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) held talks with the UDA.]

Sunday 20 July 1980

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a car bomb in Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, which caused extensive damage to the centre of the town.

Tuesday 20 July 1982

Hyde Park and Regent’s Park Bombs

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded two bombs in London, one at South Carriage Drive, close to Hyde Park and the other at the Bandstand in Regent’s Park, resulting in the deaths of 11 British Soldiers.

The first bomb exploded shortly before 11.00am when soldiers of the Blues and Royals were travelling on horseback to change the guard at Horseguards Parade. Three soldiers were killed instantly and a fourth died of his injuries on 23 July 1982. A number of civilians who had been watching the parade were also injured.

Hyde_Park_Bombing

One horse was killed in the explosion but a further six had to be shot due to their injuries. The bomb had been left in a car parked along the side of the road and is believed to have been detonated by a member of the IRA who was watching from within Hyde Park.

The second bomb, which exploded at lunch time, had been planted under the bandstand in Regent’s Park. The explosion killed 7 bandsmen of the Royal Green Jackets as they were performing a concert at the open-air bandstand.

Approximately two dozen civilians who had been listening to the performance were injured in the explosion. It is thought that the bomb had been triggered by a timing device and may have been planted some time in advance of the concert.

[British public opinion was outraged by the carnage caused by the IRA attacks.

In 1987 a man was sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy to cause explosions; the charges were linked to the Hyde Park bomb. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. In December 1998 he sucessfully appealed against his conviction which was quashed.]

See Hyde Park & Regents Park Bombings

Friday 20 July 1990

IRA Bomb Stock Exchange

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a large bomb at the London Stock Exchange causing massive damage.

Sunday 20 July 1997

Renewed IRA Ceasefire

At 12.00pm the renewed Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire began. There was a report in the Sunday Tribune (a Dublin newspaper) which claimed that the IRA ceasefire would be limited to four months duration dependant on progress during the talks

 Sinn Féin (SF) later denied there was any truth in the report

[While most people welcomed the renewed ceasefire, Unionist politicians were highly sceptical of the intentions of the Republican movement.]

Tuesday 20 July 1999

Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), attempted to mend deteriorating relations with David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), at informal talks in London.

A meeting between Ahern and Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, was also arranged to confirm that George Mitchell would chair the review of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, triggered by the failure to establish the Executive. Within an hour of the announcement Mitchell held a meeting with Trimble. Mitchell later stated that the review “would be tightly focused” and aimed at “a speedy conclusion”.

[The review began on 6 September 1999.]

There was an announcement that the start of the main hearings of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry would be delayed by six months from 27 September 1999 to 27 March 2000. The delay was blamed on impending court cases.

Edward_Daly_Bloody_Sunday

See Bloody Sunday

  

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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.

16 People lost their lives on the 20th July between 1972  – 1982

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20 July 1972
 Robert Leggett   (50)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot attempting to stop bomb attack on his shop, Springfield Road, Belfast.

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20 July 1973
 Richard Jarman  (37)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Middletown, County Armagh.

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20 July 1973
 Sidney Watt  (36)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot outside his home, Ballintemple, near Meigh, County Armagh.

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20 July 1974
 Daniel Harkin  (47)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Died of head injuries, shortly after being attacked, in the back garden of his home, Meenashesk Place, Strabane, County Tyrone.

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20 July 1974


 Brian Shaw   (21)

nfNI
Status: ex-British Army (xBA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Married to Northern Irish women. Found shot in derelict house, Arundel Street, off Grosvenor Road, Belfast.

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20 July 1982
 Anthony Daly   (23)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Killed when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Simon Tipper   (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Killed when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Jeffrey Young  (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Killed when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Roy Bright  (36)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Injured when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London. He died on 23 July 1982.

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20 July 1982
 Graham Barker  (36)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Robert Livingstone  (31)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 John McKnight   (30)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 George Mesure   (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982


 Keith Powell   (24)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA), K

illed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London

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20 July 1982
 Laurence Smith  (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 John Heritage  (29)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Injured when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London. He died on 1 August 1982

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Hyde Park & Regent’s Park Bombings – 20th July 1982 – Lest We Forget!

Blog, Deaths in the Troubles, Major events in The Troubles, , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

 Hyde Park and Regent’s Park Bombings

Hyde Park

Regents Park

The Hyde Park and Regent’s Park bombings occurred on 20 July 1982 in London. Members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated two bombs during British military ceremonies in Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, both in central London.

Soldiers injured in the bombing are pictured following the attack

 

The explosions killed 11 military personnel:  four soldiers of the Blues & Royals at Hyde Park, and seven bandsmen of the Royal Green Jackets at Regent’s Park. Seven of the Blues & Royals’ horses also died in the attack. One seriously injured horse, Sefton, survived and was subsequently featured on television programmes and was awarded “Horse of the Year“.

McNamee

Gilbert “Danny” McNamee

In 1987, Gilbert “Danny” McNamee was convicted of making the Hyde Park bomb and jailed for 25 years.  He served 12 years before being released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement; his conviction was later quashed.

John Downey

In 2013, John Downey was charged with four counts of murder in relation to the Hyde Park attack; his trial began in January 2014 but collapsed the following month after a ruling upon a letter sent to him by police assuring him that he would not be prosecuted over the attack.

