Yearly Archives: 2016

14th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

14th July

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Wednesday 14 July 1971

A British soldier was shot dead in Belfast.

Richard Barton

Friday 14 July 1972

Six people were shot and killed in separate incidents in Belfast.

Three were British Army soldiers, two were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and one was a Protestant civilian.

Sunday 14 July 1974

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out bomb attacks in Manchester and Birmingham.

Monday 14 July 1975

Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, outlined the governments response to the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) truce.

There had been a reduction in the level of British Army patrols, and house searches had been scaled down. He also indicated that in the event of a permanent end to paramilitary violence, security would be returned to a ‘peace time level’.

Tuesday 14 July 1981

Matt Devlin joined the hunger strike to replace Martin Hurson. The Irish government asked the United States government to use its influence with Britain on the issue of the hunger strike.

Wednesday 14 July 1982

James Prior, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that elections to the new Assembly at Stormont would be held on 20 October 1982.

Saturday 14 July 1984

Two Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldiers were killed in an Irish Republican Army (IRA) landmine attack at Castlederg, County Tyrone.

Monday 14 July 1986

Around 50 Loyalists attacked Catholic homes in the village of Rasharkin, County Antrim.

Thursday 14 July 1994

The Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) issued a statement saying that if the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ended its campaign then Loyalist paramilitaries would respond.

Friday 14 July 1995

John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), travelled to Dublin for a meeting with John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), and Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs).

Following the meeting the four men issued a joint statement calling for all-party talks as soon as possible. An article by Adams was published in the Irish Times (a Dublin based newspaper).

He wrote that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) would not have called a ceasefire if the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons had been a major issue for the British government.

Sunday 14 July 1996

Nationalists held large rallies in Belfast, Derry and Lurgan.

Monday 14 July 1997

The Royal Black Preceptory decided to voluntarily rerouted a parade that had been planned to pass through the centre of Newry, County Down.

An article in the Irish Times revealed that the British government had maintained regular contacts with the Republican movement since late June. Unionists called for the imposition of stringent rules on the decommissioning of arms as a precondition for the entry of Sinn Féin (SF) into all-party talks.

Tuesday 14 July 1998

The funeral took place of the three Quinn children in Rasharkin, County Antrim. There was a huge turnout for the funeral.

The three boys were buried in a single grave. David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), criticised those people who were claiming that the attack was not sectarian. There was also Nationalist anger at remarks made by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), that “Republicans carried out far worse murders”.

David Jones, then a spokesman for the Portadown Orange Order, accused the security forces and Loyalist paramilitaries of colluding to launch the petrol bomb attack on the Quinn home on 12 July. He claimed the aim of the security forces would have been to discredit the Orange Order. Three Orange Halls and a Protestant church were damaged in petrol bomb attacks.

See : Murder of the Innocent.

Wednesday 14 July 1999

Following a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Executive David Trimble, then leader of the UUP, indicated that he would not participate in the d’Hondt procedure to appoint ministers to the North’s proposed power-sharing Executive.

[The decision to reject the ‘Way Forward’ proposals created another crisis in the peace process. Some commentators said that the move challenged the authority and prestige of Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister.]

Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF) published an article in the Irish News (a Belfast based newspaper) stating that his party was against the safeguard legislation introduced on 12 July and that it is unnecessary under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Security force personnel dismantled barriers between Drumcree Church and the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The barriers had been erected earlier in the month to prevent the Orange Order from marching through the mainly Nationalist area of Garvaghy Road.

Saturday 14 July 2001

Political talks to try to secure the peace process finally broke down at Weston Park in England. The British and Irish governments said they would now put together a document containing a package of proposals for the parties, on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.

[The document was finally presented to the parties, and made public, on 1 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.

10 People lost their lives on the 14th  July between 1969 – 1984

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14 July 1969
 Francis McCloskey   (67)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Died one day after being hit on head with batons during street disturbances, Dungiven, County Derry.

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14 July 1971


 Richard Barton   (24)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) mobile patrol, Shaw’s Road, Andersonstown, Belfast.

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14 July 1972


 Louis Scullion   (27)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while walking through Unity Flats, off Upper Library Street, Belfast

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14 July 1972


 Robert Williams-Wynn  (24)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper during gun battle, Lenadoon, Belfast.

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14 July 1972
 Peter Heppenstall   (20)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

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

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14 July 1972
 Jane McIntyre   (64)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot outside her home, Highpark Drive, during Irish Republican Army (IRA) sniper attack on the nearby Black Mountain School British Army (BA) base, Highfield, Belfast.

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14 July 1972
 Edward Brady   (30)

Catholic
Status: Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle, Ardilea Street, Ardoyne, Belfast.

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14 July 1972
 John Williams  (22)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot during gun battle, Alliance Avenue, Ardoyne, Belfast.

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14 July 1984


 Norman McKinley  (32)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment foot patrol, Second Corgary, near Castlederg, County Tyrone.

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14 July 1984


 Heather Kerrigan   (20)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment foot patrol, Second Corgary, near Castlederg, County Tyrone 

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13th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

13th July

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Monday 13 July 1970

The annual ‘Twelfth’ parades pass off without serious incident.

[These parades are not normally held on a Sunday hence they took place on 13 July.]

Thursday 13 July 1972

Seven people were shot and killed in separate incidents in Belfast.

Sunday 13 July 1975

Denis Berry (21), then a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), was shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in Belfast.

The killing was part of a continuing feud between the UDA and the UVF. A Catholic boy (16) was shot dead by the British Army in Belfast.

