Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
17th September
Monday 17 September 1973
Liam Cosgrave, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), and Edward Heath, then British Prime Minister, met at Baldonnell, Co Dublin.
Thursday 17 September 1981
James Prior, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, arrived in Northern Ireland and went to the Maze Prison where he had a three hour meeting with those on hunger strike.
Friday 17 September 1993
Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), travelled to Downing Street, London, for a meeting with John Major, then British Prime Minister. In an interview following the meeting Paisley criticised John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), as being the voice of “pan-Nationalism”.
Monday 17 September 1994
There were clashes between Nationalists and Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers in Ballymurphy, west Belfast.
Wednesday 17 September 1997
The talks delegation of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) entered Stormont, Belfast, flanked by the delegations of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), and the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP). The three parties said that they would not directly engage with Sinn Féin (SF) but would attend plenary sessions. Mary McAleese, then a Pro-Vice Chancellor at Queen’s University of Belfast, secured the Fianna Fáil (FF) nomination for the election for President of the Republic of Ireland. McAleese beat Albert Reynolds, formerly Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), by 62 votes to 48. [McAleese went on to win the Presidential election.]
Monday 17 September 2001
John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), announced that he would stand down as leader of the party. Hume (64), who had been leader of the party since 1979, made the announcement at a media briefing at Stormont. He said he had suffered from serious health problems and would be cutting down on his workload. It is thought he will officially stand down at the annual conference of the party scheduled for November 2001.
[Hume stepped down as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) at Stormont, also on health reasons, on 4 December 2000. He is currently a Member of Parliament (MP) and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).]
The Loyalist protest at the Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School week began its third week.
John Reid, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, wrote to the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Sinn Féin (SF), to ask the parties to nominate members to the proposed new Policing Board. Only the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) has so far indicated that it is willing to support the new Board.
A case was heard at Belfast High Court into the result of the Westminster election result in the Fermanagh / South Tyrone seat on 7 June 2001. James Cooper, then chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), argued that the rules were breached when a polling station in the village of Garrison, County Fermanagh, remained open for 10 minutes after the official closing time of 10.00pm (22.00BST).
Michelle Gildernew, then a member of Sinn Féin (SF), won the contest by 53 votes.
[Cooper has alleged that a large number of SF members “invaded” the polling station and forced the presiding officer to remain open. The case was resumed on Tuesday after which judgement was reserved to a future date.]
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.
6 People lost their lives on the 17th September between 1971 – 1991
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17 September 1971
Peter Herrington, (28) nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper, while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Brompton Park, Ardoyne, Belfast.
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17 September 1972
Michael Quigley, (19)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during street disturbances, Central Drive, Creggan, Derry.
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17 September 1976
Peter Johnston, (28)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Found shot at his home, Cooldarragh Park, off Cavehill Road, Belfast.
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17 September 1986
Joseph Webb, (28)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Shot at his amusement arcade, Smithfield, Belfast.
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17 September 1987
Steven Megrath, (20)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while in relative’s home, Halliday’s Road, Tiger’s Bay, Belfast.
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17 September 1991
Erik Clarke, (37)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in horizontal mortar attack on British Army (BA) / Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) mobile patrol, Swatragh, County Derry.
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