No one has ever been charged in connection with the Regent’s Park bombing

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Hyde park London 1982 IRA bombing

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The attacks

Hyde Park bomb

 

U-shaped hedge enclosure surrounding an oblong slate plaque on a wedge-shaped plinth, with flowers laid at the bottom
Memorial in Hyde Park
Oblong slate plaque with inscriptions in gold, set into a low wall
Memorial in Regent’s Park

At 10:40 am, a nail bomb exploded in the boot of a blue Morris Marina parked on South Carriage Drive in Hyde Park.The bomb comprised 25 lb (11 kg) of gelignite and 30 lb (14 kg) of nails.

It exploded as soldiers of the Household Cavalry, Queen Elizabeth II‘s official bodyguard regiment, were passing. They were taking part in their daily Changing of the Guard procession from their barracks in Knightsbridge to Horse Guards Parade.

Blues and Royals cap badge.jpg

Three soldiers of the Blues & Royals were killed outright, and another, their standard-bearer, died from his wounds three days later. The other soldiers in the procession were badly wounded, and a number of civilians were injured. Seven of the regiment’s horses were also killed or had to be euthanised because of their injuries.

Explosives experts believed that the Hyde Park bomb was triggered by remote by an IRA member inside the park.

 Anthony Daley, Simon Tipper & Roy Bright

The four men who died in the attack were Denis Anthony Daly (known as Anthony Daly), Simon Tipper, Vernon Young, and Raymond Bright (in hospital three days later).

The seven horses who died in the attack were Cedric, Epaulette, Falcon, Rochester, Waterford, Yeastvite, and Zara.

 

Regent’s Park Bomb

The second attack happened at about 12:55 pm,when a bomb exploded underneath a bandstand in Regent’s Park. Thirty Military bandsmen of the Royal Green Jackets were on the stand performing music from Oliver! to a crowd of 120 people.

It was the first in a series of advertised lunchtime concerts there.Six of the bandsmen were killed outright and the rest were wounded; a seventh died of his wounds on 1 August. The seven men who died were Graham Barker, Robert Livingstone, John McKnight, John Heritage, George Mesure, Keith Powell and Laurence Smith. At least eight civilians were also injured.

The bomb had been hidden under the stand some time before and triggered by a timer.  Unlike the Hyde Park bomb, it contained no nails and seemed to be designed to cause minimal harm to bystanders.

Aftermath

A total of 22 people were detained in hospital as a result of the blasts: 18 soldiers, a police officer, and three civilians. The IRA claimed responsibility for the attacks by deliberately mirroring Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher‘s words a few months before when Britain entered the Falklands War. They proclaimed that:

“The Irish people have sovereign and national rights which no task or occupational force can put down”.

Reacting to the bombing, Thatcher stated:

“These callous and cowardly crimes have been committed by evil, brutal men who know nothing of democracy. We shall not rest until they are brought to justice.”

The bombings had a negative impact on public support in the United States for the Irish republican cause.

Sefton, a horse that survived the attack at Hyde Park despite suffering serious wounds, became famous after appearing in many television shows and was awarded Horse of the Year.

Sefton_Horse_of_the_Year

Sefton’s rider at the time of the bombing, Michael Pedersen, survived but claimed to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder; after splitting from his wife he committed suicide in September 2012 after killing two of his children.

A memorial marks the spot of the Hyde Park bombing and the troop honours it daily with an eyes-left and salute with drawn swords. A plaque commemorating the victims of the second attack also stands in Regent’s Park.

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Victims

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20 July 1982
 Anthony Daly   (23)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Killed when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Simon Tipper   (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Killed when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Jeffrey Young  (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Killed when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Roy Bright  (36)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Ceremonial Cavalryman. Injured when remote controlled car bomb exploded while riding horse along South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, London. He died on 23 July 1982.

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20 July 1982
 Graham Barker  (36)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 Robert Livingstone  (31)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 John McKnight   (30)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 George Mesure   (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982


 Keith Powell   (24)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA), K

illed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London

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20 July 1982
 Laurence Smith  (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Killed when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London.

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20 July 1982
 John Heritage  (29)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Bandsman. Injured when bomb exploded at bandstand, Regents Park, London. He died on 1 August 1982

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Criminal proceedings

In October 1987, 27-year-old Gilbert “Danny” McNamee, from County Armagh, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 25 years in prison for his role in the Hyde Park bombing and others, despite his plea that he was not guilty. In December 1998, shortly after his release from Maze prison under the Good Friday Agreement, three Court of Appeal judges quashed his conviction, deeming it “unsafe” because of withheld fingerprint evidence that implicated other bomb-makers. They stated that though the conviction was unsafe it did not mean McNamee was necessarily innocent of the charge.

 

On 19 May 2013, 61-year-old John Anthony Downey, from County Donegal, was charged with murder in relation to the Hyde Park bomb and intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. He appeared by videolink from Belmarsh prison for a bail hearing at the Old Bailey on 24 May and did not apply for bail so was remanded in custody.

At a hearing on 1 August 2013, Downey was granted conditional bail and a trial was scheduled for January 2014.