Monday 13 July 1981

Sixth Hunger Striker Died

Martin Hurson (29) died after 46 days on hunger strike.

Wednesday 13 July 1983

Four UDR Soldiers Killed

                           

Ronald Alexander,  John Roxborough , Oswell Neely  & Thomas Harron 

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a land mine in Tyrone killing four members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).

[This was the highest casualty rate suffered by the UDR in a single incident.] The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) shot dead two Catholic civilians in County Armagh.

The House of Commons rejected a motion calling for the reintroduction of capital punishment in Northern Ireland.

Sunday 13 July 1986

John Hermon, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), suspended two senior RUC officers following the investigations into the alleged ‘shoot to kill’ policy of the security forces in Northern Ireland

Friday 13 July 1990

The case of the Maguire family was referred to the Court of Appeal. Peter Brooke, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, met with Gerry Collins, then Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, to review the ongoing stalemate in the political progress.

Saturday 13 July 1996 CIRA Bombing

A car bomb exploded outside the Kilyhelvin Hotel, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, causing substantial damage. The bomb was estimated to have contained 1,200 pounds of home-made explosive and the large blast injured 17 people as they were being evacuated from the hotel.

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) denied responsibility for the bomb as did Republican Sinn Féin (RSF).

Security sources placed the blame for the attack on the Irish Republican National Army (IRNA) considered to be the military wing of RSF.

[A group calling itself the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) later claimed responsibility for the bomb.]

There were further riots in nationalist areas.

The Social Democratic and Labour Party announced that it would withdraw from the Northern Ireland Forum.

Sunday 13 July 1997

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) uncovered 500 pounds of explosives and three booster charges in the Creggan area of Derry.

Monday 13 July 1998

The Orange Order ‘Twelfth’ celebrations were held at centres across Northern Ireland (the parades were held on 13 July because the 12 July fell on a Sunday)

. Catholic residents of the Lower Ormeau Road held a peaceful protest against an Orange parade through the area.

Joel Patton, then leader of the ‘Spirit of Drumcree’ group, verbally attacked William Bingham, then a chaplain in the Orange Order, and accused him of betraying the Orangemen of Portadown.

The number of people involved in the Drumcree stand-off decreased considerably following the extensive condemnation of the Orange Order’s response to the deaths of the Ouinn children in a sectarian attack in Ballymoney, County Antrim, on 12 July 1998.

Tuesday 13 July 1999

David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), failed to win any concessions from the British government on its failsafe legislation in the House of Commons. The Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons by 343 votes to 24

Firday 13 July 2001

Political talks resumed at Weston Park in England.

 

——————————————

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.

18 People lost their lives on the 13th  July between 1972 – 1996

——————————————

13 July 1972


 Martin Rooney   (22)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) mobile patrol, Clonard Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

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13 July 1972


 Kenneth Mogg   (29)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) mobile patrol, Dunville Park, Falls Road, Belfast

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13 July 1972
 David Meeke   (24)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Hooker Street, Ardoyne, Belfast

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13 July 1972
 Henry Russell   (23)

Catholic
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Off duty. Found shot, Larkfield Drive, Sydenham, Belfast

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13 July 1972
 Thomas Burns   (35)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while leaving Glenpark Social Club, Glenpark Street, Oldpark, Belfast.

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13 July 1972


 James Reid   (27)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle Eskdale Gardens, Ardoyne, Belfast.

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13 July 1972


 Terence Toolan   (36)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle Eskdale Gardens, Ardoyne, Belfast

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13 July 1975


 Charles Irvine   (16)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while travelling in car, junction of Falls Road and Waterford Street, Lower Falls, Belfast

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13 July 1975
 Denis Berry   (21)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot shortly after leaving Ulster Defence Association social club, Taughmonagh, Belfast. Ulster Defence Association (UDA) / Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) feud.

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13 July 1976


 Gerard Gilmore  (19)

Catholic
Status: Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot from passing car, while standing outside Boundary Bar, Shore Road, Greencastle, Belfast.

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13 July 1981


 Martin Hurson   (29)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Died on the 46th day of hunger strike, Long Kesh / Maze Prison, County Down

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13 July 1983
 Eamon McMahon  (35)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Found shot in his car, Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

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13 July 1983
 Patrick Mackin   (37)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Found shot in Eamon McMahon’s car, Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh

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13 July 1983


 Ronald Alexander  (19)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) mobile patrol, near Ballygawley, County Tyrone.

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13 July 1983


 John Roxborough   (19)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) mobile patrol, near Ballygawley, County Tyrone.

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13 July 1983


 Oswell Neely   (20)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) mobile patrol, near Ballygawley, County Tyrone.

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13 July 1983


 Thomas Harron   (25)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) mobile patrol, near Ballygawley, County Tyrone.

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13 July 1984


 William Price  (28)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by undercover British Army (BA) members, during attempted incendiary bomb attack on factory, Ardboe, County Tyrone.

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13 July 1996


 Dermot McShane   (35)

Catholic
Status: ex-Irish National Liberation Army (xINLA),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Knocked down by British Army (BA) Armoured Personnel Carrier during street disturbances, Little James Street, Derry.

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Shankill Road Bonfire Horror – I was there

Blog, Uncategorized, , ,

Shankill Road Bonfire Horror

Take a close look at this picture…

Shankill Houe Fire

This guy was almost burnt to death trying to put out a fire in the roof of this house on the 11th and in my opinion he is the luckiest man in all of Northern Ireland today and should be thanking his lucky stars.

