Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
9th May
Friday 9 May 1969
Following his release from prison Ian Paisley held a ‘victory’ meeting.
Tuesday 9 May 1972
At approximately 2.00 pm shots were fired at a vehicle in the Kashmir Road area of west Belfast.
[On 1 December 2015 the PSNI listed this shooting as one of nine incidents it was investigating in relation to the activities of the British Army’s Military Reaction Force (MRF).
Friday 9 May 1975
In a statement at Westminster Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, said that recent violence in the region was as a result of feuding between Republican groups and had no connection with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) truce.
Monday 9 May 1977
Day 7 of the UUAC Strike
There were many demonstrations and roadblocks across Northern Ireland in support of the United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) strike. Ian Paisley joined farmers who were blocking the town of Ballymena in the middle of his North Antrim Westminster constituency.
Across Northern Ireland there were a series of similar protests with demonstrations, roadblocks and cavalcades taking place in Belfast, Enniskillen, Larne, Portadown and Newtonards. Uncertainty still surrounded the situation at Ballylumford power station with reports continuing to emerge about meetings involving workers at the plant.
Saturday 9 May 1981
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb at an oil terminal in the Shetland Islands. A quarter of a mile away at that time the Queen was attending a function to mark the official opening of the terminal.
Thursday 9 May 1991
Danny Morrison, formerly publicity director for Sinn Féin (SF), and seven other people were convicted of falsely imprisoning an Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) informer
. [Morrison was later sentenced to eight years in jail.]
Sunday 9 May 1993
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) issued a death threat against politicians in the Republic of Ireland.
Thursday 9 May 1996
Michael Howard, then Home Secretary, agreed to the transfer of Patrick Kelly, an Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoner, from Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland to Portlaoise Prison in the Republic of Ireland.
Friday 9 May 1997
Darren Bradshaw (24), a suspended Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer, was shot dead by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) as he drank with friends in the Parliament Bar in Belfast.
[The Parliament Bar was frequented by members of Belfast’s gay community.]
Saturday 9 May 1998
A dissident Republican paramilitary group carried out a mortar bomb attack (at 11.50pm) on the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) station in Belleek, County Fermanagh. The mortars fell short of their target and one exploded as the RUC were clearing the area. There were no injuries.
[It was unclear whether the “real” Irish Republican Army (rIRA) or the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) had carried out the attack.]
Sunday 9 May 1999
Brendan ‘Speedy’ Fegan (24), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead in a public house in Newry, County Down.
[There were allegations that Fegan had been a drug dealer. There were also reports that Fegan had previously been threatened by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). It was not clear at the time if the IRA was responsible for the killing.]
Houses belonging to Catholic families in Antrim and Armagh were attacked with petrol-bombs. The attacks were carried out by Loyalists.
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), gave an address to the party’s Ard Fheis and stressed his organisation’s aims as emancipation, empowerment and economic liberation.
Tuesday 9 May 2000
Closure of Security Bases
Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), disclosed that five military installations were to close.
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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.
5 People lost their lives on the 9th May between 1979 – 1999
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09 May 1979
Andrew Webster (20)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden in derelict block of flats, while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Norglen Gardens, Turf Lodge, Belfast.
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09 May 1984
Trevor May (28)
Protestant
Status: British Army Territorial Army (TA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Killed by booby trap bomb while travelling in his car shortly after leaving his workplace, Telephone Exchange, Downshire Road, Newry, County Down.
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09 May 1985
Seamus Ruddy (33)
Catholic
Status: ex-Irish National Liberation Army (xINLA),
Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Abducted from his flat, Paris, France. Presumed killed, body never recovered.
See: The Disappeared – Northern Ireland’s Secret Victims
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09 May 1997
Darren Bradshaw (24)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Off duty. Shot while in Parliament Bar, Dunbar Link, Belfast.
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09 May 1999
Brendan Fegan (24)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Shot while in Hermitage Bar, Canal Street, Newry, County Down.
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See: The Disappeared – Northern Ireland’s Secret Victims
Belfast Child 