On 24 January 2014, Downey appeared at the Old Bailey for the beginning of his trial; he entered a not guilty plea on the four murder charges and the charge of intending to cause an explosion.

On 25 February 2014, it was revealed that Downey’s trial had collapsed after the presiding judge had ruled, on 21 February, upon a letter sent by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to Downey in 2007, assuring him that he would not face criminal charges over the attack. Although the assurance was made in error and the police realised the mistake, it was never withdrawn, and the judge ruled that therefore the defendant had been misled and prosecuting him would be an abuse of executive power.

Downey is one of 187 IRA suspects who received secret on-the-run letters guaranteeing them unofficial immunity from prosecution

 

 

19th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

19th July

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Sunday 19 July 1981

Those Republican prisoners taking part in the hunger strike rejected attempts by the International Committee of the Red Cross to act a mediators with the British government.

hungry strikes

See 1981 Hunger Strike

Monday 19 July 1982

James Prior, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, paid a visit to the United States of America (USA) to explain his ‘rolling devolution’ plans.

Friday 19 July 1996

Eight men were remanded in custody after appearing on charges of conspiring to cause explosions. The men were arrested on 15 July 1996.

At a meeting between Hugh Annesley, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), and the Police Authority of Northern Ireland, a motion of no-confidence in Hugh Annesley was dropped.

Saturday 19 July 1997

IRA Statment

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a  statement   which announced that there would be a renewal of its 1994 ceasefire as of 12.00pm on 20 July 1997.

Irish Republican Army (IRA) Ceasefire Statement, 19 July 1997

“On August 31, 1994 the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) announced their complete cessation of military operations as our contribution to the search for lasting peace.

After 17 months of cessation in which the British government and the unionists blocked any possibility of real or inclusive negotiations, we reluctantly abandoned the cessation.

The IRA is committed to ending British rule in Ireland. It is the root cause of divisions and conflict in our country. We want a permanent peace and therefore we are prepared to enhance the search for a democratic peace settlement through real and inclusive negotiations.

So having assessed the current political situation, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann are announcing a complete cessation of military operations from 12 midday on Sunday 20 July, 1997.

We have ordered the unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire of August 1994. All IRA units have been instructed accordingly.”

 

Following the announcement the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) said that the two parties would not be a part of the talks process.

Sunday 19 July 1998

Andrew Kearney (33), a Catholic civilian, died shortly after being shot in the legs by Republican paramilitaries, outside his girlfriends flat in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

[No organisation claimed responsibility but the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) believed that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was responsible for the shooting.]

There was a mortar attack on the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) base in Newry, County Armagh. The “real” Irish Republican Army (rIRA) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Monday 19 July 1999

A parcel bomb addressed to a Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) member in Ballymena, County Antrim, was defused by British Army technical officers at a Post Office sorting room in the town.

 Dissident Loyalist paramilitaries were thought to have been responsible

Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), met with Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), in Dublin for talks on the political developments in Northern Ireland. Adams later said that delays in implementing the Good Friday Agreement meant that it would be not be possible to meet the decommissioning deadline.

Thursday 19 July 2001

There was an arson attack on a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubhouse in Kilkeel, County Down. Loyalist paramilitaries were thought to have been responsible for the attack.

This was the first in a new series of attacks on GAA clubs across Northern Ireland; other attacks on 29 July 2001, 22 August 2001, 23 August 2001.

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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.

9 People lost their lives on the 19th  July between 1972 – 1998

——————————————

19 July 1972
 Henry Gray   (71)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot trying to stop bomb attack on Whitehorse Inn, Springfield Road, Belfast.

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19 July 1972
 Alan Jack   (0)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion, Canal Street, off Abercorn Square, Strabane, County Tyrone. Inadequate warning given.

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19 July 1972
 Hugh Wright   (21)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot in field, off Hightown Road, near Belfast, County Antrim.

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19 July 1978
 Mark Carnie   (18)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden behind wall while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Dungannon, County Tyrone.

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19 July 1980


 Christopher Watson   (20)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while in Village Inn, Rosemount, Derry.

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19 July 1986


 Martin Duffy   (28)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Taxi driver. Shot when lured to bogus pick-up, Chichester Park Central, off Antrim Road, Belfast.

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19 July 1987


 Thomas Hewitt   (21)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Belleek, County Fermanagh.

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19 July 1991


 Thomas Hughes   (32)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot while driving his black taxi, junction of Divis Street and Westlink, Lower Falls, Belfast

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19 July 1998


 Andrew Kearney  (33)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Died shortly after being shot in the legs, outside his girlfriends flat, Fianna House, New Lodge, Belfast

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I quit Smoking today at 17:31:24

Blog,

No-Smoking 2.jpg

Ok after thirty five years , 100’s of 1000’s of pounds and untold damage to my innards I have taken the first step to a healthier , wealthier & hopefully longer life and have STOPPED smoking. To be more precise I smoked my last fag a few hours ago and as a wise  man once said the first step in a thousand mile journey is the most important step and yeah – I’m with him on this.

I have tried a few times in the past , but these  were always half-arsed attempts and I knew deep down that I had no intentions of really stopping – Just wanted to keep the wife and daughter happy and told them what I though they needed to hear – and off course they knew I was bullshitting them all alone.