Seconds after this picture was taking the roof caved in and had he not move he would have fallen into the inferno that was engulfing the roof space of this house and hundreds watching would have witness someone being burnt to death and every time I think about I get shivers down my spine.

The family and I had watched a few fires in and around the Woodvale & Glenciarn before heading down to the lower Shankill to watch the main fire there , with 1000’s of others. The heat was unbelievable hot and the local council expecting this had covered the doors and windows of those houses deemed to close to the fire  with hoarding , including those houses that eventually caught fire.

As the night wore on and the fire was reaching its peak everyone was happy and celebrating the 11th bonfires , but gradually we became concerned with the vast heat coming from the fire and the showers of hot ash and  sparks that the wind was blowing towards the row of houses to the north of the fire. Gradually we noticed some a small fire in the air vents in one of the roofs and this quickly spread to three or four adjoining houses.

At this stage it was only tiny flames and no one seemed overly concerned when someone brought out a ladder and a few men/boy started  a small chain and were passing buckets of water to the guy at the top of the ladder as he tried to put the fire out.

And then things took a sinister turn. The guy at the top climb onto the roof and to all our amazement he clambered over the roof tiles to reach the small fire better. The crowd held their breath as we watched him attempt to extinguish the flames and then to our horror  he slips and one of his feet went through the tiles and  flames shot up from the loft of the house and it was immediately obvious the fire was much worse than we had thought and the whole of the loft/roof spaces were engulfed in fire and the situation was grave.

Then as the guy on the roof was trying to climb away from the hole he slipped again and almost feel into the hole and certain death and i have to say my heart was in my throat and like many in the crowd i had to look away as I had no wish to see someone die such a terrible death. Screams of terror echoed round the square and everyone present held their breaths , but thankfully he made his way back over the roof and down the ladder to relative safety on the ground.

Seconds later the roof he had been on collapsed completely and had he been still in the same position he would not have been here today as it would have been impossible  to save him and besides for some reason the fire-brigade had not yet arrived on the scene and when they did it seem to take them ages to get the equipment set up and working to deal with the fire.

The Damaged Houses

Sadly this was to late for these houses.

Shankill Houe Fire

Some more pictures from the night.

Shankill Bonfire
Shankill Bonfire
Shankill
Fire Brigade
Me at Shankill Fire
Me & Daughter at Shankill Fire
Shankill

12th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

12th July

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Saturday 12 July 1969

As the ‘marching season’ reached its height there was serious rioting in Derry, Belfast and Dungiven. Many familles in Belfast were forced to move from their homes.

[The upsurge in violence followed a period of relative calm

Monday 12 July 1971

David Walker

A British soldier was shot dead in Belfast. The main Orange Order parades across Northern Ireland passed off relatively peacefully.

Wednesday 12 July 1972

A Protestant man was found shot dead in Portadown.

Two men, one Catholic one Protestant, were shot dead in a public house in Portadown.

Two men were shot dead in separate incidents in Belfast.

Thursday 12 July 1979

Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister, criticised the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) after it had broadcast an interview with a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).

[This incident was to set a pattern of confrontation between the media, particularly the broadcast media, and Conservative governments during the 1980s and 1990s.]

Thursday 12 July 1984

Twelfth in Northern Ireland 2013

The annual Orange Order ‘Twelfth’ parades took place across Northern Ireland. There was violence following the parades with attacks on security forces and shops in Derry. Catholic families were also attacked in Limavady, County Derry, in Ballymena, County Antrim, and in Ballynahinch, County Down.

During speeches at the various centres across the region leading Orange figures condemned the Report of the New Ireland Forum

Friday 12 July 1985

There was further rioting in Portadown, County Armagh, following the decision by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) to re-route Orange Order and Royal Black Institution parades away from Obins Street, a mainly Catholic area of Portadown. During serious rioting between Loyalists and the RUC extensive damage was inflicted on property in the town and 52 RUC officers were injured.

Saturday 12 July 1986

There were further periods of violence following the Orange Order ‘Twelfth’ parades.

[Later the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) released figures that showed there had been 128 RUC officers and 66 civilians injured and 127 arrests made. 281 plastic baton rounds had been fired and there were 79 reported cases of intimidation.]

Brian Leonard (20), a Catholic civilian, died two days after been shot while working on a building site in Shugville Street, Shankill, Belfast. The Protestant Action Force (PAF) claimed responsibility for the killing.

[The PAF killed two more Catholic civilians during July 1986 and two in September 1986.]

Wednesday 12 July 1989

Charles Haughey was re-elected as Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister). Fianna Fáil (FF) formed the new government with the support of the Progressive Democrats (PDs). This was the first occasion that FF had been part of a coalition government.

Thursday 12 July 1990

The case of the Maguire family was referred to the Court of Appeal.

Friday 12 July 1991

The results of a survey of public opinion on the political talks (later known as the Brooke / Mayhew talks) was published. It showed a high level of support for the resumption of the talks (73 per cent of people questioned in Northern Ireland; 87 per cent in the Republic of Ireland; and 79 per cent in Britain). The survey was carried out by Ulster Marketing Surveys, Irish Marketing Surveys, and Gallup.

Tuesday 12 July 1994

The security forces in England seized a lorry containing over 1,800kgs of explosives at the port of Heysham, Lancashire. The explosives had been hidden in false compartments and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was considered to be responsible.

[There was speculation that the explosives would have been used in London.]

Wednesday 12 July 1995

Orange Order parades took place at a number of centres across Northern Ireland. In the lower Ormeau Road area of Belfast the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) moved hundreds of police officers into the area to prevent Nationalist residents from protesting on the street.

