Tag Archives: Sean McDermott

5th April – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, Major events in The Troubles, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

5th April

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Saturday 5 April 1975

    

Kevin Kane  and Michael Coyle

Two Catholic civilians were killed in a bomb attack on McLaughlin’s Bar in the New Lodge area of Belfast. The attack was claimed by the Protestant Action Force (PAF) a covername used by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

IRA bomb blast wrecks the Mountainview Tavern in Belfast Soldiers view the destruction caused by the blast

Republican paramilitaries carried out a bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast, and killed five people. Four of the dead were Protestant civilians and one was a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

See Mountainview Tavern bomb

Thomas Robinson

A Catholic civilian was shot dead by Loyalists as he walked home in the Ardoyne area of Belfast. Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, said that Loyalist paramilitaries had tried to assassinate him in 1974.

Monday 5 April 1976

James Callaghan succeeded Harold Wilson as the British Prime Minister.

Thursday 5 April 1979

          

Anthony Dykes  and Anthony Thornett

Two British soldiers were shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) while standing outside Andersonstown join Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army base in Belfast.

Sunday 5 April 1981

The 1981 Census

During the census Sinn Féin (SF) campaigned for non completion of the census forms as a demonstration of support for the hunger strike. As a result in many Republican areas the census enumerators were unable to collect completed forms. Indeed one enumerator was shot dead in Derry by Republican paramilitaries on 7 April 1981.

[This led to a large under representation of Catholics in the published figures. The population of Northern Ireland was recorded as 1,481,959 with 28 per cent giving their religion as Catholic. 18.5 per cent of the population had refused to state their religion. Later estimates of the true Catholic population put the figure at 38.5 per cent.]

Monday 5 April 1982

White Paper Published

The British government published its White Paper, ‘Northern Ireland: A Framework for Devolution‘ (Cmnd 8541). The paper set out proposals for the establishment of an elected 78 member Assembly at Stormont. The Assembly would then be asked to reach agreement on how any powers devolved to it from Westminster would be administered. The proposals indicated that it would need the agreement of 70 per cent of Assembly members before powers would be devolved.

It was also envisaged that power would be passed to particular Northern Ireland Departments one at a time; because of this the scheme became known as ‘rolling devolution’.

[The ideas contained in the White Paper had been discussed for some time prior to its publication and most of the political parties had expressed opposition to it.]

Friday 5 April 1985

The British government said that it would not provide the funding to save the ‘town gas’ industry in Northern Ireland.

Thursday 5 April 1990

The report of the Stevens Inquiry was presented to Hugh Annesley, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Sunday 5 April 1992

Bill Clinton gave a speech to the American-Irish Presidential Forum in New York, United States of America (USA). He undertook, if elected President, to: reverse the ban on Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), entering the USA; support the ‘MacBride Principles’; appoint a peace envoy to Northern Ireland; and raise the issue of human rights violations with the British government.

Saturday 5 April 1997

‘Grand National’ Cancelled

Two Catholic chapels, St MacNissi’s in Randalstown and St Comgall’s in Antrim Town, and a Protestant church, St Patrick’s in Donoghmore, were damaged by arson attacks.

Seamus Mallon, deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), blamed the comments made by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), in Portadown on 4 April 1997 for fuelling “sectarian hatred”.

Paisley called Mallon’s comments “vile bile”.

The ‘Grand National’ horse race at Aintree in Liverpool had to be abandoned following a hoax warning that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) had planted a bomb at the race course. [In terms of public interest the Grand National is the premier event in the horse racing calendar. There was widespread anger that the race had to be cancelled.

Jack Straw, then Labour Party shadow Home Secretary, said that the IRA had “put themselves beyond the pale”. This incident was one of a number in which the IRA demonstrated its ability to disrupt the ordinary life of people in Britain at minimum effort and risk on the part of IRA members.]

Sunday 5 April 1998

Julia Ahern, the mother of Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), died aged 87. Bertie Ahern, who was heavily involved with the multi-party talks at Stormont, had to leave the talks at various times to organise funeral arrangements and attend the service.

Friday 5 May 2000

A Catholic couple were forced to leave their home in a Loyalist area of south Belfast following a sectarian pipe-bomb attack. The husband sustained minor leg injuries after the device, which was packed with nails, blew a hole in the back door of the house at Broadway Parade and exploded into the kitchen.

