Category Archives: Deaths in the Troubles

Deaths in Northern Ireland Troubles

8th February – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

8th February

Wednesday 8 February 1978

Lesley Gordon

 

 

William Gordon (39), then a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), and Lesley Gordon (10), his daughter, were killed by a booby-trap bomb attached to a car outside their home in Maghera, County Derry, by the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Friday 8 February 1980

Leonard Kaitcher

 

 

Leonard Kaitcer, a Belfast antiques dealer, was killed following his kidnapping and demand for a £1 million

Friday 8 February 1991

The government in the Republic of Ireland agreed to abide by the arrangements for planned political talks on the future of Northern Ireland. The arrangements meant that Peter Brooke, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, would decide the point in the talks at which the Irish government would be invited to attend.

Monday 8 February 1993

The leaders of the four main churches (Catholic; Presbyterian; Church of Ireland; and Methodist) travelled to the United States of America (USA) to encourage new business investment in Northern Ireland.

Wednesday 8 February 1995

Andrew Clarke (27), a private in the British Army, was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court to 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder of Eddie Copeland in Belfast in October 1993. Michael Ancram, then Political Development Minister at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), announced a £63 million school building programme.

Thursday 8 February 1996

Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs), traveled to America for talks with Bill Clinton, then President of the United States of America (USA). The European Court of Human Rights found that aspects of the British Government’s emergency legislation in Northern Ireland infringed the European Convention on Human Rights.

Saturday 8 February 1997

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) delayed a planned Loyalist band parade outside the Catholic chapel at Harryville, Ballymena, until after the mass was finished. About 20 Orange bands paraded past the chapel in the continuing Loyalist picket at Harryville.

Monday 8 February 1999

A grenade exploded at a Catholic-owned bar near Toomebridge, County Antrim. The attack was claimed by the Orange Volunteers (OV) a Loyalist paramilitary group.

The Belfast Telegraph (a Belfast based newspaper) published the results of a survey of opinion. The poll showed that, of those questioned, 84 per cent wanted Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups to immediately begin decommissioning their weapons (the breakdown of the figures were 93 per cent of Protestants and 68 per cent of Catholics).

Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), said that he considered those who had killed Jerry McCabe, who was a Detective in the Garda Síochána (the Irish police), were entitle to early release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Gardaí said they would investigate allegations of witness intimidation in the McCabe case. The Irish-born novelist, Iris Murdoch (79), died from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Friday 8 February 2002

A man (48) employed as a civilian worker by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was seriously injured in an explosion at approximately 12.00pm (1200GMT) at a British Army training ground near Magilligan Prison, County Londonderry.

[It was thought that he had disturbed a booby-trap bomb near the perimeter fence of the training centre. Dissident Republican paramilitaries were thought to be responsible for planting the device.]

Representatives of the Police Association said that they intended to apply to the High Court for a judicial review of the recent report by Nuala O’Loan, then Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI). The report was into the investigation of the Omagh bombing (15 August 1998). The Police Association claimed that the report was inaccurate and unfair.

 

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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 8th February  between  1972 – 1985

  —————————————————————————

08 February 1972


 Bernard Rice,  (49)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Red Hand Commando (RHC)
Shot from passing car while walking opposite Ardoyne shops, Crumlin Road, Belfast.

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08 February 1973
 Hugh Connolly,  (38)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot at the rear of his home, Oranmore Street, Falls, Belfast.

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08 February 1973


 Charles Morrison,   (26)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while sitting in stationary Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) patrol car, Dungannon, County Tyrone

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08 February 1975
 William Robson,   (22)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died two days after being shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Mullan, County Fermanagh.

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08 February 1975


 James Sullivan,   (30)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Former internee. Shot at his home, Lesley Street, Ligoniel, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

08 February 1978
 William Gordon,   (39)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Killed by booby trap bomb attached to car outside his home, Maghera, County Derry

  —————————————————————————

08 February 1978


 Lesley Gordon,   (10)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb attached to her father’s car outside her home, Maghera, County Derry.

  —————————————————————————

08 February 1980


 Leonard Kaitcer,   (50) nfNI
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Abducted from his home, Thornhill, Malone, Belfast. Found shot, Old Collin Road, off Glen Road, Belfast, on 9 February 1980.

  —————————————————————————

08 February 1981


 Alexander Scott,  (36)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Off duty. Shot outside his wife’s shop, My Lady’s Road, off Ravenhill Road, Belfast.

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08 February 1985
 Gerard Logue,  (19)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot while sitting in stationary stolen car, Fort Street, off Springfield Road, Belfast.

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7th February – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

7th February

Wednesday 7 February 1973

United Loyalist Council Strike

The United Loyalist Council (ULC), led by William Craig, the then leader of Ulster Vanguard, organised a one-day general strike. The ULC was an umbrella group which co-ordinated the activities of the Loyalist Association of Workers (LAW), the Ulster Defence Association (UDA; the largest of the Loyalist paramilitary groups), and a number of other Loyalist paramilitary groups.

The aim of the strike was to “re-establish some kind of Protestant or loyalist control over the affairs in the province, especially over security policy” (Anderson, 1994, p4). Many areas of Northern Ireland were affected by power cuts and public transport was also badly affected. These in turn had the affect of closing many businesses, shops and schools. Loyalists paramilitary groups used ‘persuasion’ or intimidation to force many people from going to work and also to close any premises which had opened.

A number of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) stations were attacked by crowds of Loyalists. There were also many violent incidents throughout the day with the worst of them centred around Belfast. Four people were killed in separate shooting incidents in Belfast. Three of these were members of Loyalist paramilitary groups of whom two were killed by members of the British Army.

There had been eight explosions and 35 cases of arson. The strike was not very well supported by the Protestant population of Northern Ireland. Many Unionists were upset by the level of violence that accompanied the strike.

Thursday 7 February 1974

Edward Heath, then British Prime Minister, calls a general election for 28 February 1974. Francis Pym, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, tried to argue for a later election date because of his worry that the Executive would not survive the outcome.

Saturday 7 February 1976

Four civilians died in three separate attacks.

Thomas Quinn (55), a Catholic civilian, was beaten and had his throat cut. His body was found at Forthriver Way, Glencairn, Belfast. Members of he Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang known as the ‘Shankill Butchers’ were responsible for the killing.

Lenny Murphy – Leader of the Shankill Butchers

See Shankill Butchers

 Two Protestant civilians, Rachel McLernon (21) and Robert McLernon (16), were killed by an Irish Republican Army (IRA) booby-trap bomb in Cookstown, County Tyrone. Thomas Rafferty (14), a Catholic civilian, was killed by a booby-trap bomb planted by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) in Portadown, County Armagh.

Tuesday 7 February 1978

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) was reported in the Irish Times as stating that it is “the British dimension which is the obstacle keeping us away from a lasting solution”.

Sunday 7 February 1982

Martin Kyles (19), a Catholic civilian, died two days after being shot by British Soldiers as he travelled (‘joy riding’) in a stolen car in the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Falls Road, Belfast.

Friday 7 February 1986

The High Court in Belfast ordered that Belfast City Council should end the on-going adjournment of council business in protest to the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA). The court also instructed the council to remove the large ‘Belfast Says No’ banner from the front of the City Hall. The court action had been brought by the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI).

Saturday 7 February 1987

Incendiary devices planted in County Donegal and in Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland, were believed to be the responsibility of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).

Thursday 7 February 1991

Mortar Attack on Downing Street

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) launched an attack on 10 Downing Street, London, while the British Cabinet was holding a meeting. There were no injuries. The attack took the form of three home-made mortars fired from a parked van in nearby Whitehall and represented a serious breach of security in the area. One of the mortars fell in a garden at the back of Downing street and caused some damage.

[It was reported later that ministers dived under the cabinet table during the attack.]

See IRA Mortar Attack on Downing Street

The Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced that scientific evidence against the ‘Birmingham Six’ had been dropped. The announcement came during proceedings at their renewed appeal. In a ruling by the House of Lords the broadcasting ban on ‘proscribed’ organisations was upheld.

Monday 7 February 1994

Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of Sate, paid a visit to Derry and stated that inter-party talks were on target.

Tuesday 7 February 1995

A bomb comprised of commercial explosives was defused in Newry, County Down.