Many residents were blocked inside their homes for the duration of the operation. Approximately 150 Orangemen, accompanied by four bands, left Ballynafeigh Hall at 9.30am to parade along the Ormeau Road. There were clashes between the Nationalist residents and the RUC.

A number of vehicles were hijacked and burned. During the evening there were attacks on the homes of several Catholic and Protestant families and there were arson attacks on five Orange Halls.

[ The Irish government later accused the RUC of bias in favour of the Orange Order and made a complaint to the Anglo-Irish Secretariat at Maryfield.]

Friday 12 July 1996

Ballynafeigh Orangemen were allowed to march through the Catholic lower Ormeau Road area of Belfast. There was continuing rioting in nationalist areas.

Dermot McShane (35), a Catholic man, was killed when he was run over by a British Army armoured car in Little James Street, Derry.

It was estimated that 1,000 petrol bombs were thrown and 1,000 plastic bullets were fired in Derry. John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), criticised the decision to allow the Orange march to proceed on the Garvaghy Road. He accused the British government of yielding to force and the threat of force.

Saturday 12 July 1997

The ‘Twelfth’ Orange Order parades across Northern Ireland passed off relatively peacefully with only minor incidents. There were some stones thrown in the White City area of Belfast. Two Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers and three soldiers were slightly injured in an Irish Republican Army (IRA) attack in north Belfast.

John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), held a meeting with Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, and called on the IRA to announce a new ceasefire. An RUC Landrover, being used to police an Orange Order parade at Dunloy, appeared with a handpainted rat with a crown and the words “King Rat”.

billy writgt

[‘King Rat’ was the nickname of Billy Wright, then leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). Wright was believed to have been responsible for the deaths of many innocent Catholic civilians.]

The relative of one of his victims called on the RUC to take immediate disciplinary action against the officers responsible for the painting.

See Billy Wright

Sunday 12 July 1998

Three Boys Killed at Ballymoney

Three young Catholic boys, Richard (11), Mark (10), and Jason (9) Ouinn, were burnt to death after their home, in Ballymoney, County Antrim, was petrol bombed in a sectarian attack carried out by Loyalists.

[It was later disclosed that members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) had been involved in the attack.]

Christine Quinn the boys mother, her partner, Raymond Craig, and a family friend, Christina Archibald (18) escaped from the house but they and neighbours were unable to reach the three boys. Lee Ouinn (13), the oldest son, was staying with his grandmother when the incident occurred.

[There was a general sense of shock when the news of the deaths broke and in the following days the incident was to have a major impact on the Orange Order protest at Drumcree. Although senior representatives of the Order tried to distance the organisation from the violence that had been almost continuous since the 5 July 1998, many commentators argued that the Orange Order had to accept some responsibility for the violence of its followers.]

William Bingham (Rev.), then Deputy Grand Chaplain of the Orange Order, called for the Drumcree protest to be ended and said that the 15 minute march down the Garvaghy Road would be “a hallow victory” as it would be taking place in the shadows of three little white coffins. David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Robin Eames (Dr), then Church of Ireland Primate, also called for an end to the protest.

The Orange Order rejected these and other similar calls.

[The protest at Drumcree declined following the Quinn deaths but a token protest was maintained during most of the year to July 1999.]

Monday 12 July 1999

Across Northern Ireland the Twelfth parades passed off without incident. The largest Orange parade with around 20,000 marchers proceeded through south Belfast to the Ormeau Park, keeping to a compromise route.

Other parades passed off without major incident. Legislation was put before the Westminster Parliament, designed to act as a safeguard for the decommissioning of arms and the devolution of power in Northern Ireland.

Mary McAleese, then President of the Republic of Ireland, attended a reception to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of the Republic’s first president, Douglas Hyde (Dr). She said his message was that barriers between differing traditions should not be broken down by threat or stealth.

Wednesday 12 July 2000

Andrew Cairns (22), a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), was shot dead while attending “eleventh night” bonfire celebrations in Boyne Square, Larne, County Antrim.

The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) were believed to have been responsible for the killing. The killing was part of a feud between the UDA and the UVF.

Thursday 12 July 2001

Serious Violence in Belfast

Orange Order parades took place across Northern Ireland. Speakers at Orange rallies across the region attacked the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.

About a hundred members of the Ballynafeigh Lodge were prevented by a Parades Commission ruling from marching along the Nationalist Lower Ormeau Road area of Belfast.

The Parades Commission had also re-routed the main parade in Derry. The worst riots for a number of years took place as the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) sealed off part of the Nationalist Ardoyne area of Belfast to allow an Orange Order parade to pass close to the Catholic area.

The RUC reported that 10 officers had been injured in the disturbances. Nationalists claimed that a number of people had been injured by the RUC with at least 12 people being struck by plastic bullets.

[Senior police later accused the Irish Republican Army (IRA) of orchestrating the violence. The claim was rejected by Sinn Féin (SF).]

There was also violence in the east of Belfast when a Orange Order parade passed the Nationalist Short Strand area.

 ——————————————

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.

18  People lost their lives on the 12th  July between 1971 – 2000

——————————————

12 July 1971


 David Walker  (30)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper, while leaving British Army (BA) observation post, Northumberland Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

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12 July 1972
 Paul Beattie  (19)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found shot in entry, off Churchill Park, Portadown, County Armagh.

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12 July 1972


 Jack McCabe  (48)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot at his licensed premises, McCabe’s Bar, High Street, Portadown, County Armagh.