How do women do at?

106_3522.JPG
The Wife
autumn and me
Daughter & I

Anyways  if  you follow this blog you may be aware that it was my  BIG 50 last week and I have always kinda promised myself that when I reached this milestone I would try  and look after myself a bit better and quitting smoking was always top of this list.

 

So wish me luck and I promise to keep you up to date on this and other live-longer schemes I will be implementing over the next few weeks/months.

PS. Knowing my luck I’ll keel over and have a heart – attack any minute now!

smoking warning

 

 

…..

18th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

18th July

——————————

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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Quinn Brothers killings – Murder of the Innocent

Deaths in the Troubles, Major events in The Troubles, , , , ,

Quinn Brothers Killings

As a Protestant who was born and raised within the heartlands of Loyalist West Belfast I am fiercely proud of my Protestant culture and heritage and I take pride in the union with the rest of the UK and I adore and love our Queen ,  Elizabeth the 2nd of her name – long may she reign!

Queen Elizabeth II March 2015.jpg

Growing up in and around the Shankill Road & Glencairn I was on the front line of the sectarian slaughter that hunted the people of Belfast & Northern Ireland for 30 long painful years and I have seen more than my fair share of the misery and soul destroying agony of the paramilitary war that dominated and engulfed our daily lives.

Through the years many of the high profile killings and sectarian slaughter has had a profound effect on me and the death of these three innocent children still hunts my soul years after their tragic, senseless murder.

The death of the three young Scottish soldiers by an IRA honey trap also stands out  in my mind and the sheer brutality of these murders is beyond my comprehension and how those that perpetuated these and other murders live with themselves is beyond me.

Scots 3-x-

See IRA Honey Trap Killings

Thank god these dark days are behind us.

Safe in the arms of Jesus

Quinn brothers collage with text.jpg

Jason, Richard and Mark Quinn were three brothers killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in a firebomb attack on their home in Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland on 12 July 1998. Towards the end of the three-decade period known as “The Troubles“.

 

Background

A loyalist mural in Carnany

The Quinn family, consisting of mother Chrissie and sons Richard, Mark and Jason, lived in the Carnany estate in the predominantly Protestant town of Ballymoney. The family was of a mixed religious background. Mother Chrissie was Roman Catholic from a mixed background and the boys’ father Jim Dillon was Catholic.

After separating from her estranged husband, Chrissie reared the boys as Protestant “to avoid the hassle”. Chrissie lived with her Protestant partner Raymond Craig in Carnany which had only a few Catholic residents and was mostly Protestant, reflecting the religious make-up of Ballymoney itself. The boys, aged 9, 10 and 11, attended a local state school and on the evening before their deaths had been helping to build the estate’s Eleventh Night loyalist bonfire.

A fourth brother, Lee, was staying with his grandmother in Rasharkin at the time of the attack.

The entrance to Carnany

The killings took place at the height of the stand-off over the Orange Order march at Drumcree, which created a tense atmosphere in various towns across Northern Ireland. In Ballymoney, the previous year, an off-duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer, Gregory Taylor, was beaten to death by a group of loyalist bandsmen.

The killing followed a row about the RUC’s position after loyal order marches had been banned from the nearby nationalist village of Dunloy.

In the weeks before the fatal attack, the children’s mother Chrissie had expressed fear that she wasn’t welcome in the area and that there was a possibility the family home might be attacked by loyalists.

The Ballymoney Times reported a story the week of the deaths, stating that a resident of the Carnany estate called in and was concerned about tension in the area adding something serious might happen “unless Catholic residents were left alone“. Various members of Chrissie’s family had lived in Carnany but due to several incidents only Chrissie and her sons remained. The family had only been living in the home, which was previously occupied by the boys’ aunt, for six days before the attack.

The attack

quinn house 2.jpg

The attack occurred at around half past four in the morning as the inhabitants of the house slept. A car containing members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary organisation, arrived at the house and threw a petrol bomb through a window at the rear of the house. The petrol bomb was made from a whiskey bottle.

The sounds of the boys’ shouting had woken their mother, who found her bedroom full of smoke. Chrissie Quinn, Raymond Craig and a family friend Christina Archibald escaped the resulting fire with minor injuries. Chrissie had thought the boys had escaped the fire as she couldn’t locate them in the dense smoke before she jumped to safety from a first floor window. Two of the brother’s bodies were found in their mother’s bedroom and the other in another bedroom.

Chrissie was taken to hospital and released the next day after receiving minor injuries and shock in the attack.

Reaction

DrIanPaisley.jpg

The M.P. for the area, Dr. Ian Paisley, visited the site of the attack and described the killings as:

“diabolical”, “repugnant” and it “stained Protestantism”.

However, in an interview with ITN he stated that:

“The IRA have carried out worse murders than we had in Ballymoney over and over again”.

Then British Prime Minister Tony Blair denounced the attack as “an act of barbarism”.

Reaction from America was also noted as United States President Bill Clinton extended the condolences of the American people to the Quinn family.

Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy condemned the killings and stated:

“The Orange Order must recognize that its refusal to abide by the decision of the Parades Commission led to the murder of the Quinn boys”.

New York mayor Rudy Giuliani extended sympathy to the family from the city of New York.

