Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
13th June
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Sunday 13 June 1971
In defiance of a government ban, members of the Orange Order attempted to march through the mainly Catholic town of Dungiven, County Londonderry.
There was a riot between the marchers and members of the British Army (BA) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
Tuesday 13 June 1972
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) invited William Whitelaw, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to meet them in ‘Free Derry’.
Whitelaw rejected the offer and reaffirmed in a statement the British government’s policy not to “let part of the United Kingdom … default from the rule of law”.
[The offer gave the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) the opportunity to try to arrange talks between the IRA and the British government. These moves took place over the following days.]
Tuesday 13 June 1978
Amnesty International Report
In a report Amnesty International claimed that people held at Castlereagh Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) detention centre on the outskirts of Belfast had been ill-treated. Kenneth Newman, then Chief Constable of the RUC, rejected the claims.
[Later on Roy Mason, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, promised an inquiry into the allegations.]
Saturday 13 June 1981
A booby trap bomb was planted on a car being used by Lord Gardiner during a visit to Belfast. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) attack failed when the bomb fell of the car and failed to explode.
Monday 13 June 1983
At the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Lord Gowrie, and John Patten are replaced by the Earl of Mansfield and Chris Patten.
Friday 13 June 1986
The Loyalist Workers’ Committee ’86 issued a warning to delegates travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the ICTU conference in Belfast to ‘stay at home’
Monday 13 June 1988
Representatives of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin (SF) met for further talks in Belfast.
Tuesday 13 June 1989
Brian Mawhinney, then Minister for Education, announced reforms which would allow financial support for integrated education.
Wednesday 13 June 1990
Terence O’Neill, Lord of the Maine and a former Northern Ireland Prime Minister, died in Hampshire, England.
Friday 13 June 1997
Martin Gavin (21), a Catholic civilian and a member of the travelling community, was viciously attacked by five Loyalists and left for dead.
Gavin was approached by the men who called him a “Fenian bastard” and then savagely beat him, fracturing his skull, before cutting his throat, his head and his hand. Gavin required 50 stitches in his neck and head.
[This sectarian attack was similar in its manner to those that had been carried out by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) ‘Shankill Butchers’ gang during the 1970s. The attack came a few days after the killing, on Wednesday 11 June 1997, of Robert (‘Basher’) Bates who had been a leading member of the ‘Shankill Butchers’.]
See Robert “Basher” Bates – Shankill Butcher
The Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) alleged that two of its members had been “abducted and interrogated” by the (provisional) IRA
Sunday 13 June 1999
Paul “Bull” Downey (37)
was shot dead in Newry, County Down. [It was alleged in the media that Downey was a major drugs dealer and there was also speculation that he had been killed by Republican paramilitaries. Unionists blamed the Irish Republican Army (IRA) for the killing.]
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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.
3 People lost their lives on the 13th June between 1975 – 1999
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13 June 1975
Michelle O’Connor (3)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed by booby trap bomb attached to her father’s car, outside their home, Ava Crescent, Ballynafeigh, Belfast.
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13 June 1980
Michael Wright (25)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Killed in premature bomb explosion at community centre, Highfield Drive, Highfield, Belfast.
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13 June 1999
Paul Downey (37)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Found shot by the side of Carrowmannan Road, near Belleek, County Armagh.
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Belfast Child 