[The Irish Republican Army (IRA) later denied that it was responsible for planting the bomb.]

Garda Síochána (the Irish police) uncovered 8,000 rounds of ammunition at Oldcastle, County Meath.

[Two mortar tubes and additional ammunition were discovered on 8 February 1995.]

There was a further meeting between representatives from Sinn Féin (SF) and Northern Ireland Office (NIO) officials. The British officials indicated that if progress continued to be made in the talks then ministers would also take part.

John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), proposed to the Daíl in Dublin that the state of emergency (declared in the Republic in 1939 and renewed in 1976) should be lifted. The proposal was accepted. Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs), called on the British government to limit or repeal its emergency legislation.

Wednesday 7 February 1996

Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs), and Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, held a meeting in Dublin. Dick Spring proposed the establishment of ‘proximity’ style talks similar to those adopted at the Dayton, Ohio Negotiations in the United States of America (USA) between warring groups from Bosnia. The idea was rejected by unionist politicians.

Wednesday 7 February 2001

There was a pipe-bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in the mainly Protestant Fountain estate in Derry. A couple and their children escaped injury when a device was left at their home in the early hours of the morning. The device partially exploded causing minor damage to an outer wall about 1.00am. The couple raised the alarm after discovering the six-inch device under a car.

The attack was carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.

There were pipe-bomb attacks on Catholic homes in Limavady. One device exploded in the front garden of a house at Eventide Gardens, the other at a house on Edenmore Park. Patrick Vincent, whose home was targeted, said he did not know why his family had been singled out. The pipe-bomb exploded outside a bedroom of the house where he lives with his pregnant girlfriend.

The attacks were carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.

A Loyalist, whose family escaped injury in a pipe-bomb attack on their home in Lurgan, County Armagh, claims the police knew it was going to happen. The family were at home when the bomb exploded at 12.40am. It caused scorch damage to the front door and also damaged the front of a neighbour’s house.

The man blamed the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) for the attack and for two previous attempts on his life

Thursday 7 February 2002

The full Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) met for the second time in three days to continue discussions on the investigation of the Omagh bomb (15 August 1998). The NIPB had met with Nuala O’Loan, then Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI), and Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), on Tuesday 5 February 2002.

The NIPB decided to appoint a senior police officer from England to oversee the investigation. It was planned that this new officer would have equal status to the current senior investigating officer.

[This was seen as a compromise between the recommendation of O’Loan and the position adopted by Flanaghan.]

The Saville Inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday granted permission to police officer to give their evidence from behind screens.

[Many of the 20 former and serving officers had applied to be screened from the public gallery. It was also believed that 2 officers would ask to given their evidence in Britain.]

See Bloody Sunday

The Prince of Wales travelled to Northern Ireland for a series of engagements during a two day visit.

 

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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.

11  People   lost their lives on the 7th February  between  1971 – 1987

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1971


 Albert Bell,  (25)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Found shot by the side of the Belfast to Crumlin Road, Ballyhill, near Belfast, County Antrim.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1973


 Brian Douglas,  (26)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Fireman, shot fighting blaze during street disturbances, Bradbury Place, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1973
 Andrew Petherbridge, (18)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during street disturbances, at the junction of Newtownards Road and Newcastle Street, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1973
 Robert Bennett,  (31)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during street disturbances, Albertbridge Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1973
 Clarke Clarke,  (18)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot in entry, off Hallidays Road, New Lodge, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1976


 Robert McLernon,  (16)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb hidden in abandoned crashed car, Tyresson Road, Cookstown, County Tyrone.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1976


 Rachel McLernon,  (21)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb hidden in abandoned crashed car, Tyresson Road, Cookstown, County Tyrone.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1976


 Thomas Rafferty, (14)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Killed by booby trap bomb concealed behind row of derelict cottages, Derryall Road, Portadown, County Armagh.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1978


 John Eaglesham,   (58)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while delivering mail, The Rock, near Pomeroy, County Tyrone.

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1982
 Martin Kyles,  (19)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Died two days after being shot while travelling in stolen car, in the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Falls Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

07 February 1987


 Iris Farley,  (72)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Died five weeks after being shot during gun attack on her off duty Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) member son, at their home, Markethill, County Armagh.

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6th February – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

6th February

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Thursday 6 February 1969

The New Ulster Movement (NUM) was formed. This pressure group was established to promote moderate and non-sectarian policies and to assist those candidates who supported Terence O’Neill, then Northern Ireland Prime Minister, in the election on 24 February 1969.

Saturday 6 February 1971

First Soldier Killed The Irish Republican Army (IRA) shot and killed Gunner Robert Curtis, the first British soldier to die during the current conflict. Bernard Watt (28), a Catholic civilian, was shot and killed by the British Army (BA) during street disturbances in Ardoyne, Belfast. James Saunders (22), a member of the IRA, was shot and killed by the British Army during a gun battle near the Oldpark Road, Belfast.

Sunday 6 February 1972

A Civil Rights march held in Newry, County Down. There was a very large turn-out for the march with many people attending to protest at the killings in Derry the previous Sunday.

Tuesday 6 February 1973

Although a number of ‘moderate’ Unionist politicians called on people not to heed the call by the United Loyalist Council (ULC) for a region wide strike, by the evening cuts in the electricity supply began to affect Belfast.

 The ULC strike officially began on 7 February 1973.

Wednesday 6 February 1974

 Sunningdale; Ulster Workers’ Council Strike

Friday 6 February 1976

Two Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at Cliftonville Circus, Belfast. A Protestant civilian died then days after being shot by Republicans in Belfast.

Friday 6 February 1981

‘Firearm Certificates Protest’ Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), led a group of 500 men up a hillside in County Antrim at night. Those taking part in the gathering were photographed holding firearms certificates above their head.

[Firearm certificates are issued by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) to those people who possess legally held firearms. The implication of the demonstration was that those taking part could as easily have been holding their weapons above their head.]

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombed and sunk a British coal boat, Nellie M, off the coast at Moville, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland

Thursday 6 February 1992

Albert Reynolds was elected as leader of Fianna Fáil (FF) and also became Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).

Friday 6 February 1998

It was reported in the Irish Times (a Republic of Ireland newspaper) that the British government would not implement proposals which would reduce the number of legally-held firearms in Northern Ireland. The report suggested that Unionist politicians had lobbied hard to have the proposals shelved.

It is estimated that there are 87,017 firearms certificates issued in Northern Ireland which cover 134,086 weapons. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) state that 80 per cent of the weapons are shotguns and air guns while the remainder are personal protection weapons. There are no figures for the religious breakdown of the ownership of weapons but it is generally thought that the vast majority of weapons are held by Protestants.

Saturday 6 February 1999

Concern was expressed for the future of the peace process with Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, conceding that the deadline for the devolution of powers could be missed. Roberty McCartney, then Leader of the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP), warned that North-South bodies could remain in place even if the Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed.

The Association of Garda Síochána (the Irish police) Superintendents announced that it was planning to meet the Minister for Justice to discuss the decision of the prosecution to accept a manslaughter plea in the Jerry McCabe case.

Wednesday 6 February 2002

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers arrested a man (33) under the Terrorism Act. He was arrested at the request of Metropolitan Police and was taken to a central London police station. It was believed that he was questioned about bombs in Birmingham, Ealing, and west London, during 2001.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) appointed a four man committee to continue the work began on Tuesday 5 February 2002 on the reports of the investigation into the Omagh bombing (15 August 1998). Some of the relatives of those killed in the Omagh bomb called for an outside police officer to take charge of a fresh investigation.

[This was one recommendation of Nuala O’Loan, then Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI), but was opposed by the Chief Constable.]

David Trimble (UUP), then First Minister, and Mark Durkan (SDLP), then Deputy First Minister, opened the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington, United States of America (USA). The office was established to promote Northern Ireland in the USA.

[There was some criticism of the cost of the new office. A Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) who visited the office criticised the lack of a Union flag in the office.]

A man was shot in the leg in a paramilitary ‘punishment’ attack in Dundonald, east Belfast. Allied Irish Banks announced that it had been the victim of a $750m (£529m) fraud at its US subsidiary.

 

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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.