His wife who also was in the kitchen escaped unhurt. The attack was carried out by Loyalist paramilitaries.

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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.

15  People lost their lives on the 5th   April  between 1975– 1993

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05 April 1975
 Kevin Kane,   (18)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Killed in bomb attack on McLaughlin’s Bar, Antrim Road, New Lodge, Belfast.

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05 April 1975
 Michael Coyle,   (20)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Killed in bomb attack on McLaughlin’s Bar, Antrim Road, New Lodge, Belfast

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05 April 1975


 Williams Andrews,  (33)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Association (UDA),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast.

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05 April 1975


 Alan Madden,  (18)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast.

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05 April 1975


 Albert Fletcher,  (32)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast

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05 April 1975
 Nathaniel Adams,   (29)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast.

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05 April 1975


 Joseph Bell,   (52)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Killed in bomb attack on Mountainview Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast

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05 April 1975
 Thomas Robinson,  (61)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot while walking home from social club, Etna Drive, Ardoyne, Belfast.

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05 April 1976
 Robert McConnell,   (32)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR)

, Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot outside his home, Tullyvallen, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh

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05 April 1976
 Sean McDermott,  (20)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),

Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Shot by off duty Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) member shortly after being involved in bomb attack on Conway Hotel, Dunmurry, near Belfast, County Antrim.

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05 April 1977
 Sean Prendergast,  (22)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died one day after being injured during land mine attack on British Army (BA) Armoured Personnel Carrier, Derrynacross, near Belleek, County Fermanagh.

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05 April 1979
 Anthony Dykes,   (25)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by snipers while standing outside Andersonstown Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) / British Army (BA) base, Belfast.

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05 April 1979
 Anthony Thornett,   (20)

nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by snipers while standing outside Andersonstown Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) / British Army (BA) base, Belfast.

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05 April 1987
 Samuel Lawrence, (60)

Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Died two days after being injured during robbery at railway station, York Road,

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05 April 1993
 William Killen,   (36)

Protestant
Status: ex-Ulster Defence Association (xUDA),

Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Shot at his home, Westlea Gardens, Portavogie, County Down. Internal Ulster Defence Association dispute.

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31st August – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles

Deaths in the Troubles, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

31st  of  August

Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles

Tuesday 31 August 1971

An inquiry into allegations of brutality by the security forces against those interned without trial was announced.

[The report of the inquiry, the Compton Report was published on 16 November 1971.]

A British soldier died one day after being mortally wounded in Belfast.

Friday 31 August 1973

Two members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) were shot by British Army soldiers in Ballymurphy, Belfast. [One IRA member died on the day and the other died on 22 September 1973.]

Monday 31 August 1981

Hugh Carville, then an Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoner, joined the hunger strike.

Wednesday 31 August 1988

Sean Dalton and Shelia Lewis, two Catholic civilians were killed by an Irish Republican Army (IRA) booby-trap bomb in the Creggan area of Derry. A third person, Gerard Curran, was injured and died on 31 March 1989. The three had gone to the flat of a neighbour they hadn’t seen for a number of days. Dalton detonated the bomb when he climbed through a window of the flat.

The bomb was intended for members of the security

Wednesday 31 August 1994

IRA Cessation of Military Operations The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement which announced a complete cessation of military activities: “Recognising the potential of the current situation and in order to enhance the democratic process and underlying our definitive commitment to its success, the leadership of the IRA have decided that as of midnight, August 31, there will be a complete cessation of military operations.

All our units have been instructed accordingly.” Following the announcement a cavalcade of cars covered in Irish flags travelled through Catholic west Belfast in apparent celebration. People also attended a rally that was addressed by Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF).

[The British government reacted with scepticism to the announcement on the basis that the statement did not contain the word ‘permanent’. This was to be a feature of the Conservative government’s approach until it was replaced by a Labour government following the election on 1 May 1997. Unionists were also sceptical. Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), warned of ‘civil war’.]

Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), said that he accepted the IRA statement as implying a permanent ceasefire. Sean McDermott (37), a Catholic civilian, was abducted and killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). He was found shot, in his car, off Old Ballynoe Road, near Antrim. Four IRA prisoners were transferred from prisons in England to a prison in Northern Ireland.

Thursday 31 August 1995

Republicans held a number of pickets and vigils across Northern Ireland to mark the first anniversary of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire and also to increase the pressure for all-party talks. Gary McMichael, then leader of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), said that Loyalist paramilitaries would decommission their arms if the Irish Republican Army (IRA) would do the same.