Representatives of other groups from all sides of the constitutional issue in Northern Ireland also condemned the killings.

The then Chelsea F.C. chairman, Ken Bates, offered a £100,000 reward for information leading to a conviction for the attackers.

At the brothers’ Requiem Mass, the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor, Dr. Walsh observed that:

“For all too long the airwaves and the printed page have been saturated with noises – strident, harsh, discordant noises – carrying words of hatred, of incitement, of recrimination, words not found in the vocabulary of Christianity. But the time for words is over. It’s now time for silence, a silence in which we will hear the voice of God.”

Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attended a memorial mass in Dublin for the children.

The Progressive Unionist Party, which has political links to the UVF, made no comment that the UVF was implicated in the attack.

Conviction of Garfield Gilmour

Garfield Gilmour, a local loyalist, was found guilty of murder for his part in the attack and sentenced to life imprisonment in October 1999. He had driven the car which had transported the UVF unit containing Johnny McKay, brothers Raymond and Ivan Parke to the Quinn home.

Gilmour was described at his trial as a hard working, farm machinery salesman who came from a middle-class background who was unwillingly part of the attack which killed the Quinn brothers. The judge described Gilmour as an “accomplished liar”. Gilmour and his girlfriend Christina Lofthouse alleged that an uncle of the Quinn boys, Colm Quinn, had approached their daughter offering her a sweet, knowing it was a small piece of cannabis. Colm Quinn confirmed that the couple had made allegations against him previously that he was a drug dealer. He then had to flee the Carnany estate. However, returning to his old house three months before the fatal attack on his nephews, Quinn claimed he was confronted by Gilmour again and was warned he was “going to be sorted out”.

The Orange Order released a press statement a year after the attack, stating,

“According to today’s judgment the murders were a combination of a sectarian attack by the UVF and a personal grudge between Gilmour and the uncle of the three boys,” and voiced the “Order’s absolute commitment to ensuring that justice is done for their family.”

Gilmour had named the three alleged petrol bombers he had driven to the Quinn family home, but these men were never charged due to a lack of concrete evidence.[17]

Gilmour’s conviction for murder was reduced to manslaughter on appeal on 5 June 2000 and he was released six years later. Nine days later, his life sentence was replaced by a fixed prison sentence of 14 years.

Aftermath

After being released from hospital Chrissie Quinn returned to her mother’s native Rasharkin to live and decided to have the boys buried there. The boys were buried two days later in St Mary’s cemetery in Rasharkin after requiem Mass. Thousands of both Catholics and Protestants attended the funeral.

A number of loyalist bands defied RUC requests not to play music while marching past the boy’s grandmother’s house in the days after the killings.

In April 1999 the former home of the boys in Carnany Park was demolished and replaced with a children’s play park as a memorial.

An uncle of the boys, Frankie Quinn, appeared in court in 2007 accused of stabbing Garfield Gilmour in Ballymoney. Quinn was successful in an application for bail

Update on Baby- Our Little Man – Cat

Uncategorized

Update 17/7/2016 Suffering the hang- over from hell after my 50th birthday celebrations yesterday! Hi all just a little update on Baby and to introduce  you to the new member of our family Delilah …

Source: Update on Baby- Our Little Man – Cat

17th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

17th July

—————————–

Thursday 17 July 1969

Devenny Died

Samuel Devenny (42) died as a result of injuries he received when he was severely beaten by Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers using batons.

The attack took place in Devenny’s home in William Street, Bogside, Derry, on 19 April 1969.

 In some accounts of ‘the Troubles’ this is recorded as the first death

Friday 17 July 1970

Chichester-Clark, then Northern Ireland Prime Minister, and Robert Porter, then Minister of Home Affairs, met with Reginald Maulding, then British Home Secretary, in London.

Tuesday 17 July 1973

  

Christopher Brady  & Geoffrey Breakwell

Two members of the British Army were killed by a booby-trap bomb that had been planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Divis Flats, Belfast. A Catholic civilian was killing in a Loyalist bomb attack in Crumlin, County Antrim.

Wednesday 17 July 1974

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb at the Tower of London which killed one person and injured a further 41 others.

The Westminster Parliament passed the Northern Ireland Act 1974 which contained provisions for the election of a Constitutional Convention on the future government of Northern Ireland. The Convention would elect 78 members by Proportional Representation (PR) (using the STV system) from the 12 Westminster constituencies.

[The election was held on 1 May 1975.]

Thursday 17 July 1975

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed four British soldiers in a remote controlled bomb attack near Forkhill, County Armagh

sniper_at_work_by_urbanrang resized 2

See Forkhill

. [While the IRA claimed the attack was in retaliation to the killing of a Catholic earlier in the month, this incident was another serious breach of the truce.]

Saturday 17 July 1976

Two members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) were killed when the bomb they were transporting in a car exploded prematurely. The explosion took place in Castlederg, County Tyrone.

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.

Friday 17 July 1981

The delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross had a meeting with Humphrey Atkins, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to discuss the hunger strike.

Saturday 17 July 1982

Norman Maxwell (33), a Protestant civilian, was severely beaten and then killed when a car was driven over him several times. The attack was carried out by members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang known as the ‘Shankill Butchers’ at the rear of Rumford Street Loyalist Club.