12  People   lost their lives on the 6th February  between  1971 – 1989

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1971


 Bernard Watt,  (28)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during street disturbances, Chatham Street, Ardoyne, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1971


 James Saunders,  (22)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle, Louisa Street, off Oldpark Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1971


 Robert Curtis,  (20)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, New Lodge Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1972


 David Seaman,  (31)

nfNI
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: not known (nk)
Englishman also known as Barry Barber. Found shot, Cullaville, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1973
 Michael Murtagh,  (22)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in rocket attack on British Army (BA) Armoured Personnel Carrier, Servia Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1975
 Colette Brown,   (31)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot by the side of Killyglen Road, Larne, County Antrim.

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1976


 James Blakely,  (42)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) foot patrol, Cliftonville Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1976


 William  Murtagh,  (31)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) foot patrol, Cliftonville Road, Belfast. He died on 7 February 1976

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1976
 John McCready, (57)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Died ten days after being shot from passing car, while walking along Charnwood Avenue, off Cavehill Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1976
 Thomas Quinn,  (55)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Abducted while walking along Millfield, Belfast. Found stabbed to death on grass bank, off Forthriver Way, Glencairn, Belfast, on 7 February 1976.

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06 February 1981


 Charles Lewis,   (36)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while standing outside shop, while on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) foot patrol, Balmoral Avenue, Malone, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

06 February 1989


 James Connolly,  (20)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died in premature explosion while planting booby trap bomb under Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) member’s car outside his home, Drumquin, County Tyrone.

  —————————————————————————

 

 

5th February – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

5th February

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Saturday 5 February 1972

Two IRA members were killed when a bomb they were planting exploded prematurely. A man died from injuries received in an explosion six days earlier.

Monday 5 February 1973

Following a decision to intern two Loyalists, suspected of the murder of a Catholic man, there was a call for a general strike under the auspices of the United Loyalist Council (ULC) .

[Although Internment had been introduced on Monday 9 August 1971 and hundreds of Catholics / Nationalists had been arrested and interned, this was the first time that Protestants had been held under the Detention of Terrorists Order. This decision was to lead to a strike by Loyalists and an upsurge in Loyalist violence.]

Wednesday 5 February 1975

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) published a discussion paper on power-sharing, The Government of Northern Ireland: A Society Divided. This was the third discussion paper published in advance of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention. Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, announced that new blocks (‘H-Blocks’) were to be built at the Maze Prison while waiting for a new prison at Maghaberry, County Antrim, to be completed.

Thursday 5 February 1981

In a statement Republican prisoners warned that there could be further hunger strikes if they were not granted special category status.

Wednesday 5 February 1986

John Hermon, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), instructed leaders of the Northern Ireland Police Federation (NIPF), the main union for RUC officers, not to give interviews to the media without receiving clearance from RUC headquarters. The chairman of the Federation later stated that the Police Act (1970) protected the organisation’s freedom of speech.

Friday 5 February 1988

John Stalker, who initially investigated the ‘shoot to kill’ inquiry, alleged that he was removed from the inquiry because his investigations would have caused political embarrassment.

Wednesday 5 February 1992

Sean_Graham_2

Shooting at Bookmaker’s Shop The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), shot dead five Catholic civilians, including a 15 year old boy, in a gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop on the lower Ormeau Road in Belfast.

[The UDA at this time was a legal organisation and there were calls for it to be proscribed. A statement from the UFF concluded with the words “Remember Teebane”.]

See Sean Graham bookmakers’ shooting

See Teebane Bus Bomb

A member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) in County Fermanagh.

Friday 5 February 1993

Roger Wheeler, then a Lieutenant-General in the British Army, replaced John Wilsey as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the army in Northern Ireland.

Wednesday 5 February 1997

Billy McCaughey, an ex-officer of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) who had served 16 years for a sectarian murder, denied that he was organising the pickets each Saturday night outside the Catholic chapel at Harryville, Ballymena.

Thursday 5 February 1998

Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), published his response to remarks made by John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). In the response Adams set out SF’s opposition to any new Assembly at Stormont. David Andrews, then Irish Foreign Minister, paid a visit to Northern Ireland. He travelled to Kilkeel and Newcastle, County Down before travelling to Belfast. In Belfast Andrews laid a wreath at the site of the shooting of five Catholics on the Lower Ormea Road in 1992. Unionist politicians criticised the visit.

Friday 5 February 1999

Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), warned against any attempt to “park” (to suspend) the Good Friday Agreement.

Monday 5 February 2001

There was a pipe-bomb attack on a Catholic family in Ardoyne, north Belfast. The device failed to explode and was found in the living room. Two adults and three children, aged one to 15, were uninjured in the incident. The man, a former republican prisoner, said he received a warning from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) on Friday night that he was being targeted by the Red Hand Defenders (RHD).

The man discovered the device at 8.45am when he was preparing to take his children to school.

[The RHD is a cover name that has been used in the past by members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).]

There was a pipe-bomb attack on a Cathoic family in north Belfast. The father said he was sitting watching television in the house shortly after midnight when he heard two men talking outside. He said one of the men smashed the window and the other threw something into the front room. He and his family escaped injury when a fire-ball tore through the house and gutted the building. Both attacks were carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.

Tuesday 5 February 2002

Jane Kennedy, then Security Minister, announced new security measures and new peace lines at a number of interface areas in Northern Ireland. The schemes mainly involved extensions to existing peace lines and the cost was estimated at £670,000.

[The following details, of the schemes involved, were published. North Belfast – 250 metre fence at Newington Avenue / Halliday’s Road (completed); 250 metre extension of a fence at Alliance Avenue / Glenbryn Park; security fencing at Wyndham Street. West Belfast – extension to the existing fence at Ainsworth Avenue / Springfield Road to Kirk Street / Workman Avenue; extension to the existing fence at Bombay Street. East Belfast – closure of the road and construction of a security structure at Madrid Street. Portadown – series of security measures in the Corcrain Road area. Derry – modification of the fence at Harding Street.]

The Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) held separate private meetings with Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and Nuala O’Loan, then Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI).

The meetings were to allow the NIPB to hear reports on the investigation of the Omagh bombing (15 August 1998) and also to see if it could come to a decision on the public disagreement between O’Loan and Flanagan.

[However it was clear that the NIPB was deeply divided on the issue with one Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) member calling, prior to the meeting, for the resignation of O’Loan.]

It was revealed that the Department of Health and Social Services had spend £180,000 implementing the bilingual policy adopted by Bairbre de Brún (SF) then Minister of Health. The policy means that all public notices, documents, and advertising campaigns, are available in both English and Irish. The total also includes translations into other languages including Chinese, Punjabi, and Ulster Scots.

Two men who admitted being members of the “real” Irish Republican Army (rIRA) were jailed for 18 months each by the Special Criminal Court (three judges but no jury) in Dublin. A special branch officer testified that the men had played only a peripheral part in the organisation.

 —————————————————————————

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.

12  People   lost their lives on the 5th February  between  1972 – 1992

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1972
 Paul McFadden,  (31)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died six days after being injured in van bomb explosion at Castle Arcade, off Castle Lane, Belfast. Inadequate warning given.

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1972
 Phelim Grant,  (-9)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died in premature bomb explosion while travelling on barge, near Crumlin, Lough Neagh, County Antrim.

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1972


 Charles McCann,   (-9)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died in premature bomb explosion while travelling on barge, near Crumlin, Lough Neagh, County Antrim.

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1977


 Robert Harrison,   (50)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on joint Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) / British Army (BA) mobile patrol, Gilford, County Down

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1980


 Aubrey Abercrombie,   (44)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at his farm, Edenmore, near Kinawley, County Fermanagh.

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1987


 Anthony McCluskey,   (32)

Catholic
Status: Irish People’s Liberation Organisation (IPLO),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Found shot, Middletown, County Armagh. Irish National Liberation Army / Irish People’s Liberation Organisation feud.

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992
 Joseph MacManus,  (21)

nfNI
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR)
From County Sligo. Shot while involved in gun attack on an off duty Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) member, Scardens Upper, near Belleek, County Fermanagh.

