Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
11th May
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Wednesday 11 May 1977
Day 9 of the UUAC Strike
At Larne, County Antrim, there were a number of ferry sailings to and from the port despite the fact that workers were still on strike.
To mark the death of Harry Bradshaw who had been killed by Loyalist paramilitaries on 10 May 1977, bus services were halted.
However elsewhere the situation appeared to be stabilising with electricity supplies continuing as normal and with apparently fewer street disturbances.
In Donaghdee, County Down the Copelands Hotel was destroyed in a suspicious fire. The incident is alleged to have followed the decision of the owners to stay open during the strike.
Sunday 11 May 1986
Tom King, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, recommended the release of William (Budgie) Allen who had served two years of a 14 year sentence. [Allen had acted as a ‘supergrass’ informer against his former colleagues in the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).]
Friday 11 May 1990
Peter Brooke, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, met with Unionist leaders and agreed that there would be a gap in the meetings of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) to allow talks to begin.
Wednesday 11 May 1994
Following a meeting between representatives of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), the police agreed to erect a 20 feet high wall (peaceline) to separate the Springfield and Springmartin areas of Belfast.
Thursday 11 May 1995
Leaders of Loyalist paramilitary organisations warned that action would be taken against any members who were found to be dealing in drugs.
Tuesday 11 May 1999
At a special meeting of the Law Society members voted to overturn an earlier decision of its ruling council and instead supported a call for independent inquiries into the killings of Pat Finucane, a Belfast solicitor killed on 12 February 1989, and Rosemary Nelson, a Lurgan solicitor killed on 15 March 1999.
See Pat Finucane
See Rosemary Nelson
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), and Martin McGuinness, the Vice-President of SF, travelled to Downing Street, London, for a meeting with Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister.
The Irish government apologised to children who suffered institutional abuse.
Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), said:
“On behalf of the State and all citizens of the State the Government wishes to make a sincere and long overdue apology to the victims of childhood abuse for our failure to intervene, to detect their pain, to come to their rescue.”
The Government also announced that the victims would have an opportunity to have their experiences officially heard in September under a commission to be set up to inquire into the scandal.
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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.
2 People lost their lives on the 11th May between 1972 – 1980
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11 May 1972
John Ballard (18)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Sultan Street, Lower Falls, Belfast
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11 May 1980
Anthony Shields (57)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Found shot, Mounthill, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh. Alleged informer.
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Belfast Child 