Maxwell’s body was later dumped in Alliance Parade off the Old Park Road, Belfast.

lennie murphy

 [It is believed that Lenny Murphy, who had been the leader of the ‘Shankill Butchers’ was responsible for the killing with the attack happening one day after Murphy’s release from prison (Dillon, 1990).]

See Lenny Murphy

Shankill Butchers.

See Shankill Butchers

Sunday 17 July 1983

Merlyn Rees, a former Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, reported that a Cabinet subcommittee had considered the possibility of withdrawal from Northern Ireland between 1974 and 1976.

Thursday 17 July 1986

Eighteen people, who had been sentenced on the evidence of Republican ‘supergrass’ informer Christopher Black on 5 August 1983, had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal in Belfast. Four others had their convictions confirmed by the court.

Tuesday 17 July 1990

After a five hour meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) involving Peter Brooke, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, no progress was made on setting a date for political talks to begin.

Wednesday 17 July 1991

Nicholas Fenn was replaced as Britain’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland by David Blatherwick.

Monday 17 July 1995

There was an arson attack on a Catholic primary school on the Shore Road, Belfast.

Wednesday 17 July 1996

Richard Dallas, then the mayor of Derry, was stripped of the use of council facilities because of his part in an Orange roadblock on the Craigavon Bridge in the city.

Friday 17 July 1998

The_Orange_Order_Logo

After 12 days of often violent protest the Orange Order conceded that it would not be able to force its way down the Garvaghy Road. The number of people taking part in the demonstrations at Drumcree had dropped from 10,000 to 1,500 since the death of the three Quinn children on 12 July 1998.

Harold Gracey, the Portadown District Master, confirmed that only a token presence would be maintained at Drumcree church.

[The token presence was maintained until July 1999.] Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, pledged that the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) would remain intact despite any review of its future.

See Orange Order

drumcree church at night

See Drumcree

Saturday 17 July 1999

It was announced that the former Northern Ireland talks chairman, Senator George Mitchell, had been invited to take part in a summit meeting on the peace process between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister. [There had been earlier speculation that Mitchell would be asked to chair a Review of the Agreement.]

——————————————

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.

15 People lost their lives on the 17th   July between 1969 – 1994

——————————————

17 July 1969


 Samuel Devenny   (42)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Died three months after being badly beaten in his home, William Street, Bogside, Derry. He was injured on 19 April 1969

——————————————

17 July 1973


 Christopher Brady   (21)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA), K

illed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb in electricity junction box, while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Divis Flats, Belfast.

——————————————

17 July 1973


 Geoffrey Breakwell   (20)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb in electricity junction box, while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Divis Flats, Belfast

——————————————

17 July 1973
 Owen Ruddy   (60)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed in car bomb attack outside Silver Eel Bar, Aghalee Road, Crumlin, County Antrim.

——————————————

17 July 1974
 Dorothy Household   (48)

nfNIB
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in bomb attack on White Tower, Tower of London, London

——————————————

17 July 1975
 Peter Willis   (37)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb, hidden in milk churn, detonated when British Army (BA) foot patrol passed, Tullydonnell, near Forkhill, County Armagh.

——————————————

17 July 1975


 Edward Garside   (34)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb, hidden in milk churn, detonated when British Army (BA) foot patrol passed, Tullydonnell, near Forkhill, County Armagh.

——————————————

17 July 1975


 Robert McCarter  (33)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb, hidden in milk churn, detonated when British Army (BA) foot patrol passed, Tullydonnell, near Forkhill, County Armagh.

——————————————

17 July 1975


 Calvert Brown  (25)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb, hidden in milk churn, detonated when British Army (BA) foot patrol passed, Tullydonnell, near Forkhill, County Armagh.

——————————————

17 July 1976
 Peter McElcar   (24)

nfNI
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
From County Donegal. Killed in premature bomb explosion while travelling in car, Castlederg, County Tyrone.

——————————————

17 July 1976
 Patrick Cannon   (20)

nfNI
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
From County Dublin. Killed in premature bomb explosion while travelling in car, Castlederg, County Tyrone.

——————————————

17 July 1979
 Sylvia Crowe   (31)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden in parked lorry during attack on Ulster Defence Regiment mobile patrol, Rosslea, County Fermanagh.

——————————————

17 July 1982
 Norman Maxwell  (33)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found beaten to death on waste ground, off Alliance Road, Belfast.

——————————————

17 July 1993
 Kevin Pullin   (28)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Carran Road, Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

——————————————

17 July 1994


 Caroline Moreland  (34)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot, Clogh, near Rosslea, County Fermanagh. Alleged informer.

——————————————

 

16th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

16th July

—————————–

Friday 16 July 1971

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) withdrew from Stormont because no inquiry had been announced into the shooting dead of Seamus Cusack and Desmond Beattie in Derry on 8 July 1971.

     

Seamus Cusack   & Desmond Beattie

Sunday 16 July 1972

Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA land mine attack near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

Robert Laverty ( RUC)

An RUC officer was shot dead by the IRA in Belfast.

Tobias Molloy ( IRA )

A member of the youth wing of the IRA was killed by a rubber bullet in Strabane, County Tyrone.

