Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
9th June
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Monday 9 June 1980
Charles Haughey, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), argued on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programme Panorama that it was in the best interest of both Britain and Ireland for Britain to withdraw from Northern Ireland.
He indicated that some form of federation could be possible in the event of a British withdrawal.
Thursday 9 June 1983
General Election in UK
In the United Kingdom (UK) General Election the Conservative Party was returned to power with an increased majority. In Northern Ireland the election was contested across the new 17 constituencies.
[When the counting was completed the major news story was the election of Gerry Adams, then Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), in the West Belfast constituency where he beat the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Gerry Fitt and Joe Hendron of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) won 11 seats (with 34% of the vote), the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 3 seats (20.6%), Ulster Popular Unionist Party (UPUP) 1 seat, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 1 seat (17.9%), and SF 1 seat (13.4%).
Unionist candidates therefore took 15 of the 17 seats. Many commentators again speculated on the possibility of SF replacing the SDLP as the main voice of Nationalism in Northern Ireland.
Sunday 9 June 1991
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a large bomb, estimate at 600 pounds, in a Protestant housing estate in Donacloney, County Down.
Wednesday 9 June 1993
The report of the Opsahl Commission, entitled A Citizens’ Inquiry, was published. The Commission had been established as part of Initiative ’92 with the intention of seeking a wide range of views on the future of Northern Ireland
Thursday 9 June 1994
The body of Maurice O’Kane (50) Catholic civilian, was found shot at his workplace, Harland and Wolff shipyard, Harbour Estate, Belfast.
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) claimed responsibility for the killing.
European Elections were held in Northern Ireland
[When the votes were counted a few days later Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), narrowly topped the poll ahead of John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). Jim Nicholson, member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), took the third seat.]
Seán Hick, Paul Hughes, and Donna Maguire, were acquitted in a court in Germany of the murder of a British Army (BA) officer in Dortmund in 1990. Hick and Hughes were released but Maguire was held on other charges.
[On 28 June 1995 Magure was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for the bombing of a BA barracks in Osnabruck, Germany, in 1989. She was later released because of the number of years held on remand.]
Friday 9 June 1995
John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), warned that the freeing of Lee Clegg prior to the release of paramilitary prisoners might damage the peace process. Bruton was in Paris when he made the comments.
[Clegg, a private in the Parachute Regiment, had been given a life sentence for the murder of Karen Reilly (16) on 30 September 1990. He had two appeals turned down. However, Clegg was released from prison on 3 July 1995 having served two years of his sentence.]
See Lee Clegg
Sunday 9 June 1996
Fra Shannon, then a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) ‘GHQ’ faction, was shot dead in west Belfast in a continuing INLA feud.
Monday 9 June 1997
The Independent Commission for Police Complaints published its annual report.
The report showed that the Commission had investigated 2,540 complaints against the police during 1996 of which 12 per cent resulted in disciplinary charges or informal action.
Tuesday 9 June 1998
Sinn Féin (SF) held a press conference to display surveillance equipment, believed to belong to the British Army, found by a farmer from south Armagh on his land.
The equipment was being used to monitor a house and a road junction in the area. Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced the names of two new members of the Parades Commission; William Martin and Barbara Erwin.
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) launched its Assembly election manifesto. David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), said that the UUP would not sit down with “unrepentant terrorists”.
Wednesday 9 June 1999
Fourteen pipe-bombs, and some ammunition, were uncovered by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in the Loyalist Mourneview housing estate in Lurgan, County Armagh.
The weapons were discovered at the rear of a house on the estate after information was received by the RUC from members of the public.
The weapons belonged to Loyalist paramilitaries.
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry admitted that during the autumn of 1998, 73 sets of documents presented to the original Widgery Inquiry had been released to interested parties’ solicitors which included statements by five ex-Paratroopers who were involved in the events but did not open fire.
The statements contained the soldiers’ names, ranks, and army serial numbers.
At the annual General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, ministers argued over the issue of the Orange Order and the Drumcree parade dispute.
See Bloody Sunday
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Remembering all innocent victims of the Troubles
Today is the anniversary of the death of the following people killed as a results of the conflict in Northern Ireland
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die
– Thomas Campbell
To the innocent on the list – Your memory will live forever
– To the Paramilitaries –
There are many things worth living for, a few things worth dying for, but nothing worth killing for.
7 People lost their lives on the 9th June between 1972 – 1996
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09 June 1972
Roy Stanton (27)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot as he left his workplace, Autolite factory, Finaghy Road North, Belfast
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09 June 1974
Michelle Osborne (13)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Killed in premature car bomb explosion in car park of Ballymacaward Kennel Club, Hannahstown, Belfast.
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09 June 1979
Joseph McKee (33)
Catholic
Status: Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot while in shop, Castle Street, Belfast.
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09 June 1979
Peadar McElvanna (24)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle between Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British Army (BA), Keady, County Armagh.
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09 June 1984
James Campbell (33)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while in Pound Loney Social Club, Conway Street, Lower Falls, Belfast. Alleged criminal.
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09 June 1994
Maurice O’Kane (50)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found shot at his workplace, Harland and Wolff shipyard, Harbour Estate, Belfast.
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09 June 1996
Francis Shannon (21)
Catholic
Status: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA),
Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Shot, outside friends home, Norfolk Way, Turf Lodge, Belfast. Internal Irish National Liberation Army dispute
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Belfast Child 