  —————————————————————————

See Sean Graham Shooting

05 February 1992


 Peter Magee,  (18)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 Jack Duffin,   (66)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 James Kennedy,  (15)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 William McManus,   (54)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 Christy Doherty,  (52)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

 

Sean Graham bookmakers’ shooting

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

Sean Graham bookmakers’ shooting

5 February 1992

On 5 February 1992, a mass shooting took place at the Sean Graham bookmaker‘s shop on the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), a loyalist paramilitary group, opened fire on the customers, killing five civilians and wounding another nine. The shop was in an Irish nationalist area, and all of the victims were local Catholic civilians. The UDA claimed responsibility using the cover name “Ulster Freedom Fighters”, and said the shooting was retaliation for the Teebane bombing, which had been carried out by the Provisional IRA less than three weeks before

 

Background

 

Ulster Freedom Fighters insignia in the Annadale Flats area, January 2012

The start of 1992 had witnessed an intensification in the campaign of violence being carried out by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) under their UFF covername. The group’s first killing that year was on 9 January when Catholic civilian Phillip Campbell was shot dead at his place of work near Moira by a Lisburn-based UDA unit.[1] The same group killed another Catholic civilian, Paul Moran, at the end of the month and a few days later taxi driver Paddy Clarke was killed at his north Belfast home by members of the UDA West Belfast Brigade.[2]

However, the Inner Council of the UDA, which contained the six brigadiers that controlled the organisation, felt that these one-off killings were not sending a strong enough message to republicans and so it sanctioned a higher-profile attack in which a number of people would be killed at once.[2] On this basis the go-ahead was given to attack Sean Graham bookmaker’s shop on the Irish nationalist Lower Ormeau Road. This was a major arterial route in the city and was near the UDA stronghold of Annadale Flats.[2] According to David Lister and Hugh Jordan, the bookmaker’s shop was chosen by West Belfast Brigadier and Inner Council member Johnny Adair because he had strong personal ties with the commanders of the Annadale UDA.[3] A 1993 report commissioned by RUC Special Branch also claimed that Adair was the driving force behind the attack.[3]

The shooting

Names of the dead commemorated on a plaque in Hatfield Street

The attack occurred at 2:20 in the afternoon.[4] A car parked on University Avenue facing the bookmakers and two men, wearing boiler suits and balaclavas, left the car and crossed the Ormeau Road to the shop.[5] One was armed with a VZ.58 Czechoslovak semi-automatic rifle and the other with a 9mm pistol. They entered the shop—in which there were 15 customers—and opened fire, unleashing a total of 44 shots on the assembled victims.[6]

Five Catholic men and boys were killed: Christy Doherty (52), Jack Duffin (66), James Kennedy (15), Peter Magee (18) and William McManus (54).[7] Nine others were wounded, one critically.[4] Four of them died at the scene although 15-year-old Kennedy survived until he reached the hospital, his final words being reported as “tell my mummy that I love her”.[8] Kennedy’s mother Kathleen died two years later after becoming a recluse. Her husband, James (Sr.), blamed his wife’s death on the shooting by claiming “the bullets that killed James didn’t just travel in distance, they travelled in time. Some of those bullets never stopped travelling”.[8]

One of the wounded described the shooting to British journalist Peter Taylor:

“There was a right crowd in [the betting shop] and I cracked a joke with a couple of them – they were like that, always laughing and carrying on. I had only been in for about twenty or twenty-five minutes when the shooting started – I was standing next to the door with a docket in my hand studying the form. At first I thought it was a hold-up but then the shooting started and somebody yelled, ‘Hit the deck’. I just lay there and prayed that the shooting would stop. It seemed to go on for a lifetime. There wasn’t a sound for a few seconds – everybody was so stunned, but then the screaming started. People were yelling out in agony. You could hardly see anything. The room was full of gun smoke and the smell would have choked you”.[9]

In a separate incident, a unit of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) had travelled to the area at the time of the attack with the intention of killing a local Sinn Féin activist based on intelligence they had received that he returned home about that time every day. The attack was abandoned, however, when the car carrying the UVF members was passed by speeding Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) vehicles and ambulances. The UVF members, who had already retrieved their weapons for the attack, were said to be livid with the UDA for not co-ordinating with them beforehand and effectively spoiling their chance to kill a leading local republican.[10]

  —————————————————————————

The Victims

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 Peter Magee,  (18)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 Jack Duffin,   (66)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 James Kennedy,  (15)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 William McManus,   (54)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

05 February 1992


 Christy Doherty,  (52)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on Sean Graham’s Bookmaker’s shop, Ormeau Road, Belfast

  —————————————————————————

Aftermath

Memorial stone laid in February 2012

A UDA statement in the aftermath of the attack claimed that the killings were justified as the Lower Ormeau was “one of the IRA‘s most active areas”.[8] The statement also included the phrase “remember Teebane”, suggesting that they intended the killings as retaliation for the Teebane bombing in County Tyrone less than three weeks earlier. In that attack, the IRA had killed eight Protestant men who were repairing a British Army base.[11] The same statement had also been yelled by the gunmen as they ran from the betting shop.[8] Alex Kerr, who was then UDA Brigadier for South Belfast, released a second statement about a month after the attack in which he sought to justify the killings. Kerr stated that “the IRA was extremely active in the lower Ormeau and the nationalist population there shielded them. They paid the price for Teebane”. He added that if there were any further bombings like that at Teebane then the UDA would retaliate in the same way as at Sean Graham’s.[12]

See Teebane Bus Bomb

teebane2
Teebane Bus Bomb

 

 

The idea that the killings were justified because of Teebane was shunned by Rev. Ivor Smith, a Presbyterian minister who was based in the area and who worked with the families of the bomb victims. He said that the UDA claim was “like a knife through the heart. We were absolutely appalled at the thought that somebody would try to do something like that and justify it by bringing in Teebane. As far as the families were concerned, it was very definitely not ‘in my name'”.[11] A letter expressing deep sympathy from Betty Gilchrist, a Protestant whose husband had been killed at Teebane, was read out at the funeral of Jack Duffin.[12] Alasdair McDonnell, a general practitioner and Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor in the area, also suggested that the attack had been in response to Teebane. However, he was strongly rebuked by the Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group, a residents’ association with Sinn Féin links, for seemingly justifying the killings with this claim.[13]

When a July 1992 Orange Order march passed the scene of the shooting, Orangemen shouted pro-UDA slogans and held aloft five fingers as a taunt to residents over the five deaths.[4][14] The claim is corroborated by Henry McDonald and Jim Cusack. The images of Orangemen and loyalist flute band members holding up five fingers as they passed the shop were beamed around the world and was a public relations disaster for the Order.[15] Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said that the actions of the marchers “would have disgraced a tribe of cannibals”.[14] The incident led to a more concerted effort by Lower Ormeau residents to have the marches banned from the area, which later succeeded.[15]

No one was ever convicted for the killings although, locally, blame fell on Joe Bratty and his sidekick Raymond Elder, the two leading UDA figures in the Annadale Flats.[12] McDonald and Cusack suggest that, whilst Bratty had been the brains behind the attack, the gunmen he had used were actually from East Belfast and that a UDA member later convicted of supplying one of the guns had been at the shooting.[12] Lister and Jordan, however, claim that one of the gunmen was actually from west Belfast and was supplied to Bratty by Adair.[3] Bratty was charged with involvement in the attack although the charges were withdrawn.[16] Following his release from custody, Adair organised a lavish celebration party for Bratty in Scotland where he allegedly gave Bratty a gold ring inscribed with the initials UFF.[3]

The IRA did not immediately retaliate although in a statement they claimed to know the identity of the killers and claimed that they would “take them out when the time was right”.[17] When Bratty and Elder were shot dead by the IRA in July 1994, revellers in the Lower Ormeau hailed the attack as revenge for Sean Graham’s.[18]

On 5 February 2002 a plaque was erected on the side of the bookmaker’s shop in Hatfield Street carrying the names of the five victims and the Irish language inscription Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a n-anamacha (“May God have mercy on their souls”). A small memorial garden was later added.[19] The unveiling ceremony, which took place on the tenth anniversary of the attack, was accompanied by a two-minute silence and was attended by relatives of the dead and survivors of the attack.[20] A new memorial stone was laid on 5 February 2012 to coincide with the publication of a booklet calling for justice for the killings.[21]