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12 July 1972
 William Cochrane  (53)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot while inside McCabe’s Bar, High Street, Portadown, County Armagh.

——————————————

12 July 1972
 David McClenaghan  (15)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot at his home, Southport Street, Lower Oldpark, Belfast.

——————————————

12 July 1972
 Colin Poots   (21)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found shot by Flush River, off Springfield Road, Belfast.

——————————————

12 July 1973
 Frederick Davis   (28)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found strangled in entry off Seaforde Street, Short Strand, Belfast.

——————————————

12 July 1974
 John Beattie   (17)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while standing on the corner of Glenrosa Street and Moyola Street, Tiger’s Bay, Belfast

——————————————

12 July 1974
 Michael Browne   (16)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found shot, Castle grounds, Bangor, County Down.

——————————————

12 July 1975


 James Carberry   (20)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot, Old Templepatrick Road, Ballyutoag, near Belfast, County Antrim.

——————————————

12 July 1978


 John Fisher  (19)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden in manhole while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

——————————————

12 July 1979
 Michael Kearney   (21)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

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

——————————————

12 July 1986
 Brian Leonard  (20)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Died two days after being shot while working on building site, Snugville Street, Shankill, Belfast.

——————————————

12 July 1987


 Alan McQuiston   (46)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot during street disturbances, Alliance Avenue, Ardoyne, Belfast.

——————————————

12 July 1998


 Richard Quinn  (11)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Killed during petrol bomb attack on his home, Carnany Park, Ballymoney, County Antrim

——————————————

12 July 1998


 Mark Quinn  (10)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Killed during petrol bomb attack on his home, Carnany Park, Ballymoney, County Antrim

——————————————

12 July 1998


 Jason Quinn  (9)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Killed during petrol bomb attack on his home, Carnany Park, Ballymoney, County Antrim.

——————————————

12 July 2000
 Andrew Cairns  (22)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot while attending eleventh night bonfire celebrations, Boyne Square, Larne, County Antrim. Ulster Defence Association (UDA) / Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) feud.

——————————————

 

The Siege Of Derry 1689 – What’s it all about?

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– Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in these documentaries are soley intended to educate and provide background information to those interested in the Troubles of Northern I…

Source: The Siege Of Derry 1689 – What’s it all about?

Update on Baby- Our Little Man – Cat

Uncategorized

Update: 11/July/2016 Hi All just a quick update on our cat Baby ‘s condition –  from Belfast.   We spoke to the vet today and unfortunately Baby has managed to undo the pins in his…

Source: Update on Baby- Our Little Man – Cat

11th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

11th July

—————————————

Sunday 11 July 1971

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a number of bombs in the centre of Belfast injuring a number of people.

[A number of commentators saw these bombs as an attempt to increase tension and confrontations between the two main communities.]

Friday 11 July 1975

During the trial of the ‘Birmingham Six’ the prosecution admitted that the men were physically assaulted while in custody.

Tuesday 11 July 1978

John Boyle (16), a Catholic teenager, was shot dead by undercover members of the British Army near an Irish Republican Army (IRA) arms dump in Dunloy, County Antrim. Boyle had earlier found the dump and his family had reported the matter to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

[The RUC, together with the British Army, took the decision to monitor the dump in the hope that members of the IRA would return to it. Boyle’s curiosity must have taken him back unsuspectingly to the dump.]

Friday 11 July 1986

The Orange Order agreed to accept an alternative route through Portadown, County Armagh, to avoid the mainly Catholic Obins Street area.

[The route suggested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) caused resentment among Nationalists in the town as it took the parade along the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road. Trouble over the new route broke out again in 1995.]

During the evening the RUC fired plastic bullets at Loyalists following disturbances at the traditional bonfire celebrations. There was rioting in Protestant areas of Belfast and Portadown and the disturbances continued for most of the week.

Sunday 11 July 1993

James Molyneaux, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), claimed that the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) had presented the Irish Republican Army (IRA) with peace proposals at the end of 1992.

Monday 11 July 1994

Raymond Smallwoods (44), a member of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), was shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) outside his home, Donard Drive, Tonagh, Lisburn, County Antrim.

[Smallwoods had been a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).] The Belfast High Court ruled that the Coroner investigating the events surrounding the alleged ‘shoot to kill’ incidents in November and December 1982 could not have access to the contents of the Stalker report.

Tuesday 11 July 1995

drumcree church at night

A comprise was reached which allowed the Drumcree parade to proceed down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

Approximately 500 Orange Order members were allowed by the police to walk down the Garvaghy Road without, however, any Loyalist bands. The parade was accompanied by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and David Trimble, then Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP. Nationalists mounted a quiet protest but did not interfere with the parade.

When the parade reached the centre of Portadown, Paisley and Trimble clasped hands and held their arms in the air in what appeared to be a gesture of triumph.

[This led to considerable ill-feeling among the Nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road and was to result in stronger protests in the following years.]

See Drumcree

Thursday 11 July 1996

Hugh Annesley, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), reversed his decision and ordered his officers to allow the Orange march to pass along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. 1,200 Orangemen were allowed to proceed down the Garvaghy Road. Protesting residents were forced off the road.

Rioting broke out in the Catholic housing estate and was followed by serious rioting in other nationalist areas including Armagh, Belfast, Derry and Lurgan.

Three RUC officers were injured by gunfire in north Belfast.

There was widespread condemnation of the decision in nationalist circles with many political and community leaders claiming there had been a surrender to the threat of physical force.