Tuesday 16 July 1974

Liam Cosgrave, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), voted, as a matter of conscience, against his own government’s contraception Bill which was defeated by 75 votes to 61.

Unionists in Northern Ireland often pointed to the Republic’s position on issues such as contraception and divorce as an indication that the country was dominated by the Catholic church and was not a modern pluralistic society.

Thursday 16 July 1981

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross paid a visit to the Maze Prison and met Republican prisoners to discuss the hunger strike. [1981 Hunger Strike.]

Friday 16 July 1982

Colm Carey (28), a Catholic civilian, died from loss of blood following a ‘punishment’ shooting carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at his home on Strabane Old Road, Gobnascale, Derry.

Carey had been shot in the knee.

lennie murphy

Lenny Murphy

Lenny Murphy, who had been leader of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang known as the ‘Shankill Butchers’, was released from prison.

See Lenny Murphy

Wednesday 16 July 1986

Rioting continued for a sixth night in areas of Belfast and Portadown, County Armagh.

Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) figures showed that 167 RUC officers and 125 civilians had been injured since 11 July; 200 people had been arrested; 300 plastic baton rounds fired; 111 cases of reported intimidation (including 11 cases against the homes of RUC officers.

Tuesday 16 July 1991

The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) held a meeting in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Meetings of the AIIC had been suspended for 11 weeks to allow the political talks (later known as the Brooke / Mayhew talks) to proceed.

Saturday 16 July 1994

Almost 100 Loyalist paramilitary prisoners rioted in Crumlin Road prison, Belfast, causing extensive damage.

Sunday 16 July 1995

The_Orange_Order_Logo

Members of the Orange Order picketed a Catholic Church in north Belfast as a protest following attacks on Orange Halls and Protestant businesses in the area.

See Orange Order

Wednesday 16 July 1997

Gerry McCabe

Two men appeared in a Dublin court and were charged with the capital murder of Gerry McCabe, who had been a Garda officer, in June 1996.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) walked out of the Stormont talks in protest at what they claimed was a lack of clarification by the British government on the issue of decommissioning.

Alistair Simpson,

Alistair Simpson, then governor of the Apprentice Boys of Derry (ABD), said that he would not talk to the Bogside Residents Group (BRG) about the forthcoming ABD parade in the city. The reason given was that one of the spokespersons for the BRG had served a sentence for paramilitary involvement.

Thursday 16 July 1998

Bill Clinton, then President of the United States of America (USA), made a pledge to the surviving Quinn brother, Lee (13), that he would do all he could to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

——————————————

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.

9 People lost their lives on the 16th   July between 1972 – 1986

——————————————

16 July 1972
 Terence Graham  (24)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on British Army (BA) Armoured Personnel Carrier, Carran, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

——————————————

16 July 1972
 James Lee  (25)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on British Army (BA) Armoured Personnel Carrier, Carran, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

——————————————

16 July 1972


 Robert Laverty   (18)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while sitting in stationary Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) patrol car, Antrim Road, Belfast.

——————————————

16 July 1972


 Tobias  Molloy   (18)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army Youth Section (IRAF),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by rubber bullet during street disturbances, outside Lifford Road British Army (BA) base, Strabane, County Tyrone.

——————————————

16 July 1972


 Francis McKeown  (43)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Died one day after being shot, Shaw’s Road, Andersonstown, Belfast.

——————————————

16 July 1974


 Thomas Braniff   (25)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Killed in bomb attack on Sunflower Bar, Corporation Street, Belfast.

——————————————

16 July 1981
 Gavin Dean   (21)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot during sniper attack on British Army (BA) observation post, Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

——————————————

16 July 1982


 Colm Carey   (28)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died from loss of blood, shortly after being shot in the knee at his home, Strabane Old Road, Gobnascale, Derry. Alleged criminal.

——————————————

16 July 1986


 Colm McCallan   (25)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Died two days after being shot near to his home, Millview Court, Ligoniel, Belfast.

——————————————

 

15th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

15th July

——————————–

Wednesday 15 July 1981

Humphrey Atkins, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross have been invited to carry out an investigation of prison conditions in Northern Ireland.

[Over the next eight days the delegation meets with the two sides to the dispute but announced on 23 July 1981 that they were unable to help resolve the hunger strike.]

Monday 15 July 1985

Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister, delivered a speech to the American Bar Association in London. During her speech Thatcher referred to the role of the media during the conflict in Northern Ireland and said that it would be necessary to starve paramilitary organisations of “the oxygen of publicity”.

Sunday 15 July 1990

Two civilians were shot dead in separate incidents in Belfast and Lisburn.

Thursday 15 July 1993

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) released a statement in which the organisation admitted sole responsibility for the Dublin and Monaghan bombs on 17 May 1974. The statement was issued in response to the television documentary ‘Hidden Hand – the Forgotten Massacre’ broadcast on 6 July 1993.

Dublin and Monaghan bombings victim

See  Dublin and Monaghan bombs

Statement

“Following the sinister allegations of collusion mischeviously constructed by presenters of the recent First Tuesday programme which supposedly investigated the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The UVF avails itself of this opportunity to state clearly and without reservation that the entire operation was from its conception to its successful conclusion, planned and carried out by our volunteers aided by no outside bodies.