Historical Enquiries Team findings

The attack was one of a number to be investigated by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) in 2010. It found that a Browning pistol used by the gunmen had been given to them by the police. UDA quartermaster and police agent William Stobie had handed the gun to police and the police had given it back to him. Police “may have thought they had tampered with it to prevent it from being used”. According to the HET report this operation “would have required both the authority of a senior police officer and a recovery plan, generally short-term and where possible supported by the security forces within a short period of time. Clearly in this case, there was a significant failure and the repercussions were tragic and devastating”. The gun was, the report continued, also used in other UDA killings.[22]

Alex Maskey, a Sinn Féin MLA for the area, commented that “the finding by the HET that the Browning pistol used by the UDA in this attack was handed back to them by the RUC will come as no surprise to the people of the Lower Ormeau area who have long known that a high degree of collusion took place in this attack”.[22]

Officers from the HET were told by police that the assault rifle used in the attack had been “disposed of”. However, it was later discovered on display in the Imperial War Museum.[23]

Jackie McDonald

In February 2012 Jackie McDonald, the incumbent commander of the UDA South Belfast Brigade (the area in which the shop is located), admitted that the victims of the shooting had been innocent. However, McDonald said that he could not apologise for the attack, arguing that as he was imprisoned at the time he played no part in what had happened.[11] In an earlier interview with Peter Taylor, McDonald suggested that it was the rise in sectarian killings and attacks such as that at Sean Graham’s that “brought about the ceasefire at the end of the day”.[9]

Attack on James Murray’s bookmakers

On the afternoon of 14 November 1992, the UDA carried out another attack on a betting shop in Belfast. The target was James Murray’s betting shop on the Oldpark Road in the north of the city, which was used mostly by Catholics.[24] One gunman fired into the shop from the doorway with an automatic weapon, while another smashed the window and threw a grenade inside. As he did so, he shouted “Yous deserve it, yous Fenian bastards!”.[25] Two Catholic civilians were killed outright and another died in hospital shortly after;[25] all of them were elderly men.[26] Thirteen others were wounded, some seriously. Like the shooting at Sean Graham’s, the November attack had also been planned by Adair. It “was followed by a raucous celebration in a loyalist club in south Belfast with Adair occupying centre stage”.[25] According to McDonald and Cusack the attack on this shop, which also had a few Protestant patrons who were present during the shooting, was carried out by Stephen McKeag.[27]

 

4th February – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

4th February

————————————————

Thursday 4 February 1971

Vernon Erskine-Crum, a Lieutenant-General, became General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the British Army (BA) in Northern Ireland.

Sunday 4 February 1973

A member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and 3 Catholic civilians were shot dead by members of the British Army in the New Lodge area of Belfast. Three other people died in separate incidents in Belfast.

Monday 4 February 1974

m62 coach bombing

‘M62 Coach Bomb’ The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a bomb (estimated at between 20 and 25 pounds) on a coach carrying British soldiers and their families. The bomb exploded shortly after midnight as the coach travelled along the M62 in England and 11 people were killed at the scene and one other person died a few days later.

Many of the passengers were injured in the blast. [This bomb was the first of many attacks in Britain during 1974. Judith Ward was later convicted of causing the explosion and given a sentence of 30 years. It wasn’t until 1992 that her convictions were quashed and she was released.] A Catholic civilian was shot dead by Loyalists in Belfast.

See M62 Coach Bomb

Friday 4 February 1977

The police in England uncover an Irish Republican Army (IRA) ‘bomb factory’ in Liverpool.

Sunday 4 February 1979

  

Patrick MacKin (60), a former Prison Officer, and his wife Violet (58), were both shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at their home in Oldpark Road, Belfast.

Tuesday 4 February 1992

Shooting at SF Office An off-duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer, Allen Moore, walked into the Falls Road office of Sinn Féin (SF) and shot dead three Catholic civilians. Moore drove away from the scene and later shot himself. Two of those killed were members of SF.

Sunday 4 February 1996

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) rejected calls from the Irish Government for a start to negotiations. George Mitchell, then chair of the International Body on Arms Decommissioning, said that there was a danger of an Irish Republican Army (IRA) split if there was no movement to all-party talks.

Tuesday 4 February 1997

Ken Maginnis, then Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Member of Parliament (MP), called on the British government to apologise for ‘Bloody Sunday’.

Wednesday 4 February 1998

The Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) admitted firing a shot at a Protestant man in the

Mourneview estate in Lurgan, County Armagh. The man wasn’t injured but the LVF warned him to leave the area. In a report to the House of Commons Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs Colin Smith, then Inspector of Constabulary, said that senior members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) were “reluctant” to embrace changes in the organisation and displayed “defensiveness” towards new ideas.

Proposals contained in the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Bill would mean that organisers of demonstrations would be required to provide the RUC with 14 days notice.

Thursday 4 February 1999

Nicholas Mullen, the last of the Republican prisoners to be held at a jail in England, was released by the Court of Appeal in London. A unit of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) announced that it was rearming.

The claim was welcomed by the Red Hand Defenders (RHD). Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, rejected criticism from Patrick Mayhew, the former Secretary of State, that the Labour government was in a state of “paralysis” over paramilitary violence.

It was reported that during negotiations on the Good Friday Agreement the Irish Government came under pressure from Sinn Féin to include on the list of people eligible for early release those charged with the killing of Jerry McCabe, who was a Detective in the Garda Síochána (the Irish police). The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement claiming that some of its weapons had been stolen by Republicans opposed to the peace process.

Sunday 4 February 2001

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) described a pipe-bomb used in an attack in Newcastle, County Down, in which a couple were injured, as a “relatively sophisticated device”. The 24 year old woman and 25 year old man sustained minor leg injuries after they lifted the device from the top of their car.

The police said a 13 year old boy also suffered a minor cut to his arm as he was walking past when the device exploded. A north Belfast family escaped injury when a pipe-bomb was thrown through the window of their home. The family fled from their home in the New Lodge area as it caught fire. The RUC said they were treating the attack as attempted murder.

Monday 4 February 2002

Postal deliveries were disrupted in Derry following a threat made against a Catholic postman who worked in the Waterside area of the city. The threat was made to the Samaritans on Sunday 3 February 2002 and the threat was made about a named individual. The police advised the man to stay away from the Waterside.

[The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) later issued a statement denying that it had made the threat.]

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry recommenced following an adjournment for the 30th anniversary of the killings (30 January 1972). William George Hunter became the first police witness to give evidence to the inquiry. The former Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer, who had been a member of Special Branch, was screened from the public and the press as he gave his evidence.

See Bloody Sunday

The Inquiry had earlier ruled that he faced a “special danger” which overrode the public duty to conduct an open inquiry. Hunter told the inquiry that he heard nail-bombs and a sub-machine gun prior to the shooting by the paratroopers. Hunter was positioned at Barrier 14 in William Street on Bloody Sunday.

The afternoon session of the inquiry was adjourned when it became clear that other former RUC officers had expressed a desire to given evidence from behind screens. The Belfast Education and Library Board published a report showing that literacy levels in Belfast were the lowest of any are in Northern Ireland. The report was based on a survey that tested nearly 3,000 15 year olds in a cross-section of schools throughout the region.

It was part of the Programme for International Student Assessment, which was carried out in 32 countries by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report made 70 recommendations for improvement.

see Segregation in Northern Ireland

Peter Robinson (DUP), then Minister for Regional Development, announced plans to try to secure an additional £950 million over 10 years for spending on roads and public transport services in the region.

[Two thirds of the money is planned to be spent on roads and some lobby groups suggested that a greater percentage should have been allocated for public transport.]

A man (19) was shot three times in the leg in north Belfast during a Loyalist paramilitary ‘punishment’ attack. The incident happened at approximately 9.00pm (2100GMT) after three men broke into the victim’s home in Mount Vernon Drive, off the Shore Road.

—————————————————————————

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.

