Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
16th March
Saturday 16 March 1974
Two British soldiers were shot dead by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
Tuesday 16 March 1976
Harold Wilson, then British Prime Minister, announced that he was resigning as leader of the Labour Party and thus as Prime Minister. [On 5 April 1976 James Callaghan succeeded Wilson.]
Friday 16 March 1979 Bennett Report
(Cmnd 7497)
The committee headed by the English judge Harry Bennett, which was set up to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of people held in interrogation centres in Northern Ireland, published its report (Bennett Report, Cmnd 7497).
The report found that there were instances where there was medical evidence of injuries sustained in police custody which were not self-inflicted.
[The report made a number of suggestions and the Labour government undertook to implement two major recommendations. The first that closed-circuit television cameras should be installed in interview rooms and the second that those being detained should have access to their solicitor after 48 hours in custody.
When the Conservative Party came to power in May 1979 the new government implemented most of the remaining recommendations in the report.]
Wednesday 16 March 1988
Milltown Cemetery Killings
During the funerals, at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast, for the three Irish Republican Army (IRA) members killed in Gibraltar (6 March 1988) a Loyalist gunman, Michael Stone, launched a grenade and gun attack on mourners.
Three people were killed and 50 injured. The whole episode was recorded by television news cameras. The police and the army had withdrawn to avoid any confrontation with the mourners. Stone was chased to a nearby motorway were he was attacked by a number of mourners. The police arrived in time to save his life.
[The main loyalist paramilitary groups denied any involvement with Stone. One of those killed, Kevin Brady, was a member of the IRA.]
See Michael Stone
See: Operation Flavius
A Catholic civilian died eight months after being shot in Belfast.
Tuesday 16 March 1993
John Major, then British Prime Minister, said that his government would not bring forward legislation to allow for devolved government in Scotland or Wales.
Wednesday 16 March 1994
John Wheeler, then NIO Security Minister, turned down a request from the Bloody Sunday Justice Group for a new inquiry into the killings in Derry on 30 January 1972.
[A new Inquiry was eventually announced on 29 January 1998.]
Thursday 16 March 1995
A small bomb containing Semtex explosives partially exploded while being defused by British Army technical officers in Newry, County Down.
[The Irish Republican Army (IRA) later denied responsibility for the device.]
Sunday 16 March 1997
There were reports that a compromise had been reached over the disputed 12 July Orange Order parade in Dromore, County Tyrone. The Orange Order denied that a compromise had been achieved.
An article in the Sunday Post carried claims by a former member of the Parachute Regiment of the British Army that on ‘Bloody Sunday’ (30 January 1972) some of his fellow soldiers had deliberately killed unarmed civilians.
John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), called on the British government to investigate this new evidence
Tuesday 16 March 1999
Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), announced that David Phillips, then Chief Constable of Kent, had been asked to oversee the investigation into the murder of Rosemary Nelson. He also invited the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist.
[Both these moves were viewed as an attempt to try to counter calls by Nationalists for an independent international inquiry into the events surrounding the death of Nelson. Although the FBI initially became involved in the case it later withdrew.]
See Rosemary Nelson
Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), who was in Washington, said the relationship between Irish Republican Army (IRA) decommissioning and the setting up of the Northern Executive was the one remaining difficulty. He indicated to the leader of the political parties in Northern Ireland that he expected them to meet the 2 April 1998 deadline for the implementation of institutions set out in the Good Friday Agreement.
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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.
12 People lost their lives on the 16th March between 1972 – 1989
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16 March 1972
Carmel Knox, (20)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed when bomb exploded in public toilet, Market Street, Lurgan, County Armagh
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16 March 1973
William Kenny, (28)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Abducted while driving his car, Halliday’s Road, New Lodge, Belfast. Found shot a short time later in entry off Edlingham Street, New Lodge, Belfast.
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16 March 1974
Roy Bedford, (22)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by snipers, while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Moybane, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
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16 March 1974
Philip James, (22)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by snipers, while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Moybane, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
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16 March 1975
Mildred Harrison, (26)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Killed during bomb explosion while on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) foot patrol passing Ormeau Arms Bar, High Street, Bangor, County Down
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16 March 1977
Alexander Watters, (62)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: not known (nk)
Shot while cycling along road between Tobermore and Draperstown, County Derry.
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16 March 1983
William Miller, (26)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),
Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot while travelling in stolen car, Elmwood Avenue, off University Road, Belfast
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16 March 1988
Kevin Mulligan, (27)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Died eight months after being shot at his workplace, a garage, Lord Street, off Albertbridge Road, Belfast. Injured on 17 July 1987.
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16 March 1988
Caoimhin MacBradaigh, (30)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed in grenade and gun attack on mourners at the funeral of three Irish Republican Army (IRA) members killed at Gibraltar, Milltown Cemetery, Falls, Belfast.
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16 March 1988
Thomas McErlean, (20)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed in grenade and gun attack on mourners at the funeral of three Irish Republican Army (IRA) members killed at Gibraltar, Milltown Cemetery, Falls, Belfast.
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16 March 1988
John Murray, (26)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed in grenade and gun attack on mourners at the funeral of three Irish Republican Army (IRA) members killed at Gibraltar, Milltown Cemetery, Falls, Belfast.
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16 March 1989
John Irvine , (49)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot at his home, Skegoneill Avenue, Skegoneill, Belfast.
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Belfast Child 