Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
8th November
——————————————————————————-
Friday 8 November 1968
Londonderry Corporation agreed to a Nationalist request to introduce a points system in the allocation of public sector housing.
Friday 8 November 1974
The Protestant Action Group (PAG), which was a covername for the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), claimed responsibility for the killing of a Catholic in Belfast. A member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was shot dead by the British Army in Belfast.
Thursday 8 November 1979
Two Catholic civilians were shot dead by Loyalists paramilitaries while they walked along Thompson Street, Belfast.
A Protestant civilian was shot dead by Republican paramilitaries at his workplace in the Short Strand, Belfast.
Tuesday 8 November 1983
Adrian Carroll (24), a Catholic civilian and brother of an Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) member who had been killed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in December 1982, was himself shot dead by the ‘Protestant Action Force’ (PAF).
[The PAF was a cover name used by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). On 2 July 1986 four members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) were convicted and sentenced for the killing. Three of the ‘UDR Four’ were released on 29 July 1992 when their convictions were quashed.]
Saturday 8 November 1986
The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a covername used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), planted four bombs in the centre of Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
8 November 1987 Enniskillen
See Enniskillen Bomb
Bombing (Remembrance Day Bombing) During the annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, a bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded at the War Memorial killing 11 people and injuring another 63, many seriously. Among the dead were three married couples: Wesley and Bertha Armstrong; Kit and Jessie Johnston; and William and Agnes Mullan. The others killed were: Edward Armstrong, Samuel Gault, John Megaw, Georgina Quinton, and Marie Wilson. One of the injured, Ronnie Hill, went into a coma a few days after the explosion and died 13 years later on 28 December 2000. Gordon Wilson was injured in the explosion and was with his daughter Marie when she died. Gordon Wilson gave a moving account of his daughter’s death in media interviews but stated that he forgave her killers. [Gordon Wilson’s quiet dignity had a profound effect on many people in Northern Ireland. He was later involved with initiatives to improve community relations in Enniskillen and eventually was appointed to the Senate in the Republic of Ireland. Gordon Wilson died on 27 June 1995 aged 68.]
Friday 8 November 1991
The Equal Opportunities Unit of the Northern Ireland Civil Service produced a report containing information on the religious composition of the Civil Service. The report showed that 57 per cent of civil servants were Protestant, 36 per cent Catholic, and the rest were born outside Northern Ireland. The report also indicated that 21 per cent of senior posts were held by Catholics.
Wednesday 8 November 1995
The act of parliament which returned remission of sentence for paramilitary prisoners from 33 per cent to 50 per cent became law. [Following the change in the law 83 prisoners were released on 17 November 1995. The new rules did not apply to life sentences.] The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) published a statement which it had wanted both the British and Irish governments to issue. The statement had been given to John Major, then British Prime Minister, in mid-October 1995. The statement contained the suggestion of asking George Mitchell, a former American Senator, to lead an international body to advise on the issue of paramilitary weapons. [The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) rejected the proposals contained in the SDLP statement. Mitchell was asked to do this on 28 November 1995.] John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), called on the British government to urgently hold all-party talks. Sinn Féin (SF) held a rally at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. [The Ulster Hall was traditionally the venue for Unionist rallies.] Neil Blaney (73), the Independent Fianna Fáil (IFF) Teachta Dáil (TD) for Donegal, died.
Friday 8 November 1996
The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) held its annual conference. There was some discussion of the effect the events surrounding Drumcree was having on the party’s level of support. Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), was refused a visa to visit Australia. David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), called Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs), “a cheerleader for a terrorist gang” because he was pressing for the entry of Sinn Féin (SF) into all-party talks.
Saturday 8 November 1997 Robert Kerr (54), formerly a Loyalist paramilitary member, was found dead near Newry, County Down. (??) Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) held its annual conference in Dublin. During the speeches Sinn Féin (SF) was criticised for agreeing to take part in the multi-party talks at Stormont.
Monday 8 November 1999
Relatives of Tom Williams announced that his remains would be buried in the family grave in Milltown Cemetary, Belfast, rather than in the Republican plot in the same cemetery. His remains had been exhumed from Crumlin Road Prison on 21 August 1999. He had been hanged in the prison in 1942. [See 21 August 1999] A delegation from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) held a meeting with Peter Mandelson, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to discuss the Patten report. Stephen McClean and Noel McCready pleaded ‘not guilty’ at the beginning of their trial in Belfast for the murder of Phillip Allen (34) and Damien Trainor (26) on 3 March 1998. The two friends were shot dead while having a drink in a bar in Poyntzpass, County Armagh. At the time the attack was believed to have been carried out by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). Ryan Robley had earlier pleaded guilty to the killings. [David Keys, who was also charged in connection to the attack, was later killed in the UVF wing of the Maze Prison.]
————————————————————
———————————————————————————
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.
23 People lost their lives on the 8th November between 1971 – 1992
————————————————————
08 November 1972
Irwin Long, (29)
Protestant
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while driving his car along Lake Street, Lurgan, County Armagh.
————————————————————
08 November 1973
Francis McCaughey, (33)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Died 11 days after being injured when detonated booby trap bomb on his farm, Carnteel, Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.
————————————————————
08 November 1974
Gerard Fennell, (28)
Catholic
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: British Army (BA)
Shot by sniper from concealed British Army (BA) observation post during attempted hijacking of van, Stewartstown Road, Twinbrook, Belfast.
————————————————————
08 November 1974
Paul Armstrong, (18)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Protestant Action Group (PAG)
Found shot in derelict bakery, Byron Street, Lower Oldpark, Belfast.
————————————————————
08 November 1979
Marius O’Neill, (23)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot while walking along Thompson Street, Short Strand, Belfast.
————————————————————
08 November 1979
Paul McCrory, (22)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Shot while walking along Thompson Street, Short Strand, Belfast.
————————————————————
08 November 1979
Edward McMaster, (57)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Security man. Shot at his workplace, Sirocco Works, Short Strand, Belfast.
————————————————————
08 November 1981
Trevor Foster, (17)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by booby trap bomb attached to his father’s car, outside their home, Lisnadill, near Armagh. His father an Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) member.
————————————————————
08 November 1983
Adrian Carroll, (24)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Shot outside his home, Abbey Street, Armagh.
————————————————————
08 November 1985
Kevin McPolin, (26)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
Shot, while sitting in his stationary car, outside his place of work, Drumbeg Drive, Old Warren, Lisburn, County Antrim.
————————————————————
Enniskillen Remembrance Day Bombing
The Innocent Victims
See Enniskillen Bomb
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Edward Armstrong, (52)
Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Marie Wilson, (20)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Samuel Gault, (49)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Georgina Quinton, (72)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
John Megaw, (68)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Wesley Armstrong, (62)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Bertha Armstrong, (53)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
William Mullan, (72)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Agnes Mullan, (70)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Kit Johnston, (70)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Jessie Johnston, (66)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by time bomb which exploded near war memorial, during Remembrance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
———————————————————
08 November 1987
Ronnie Hill, (68)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Injured when time bomb exploded near war memorial, during Rememberance Day ceremony, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. He died 28 December 2000, after being in a coma since the incident.
———————————————————
08 November 1990
Malachy McIvor, (43)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at his workplace, a garage, North Street, Stewartstown, County Tyrone
———————————————————
See below on how to order a copy of my No.1 Bestselling book: A Belfast Child
Belfast Child 