26 People   lost their lives on the 4th February  between  1972 – 1992

  —————————————————————————

04 February 1973


 James McCann,   (18)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Died shortly after being shot from passing car, while standing outside Lynch’s Bar, corner of New Lodge Road and Antrim Road, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1973


 Anthony Campbell,  (19)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by British Army (BA) sniper at the junction of Edlingham Street and New Lodge Road, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1973


 Ambrose Hardy,  (26)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by British Army (BA) sniper at the junction of Edlingham Street and New Lodge Road, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1973


 Brenda Maguire,   (33)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by British Army (BA) sniper at the junction of Edlingham Street and New Lodge Road, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

 

04 February 1973


 John Loughran,   (35)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by British Army (BA) sniper at the junction of Edlingham Street and New Lodge Road, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1973
 John Boyd,  (33)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot, by the side of Connswater River, off Severn Street, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1973


 Seamus Gilmore,   (18)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at his workplace, Mount Pleasant Filling Station, Ballysillan Road, Belfast

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Leonard Godden,   (22)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Terence Griffin,   (24)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Michael Waugh,   (22)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Leslie Walsh,  (19)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Paul Reid,  (17)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Jack Hynes,  (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 James McShane,  (28)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Clifford Houghton,   (23)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Linda Houghton, (23)

nfNIB
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Lee Houghton, (5)

nfNIB
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Robert Houghton,   (2)

nfNIB
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Stephen Whalley,   (18)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Injured in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England. He died 7 February 1974.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Vincent Clarke,   (43)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot outside his garage, Whiterock Gardens, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1978
 Martha McAlpine,  (69)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot from passing van during gun attack on nearby Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) foot patrol, outside Seaview football ground, Shore Road, Skegoneill, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1979


 Patrick Mackin,   (60)

Catholic
Status: ex-Prison Officer (xPO),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot together with his wife, at their home, Oldpark Road, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1979


 Violet Mackin,  (58)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot together with her husband, a former Prison Officer, at their home, Oldpark Road, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1992


 Patrick Loughran,  (61)

Catholic
Status: Civilian Political Activist (CivPA),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Sinn Fein (SF) member. Shot by off duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) member at Sinn Fein (SF) Advice Centre, Sevastopol Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1992


 Patrick McBride,  (40)

Catholic
Status: Civilian Political Activist (CivPA),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Sinn Fein (SF) member. Shot by off duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) member at Sinn Fein (SF) Advice Centre, Sevastopol Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1992


 Michael O’Dwyer,  (24)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot by off duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) member at Sinn Fein (SF) Advice Centre, Sevastopol Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

—————————————————————————

 

 

M62 Coach Bombing – 12 People including two children slaughtered by the IRA

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

The M62 coach bombing happened on 4 February 1974 on the M62 motorway in northern England, when a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb exploded in a coach carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel and their family members.

Twelve people (nine soldiers, three civilians) were killed by the bomb, which consisted of 25 pounds (11 kg) of high explosive hidden in a luggage locker on the coach. Judith Ward was convicted of the crime later in 1974, but 18 years later the conviction was judged as wrongful and she was released from prison.

The Bombing

The coach had been specially commissioned to carry British Army and Royal Air Force personnel on leave with their families from and to the bases at Catterick and Darlington during a period of railway strike action. The vehicle had departed from Manchester and was making good progress along the motorway. Shortly after midnight, when the bus was between junction 26 and 27, near Oakwell Hall, there was a large explosion on board. Most of those aboard were sleeping at the time. The blast, which could be heard several miles away, reduced the coach to a “tangle of twisted metal” and threw body parts up to 250 yards (230 m).

The explosion killed eleven people outright and wounded over fifty others , one of whom died four days later. Amongst the dead were nine soldiers – two from the Royal Artillery, three from the Royal Corps of Signals and four from the 2nd battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Royal Fusiliers Regiment.svg
The Capbadge of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

One of the latter was Corporal Clifford Haughton, whose entire family, consisting of his wife Linda and his sons Lee (5) and Robert (2), also died. Numerous others suffered severe injuries, including a six-year-old boy, who was badly burned.

The driver of the coach, Roland Handley, was injured by flying glass, but was hailed as a hero for bringing the coach safely to a halt. Handley died, aged 76, after a short illness, in January 2011.

Suspicions immediately fell upon the IRA, which was in the midst of an armed campaign in Britain involving numerous operations, later including the Guildford Pub Bomb and the Birmingham pub bombings.

Birmingham pub bombings

Reaction

Memorial plaque at Hartshead Moor services

Reactions in Britain were furious, with senior politicians from all parties calling for immediate action against the perpetrators and the IRA in general. The British media were equally condemnatory; according to The Guardian, it was:

“the worst IRA outrage on the British mainland” at that time, whilst the BBC has described it as “one of the IRA’s worst mainland terror attacks”.

The Irish Sunday Business Post later described it as the “worst” of the “awful atrocities perpetrated by the IRA” during this period.

IRA Army Council member Dáithí Ó Conaill was challenged over the bombing and the death of civilians during an interview, and replied that the coach was bombed because IRA intelligence indicated that it was carrying military personnel only.

The attack’s most lasting consequence was the adoption of much stricter ‘anti-terrorism‘ laws in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, allowing police to hold those ‘suspected of terrorism’ for up to seven days without charge, and to deport those ‘suspected of terrorism’ in Britain or the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland to face trial, where special courts judged with separate rules on ‘terrorism‘ suspects.

The entrance hall of the westbound section of the Hartshead Moor service area was used as a first aid station for those wounded in the blast. A memorial to those who were killed was later created there. following a campaign by relatives of the dead, a larger memorial was later erected, set some yards away from the entrance hall.

The site, situated behind four flag poles, includes an English oak tree, a memorial stone, a memorial plaque and a raised marble tablet inscribed with the names of those who died.

A memorial plaque engraved with the names of the casualties was also unveiled in Oldham in 2010.

M62 coach bombing

—————————————————————————

Victims

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Leonard Godden,   (22)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Terence Griffin,   (24)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Michael Waugh,   (22)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Leslie Walsh,  (19)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Paul Reid,  (17)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 Jack Hynes,  (19)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974
 James McShane,  (28)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Clifford Houghton,   (23)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Linda Houghton, (23)

nfNIB
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Lee Houghton, (5)

nfNIB
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Robert Houghton,   (2)

nfNIB
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England.

—————————————————————————

04 February 1974


 Stephen Whalley,   (18)

nfNIB
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Injured in time bomb attack on British Army (BA) coach travelling along M62 motorway, Yorkshire, England. He died 7 February 1974.

—————————————————————————

See: Palace Barracks Memorial Garden

04 February 1974

Prosecution

Second memorial at Hartshead Moor services

Following the explosion, the British public and politicians from all three major parties called for “swift justice”. The ensuing police investigation led by Detective Chief Superintendent George Oldfield was rushed, careless and ultimately forged, resulting in the arrest of the mentally ill Judith Ward who claimed to have conducted a string of bombings in Britain in 1973 and 1974 and to have married and had a baby with two separate IRA members. Despite her retraction of these claims, the lack of any corroborating evidence against her, and serious gaps in her testimony – which was frequently rambling, incoherent and “improbable”  – she was wrongfully convicted in November 1974. Following her conviction, the Irish Republican Publicity Bureau issued a statement:

Miss Ward was not a member of Óglaigh na hÉireann and was not used in any capacity by the organisation. She had nothing to do what-so-ever with the military coach bomb (on 4 February 1974), the bombing of Euston Station and the attack on Latimer Military College. Those acts were authorised operations carried out by units of the Irish Republican Army.

The case against her was almost completely based on inaccurate scientific evidence using the Griess test and deliberate manipulation of her confession by some members of the investigating team. The case was similar to those of the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six and the Maguire Seven, which occurred at the same time and involved similar forged confessions and inaccurate scientific analysis. Ward was finally released in 1992, when three Appeal Court judges held unanimously that her conviction was “a grave miscarriage of justice”, and that it had been “secured by ambush

See: Guildford Pub Bomb

See: Birmingham Pub Bombings

3rd February – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

3rd February

———————————–

Monday 3 February 1969

Terence O’Neill, then Northern Ireland Prime Minister, announced the dissolution of the Stormont parliament and the holding of an election on 24 February 1969.

[This was a political gamble by O’Neill in an attempt to strenghten the hand of of those in favour of reform.]

Wednesday 3 February 1971

There were a series of house searches by the British Army (BA) in Catholic areas of Belfast. Serious rioting and gun battles took place during the searches.

Thursday 3 February 1972

[Public Records 1972 – Released 1 January 2003:

Annex to British Cabinet Minutes which recorded the discussion of the aftermath of the killings on 30 January 1972 (‘Bloody Sunday’)

Saturday 3 February 1973

A Catholic civilian was shot dead by Loyalists at his cafe in York Street, Belfast.