Friday 11 July 1997

Following discussions with local residents, Orangemen agreed to reroute a parade in Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh.

[The village is roughly 80 per cent Catholic. The decision by the Orange Order to hold discussions with local residents differed from other areas where Orangemen refused to hold face-to-face discussions with resident groups.]

Saturday 11 July 1998

Proximity (indirect) talks were held in Armagh between representatives of the Orange Order and the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition (GRRC). Jonathen Powell, then Chief of Staff at Downing Street, acted as the mediator between the two groups.

The Orange Order maintained its position that it would not engage in face-to-face talks with the GRRC; there was no agreement between the two sides.

The Tour de France began in Dublin. The tour was brought to Ireland because of the French link in the 1798 Rising by the United Irishmen. It represented the largest sporting event ever staged in Ireland.

Sunday 11 July 1999

Four Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were injured when trouble flared at a Loyalist bonfire site in Derry. Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, tried to reassure Unionists by stating that ‘failsafe’ legislation would be introduced in the House of Commons which would safeguard the Unionist position.

An article by David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), was published in The Sunday Times (a London based Newspaper) in which he stated that the UUP would reject ‘The Way Forward’ proposals unless there was a guarantee regarding the position of Sinn Féin (SF) in the event of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) not decommissioning its weapons.

Trimble called for a guarantee from John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), that he would help to expel Sinn Féin from the proposed Executive if the IRA defaulted. Hume said that the SDLP would not sit in an Executive with any party that supported violence.

The Sunday Tribune (a Dublin based newspaper) stated that it would fully support Ed Moloney, then Northern Editor of the newspaper. Moloney had been served with a court order requesting him to provide the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) with notes of an interview with William Stobie.

William_Stobie

On 24 June 1999 Stobie was charged with the killing of the Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane who had been shot dead on 12 February 1989. The interview had been conducted in 1990 and this formed the basis of an article that appeared in The Sunday Tribune on 27 June 1999.

See William Stobie

Tuesday 11 July 2000

Loyalists attempted to block roads across Northern Ireland as Orangemen at Drumcree continued their protest about not being able to parade through the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, County Armagh.

Wednesday 11 July 2001

11th bone guy with flute cropped and trimmed.jpg

There was widespread violence in a number of areas of Belfast on the eve of the ‘Twelfth’ of July Orange Order parades. Violence also flared at a Loyalist bonfire in Portadown in the late evening and early hours of the ‘Twelfth’.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) said that 21 of its officers were injured during the rioting and water canon had to be used to disperse crowds of Loyalists.

Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, and Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), decided to arrange a resumption of the Weston Park Talks following a break for the ‘Twelfth’.

[The decision raised hopes that an agreement could be found.]

——————————————

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.

6 People lost their lives on the 11 July between 1972 – 1994

——————————————

11 July 1972


 Gerard Gibson   (16)

Catholic
Status: Official Irish Republican Army Youth Section (OIRAF),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while in house, Carrigart Avenue, Suffolk, Belfast

——————————————

11 July 1972
 Charles Watson   (21)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot off Carlisle Circus, Belfast.

——————————————

11 July 1972
 Terence Jones   (23)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Great James Street, Derry.

——————————————

11 July 1976


 Thomas McKenzie   (45)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found stabbed to death, on waste ground, Divis Flats, Belfast

——————————————

11 July 1978


 John Boyle  (16)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by undercover British Army (BA) members, while in the vicinity of an arms cache, in cemetery, Dunloy, near Ballymoney, County Antrim. Assumed to be an Irish Republican Army (IRA) member

——————————————

11 July 1994


 Raymond Smallwoods  (44)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Also Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) member. Shot outside his home, Donard Drive, Tonagh, Lisburn, County Antrim.

——————————————

My 50th Birthday Bash in Belfast

Blog

Hi all,

Writing from a very wet, damp , foggy Belfast and suffering the hang-over from hell. I’m ashamed to say that I went to my 50th Birthday bash on Friday and have been partying hard seen then and now I am suffering and paying for my sins. I’m getting way to old for this.

Anyway here’s a selection  of photos from the birthday bash – it’s nor actually  my birthday until the 16th of July – but wanted to be home for the glorious  11th & 12th and I’m praying the rain stop and the sun shines throughout next few days!

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10th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

10th July

———————————

Monday 10 July 1972

William Whitelaw, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, admitted that secret talks had taken place with the Irish Republican Army (IRA). [ Law Order. ]

Wednesday 10 August 1977

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a small bomb in a garden on the campus of the New University of Ulster which was visited by the Queen as part of her jubilee celebrations.

The bomb exploded after the Queen had left and it caused no injuries, nor was the Queen’s schedule affected.

Members of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) refused to attend a reception in her honour.

Friday 10 July 1981

The funeral took place of Joe McDonnell who had died on hunger strike on 8 July 1981. The British Army moved to arrest an Irish Republican Army (IRA) firing party at the funeral and seized a number of weapons and made several arrests.

Rioting broke out following this incident.

Sunday 10 July 1983

James Prior, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said that the reintroduction of the death penalty in Northern Ireland would lead to an increase in ‘violent disorders’ in the region.

Thursday 10 July 1986

Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Peter Robinson, then deputy leader of the DUP, along with 4,000 Loyalists staged an early morning protest in which they ‘took over’ and ‘occupied’ Hillsborough, County Down.

The action was part of the continuing protest against the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA).

Sunday 10 July 1994

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out a gun attack on the home of William McCrea, then Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP, in Magherafelt, County Derry. Forty shots were fired into the house which was empty at the time.