In contrast to the scenario painted by the programme, it would have been unnecessary and indeed undesirable to compromise our volunteers anonimity [sic] by using clandestine Security Force personnel, British or otherwise, to achieve [an] objective well within our capabilities.

The operation whilst requiring a fair degree of preparation and not a little courage did not as was suggested by the so called experts require a great deal of technical expertise.

The comments made by some of those interviewed were at best naive if not deliberately misleading.

Given the backdrop of what was taking place in Northern Ireland when the UVF [were] bombing republican targets at will, either the researchers decided to take poetic licence to the limit or the truth was being twisted by knaves to make [a ] trap for the fools…The minimum of scrutiny should have revealed that the structure of the bombs placed in Dublin and Monaghan were similar if not identical to those being placed in Northern Ireland on an almost daily basis.

The type of explosives, timing and detonating methods all bore the hallmark of the UVF.

It is incredulous that these points were lost on the Walter Mittys who conjured up this programme.

To suggest that the UVF were not, or are not, capable of operating in the manner outlined in the programme is tempting fate to a dangerous degree.”

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), Belfast, 15 July 1993.

See  Dublin and Monaghan bombs

Saturday 15 July 1995

John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said it was his opinion that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) would “get rid” of its arms if Sinn Féin (SF) were included in political talks

Monday 15 July 1996

In a series of raids the London Metropolitan Police found components for making bombs at a number of addresses in Tooting and Peckham, London. The police speculated that the equipment would have been used in bomb attacks on utility installations in London and the south-east of England.

Seven men were arrested in the raids, and a man and a woman were later arrested in Birmingham.

It was revealed in a television programme (BBC’s Panorama) that David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), had held a meeting during the Drumcree stand-off with Billy Wright, then a leading Loyalist in Portadown.

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) accused David Trimble of being in breach of the Mitchell principles. Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced the setting up of a committee to review parades in Northern Ireland (the Independent Review of Parades and Marches).

Tuesday 15 July 1997

Bernadette Martin (18), a Catholic civilian, was killed when she was shot four times in the head as she lay asleep in the home of her Protestant boyfriend’s parents at Aghalee, County Armagh.

Although no organisation admitted responsibility (‘no claim, no blame’) the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and Nationalists were certain that the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) was responsible for the killing.

[The manner in which Bernadette Martin was killed caused revulsion across Northern Ireland.]

Wednesday 15 July 1998

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) carried out a search of the ‘field’ at Drumcree where the Orange Order had been holding its protests. The RUC uncovered a home-made sub-machinegun, spent and live ammunition, a number of explosive devices, a five-gallon drum of petrol, two crossbows with over a dozen explosive-tipped darts.

The British government introduced the Northern Ireland Bill into the House of Commons. The Bill was designed to implement the various provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.

Thursday 15 July 1999

Failed Attempt to Form Executive

The attempt to form the Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed when David Trimble, then First Minister Designate, and the other Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Assembly members failed to attend the sitting.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) also refused to nominate members to the Executive. An Executive of Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) members and Sinn Féin (SF) members was formed for a few moments, but was then disbanded because it did not have cross-community participation.

Seamus Mallon then made a statement in which he tendered his resignation from the position of Deputy First Minister designate and called upon David Trimble to also resign.

[The political developments meant that the British and Irish governments were forced to begin a review of the Good Friday Agreement. Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, adjourned the Assembly.

[Mallon was reinstated on 29 November 1999.] An article written by David Trimble on Decommissioning was published in The Irish Times (a Dublin based newspaper).]

Saturday 15 July 2000

An 11 year old boy held an unexploded pipe-bomb for about an hour after it was found near a playground in Armagh. The boy was among a group of children who discovered the device beside a walkway on the Loyalist Ballinahone estate. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) said Loyalist paramilitaries could have hidden the bomb with the intention of using it that night or in the following days. It had been stored in a drainage hole in a wall beside the playground.

 

——————————————

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.

9 People lost their lives on the 15th  July between 1972 – 1997

——————————————

15 July 1972


 Felix Hughes   (35)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Abducted somewhere in Portadown, County Armagh. Found shot in drainage ditch, off Watsons Street, Edenderry, Portadown, County Armagh, on 4 August 1972.

——————————————

15 July 1972
 John Young   (27)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed attempting to defuse bomb by side of road, Silverbridge, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

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15 July 1972
 John Mooney (17)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while walking along Ligoniel Road, Ligoniel, Belfast.

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15 July 1972
 Kenneth Canham   (24)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast

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15 July 1977
 William Hutchinson   (33)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Found shot off Old Glencairn Road, Belfast. Alleged informer.

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15 July 1979
 Patrick O’Hanlon  (69)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot in car park of Falls Bowling Club, Andersonstown Road, Belfast

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15 July 1990
 William Sloss   (31)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish People’s Liberation Organisation (IPLO)
Shot at his home, Tate’s Avenue, off Lisburn Road, Belfast.

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15 July 1990


 Martin Hughes   (33)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot outside his home, Huguenot Drive, Lisburn, County Antrim.

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15 July 1997


 Bernadette Martin  (18)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF)
Shot, at her friends home, Soldierstown Road, Aghalee, County Antrim.

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