A member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

Two Loyalists were detained, and then subsequently interned (5 February 1973), because of their alleged involvement in the killing of an innocent Catholic man.

Following their arrest a crowd of approximately 2,000 marched in protest to the Castlereagh Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) station to demand the release of the two men.

Tuesday 3 February 1976

The Constitutional Convention was reconvened in an attempt to reach agreement on a constitutional arrangement for Northern Ireland. A series of inter-party talks were held over the next three weeks and these were chaired by Robert Lowry.

Thursday 3 February 1977

Joseph Morrissey (52), a Catholic civilian, was found stabbed and with his throat cut on the Glencairn Road, Belfast. Members of he Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang known as the ‘Shankill Butchers’ were responsible for the killing.

 See The Shankill Butchers

Sunday 3 February 1985

Garret FitzGerald, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), said that the proposed meeting between John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) would be used by Republicans for propaganda purposes. Charles Haughey, then leader of Fianna Fáil (FF), supported Hume.

Sunday 3 February 1991

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out a ‘proxy bomb’ attack on a Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) base in Magherafelt, County Derry.

A man, who was employed by a company that carried out work for the security forces, was forced to drive his van containing a bomb, estimated at 500 pounds, into the UDR base. He managed to get away from the vehicle before the bomb exploded. The bomb caused extensive damage to the UDR base and also damaged approximately 50 nearby houses.

proxy bomb
Coshquin Proxy Bomb

 

 

See Coshquin Proxy Bomb

Wednesday 3 February 1993

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out two bomb attacks in London. The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) held a meeting in London and decided to issue invitations to the political parties to attend bilateral talks.

Thursday 3 February 1994

Mark Sweeney (31), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), on the outskirts of Newtownards, County Down.

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) carried out a gun attack in west Belfast on a minibus used by relatives of Republican prisoners. The driver of the minibus and a woman passerby were both injured in the attack.

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a small Semtex bomb outside the home of an Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Assistant Chief Constable in Derry.

On his return to Ireland from the United States of America (USA) Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), was confronted in Dublin airport by a protest by victims of IRA violence. Adams said that he thought this was “the final phase” of the conflict.

Thursday 2 February 1995

Results from the 1993 Labour Force Survey showed that Catholics remained twice as likely to be unemployed as Protestants.

Monday 3 February 1997

It was reported in the Irish Times that Members of Parliament (MP) from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) had met representatives of the British Foreign Office to complain about the frequency of visits by Mary Robinson, then President of the Republic of Ireland, to Northern Ireland. They also expressed concerns about breaches of protocol and distinctions between ‘official’ and ‘private’ visits.

Tuesday 3 February 1998

David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), published his reply to a letter from Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), requesting a meeting between the two parties.

In his reply, in the form of a statement to the Irish Times (a Republic of Ireland newspaper), Trimble set out a number of conditions for meeting with Adams.

Wednesday 3 February 1999

There were disturbances in Prortadown, County Armagh, when approximately two hundred loyalists clashed with Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers.

The Belfast Telegraph (a Belfast based newspaper) contained a report that the North Ulster Unit of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) had brought new weapons into Northern Ireland. The report also claimed that the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) had also obtained new weapons.

Jerry McCabe

 

 

At the trial of four men for the murder of Jerry McCabe, who was a Detective in the Garda Síochána (the Irish police), the charges were changed from capital murder to manslaughter, to which the four men pleaded guilty. There was widespread criticism at the development from politicians, Gardaí, and members of the public.

Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), said the men would not benefit from early release under the Good Friday Agreement.

Saturday 3 February 2001

There was a pipe-bomb attack on a public house in the village of Whitehead, County Antrim. Customers escaped injury after the device failed to explode when it was thrown through a window.

A pipe-bomb explosion in north Belfast came close to killing an entire family. Two parents and their three children escaped around midnight when a fire caused by the explosion gutted their house in the New Lodge area of north Belfast. The attack was carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.

Sunday 3 February 2002

The was a ‘Bloody Sunday’ commemoration march in Derry to mark the 30th anniversary of the events in the city on 30 January 1972. British Army paratroopers shot dead 13 people and injured another 14 during a civil rights march in what became known as Bloody Sunday.

An estimated 30,000 people took part in the march through the Creggan and the Bogside areas of the city to a rally at ‘Free Derry Corner’. There were representatives from the main nationalist political parties, and people had travelled from throughout Ireland, Britain, and America to take part.

Up to 400 members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) from different cities in the United States of America (USA) also took part in the march. Representatives from political parties in Northern Ireland were present at the World Economic Forum in New York, USA. During a discussion session Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), said that he did not want to force Unionists into a united Ireland without their consent.

See Bloody Sunday

—————————————————————————

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.

7 People   lost their lives on the 3rd  February  between  1973 – 1994

  —————————————————————————

03 February 1973


 Alfredo Fusco,   (56)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot at his cafe, York Road, Belfast.

 —————————————————————————

03 February 1973


 James Sloan,   (19)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot from passing car while standing outside Lynch’s Bar, corner of Antrim Road and New Lodge Road, Belfast

 —————————————————————————

03 February 1977


 Joseph Morrissey,   (52)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Abducted while walking along Donegall Street, Belfast. Found stabbed to death a short time later, near the community centre, off Forthriver Road, Glencairn, Belfast.

 —————————————————————————

03 February 1978
 Bernard Brown,   (50)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
From Northern Ireland. Died 5 days after being shot, during armed robbery at supermarket, Killygordon, County Donegal.

 —————————————————————————

03 February 1986


 John Earley,   (21)

Catholic
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in remote controlled bomb attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) foot patrol, Belcoo, County Fermanagh

 —————————————————————————

03 February 1992
 Gordon Hamill,   (42)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot as he delivered bread to supermarket, Newell Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone

 —————————————————————————

03 February 1994


 Mark Sweeney,   (31)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Taxi driver. Found shot in his car, Ballyreagh Road, Newtownards, County Down

 —————————————————————————

 

2nd February – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

2nd February

———————————————–

Wednesday 2 February 1972

British Embassy Destroyed

The funerals of 11 of the dead of ‘Bloody Sunday’ (30 January 1972) took place in the Creggan area of Derry. Tens of thousands attended the funeral including clergy, politicians from North and South, and thousands of friends and neighbours.

Throughout the rest of Ireland prayer services were held to coincide with the time of the funerals. In Dublin over 90 per cent of workers stopped work in respect of those who had died, and approximately 30,000 – 100,000 people turned out to march to the British Embassy.

They carried 13 coffins and black flags. Later a crowd attacked the Embassy with stones and bottles, then petrol bombs, and the building was burnt to the ground

See Bloody Sunday

Friday 2 February 1973

A Protestant civilian, James Greer (21), was shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at his workplace in Belfast.

A Catholic civilian, Patrick Brady (28), was found dead having been shot by Loyalists in Belfast. A member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Belfast. There was serious rioting in Protestant areas of east Belfast.

 

Wednesday 2 February 1977

Jeffrey Agate (59), then Managing Director of the American Du Pont factory in Derry was shot dead by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) outside his home at Talbot Park, Derry.

[This killing marked the beginning of a series of attacks on businessmen. There were further killings on 2 March 1977 and 14 March 1977.]

Saturday 2 February 1991

An interview with Garret FitzGerald, former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), was published in the Irish Independent (a Republic of Ireland newspaper). Fitzgerald said that he had considered holding a referendum on Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish constitution at the time of the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA).

Tuesday 2 February 1993

Eugene Martin (28), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) at his home in Ballyronan, County Derry. Two incendiary bombs were planted outside the homes of two Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillors. The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was responsible for the attacks.

[These attacks followed an UDA statement on 12 January 1993.]

Wednesday 2 February 1994

Before leaving New York Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), said he would not disappoint those who had “stuck their neck out” to secure his visa. Douglas Hurd, then British Foreign Secretary, speaking in the House of Commons described Adams as a “failed politician”.

Thursday 2 February 1995

Results from the 1993 Labour Force Survey showed that Catholics remained twice as likely to be unemployed as Protestants.

