7th September
Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
Sunday 7 September 1975
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) shot dead one of their members near Templepatrick, County Antrim, alleging that the had been an informer.
Friday 7 September 1979
James Molyneaux succeeded Harry West and became the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). [Molyneaux was to remain as leader of the UUP until 28 August 1995.]
Monday 7 September 1981
Two Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were killed in a landmine attack carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on their mobile patrol near Cappagh, County Tyrone. John Pickering, then an Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoner, joined the hunger strike. [ 1981 Hunger Strike.]
Wednesday 7 September 1983
A referendum was held in the Republic of Ireland on whether or not to include an amendment to the Irish Constitution banning abortion. When the counting was completed 66.9 per cent had voted in favour of the ‘pro-life’ amendment. A number of Unionists in Northern Ireland criticised the outcome as demonstrating the sectarian nature of life in the Republic.
Friday 7 September 1984
A member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) and a Protestant civilian were killed in an Irish Republican Army (IRA) attack in County Tyrone.
Monday 7 September 1987
John Cushnahan, then leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) announced that he was to resign as party leader.
Thursday 7 September 1989
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) shot and killed Heidi Hazell, the German wife of a British Army soldier serving in Dortmund, West Germany.
Wednesday 7 September 1994
Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, addressed a group of Orange Order member in Comber, County Down. Mayhew is reported to have told the group that there was no reason why north-south bodies could not have executive powers. Al Gore, then United States Vice-President, had a meeting with Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), at Shannon Airport, Republic of Ireland.
Monday 7 September 1998
“real” IRA Announce Ceasefire The “real” Irish Republican Army (rIRA) announced a “complete cessation” of its campaign of violence.
[The announcement came after weeks of intense pressure on the group in the wake of the Omagh bombing. The only remaining Republican grouping that had not called a ceasefire was the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA).]
Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), called on the CIRA to state its position or face the full rigours of the law. A Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer was critically injured when a blast bomb was thrown at him as he policed an Orange Order / ‘Loyalist Right to March’ demonstration at Drumcree, County Armagh. Two Catholic-owned businesses were also destroyed in petrol bomb attacks.
Friday 7 September 2001
Loyalists held a silent protest as Catholic children and parents passed along a security cordon to get to the Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School. The decision on a silent protest was as a mark of respect for Thomas McDonald (16) the Protestant boy killed in Belfast on Tuesday (4 September 2001) who was due to be buried later in the day.
Catholic parents held a minute’s silence before beginning their walk to the school. Inside the school grounds prayers involving clergymen from both denominations were said.
[This was the fifth day in the current round of protest at the school which first began on 19 June 2001.]
During the evening two men were found in the Nationalist New Lodge area of Belfast with gunshot wounds following a Republican paramilitary ‘punishment’ attack. One had been shot in both ankles, the other had been shot in both wrists and both ankles. The men, one aged 18 years and the other aged 19 years, had been abducted by a gang of up to 15 men on Thursday evening.
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.
16 People lost their lives on the 7th September between 1972 – 1993
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07 September 1972
Robert McKinnie, (49)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during street disturbances while driving his car along Matchett Street, Shankill, Belfast.
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07 September 1972
Robert Johnston, (50)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during street disturbances, Berlin Street, Shankill, Belfast.
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07 September 1973
Mathew Lilley, (54)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while collecting milk from farm, near Belcoo, County Fermanagh.
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07 September 1974
Mary Bingham, (58)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot during sniper attack on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
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07 September 1975
Robert McCreight, (21)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found shot at farm, Lylehill, near Templepatrick, County Antrim. Alleged informer.
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07 September 1977
John Lawlor, (38) nfNIRI
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot while in Timmon’s Bar, Watling Street, Dublin. Alleged informer.
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07 September 1981
Mark Evans, (20)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) mobile patrol, Sessadonaghy, near Cappagh, County Tyrone.
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07 September 1981
Stuart Montgomery, (19)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in land mine attack on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) mobile patrol, Sessadonaghy, near Cappagh, County Tyrone.
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07 September 1984
Robert Bennett, (45)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at his workplace, a timber yard, Ballygawley Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
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07 September 1984
Malcolm Cullen, (23)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot at his workplace, a timber yard, Ballygawley Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone. With off duty Ulster Defence Regiment member at the time.
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07 September 1988
William Quee, (32)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Irish People’s Liberation Organisation (IPLO)
Shot at his shop, junction of Century Street and Oldpark Road, Belfast.
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07 September 1989
Heidi Hazell, (26) nfNIE
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
German woman married to British Army (BA) member. Shot while sitting in stationary car outside British Army (BA) married quarters, Unna Messen, Dortmund, West Germany
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07 September 1990
Emmanuel Shields, (34)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot at his home, Deramore Street, Ballynafeigh, Belfast.
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07 September 1992
Charles Fox, (63)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by:
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at his home, Listamlat Road, near Moy, County Armagh.
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07 September 1992
Teresa Fox, (53)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at her home, Listamlat Road, near Moy, County Armagh.
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07 September 1993
Sean Hughes, (40)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot at his hairdresser’s shop, Donegall Road, Falls, Belfast
Main source CAIN Web Service
- 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: 8th September
Belfast Child 