[On 1 September 1995 an IRA spokesperson was reported as ruling out any decommissioning.]

Thursday 31 August 1995

Republicans held a number of pickets and vigils across Northern Ireland to mark the first anniversary of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire and also to increase the pressure for all-party talks. Gary McMichael, then leader of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), said that Loyalist paramilitaries would decommission their arms if the Irish Republican Army (IRA) would do the same.

[On 1 September 1995 an IRA spokesperson was reported as ruling out any decommissioning.]

Sunday 31 August 1997

Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, gave an interview which was published by the Sunday Times. In it he indicated that what was likely to come out of the talks process was a devolved assembly for Northern Ireland together with co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He also said that there would be a referendum on any future agreement. Garry McMichael, then spokesperson for the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), said that he would recommend that the UDP leave the multi-party talks if Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, did not give a “satisfactory definition of consent”. William Ross and William Thompson, then both Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Members of Parliament (MPs), called on their party leader to withdraw from any further involvement in the “squalid” Stormont talks process.

Tuesday 31 August 1999

Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister, resisted Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) demands for a postponement of the review of the Good Friday Agreement. He made it clear to Mr Trimble that he supported the decision by Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, that the IRA ceasefire was still intact. The victims’ group FAIR (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives) called for the collapse of the Good Friday Agreement. The call was made at a conference in Portadown, County Armagh, which was attended by anti-Agreement MPs.

Friday 31 August 2001

Three men from County Louth, Republic of Ireland, were due to appear before Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court in London on charges under Britain’s Terrorism Act (2000). The men had been arrested in Slovakia on 5 July 2001 and were extradited to Britain on 30 August 2001. British Army bomb disposal officers were called to a Catholic school in the Ballysillan area of north Belfast to defuse a pipe-bomb. The 14 member ‘officer board’ of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is expected to hold a meeting to discuss recent political developments and in particular the party’s response to the ‘Patten Report – Updated Implementation Plan 2001’ that was issued on 17 August 2001.

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.

14 People lost their lives on the 31st of  August between 1971 – 1994

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31 August 1971


 Clifford Loring,  (18) nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Died one day after being shot at British Army (BA) Vehicle Check Point (VCP), Stockman’s Lane, Belfast.

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31 August 1972
 Patrick Devenney,  (27)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Body found shot in sack, Rugby Road, Belfast.

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31 August 1972


 Eamon McMahon,   (19)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found tied up and beaten to death in River Bann, Portadown, County Armagh

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31 August 1973


 Patrick Mulvenna,   (19)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA), Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle from concealed British Army (BA) observation post while alighting from car, Ballymurphy Road, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

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31 August 1973


 James Bryson,  (25)

Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA), Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot during gun battle from concealed British Army (BA) observation post while alighting from car, Ballymurphy Road, Ballymurphy, Belfast. He died 22 September 1973.

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31 August 1975
 Joseph Reid,  (46)

Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot at his farm, Farnaloy, near Keady, County Armagh.

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31 August 1977
 William Smith,   (28) nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) mobile patrol, outside Girdwood British Army (BA) base, Antrim Road, Belfast.

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31 August 1980


 Allen Wallace   (49)

Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty reservist. Abducted while driving milk lorry, near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. Found shot, Trainor’s Bridge, near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, on 12 September 1980.

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31 August 1985


 Martin Vance,  (33)

Catholic
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot outside his home, Rocks Chapel Road, Crossgar, County Down.

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31 August 1988
 Sean Dalton,  (55)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb in neighbour’s home, Kildrum Gardens, Creggan, Derry

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31 August 1988
 Sheila Lewis,   (60)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb in neighbour’s home, Kildrum Gardens, Creggan, Derry

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31 August 1988
 Gerard Curran,   (-9)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Injured by booby trap bomb in neighbour’s home, Kildrum Gardens, Creggan, Derry. He died 31 March 1989.

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31 August 1991


 Francis Crawford,  (57)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Take-away delivery driver. Shot when lured to bogus call, Vicinage Court, near Carlisle Circus, Belfast.

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31 August 1994
 Sean McDermott,  (37)

Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),

Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Found shot, in his car, off Old Ballynoe Road, near Antrim.

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Main source CAIN Web Service

See: 1st September