Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

25th   September

Monday 25 – Thursday 28 September 1972

A conference was held at Darlington, England on the issue of devolution with power-sharing. The Darlington meeting consisted of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Northern Ireland Labour Party (NILP), the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI), and William Whitelaw, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) refused to attend because of the continuing operation of Internment. Some hard-line Unionists also refused to attend.

[There was no agreement on the shape of any future Northern Ireland government.] Jack Lynch, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), met Edward Heath, then British Prime Minister.

Saturday 25 September 1976

Two members of a Protestant family, James Kyle (61) and Rosaleen Kyle (19), died as a result of a gun attack on their home in Ormonde Park, Finaghy, Belfast. The attack was carried out by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). A Catholic civilian was shot dead by Loyalists in Belfast.

Sunday 25 September 1983

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 Billy Wright’s death was the start of William McKee’s descent into life changing circumstances, that would ultimately lead to the loss of his home, health, career, family and on a number of occasions almost his life, both through murder attempts and finally thoughts of suicide. William tells his story with rare honesty and skill. This is an eye-opening account of what life is really like inside Northern Ireland’s prisons. This is a no-holds-barred account of life as a prison governor.

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Mass Escape From Maze 38 members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) escaped from the maximum security Maze prison near Lisburn. During the escape a Prison Officer was stabbed; he later died from a heart problem. The escape represented the largest breakout in British prison history and a major political embarrassment for the British government.

[Within a few days 19 of the original escapees were recaptured however others remained at large for years or were never returned to prison in Northern Ireland. An inquiry into the escape was established on 26 September 1983. The report of the inquiry was published on 26 January 1984.]

Thursday 25 September 1986

James Molyneaux, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), revealed a leaked Department of the Environment document on proposed changes to government policy on the Irish language and the use of Irish street names.

Friday 25 September 1992

John Major, then British Prime Minister, held a meeting with Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), in London. The two leaders set the 16 November 1992 as the date for the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC).

[As Unionists refused to take part in political talks while the AIIC was operating this date put a limit on the process.]

Saturday 25 September 1993

John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), issued a second joint statement. The statement outlined the Hume-Adams Initiative which “aimed at the creation of a peace process”. The document was believed to have been forwarded to the Irish government.

[The full text of the Hume-Adams Initiative has never been published.]

The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) issued a statement.

Friday 25 September 1998

David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Seamus Mallon, then deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), became involved in a disagreement over the timing of the establishment of a shadow Executive. Mallon stated that the issue of decommissioning had “almost become a soap opera”.

Tuesday 25 September 2001

A man (19) was shot in a paramilitary ‘punishment’ attack in Laburnum Street in Twinbrook, Belfast. The man was taken from his home at 8.15am (08.15BST) by a number of masked men and was shot in both ankles.

During the evening the British Army were called to defuse two pipe-bombs that had been thrown at Catholic homes in Rosapenna Street close to the Ardoyne area of north Belfast. The devices had been thrown over the ‘peace-line’. Component parts for pipe-bombs were discovered during a security force search in Ballysillan Avenue, north Belfast.

There was speculation in the media about the names of the nine ‘independent’ members of the new Policing Board. The official list is expected to be published by John Reid, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in a few days. Iain Duncan Smith, then Conservative Party leader, said that any new war against terrorism must include Northern Ireland. This was his first major speech in London since being elected party leader on 13 September 2001.

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Remembering all innocent victims of the Troubles

Today is the anniversary of the follow  people killed as a results of the conflict in Northern Ireland

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.

  8 People lost their lives on the 25th September  between 1972 – 1988

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25 September 1972
John Barry,   (22) nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died two days after being shot while on British Army (BA) mobile patrol, junction of Cyprus Street and McDonnell Street, Lower Falls, Belfast.

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25 September 1973
Seamus Larkin,   (34)

Catholic
Status: ex-Official Irish Republican Army (xOIRA),

Killed by: Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA)
Found shot in laneway, Flagstaff, near Killeen, County Armagh. Internal OIRA dispute.

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25 September 1974
Kieran McIlroy,  (20)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot shortly after leaving work, Limestone Road, Belfast.

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25 September 1976
Rosaleen Kyle,   (19)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Shot at her home, Ormonde Park, Finaghy, Belfast.

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25 September 1976

James Kyle,  (61)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Shot at his home, Ormonde Park, Finaghy, Belfast. He died 28 October 1976

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25 September 1976
Michael Boothman,   (32)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot while standing outside Wolfe Tone Social Club, Shore Road, Greencastle, Belfast

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25 September 1977
Robert Bloomer,   (29)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Died seven days after being shot outside his home, Brantry, near Eglish, County Tyrone.

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25 September 1988

Stephen McKinney,  (22)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot outside his home, Cabragh, off Loughgall Road, near Armagh.

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This is simply the story of a boy trying to grow up, survive, thrive, have fun & discover himself against a backdrop of events that might best be described as ‘explosive’, captivating & shocking the world for thirty long years.

You can pre-order via https://t.co/eBRpwrw1mr pic.twitter.com/Ctxp1NUD7a

— Belfast Child (@bfchild66) July 23, 2020