Monday 10 July 1995

drumcree church at night

The stand-off at Drumcree continued for a second day. The numbers involved had increased to approximately 1,000 RUC officers and 10,000 Orangemen and their supporters. During the confrontation there were repeated clashes with the Orangemen and their supporters throwing bricks and bottles at the police officers who replied by firing 24 plastic baton rounds.

The disturbances and blocked roads across Northern Ireland also continued as Loyalists acted in support of the Orange Order. The port at Larne was also closed in the action.

See Drumcree

Wednesday 10 July 1996

Many towns and villages across Northern Ireland were blocked, either completely or for considerable periods during the day. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) reported that since Sunday (7 July 1996) there had been: 90 civilians and 50 RUC officers injured; 156 arrests; over 100 incidents of intimidation; 758 attacks on the RUC; and 662 plastic baton rounds fired by the RUC.

Thursday 10 July 1997

Among growing tension in the run-up to the parades planned for 12 July 1997 and talk of potential civil war, the Orange Order said that it would voluntarily reroute six contentious parades from Nationalist areas.

Hard-line members of the Orange Order accused the leadership of betrayal but the decision was praised in many quarters

Friday 10 July 1998

A large section of the crowd taking part in the demonstration at Drumcree Church tried on several occasions to break through Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army lines to get on to the Garvaghy Road.

Soldiers of the First Parachute Regiment were deployed at Drumcree while troops from a Scottish regiment were withdrawn, no explanation was given for the change.

There was continuing Loyalist violence across Northern Ireland with many roads blocked, and Catholic homes and businesses were again attacked. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) released figures which showed that between 6am on 4 July to 6am on 10 July there had been 1,867 public order offences across Northern Ireland. There had been 550 attacks on the security forces – including 15 shooting and 33 blast bomb attacks carried out by Loyalists, 53 RUC officers had been injured, 548 petrol bombs had been thrown, 1,910 petrol bombs recovered, 103 houses and 133 other buildings damaged, 136 cars hijacked, 367 vehicles damaged, and 151 people arrested. From 6am on 4 July to to 6am on 9 July the security forces had fired 216 plastic bullets.

Garda Síochána (the Irish police) in Dublin and Dundalk and anti-terrorist police in England arrested nine people in a series of raids. The police claimed that those arrested were about to launch a fire-bombing campaign in London. It was alleged that those arrested were aligned with the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.

Saturday 10 July 1999

There was an arson attack on a Protestant church hall in north Belfast. The ‘Orange Alert Committee’, a Loyalist grouping, organised a parade by hundreds of people to the security barrier at Drumcree, Portadown, County Armagh.

Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), held a meeting with David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), at Government Buildings in Dublin. Ahern stated that if the Irish Republican Army (IRA) failed to deliver on decommissioning, the Executive would be suspended and a review would take place.

Ahern rejected a UUP demand to expel Sinn Féin (SF) if arms were not given up. The Parades Commission reversed an earlier decision and ruled that the Orange Order could parade to Ormeau Park. Seven Unionist councillors, including the Lord Mayor, had lobbied on behalf of the Orange Order.

The Irish Times (a Dublin based newspaper) published the results of a survey conducted in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.

A total of 65% of those interviewed in Northern Ireland stated their support for the establishment of the proposed Northern Ireland Executive by 18 July 1999. There was however a noticeable difference in opinion between the two communities with the proposal supported by 91% of Nationalists but only 47% of Unionists

——————————————

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.

2 People lost their lives on the 10th July between 1970 – 1973

——————————————

10 July 1970


 Patrick Elliman   (62)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Died seven days after being shot near to his home, Marchioness Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

——————————————

10 July 1973
 Isaac Scott  (41)

Protestant
Status: ex-Ulster Defence Regiment (xUDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot outside Tully’s Bar, Belleek, near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

——————————————

9th July – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

9th July

————————————–

Tuesday 9 July 1974

Announcement of End to Internment

Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, announced at Westminster that Internment would be gradually phased out.

[The Barron Report (published on 15 December 2003) revealed that the Garda Síochána (the Irish police) Chief Superintendent in charge of the investigation into the Dublin bombings on 17 May 1974 had written a memo (on 9 July 1974) which noted that “the investigation unit … have returned to their stations”. Over the years the Garda Síochána investigation of the bombings has been heavily criticised.]

Friday 9 July 1976

    

Mervyn & Rosaleen McDonald

Two Catholic civilians, a husband and wife, were killed in an attack on their home by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a covername for the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

Tuesday 9 August 1977

The Queen began a two-day visit to Northern Ireland as part of her jubilee celebrations. It was the first visit by the Queen for 11 years.

Thursday 9 July 1981

Danny Barrett (15), a Catholic teenager, was shot dead by the British Army while he was standing outside his home in Havana Court in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

Nora McCabe (30), a Catholic civilian, died one day after being shot by a plastic bullet fired by the RUC. Patrick McGeown, an Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoner, joined the hunger strike to replace Joe McDonnell.

 See 1981 Hunger Strike.]

Wednesday 9 July 1986

Two British soldiers were killed by a remote controlled bomb while they were on foot patrol near Crossmaglen, County Armagh. The attack was carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Saturday 9 July 1994

Joseph Donaghy (33), a Catholic civilian, was found shot dead at Killymoon Golf Club, Cookstown, County Tyrone.

[Six days after his body was discovered the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), claimed responsibility for the killing.]

