State Violence and Collusion Timeline 1975
Events related to state violence and collusion in Northern Ireland in 1975.
Contents
January
- 10 - IRA member John Francis Green shot dead at a house near Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan. In 1999, former RUC officer John Weir convicted of killing William Strathearn claimed Robin Jackson, Robert McConnell and Harris Boyle were involved in the Green killing. In 1981, Fred Holroyd claimed that Robert Nairac had given given him graphic details of the killing shortly afterwards.[1] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
February
- 10 - Two men are killed in a UVF submachine-gun attack on Hayden's Bar in Gortavale, Co. Tyrone. A July 1993 Sunday Independent report links Robin Jackson to the attack.[3] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
April
- 21 - Three people are killed in a boobytrap bomb attack on a cottage at Killyliss Co. Tyrone. The attack was claimed by the Protestant Action Force, a cover-name for the UVF.[4] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the bombing to the Glennane Gang.[2]
- 27 - Three men are killed in a UVF gun attack on a darts club near Bleary, Portadown, Co. Armagh. A July 1993, Sunday Independent article linked Robin Jackson to the attack.[5] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
May
- 15 - Internal Ministry of Defence letter warns that RUC may have concealed criminal records of applicants to facilitate recruitment into the Ulster Defence Regiment.[6]
July
- 27 - UVF figure Billy Hanna is shot dead. Although no group claimed responsibility, he is believed to have been killed by the UVF.[7]
- 31 - Miami Showband Massacre - Members of the Miami Showband are stopped at a fake military checkpoint by a UVF gang. Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville, members of the UDR as well as the UVF are killed when a bomb they attempt to load on the band's van explodes prematurely. The gang then opens fire on the band killing Tony Geraghty, Brian McCoy and Fran O'Toole.[8].[9][10] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2] A 2011 report by the Historical Enquiries Team linked a weapon used in the killing to Robin Jackson.[8]
August
- 1 - UVF open fire on a minibus travelling from Banbridge to Bleary. Seven people are injured. Joseph Toland is killed and John Marks later dies of his injuries.[11] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
- 21 - RUC Detective Inspector Harold Colgan interviews William Thomas Leonard about the murder of the Devlins the year before. Leonard admits involvement.[12]
- 22 - UVF gun and bomb attack on McGleenan's Bar in Armagh leads to three deaths.[13] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
- 24 - Two men are shot dead by the UVF at a fake military checkpoint at Cortamlaght, Newtownhamilton, Co. Armagh.[14] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the killings to the Glennane Gang.[2]
September
- UVF gun and bomb attack on McCann's Bar, Ballyhegan. One woman, Margaret Hale, dies of her injuries on 22 September.[15] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
October
- Peter and Jennie McKearney are shot dead by a UVF gang at their home outside Moy Co. Tyrone.[16] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
December
- 19 - Three people are killed in a gun and bomb attack on Donnelly's Bar, Silverbridge, which is claimed by the Red Hand Commando.[17] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the attack to the Glennane Gang.[2]
- 26 - UVF bomb attack on Vallely's Bar, Ardress. One man, subsequently dies of his injuries and three others are hurt.[18] The Pat Finucane Centre has linked the bombing to the Glennane Gang.[2]
Notes
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.511.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Collusion in the south Armagh - mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's, Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.517.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.537.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.536.
- ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.67.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.554.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Miami Showband massacre: HET raises collusion concerns, BBC News, 14 December 2011.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, pp.555-558.
- ↑ Miami Showband, Pat Finucane Centre, accessed 19 June 2012.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.558.
- ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.64.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.565.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.565.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.579.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, pp.588-589
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, pp.604-605.
- ↑ David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, p.606.
