View source for State Violence and Collusion Timeline 1974

Events related to state violence and collusion in Northern Ireland in 1974.

==January==
*'''1''' - Sunningdale power-sharing administration takes office.<ref>Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.427.</ref>
*'''3''' - Director of Public Prosecutions writes to the Chief Constable of the [[RUC]], saying it had been decided not to charge [[Robin Jackson]] with the murder of Patrick Campbell.<ref name="LethalAllies46">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.46.</ref>
*'''6''' - Tommy Toland shot and injured in Lurgan. The [[Ulster Defence Association]] later claimed responsibility.<ref name="LethalAllies52">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.52.</ref>
*'''17''' - Daniel Hughes killed in loyalist attack on Boyle's Bar, Cappagh, County Tyrone. The attack is later claimed by the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]].<ref name="LethalAllies53">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.53.</ref>
*'''19''' - [[SDLP]] leadership narrowly escapes a [[UVF]] bomb attack in Dungannon.<ref name="LethalAllies54">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.54.</ref>

==February==
*'''February undated''' - [[Brian Nelson]] sentenced to imprisonment for seven years for firearms offences, intimidation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.<ref name="DeSilvavol1Ch6">Sir Desmond de Silva, [http://www.patfinucanereview.org/report/volume01/chapter006/ Volume 1 - Chapter 6: The recruitment of Brian Nelson], Pat Finucane Review, 12 December 2012.</ref>
*'''11''' Marian Rafferty and Thomas Mitchell shot and injured in loyalist attack in Moy.<ref name="LethalAllies12">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.12.</ref> [[Stuart Ashton]] and [[Derek McFarland]] admitted involvement in the attack in 1980.<ref name="LethalAllies55">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.55.</ref>
*'''19''' - A [[UVF]] bomb kills two people in a Catholic-owned Traynor's Bar in Aughenlig, Co Armagh. A UVF member was convicted for the attack in 1981. He was also convicted of a February 1974 attack on a courting couple in Charlemont. Two other men were also convicted of the latter attack, both former members of the [[UDR]], and one also a former member of the [[RUC]].<ref>David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, ''Lost Lives'', Mainstream Publishing, pp.423-424.</ref> The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the bombings to the [[Glennane Gang]].<ref name="PFCGlennaneGang>[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/sarmagh/sarmagh.html#samegang Collusion in the south Armagh - mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's], Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>
*'''28''' - Westminster general election - [[United Ulster Unionist Council]] wins 11 of 12 seats, with the [[SDLP]] winning West Belfast.<ref>W.D Flackes & Sydney Elliott, ''Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968-88'', Blackstaff Press, 1989, p.4.</ref>

==March==
*'''5''' - 9 people injured in a [[UVF]] bomb attack on a house in Coalisland. The bombers had kidnapped two men in a bread van and loaded the bomb into it.<ref name="LethalAllies60">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.60.</ref>
*'''13''' - [[Trevor Barnard]] charged in relation to 5 March Coalisland kidnapping.<ref name="LethalAllies60">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.60.</ref>
*'''15''' - [[John Somerville]] and [[Wesley Somerville]] appear in court in relation to 5 March kidnapping.<ref name="LethalAllies60">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.60.</ref>
*'''19''' - [[Robert Fisk]] reports in ''The Times'' that [[SAS]] members are serving undercover in Belfast and Derry.<ref name="LethalAllies61">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.61.</ref>
*'''21''' - [[Ulster Workers Council]] formed.<ref name="LethalAllies61">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.61.</ref>

==April==
*'''4''' [[Merlyn Rees]] announces the end of internment and the deproscription of the [[UVF]] and [[Sinn Féin]].<ref name="LethalAllies61">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.61.</ref>

