Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
6th January
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Sunday 6 January 1980
Three members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) where killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in a land mine attack near Castlewellan, County Down.
[These deaths brought the ‘official’ death toll, as compiled by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), to over 2,000. RUC figures do not count those killed outside of Northern Ireland.]
Thursday 6 January 1994
The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), injured a Catholic man (21) in a gun attack in west Belfast.
Monday 6 January 1997
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out a ‘rocket’ attack at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast injuring a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer in the leg.
A man was shot in the leg in a ‘punishment’ attack in West Belfast.
[It was claimed by some people that this shooting was carried out by the Official IRA.]
Tuesday 6 January 1998
A large car bomb was defused in the centre of Banbridge, County Down.
[The bomb, estimated at 500 pounds, was planted by the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA).]
A Catholic man was shot and injured in the Meadows Tavern bar, Boucher Road, Belfast. It was believed that he had been shot by Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD) which is considered to be a cover name (pseudonym) for the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Wednesday 6 January 1999
A man was injured in Magherafelt, County Derry, in a blast-bomb attack carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.
A man was injured in a Loyalist gun attack in Bangor, County Down. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) argued over the implementation of the pre-Christmas arrangement on government departments and North-South bodies. The UUP wanted the Northern Ireland Assembly to “take note” of the agreement, whereas the SDLP wanted the two parties to approve and accept it.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) published a New Year Message in ‘An Phoblacht / Republican News’ in which they said that the Good Friday Agreement had failed to deliver meaningful change and that Unionists were pursuing conditions that had contributed to the breakdown of the 1994 ceasefire.
[Unionists regarded the statement as a threat by the IRA to end its ceasefire.]
Thursday 6 January 2000
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a new year statement in An Phoblact / Republican News. The statement warned that any move on decommissioning would depend on a dramatic reduction in the British military presence in Northern Ireland.
Saturday 6 January 2001
The body of George Legge (37), a former senior member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), was found dumped in a field at Clontonacally Road in Carryduff, County Antrim. Police said that he had been badly beaten before being stabbed to death.
[It was believed that the UDA was responsible for the killing which was part of an internal UDA dispute. There was media speculation that Legge had been involved in drugs and had fallen out of favour with the UDA. He had been drinking in a public house, the ‘Bunch of Grapes’ in east Belfast, and it is thought that he was first attacked there. There was a malicious fire at the rear of the pub shortly after the discovery of Legge’s body. The Irish Times (a Dublin based newspaper) reported that Legge had been decapitated.]
Sunday 6 January 2002
Loyalist paramilitaries carried out a pipe-bomb attack on the home of a prison officer in Westway Park, Ballygomartin, Belfast, at approximately 10.00pm (2200GMT). The officer’s wife and four year old daughter needed hospital treatment for shrapnel wounds, cuts, and shock. The bomb had been thrown through the living room window of the house. The Red Hand Defenders (RHD) said it was responsible for the attack.
[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).] The RHD said the attack was in response to alleged harassment of Loyalist prisoners including Johnny Adair and Gary Smyth in Magheraberry jail, County Antrim.
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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.
6 People lost their lives on the 6th January between 1980 – 2001
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06 January 1980
Robert Smyth, (18)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) mobile patrol, Burren Bridge, near Castlewellan, County Down.
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06 January 1980
James Cochrane, (21)
Catholic
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) mobile patrol, Burren Bridge, near Castlewellan, County Down.
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06 January 1980
Richard Wilson, (21)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) mobile patrol, Burren Bridge, near Castlewellan, County Down.
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06 January 1983
Eric Brown, (41)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while sitting in stationary Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) civilian-type car, Bridge street, Rostrevor, County Down.
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06 January 1983
Brian Quinn, (23)
Catholic
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while sitting in stationary Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) civilian-type car, Bridge street, Rostrevor, County Down.
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06 January 2001
George Legge, (37)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Found beaten and stabbed to death, off Clontonacally Road, near Carryduff, County Down. Internal Ulster Defence Association (UDA) dispute.
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Belfast Child 