Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
2nd February
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Wednesday 2 February 1972
British Embassy Destroyed
The funerals of 11 of the dead of ‘Bloody Sunday’ (30 January 1972) took place in the Creggan area of Derry. Tens of thousands attended the funeral including clergy, politicians from North and South, and thousands of friends and neighbours.
Throughout the rest of Ireland prayer services were held to coincide with the time of the funerals. In Dublin over 90 per cent of workers stopped work in respect of those who had died, and approximately 30,000 – 100,000 people turned out to march to the British Embassy.
They carried 13 coffins and black flags. Later a crowd attacked the Embassy with stones and bottles, then petrol bombs, and the building was burnt to the ground
See Bloody Sunday
Friday 2 February 1973
A Protestant civilian, James Greer (21), was shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at his workplace in Belfast.
A Catholic civilian, Patrick Brady (28), was found dead having been shot by Loyalists in Belfast. A member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Belfast. There was serious rioting in Protestant areas of east Belfast.
Wednesday 2 February 1977
Jeffrey Agate (59), then Managing Director of the American Du Pont factory in Derry was shot dead by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) outside his home at Talbot Park, Derry.
[This killing marked the beginning of a series of attacks on businessmen. There were further killings on 2 March 1977 and 14 March 1977.]
Saturday 2 February 1991
An interview with Garret FitzGerald, former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), was published in the Irish Independent (a Republic of Ireland newspaper). Fitzgerald said that he had considered holding a referendum on Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish constitution at the time of the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA).
Tuesday 2 February 1993
Eugene Martin (28), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) at his home in Ballyronan, County Derry. Two incendiary bombs were planted outside the homes of two Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillors. The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was responsible for the attacks.
[These attacks followed an UDA statement on 12 January 1993.]
Wednesday 2 February 1994
Before leaving New York Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), said he would not disappoint those who had “stuck their neck out” to secure his visa. Douglas Hurd, then British Foreign Secretary, speaking in the House of Commons described Adams as a “failed politician”.
Thursday 2 February 1995
Results from the 1993 Labour Force Survey showed that Catholics remained twice as likely to be unemployed as Protestants.
Sunday 2 February 1997
A march was held in Derry to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’. The march attracted an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people.
Sean O’Callaghan, an Irish Republican Army (IRA) informer, claimed in Fortnight magazine that Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), had in the past suggested killing John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).
See Dead Man Walking
[The claims were widely reported in national and international media. SF said the claims were “rubbish”.]
Tuesday 2 February 1999
John Lockington (Dr) was elected as the new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church. Lockington was a long-standing member of the Orange Order and he said that he would not participate in joint worship with Catholics.
Friday 2 February 2001
Components for 11 pipe-bombs were uncovered in Larne, County Antrim, following a planned search of derelict houses in the predominantly Protestant Antiville estate. The discovery was described as a “manufacturing base” in the town that was the scene of numerous sectarian attacks in previous months.
Saturday 2 February 2002
David Trimble (UUP), then First Minister, and Mark Durkan (SDLP), then Deputy First Minister, travelled to the United States of America (USA) at the beginning of a week long visit.
[During their stay the two men attended the World Economic Forum in New York on 3 February 2002. They also opened, on 6 February 2002, the Northern Ireland Bureau which was established to promote Northern Ireland in the USA. There was some criticism at home of the cost of the office.]
In a pre-recorded interview for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Martin McGuinness, then Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), denied that he had fired the first shot during Bloody Sunday (30 January 1972). He described the allegations as a “Plan B” on the part of the British Military Establishment: “Everybody knows that every single person shot on that day was an innocent marcher. So they now move to plan B, and plan B is – if you can’t blame the people who were killed on the day try to blame Martin McGuinness.”
[McGuinness had given a written statement to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry stating that he was second in command of the (Provisional) Irish Republican Army (IRA) at the time of Bloody Sunday.]
[A man (32) was abducted from west Belfast and taken with a hood over his head to an unknown location where he was was stripped, threatened and questioned. He was released at 5.00am on Sunday 3 February 2002, but his car was burnt and destroyed. It was assumed that he had been abducted by Republican paramilitaries. Details of the incident were released by police on 7 February 2002.]
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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.
10 People lost their lives on the 2nd February between 1972 – 1993
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02 February 1972
Thomas McElroy, (29)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by sniper from Henry Taggart British Army (BA) base, while in Divismore Park, Ballymurphy, Belfast.
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02 February 1972
Louis O’Neill, (49)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Killed in bomb attack on Imperial Bar, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
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02 February 1973
James Greer, (21)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot at his workplace, paint store, off Springfield Road, Belfast.
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02 February 1973
Patrick Brady, (28)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot in abandoned car, Maurice Street, off Springfield Road, Belfast.
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02 February 1973
Robert Burns, (18)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot from passing car while standing outside shop, Oldpark Road, Belfast.
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02 February 1977
Jeffrey Agate, (59)
nfNI
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Originally from England. Manager of Du Pont factory. Shot outside his home, Talbot Park, Derry.
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02 February 1980
William McAteer, (40)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot while walking along Rugby Avenue, off Ormeau Road, Belfast.
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02 February 1983
Eugene McMonagle, (24)
Catholic
Status: Irish National Liberation Army (INLA),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by undercover British Army (BA) member during altercation, Leafair Park, Shantallow, Derry.
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02 February 1992
Padraig O Cleirigh, (52)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot at his home, Rosemount Gardens, off Antrim Road, Belfast.
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02 February 1993
Eugene Martin, (28)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at his home, Guassen Villas, Ballyronan, County Derry.
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Belfast Child 