==May==
*'''7''' - [[SDLP]] members James and Gertrude Devlin are shot dead by a uniformed man near the home at Congo Road, near Edendork, Co Tyrone. A 21-year-old [[UDR]] member, [[William Thomas Leonard]], was later convicted of the murders. The court heard he had driven the gunmen to the scene. A July 1996 ''Sunday Independent'' report linked [[Robin Jackson]] to the killings.<ref>David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, ''Lost Lives'', Mainstream Publishing, p.444.</ref><ref name="LethalAllies64">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.64.</ref> The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the shootings to the [[Glennane Gang]].<ref name="PFCGlennaneGang>[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/sarmagh/sarmagh.html#samegang Collusion in the south Armagh - mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's], Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>
*'''10''' - [[Brendan Hughes]] arrested in raid on a house in Myrtlefield Park, Belfast.<ref name="LethalAllies68">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.68.</ref>
*'''13''' - In the House of Commons, Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]] denounces [[IRA]] 'Doomsday' document recovered at Myrtlefield Park. The British Ambassador in Dublin presents the document to Taoiseach [[Liam Cosgrave]].<ref name="LethalAllies68">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.68.</ref>
*'''14''' - [[Ulster Workers Council]] declares beginning of strike.<ref name="LethalAllies69">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.69.</ref>
*'''15''' - Internal [[Ministry of Defence]] letter warns that [[RUC]] may have concealed criminal records of applicants to facilitate recruitment into the [[Ulster Defence Regiment]].<ref name="LethalAllies67">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.67.</ref>
*'''17''' - Three no-warning car bombs ripped through the heart of Dublin at 5.30 pm. Twenty-six people (including a French and Italian citizen) and an unborn baby lost their lives. Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street were devastated. Ninety minutes later, a fourth car bomb exploded outside Greacen's Pub in North Road, Monaghan town where a further seven people died.<ref>[http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/index2.html THE DUBLIN AND MONAGHAN BOMBINGS], Justice for the Forgotten, 19 June 2012.</ref> The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the bombings to the [[Glennane Gang]].<ref name="PFCGlennaneGang>[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/sarmagh/sarmagh.html#samegang Collusion in the south Armagh - mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's], Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>
*'''19''' - [[Merlyn Rees]] declares state of emergency.<ref name="LethalAllies70">Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.70.</ref>
*'''27''' - [[James Allan|J.N. Allan]] and [[Michael Oatley]] met with the [[UVF]] at [[Laneside]]. Those present included [[Ken Gibson]], [[John Falls]], [[Tom Best]] and [[Stanley Grey]].<ref name="UVFmeeting">[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/declassified/laneside74.pdf Extract from National Archives file CJ4 1147], archived by the Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 4 April 2013.</ref>
*'''28''' - Sunningdale administration collapses and [[Ulster Workers Council strike ends]].<ref>Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.427.</ref>
*'''29''' - A further meeting with the  [[UVF]] at Laneside. [[James Allan|J.N. Allan]] and [[Michael Oatley]] meet [[Ken Gibson]] and [[John Falls]].<ref name="UVFmeeting">
[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/declassified/laneside74.pdf Extract from National Archives file CJ4 1147], archived by the Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 4 April 2013.</ref>

==June==
*'''15''' -  John Patrick Cunningham, a 27-year-old man with a mental disability, was shot dead by British soldiers near his home in Benburb, Tyrone.<ref>Gerry Moriarty, [http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/british-government-apologises-over-shooting-of-mentally-disabled-man-1.1331878 British government apologises over shooting of mentally disabled man], ''Irish Times'', 20 March 2013.</ref>

==October==
*'''27''' - The body is discovered of 18-year-old Anthony Duffy who had been beaten and shot to death by members of the [[UVF]]. Two Portadown men are later convicted of his murder.<ref>David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, ''Lost Lives'', Mainstream Publishing, pp.486-487.</ref> The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the killing to the [[Glennane Gang]].<ref name="PFCGlennaneGang>[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/sarmagh/sarmagh.html#samegang Collusion in the south Armagh - mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's], Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>

==November==
*'''20''' - Patrick Falls is shot dead at his brother's pub at Aughamullen, near [[Coalisland]], Co. Tyrone. A close relative of [[Wesley Somerville]] is convicted of the killing in 1981.<ref>David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, ''Lost Lives'', Mainstream Publishing, p.496.</ref> The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the killing to the [[Glennane Gang]].<ref name="PFCGlennaneGang>[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/sarmagh/sarmagh.html#samegang Collusion in the south Armagh - mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's], Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>
*'''29''' - [[UVF]] bomb attack on Hughes Bar in Newry, Co. Down. One man, John Mallon, dies of his injuries on 15 December. Newspaper reports suggest [[Robin Jackson]] is suspected of a role.<ref>David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, ''Lost Lives'', Mainstream Publishing, p.506.</ref> Another UVF bomb attack on 29 November took place at McArdle's Pub in Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh, owned by a former chairman of the local rural council. one man, Thomas McNamee, died of injuries sustained in the attack a year later.<ref>David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, ''Lost Lives'', Mainstream Publishing, p.595.</ref>  The Pat Finucane Centre has linked both bombings to the [[Glennane Gang]].<ref name="PFCGlennaneGang>[http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/sarmagh/sarmagh.html#samegang Collusion in the south Armagh - mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's], Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>

==December==
*'''27''' - Nineteen-year-old George Hyde, a defendant in the shooting of Patrick Turley, is beaten to death in Long Kesh prison camp, amid allegations he had given information the [[RUC]].<ref>Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.32.</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:State Violence and Collusion Project]][[Category:State Violence and Collusion Timeline]][[Category:Northern Ireland]]