11th September
Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
Thursday 11 September 1975
Harold Wilson, then British Prime Minister, together with Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, held a meeting with Margaret Thatcher, then leader of the Conservative Party, to brief her about a number of matters including Northern Ireland.
[On 3 May 2006 the Irish News (a Belfast based newspaper) published details of confidential cabinet minutes that had been taken at the meeting. The minutes reveal that the British government was aware of collusion between the security forces, particularly the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), and Loyalist paramilitaries.]
Monday 11 September 1989
Further security forces documents, containing details of suspected Irish Republican Army (IRA) members, were reported to have gone missing. Nationalists called for the disbandment of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).
Wednesday 11 September 1996
John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), addressed a joint session of the United States Congress. His address was upbeat and optimistic about the prospects for progress in the all-party talks and also the possibility of a new Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire.
Thursday 11 September 1997
An Phoblacht published an interview with an Irish Republican Army (IRA) spokesperson who said that “the IRA would have problems with sections of the Mitchell Principles”. However, the person said that what Sinn Féin (SF) decided to do “was a matter for them”.
[SF signed up to the Mitchell Principles on 9 September 1997.]
In a referendum in Scotland the electorate voted for a devolved parliament with tax-raising powers.
[The Labour Party policy of conceding devolution was considered by many commentators as an attempt to undermine growing demands for independence for Scotland. Some people believe that independence in Scotland would have implications on the constitutional position of Northern Ireland.]
Friday 11 September 1998
First Paramilitary Prisoners Released Under Agreement The first of the paramilitary prisoners were released from jails in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Seven prisoners, including three Republican and three Loyalist, were released in a programme that was expected to take two years to complete.
Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), told Chris Patten, then chairman of the Commission reviewing the future of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), that major reform of the force was necessary if the force was to become acceptable to both communities in Northern Ireland. Ahern made his comments during a meeting with Patten at Government buildings in Dublin.
Monday 11 September 2000
A family escaped uninjured after a pipe-bomb was thrown at their home on the Ballysally estate in Coleraine, County Derry. The attack was carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.
Tuesday 11 September 2001
Richard Haass, then a United States special envoy, was in Dublin for a meeting with Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), when news of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington were passed to the two men. Richard Haass decided to continue with his meetings in Dublin and then to travel to Belfast for pre-arranged meetings with political leaders in Northern Ireland.
The Loyalist protest at the Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School followed the pattern of yesterday. Loyalist protesters remained silent as Catholic children and parents made their way into the school along a security cordon. However, protesters used air horns (klaxons), blew whistles, and banged metal bin lids, as the Catholic parents made their way back down the Ardoyne Road.
Aidan Troy (Fr), then Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School, together with a local Protestant clergyman, held a meeting with representatives of the Concerned Residents of Upper Ardoyne (CRUA) who were engaged in a protest at the school. The meeting was described as “exploratory”. John Reid, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, held a meeting with representatives of the residents of the Glenbryn estate who were engaged in the protest at the Holy Cross school in Ardoyne, north Belfast. The meeting lasted for 2 hours but residents made no comment after the meeting.
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.
3 People lost their lives on the 11th September between 1976 – 1992
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11 September 1976
Victor Moody, (18)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Found shot in entry off Disraeli Street, Shankill, Belfast. Internal Ulster Defence Association (UDA) dispute.
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11 September 1978
Howard Donaghy, (24)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at the site of his new home, Loughmacrory, near Carrickmore, County Tyrone
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11 September 1992
Michael Macklin, (31)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish People’s Liberation Organisation (IPLO)
Shot outside his home, Whiterock Gardens, Ballymurphy, Belfast. Internal Irish People’s Liberation Oraganisation (IPLO) feud.
Main source CAIN Web Service
Major Events in the Troubles
- The Shankill Butchers – Documentary & BackgroundDuring the 1970s a group of Protestant paramilitaries embarked on a spree of indiscriminate murder which left thirty Northern Irish Catholics dead. Their leader was Lenny Murphy, a fanatical … Continue reading The Shankill Butchers – Documentary & Background
- Sergeant Michael Willetts 13th Aug 1943 – 25th May 1971In memory of Sergeant Michael Willetts , GC & all other members of HM Armed Forces murdered by Irish Terrorists. See below for the full story of this brave … Continue reading Sergeant Michael Willetts 13th Aug 1943 – 25th May 1971
- Bloody Friday Background & Documentary – 21st July 1972.Bloody Friday is the name given to the bombings by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Belfast on 21 July 1972. Twenty-six bombs exploded in the space of … Continue reading Bloody Friday Background & Documentary – 21st July 1972
- Omagh Bombing – The IRA’s Deadliest Massacre of CiviliansOmagh Bombing – The IRA’s Deadliest Massacre of Civilians See real IRA page See 29 people Slaughtered by the Real IRA The Omagh bombing was a deliberate massacre of … Continue reading Omagh Bombing – The IRA’s Deadliest Massacre of Civilians
- The Shankill BombDisclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in these documentary are soley intended to educate and provide background information to those interested in the Troubles of Northern Ireland. They … Continue reading The Shankill Bomb
See 12th Sept
Belfast Child 