Sunday 2 February 1997

A march was held in Derry to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’. The march attracted an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people.

Sean O’Callaghan

 

 

Sean O’Callaghan, an Irish Republican Army (IRA) informer, claimed in Fortnight magazine that Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), had in the past suggested killing John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

See Dead Man Walking

[The claims were widely reported in national and international media. SF said the claims were “rubbish”.]

Tuesday 2 February 1999

John Lockington (Dr) was elected as the new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church. Lockington was a long-standing member of the Orange Order and he said that he would not participate in joint worship with Catholics.

Friday 2 February 2001

Components for 11 pipe-bombs were uncovered in Larne, County Antrim, following a planned search of derelict houses in the predominantly Protestant Antiville estate. The discovery was described as a “manufacturing base” in the town that was the scene of numerous sectarian attacks in previous months.

Saturday 2 February 2002

David Trimble (UUP), then First Minister, and Mark Durkan (SDLP), then Deputy First Minister, travelled to the United States of America (USA) at the beginning of a week long visit.

[During their stay the two men attended the World Economic Forum in New York on 3 February 2002. They also opened, on 6 February 2002, the Northern Ireland Bureau which was established to promote Northern Ireland in the USA. There was some criticism at home of the cost of the office.]

In a pre-recorded interview for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Martin McGuinness, then Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), denied that he had fired the first shot during Bloody Sunday (30 January 1972). He described the allegations as a “Plan B” on the part of the British Military Establishment: “Everybody knows that every single person shot on that day was an innocent marcher. So they now move to plan B, and plan B is – if you can’t blame the people who were killed on the day try to blame Martin McGuinness.”

[McGuinness had given a written statement to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry stating that he was second in command of the (Provisional) Irish Republican Army (IRA) at the time of Bloody Sunday.]

[A man (32) was abducted from west Belfast and taken with a hood over his head to an unknown location where he was was stripped, threatened and questioned. He was released at 5.00am on Sunday 3 February 2002, but his car was burnt and destroyed. It was assumed that he had been abducted by Republican paramilitaries. Details of the incident were released by police on 7 February 2002.]

 

—————————————————————————

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 2nd February  between  1972 – 1993

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1972


 Thomas McElroy,   (29)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by sniper from Henry Taggart British Army (BA) base, while in Divismore Park, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1972
 Louis O’Neill,  (49)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed in bomb attack on Imperial Bar, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1973


 James Greer,  (21)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot at his workplace, paint store, off Springfield Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1973


 Patrick Brady,  (28)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot in abandoned car, Maurice Street, off Springfield Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1973


 Robert Burns,   (18)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot from passing car while standing outside shop, Oldpark Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1977


 Jeffrey Agate,   (59)

nfNI
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Originally from England. Manager of Du Pont factory. Shot outside his home, Talbot Park, Derry.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1980
 William McAteer,   (40)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot while walking along Rugby Avenue, off Ormeau Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1983


 Eugene McMonagle,   (24)

Catholic
Status: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by undercover British Army (BA) member during altercation, Leafair Park, Shantallow, Derry.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1992


 Padraig O Cleirigh,  (52)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot at his home, Rosemount Gardens, off Antrim Road, Belfast.

  —————————————————————————

02 February 1993


 Eugene Martin,   (28)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at his home, Guassen Villas, Ballyronan, County Derry.

  —————————————————————————

31st January – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

31st January

——————————————

Monday 31 January 1972

Reginald Maudling, then British Home Secretary, made a statement to the House of Commons on the events of ‘Bloody Sunday’ (30 January 1972) :

“The Army returned the fire directed at them with aimed shots and inflicted a number of casualties on those who were attacking them with firearms and with bombs”.

Maudling then went on to announce an Inquiry into the circumstances of the march. [ Bloody Sunday. ]

Wednesday 31 January 1973

Philip Rafferty

 

 

A Catholic boy, Philip Rafferty (14), was abducted and killed by Loyalists in Belfast. A young Catholic man, Gabriel Savage (17), was shot dead by Loyalists in Belfast.

Thursday 31 January 1974

Two Catholic civilians were shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a covername used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), as they worked in Rush Park, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

Ulster Workers’ Council Strike; Law Order

Thursday 31 January 1980

 Hunger Strike.

Tuesday 31 January 1984

     

Two Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were killed in an Irish Republican Army (IRA) land mine attack on their armoured patrol car, near Forkhill, County Armagh.

Thursday 31 January 1991

There was a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin. Following the meeting Peter Brooke, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said that political talks were “a possibility, not a probability”.

Saturday 31 January 1998

The Loyalist picket of the Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena, continued. The picket first began in September 1996.

Sunday 31 January 1999

Paddy Fox, a former Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoner and a critic of the Sinn Féin leadership’s involvement in the Good Friday Agreement, was abducted early on Sunday morning from outside a hotel in Monaghan, Republic of Ireland. Fox was beaten before being released later the same day.

The Ulster rugby team won a decisive victory over the French team, Colomiers, in the European Cup. The game was played in Lansdowne Road in Dublin and an estimated 30,000 Ulster supporters travelled south for the match.

Monday 31 January 2000

lee glegg

Lee Clegg, then a Paratrooper in the British Army, had his conviction for shooting Martin Peake overturned by the Court of Appeal in Belfast.

See Lee Clegg

[Martin Peake (17) and Karen Reilly (18), both Catholic civilians, were shot dead by British Army paratroopers in Belfast on 30 September 1990. The two teenagers were travelling (‘joy riding’) in a stolen car at the time of the shooting.]

Wednesday 31 January 2001

A Catholic worker at the Wishing Well Family Centre on the predominantly Protestant Alliance Road, Belfast, escaped injury when a pipe-bomb was hurled through her car window. The attack was carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.

At around the same time the RUC received two bomb warnings in the nearby Nationalist Ardoyne area,

Thursday 31 January 2002

Barrie Bradbury, a Loyalist from Lurgan, County Armagh, was told he could join a personal protection scheme. Bradbury had survived several attempts on his life that were believed to have been carried out by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).

Bradbury had initially been told by the Secretary of State that he would not receive protective measures. Bradbury undertook a judicial review in Belfast High Court but the case was adjourned once the court was informed of the reversal of the earlier decision.

Mark Durkan, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), led a delegation of his party to Dublin, Republic of Ireland, for a meeting with Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).

One of the items discussed was the disagreements between Nuala O’Loan, then Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI), and Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), over the handling of the Investigation of the Omagh bombing (15 August 1998).

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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.

12 People   lost their lives on the 31st  January  between  1973 – 1989

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31 January 1973


 Philip Rafferty,  (14)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot in car park, Giant’s Ring, off Ballynahatty Road, near Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast.

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31 January 1973
 Gabriel Savage,  (17)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot on grass verge by M1 motorway, near Donegall Road, Belfast.

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31 January 1974


 Terence McCafferty,  (37)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on workers’ hut at Northern Ireland Electricity Service building site, Rush Park, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

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31 January 1974


 James McCloskey,  (29)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot during gun attack on workers’ hut at Northern Ireland Electricity Service building site, Rush Park, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

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31 January 1975

George Coulter,   (43)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) mobile patrol, Donaghmore Road, near Dungannon, County Tyrone.

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31 January 1976


 Hugh Woodside,  (60)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during altercation between British Army (BA) patrol and local people in Long Bar, Shankill Road, Belfast.

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31 January 1977
 James Moorehead,  (30)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found beaten to death, Adela Street, off Antrim Road, Belfast. Ulster Defence Association (UDA) / Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) feud.

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31 January 1984


 Willam Savage,  (27)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) armoured patrol car, Drumintee Road, near Forkhill, County Armagh.

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31 January 1984


 Thomas Bingham,   (29)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) armoured patrol car, Drumintee Road, near Forkhill, County Armagh

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31 January 1986


 Martin Quinn,   (34)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at his home, Bawnmore Park, Greencastle, Belfast.

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31 January 1987


 Mary McGlinchey,  (32)

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

Killed by: not known (nk)
Wife of former Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) leader Dominic McGlinchey. Shot at her home, Slieve Foy Park, Dundalk, County Louth

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31 January 1989
 Nicholas Peacock,   (20)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb, hidden in drainpipe, while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Rockmore Street, Falls, Belfast.

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