Northern Ireland : Violence in 1969 and emergence of paramilitaries Flashcards
(24 cards)
Increasing tension and Violence in summer of 1969
July: violence broke out in Belfast soon spread to Derry
August: in Belfast, a Loyalist mob attacked nationalist Bombay Street, setting fire to houses.
Seven people killed in the violence and hundreds more injured
What was The Battle of the Bogside
Tensions raised as Taoiseach Jack Lynch moved Irish troops to border.
Violence went on in city for 50 hours.
In end police so exhausted that BG ordered a small number of troops to restore order.
Troops initially welcomed
When was the Battle of the Bogside
August 1969
Why did the Battle of the Bogside occur?
Violence erupted in Londonderry after 12th August Apprentice Boys march. Residents feared another occupation as had happened after Burntollet and had prepared petrol bombs and barricades.
What were the consequences of the violence in 1969
NI PM James Chichester-Clark met with British PM Harold Wilson in London on 19th August.
Outcome of this meeting was the Downing Street Declaration
What were Nationalists told about the Downing Street Declaration
“Every citizen of NI is entitled to the same rights and freedom from discrimination as exists in the rest of the UK irrespective of religion or political view.”
What were Unionists told about the Downing Street Declaration
NI wouldn’t cease to be part of the UK without consent of people of NI
What reforms occurred alongside the Downing Street Declaration
Introduction of one man one vote for local elections
end to gerrymandering
establishment of committee to investigate policing in NI (chaired by Lord Hunt)
Creation of a Tribunal led by Lord Scarman to investigate recent disturbances in NI
Setting up of new housing authority to look after housing functions
Implementation of range of measures aimed at prevention of discrimination in public employment
Creation of a Ministry of Community Relations
What actions designed to improve NI economy were in the Downing Street Declaration
Additional Investment Grants
New work creation schemes costing £3 million
Unionist reaction to the Downing Street Declaration and Reforms
Many members of Unionist community not satisfied by reassurances contained within Downing Street Declaration
Instead focused on what they viewed as more and more concessions to nationalists
Angered by Hunt Report and started rioting in Shankill Road Area of Belfast
What was the Hunt Committee Report recommending?
RUC became an unarmed police force
B specials disbanded and replaced by Ulster defence Regiment (UDR) which would be controlled by British army
Nationalist reaction to the Downing Street Declaration and reforms
More positive
Finally seemed as if reforms sought by NICRA and other groups were within their grasp
What was the Official IRA (OIRA)
Made up of mainly older IRA members
more interested in setting up Irish Republic running along Marxist lines
Still regarded violence as an option until may 1972 when ceasefire was declared
2 years later further division within OIRA with more militant Irish Nationalist Liberation Army (INLA) being set up
What is The Provisional IRA (PIRA)
believed OIRA hadn’t done enough to protect nationalist community during violence of previous summer.
Made up of younger membership
Saw themselves as defender of the minority community within NI
March 1970 issued a statement
What was the PIRA statement objectives
Protection of Catholic population
achievement of civil rights
destruction of NI government
creation of Ireland free from British Imperialism
What was the Falls Road Curfew?
One first military strategies to stop PIRA growing too strong
Curfew took place in early July 1970 and lasted 34 hours.
Was used for house to house searches for weapons and ammunition
How was the Falls Road Curfew a disaster
Only a few explosives, guns and ammunition were uncovered.
The inconvenience caused because of the curfew meant that:
Army + relation with the nationalists were fatally damaged
PIRA membership increased
What was the nationalists initial relations with the Army
initially welcomed army.
Seen as protectors from RUC and Stormont
Why did the Nationalist community have deteriorated relations with the army
Falls road curfew led to distrust of the army. Army didn’t like nationalists as growth in support and member of PIRA increased going from 100 to 800 members
What was the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) belief and aim
Believed ideal future lay in turning back clock to the days of absolute unionist control of NI
Sought to oppose actions of Republican paramilitaries and to ensure NI remained in UK
What was the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) aim
Loyalist paramilitary made to defend loyalist areas from attacks by nationalist paramilitaries such as PIRA
Became very popular and within a year had membership in excess of 30,000 becoming too large to ban
Had cover name for when involved in attacks which was the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) which became outlawed in 1937
When was the UDA established
September 1971
When was the UVF re-emergence
Re-emerged in mid 1960s and had grown in size due to NICRA campaign gaining momentum
Killed 2 catholics in 1966 on separate attacks
What was one reason for the UVF re-emergence
One main reason for groups revival was anger at implications for protestants of O’Neill’s reform programme
