Tag Archives: James Prior

17th September – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

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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13th September – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

13th September

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

Monday 13 September 1971

Two Loyalists, James Finlay (31) and John Thompson (21), were mortally injured when the bomb they were preparing exploded prematurely in a house in Bann Street, Belfast. Finlay died on 21 September 1971, and Thompson died on 12 October 1971.

Monday 13 September 1976

Following the resignation of Brian Faulkner the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland (UPNI) elected Anne Dickson as its new leader.

[Dickson became the first woman to lead a political party in Ireland.]

Tuesday 14 September 1976

‘Blanket Protest’ Began

Kieran Nugent was the first prisoner to be sentenced under the new prison regime introduced on 1 March 1976 which meant that he would not receive special category status. Nugent was sent to the new ‘H-Blocks’ of the Maze Prison where he refused to wear prison clothes choosing instead to wrap a blanket around himself.

[This marked the beginning of the ‘Blanket Protest’. This protest was to culminate in the hunger strikes of 1981 when 10 Republican prisoners died. Eventually many of the elements of special category status such as, no uniforms, free association and no prison work, were conceded to paramilitary prisoners.]

Sunday 13 September 1981

Humphrey Atkins, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, was appointed as deputy Foreign Secretary. James Prior was appointed by the British government to take over the post of Secretary of State. [ 1981 Hunger Strike.]

Tuesday 13 September 1983

James Prior, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, defended the use of evidence supplied by ‘supergrasses’.

Friday 14 September 1990

There was a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) in Dublin.

Friday 13 September 1991

The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), planted two bombs planted in Catholic areas. The devices were defused by the British Army. The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) held a meeting at Stormont in Belfast.

Tuesday 13 September 1994

There were sectarian clashes outside Crumlin Road Courthouse, Belfast, which were connected to a case being heard at the time. Later in the evening there was serious rioting in Loyalist areas of Belfast. Shots were fired, and petrol bombs were thrown, at the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Friday 13 September 1996

British Government Ministers were reportedly warned that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) were ready to launch a renewed bombing campaign in Britain.

Saturday 13 September 1997

The Executive Council of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) held a meeting to decide its position on entering the resumed multi-party talks on 15 September 1997. However the meeting did not arrive at a decision and the matter was postponed to a further meeting on the morning of 15 September 1997. Loyalists held a parade on the Shankill Road with 70 bands taking part. Four members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) appeared during the parade and posed with weapons before slipping away into the crowd.

Monday 13 September 1999

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) executive set up a committee to devise an alternative to the Patten proposals for policing in Northern Ireland. David Trimble, then leader of the UUP, dismissed threats to his leadership and said his party would continue to be involved in the Mitchell Review of the Good Friday Agreement. A survey of public opinion in Northern Ireland found that of those questioned 69 per cent of Catholics approved of the proposals in the Patten report while 65 per cent of Protestants disapproved. The survey was conducted by Ulster Marketing Surveys.

Thursday 13 September 2001

The British Army had to deal with a pipe-bomb that had been discovered found at Carrowdore near Newtownards, County Down. Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers discovered a gun, ammunition, a telescopic sight, and bomb-making parts in a hedge on the Knockagh Road in Monkstown, County Antrim.

The Loyalist protest at the Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School followed the pattern of earlier in the week. The Northern Ireland Assembly met to discuss the motion: “This Assembly condemns the shocking and inhuman acts of terrorism carried out in the United States of America on Tuesday and, on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland, extends its sympathy to the government and people of America and all who have suffered so grievously.” The motion was a joint one submitted by Reg Empey (Sir), then Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Minster of Development and Enterprise, and Seamus Mallon, then Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) deputy First Minister.

Empey and Mallon described the attacks as “shocking and inhuman acts”. The motion was passed unanimously. However, during the debate Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), led his party members out of the chamber when Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), rose to speak. Iain Duncan Smith was elected leader of the Conservative Party. Quentin Davies of the Conservative Party was appointed the new shadow spokesman for Northern Ireland.


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.

  7 People lost their lives on the 13th September  between 1972 – 1993

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13 September 1972


Patrick Doyle,  (19)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Son of publican. Shot in Divis Castle Bar, Springfield Road, Belfast.

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13 September 1972


Robert Warnock,  (18)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot by off duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) member during attempted armed robbery at Hillfoot Bar, Glen Road, Castlereagh, Belfast.

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13 September 1975


Leo Norney,  (17)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot while walking along Shepherd’s Path, near Turf Lodge, Belfast.

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13 September 1977
Robin Smyrl,  (26)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while driving to his workplace, Gortin, County Tyrone.

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13 September 1978
Williams Crawford,  (17)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Died five days after being shot, during gun attack on Lawnbrook Social Club, Centurion Street, Shankill, Belfast. Intention to scare the patrons, after earlier fracas at the social club.

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13 September 1991


Kevin Flood,  (31)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot from passing car while standing outside his home, Ligoniel Road, Ligoniel, Belfast.

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13 September 1993
Vernon Bailie,  (41)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Red Hand Commando (RHC)
Shot outside his girlfriend’s home, Johnston Park, Carrowdore, near Newtownards, County Down


See: 14th September

Main source CAIN Web Service

Major Events in the Troubles