Sunday 9 July 1995

Stand-Off At Drumcree

drumcree church at night

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) prevented an Orange Order parade from returning from Drumcree Church to Portadown along the Garvaghy Road, a mainly Nationalist area. The parade organisers were told by the police to return by the same route they had taken to the church.

The decision sparked a stand-off between RUC officers and Orangemen. There were also disturbances and blocked roads across Northern Ireland as protests were organised by loyalists in support of the Orange Order. Later in the day Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and David Trimble, then Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP, attempted to broker a compromise but failed.

See Drumcree

Tuesday 9 July 1996

The British government sent an extra 1,000 troops to Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The resources of the RUC were seriously stretched across Northern Ireland. Hundreds of roads, including motorways, were blocked by members of the Orange Order and loyalist supporters.

Several Catholic families felt sufficiently intimidated to leave their homes in the Torrens area of Belfast. Gunshots were also reported in north Belfast.

Leaders of the main Unionist parties meet with John Major, then British Prime Minister, in Downing Street, London.

Wednesday 9 July 1997

At the end of four days of rioting and disturbances the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) released figures which showed that: there had been 60 RUC officers injured; 56 civilians injured; 117 people arrested; 2,500 plastic bullets fired by the security forces; 815 attacks on the security forces; 1,506 petrol bombs thrown; and 402 hijackings.

The British government promised Sinn Féin (SF) that in the event of an Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire, representatives of SF would be allowed to meet with government ministers

Thursday 9 July 1998

Orange Order demonstrators at Drumcree attempted to cross security force barriers. Security force members, who came under attack from guns and blast bombs, replied with plastic bullets. Leaders of the Orange Order travelled to London for a meeting with Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, to discuss the situation in Portadown, County Armagh. Before the meeting .

David McNarry, then a senior member of the Orange Order, said that they could “paralyse the country [Northern Ireland] in a matter of hours”. His comments were made on the BBC Radio 4 programme Today. Following the meeting the Orange Order representatives said that there appeared to be little change in the government’s attitude to the Drumcree issue.

Friday 9 July 1999

There was a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Executive to consider ‘The Way Forward’ proposals. The 110 member Executive rejected the document as being fundamentally unfair.

The Belfast Telegraph (a Belfast based newspaper) reported that the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) had indicated that the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) had no intention of decommissioning its weapons.

The News Letter (a Belfast based newspaper) published the results of an opinion poll. Of those questioned 53 per cent of Protestants disapproved of the British government’s ‘The Way Forward’ proposals.

Monday 9 July 2001

Weston Park Talks Began

Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, and Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), began a series of intensive political talks with the pro-Agreement parties in the secluded setting of Weston Park, a stately home-cum-hotel on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border in England.

[Although the talks went on until Saturday there was no agreement on a way forward. The two Prime Minister said they would publish a document which tried to resolve the remaining issues.]

 

——————————————

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 9th  July between 1972 – 1986

——————————————

09 July 1972


 Joseph Flemming   (30)

Catholic
Status: British Army Territorial Army (TA),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Off duty. Found shot in partially burnt out car, Little Distillery Street, off Grosvenor Road, Belfast

——————————————

09 July 1972
 Brian McMillan   (21)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found shot in partially burnt out car, Little Distillery Street, off Grosvenor Road, Belfast

——————————————

09 July 1972
 Alan Meehan  (18)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found shot in partially burnt out car, Little Distillery Street, off Grosvenor Road, Belfast. He died 11th July 1972

——————————————

09 July 1972
 David Andrews  (31)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found shot, Waterworks, off Cavehill Road, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1972
 Angelo Fionda   (60)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while driving his car, at the junction of Panton Street and Falls Road, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1972
 Gerard Turkington  (32)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot Stewart Street, Markets, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1972


 John Dougal  (16)

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

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by sniper from British Army (BA) observation post in Corry’s Timber Yard, while in the vicinity of Westrock Drive, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1972


 Margaret Gargan  (13)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by sniper from British Army (BA) observation post in Corry’s Timber Yard, while walking along Westrock Gardens, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1972


 Patrick Butler  (38)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by sniper from British Army (BA) observation post in Corry’s Timber Yard, while in the vicinity of Westrock Drive, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1972


 Noel Fitzpatrick   (40)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Catholic Priest. Shot by sniper from British Army (BA) observation post in Corry’s Timber Yard, while in the vicinity of Westrock Drive, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1972


 David McCafferty   (15)

Catholic
Status: Official Irish Republican Army Youth Section (OIRAF),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by sniper from British Army (BA) observation post in Corry’s Timber Yard, while in the vicinity of Westrock Drive, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1973
 Dorothy Lynn  (46)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Died five days after being badly burned during hijacking of bus she was travelling on, Cliftonville Road, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1976


 Mervyn McDonald  (26)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot at his home, Longlands Road, Greencastle, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1976


 Rosaleen McDonald   (24)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ), K

illed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot at her home, Longlands Road, Greencastle, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1981


 Danny Barrett  (15)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by British Army (BA) sniper from Flax Street British Army (BA) base while standing outside his home, Havana Court, Ardoyne, Belfast.

——————————————

09 July 1981


 Nora McCabe   (30)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Died one day after being shot by plastic bullet, Linden Street, Lower Falls, Belfast

——————————————

09 July 1984


 Anthony McAtarsney   (37)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot while getting into his car shortly after leaving work, Millfield, Belfast

——————————————

09 July 1986
 Carl Davies  (24)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden in car/trailer, detonated when British Army (BA) foot patrol passed, Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

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09 July 1986
 Robert Bertram  (20)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden in car/trailer, detonated when British Army (BA) foot patrol passed, Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

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