Difference between revisions of "State Violence and Collusion Timeline 1972"

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==January==
 
==January==
 
*'''7''' In a memo addressed to the [[General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland|General Officer Commanding British Forces]], Lt. Gen. Sir [[Harry Tuzo]], and headed 'The situation in Londonderry as at 7th January 1972', the [[Commander Land Forces (Northern Ireland)|Commander of Land Forces]] in the North, General [[Robert Ford]], wrote "I am coming to the conclusion that the minimum force necessary to achieve a restoration of law and order is to shoot selected ring leaders among the DYH [Derry Young Hooligans], after clear warnings have been issued… In other words, we would be reverting to the methods of IS found successful on many occasions overseas."<ref name="McCann25years">Eamonn McCann, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/sep/19/bloodysunday.northernireland Bloody Sunday truth 'was known 25 years ago'], ''The Guardian'', 19 September 1999.</ref>
 
*'''7''' In a memo addressed to the [[General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland|General Officer Commanding British Forces]], Lt. Gen. Sir [[Harry Tuzo]], and headed 'The situation in Londonderry as at 7th January 1972', the [[Commander Land Forces (Northern Ireland)|Commander of Land Forces]] in the North, General [[Robert Ford]], wrote "I am coming to the conclusion that the minimum force necessary to achieve a restoration of law and order is to shoot selected ring leaders among the DYH [Derry Young Hooligans], after clear warnings have been issued… In other words, we would be reverting to the methods of IS found successful on many occasions overseas."<ref name="McCann25years">Eamonn McCann, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/sep/19/bloodysunday.northernireland Bloody Sunday truth 'was known 25 years ago'], ''The Guardian'', 19 September 1999.</ref>
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 +
*'''18''' - [[Colin Wallace]] commissioned into the [[Ulster Defence Regiment]].<ref>Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.</ref>
  
 
*'''27''' In a paper on 'Marches in 1972', a senior Army planner in the North, Lt Col [[Harry Dalzell-Payne]], tried to 'anticipate some of the problems we may face on Monday 31 Jan 72, if events on Sunday prove our worst fears'. He wrote: 'We must take stronger military measures which will inevitably lead to further accusations of "brutality and ill-treatment of non-violent demonstrators".' The paper concludes: "The only additional measure left for physical control is the use of firearms i.e. "Disperse or we fire". Inevitably, it would not be the gunmen who would be killed but "innocent members of the crowd". This would be tantamount to saying "all else has failed", and for this reason must be rejected except in extremis. It cannot, however, be ruled out. We must await the outcome of the events planned for the weekend of 29/30 Jan 72."<ref name="McCann25years">Eamonn McCann, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/sep/19/bloodysunday.northernireland Bloody Sunday truth 'was known 25 years ago'], ''The Guardian'', 19 September 1999.</ref>
 
*'''27''' In a paper on 'Marches in 1972', a senior Army planner in the North, Lt Col [[Harry Dalzell-Payne]], tried to 'anticipate some of the problems we may face on Monday 31 Jan 72, if events on Sunday prove our worst fears'. He wrote: 'We must take stronger military measures which will inevitably lead to further accusations of "brutality and ill-treatment of non-violent demonstrators".' The paper concludes: "The only additional measure left for physical control is the use of firearms i.e. "Disperse or we fire". Inevitably, it would not be the gunmen who would be killed but "innocent members of the crowd". This would be tantamount to saying "all else has failed", and for this reason must be rejected except in extremis. It cannot, however, be ruled out. We must await the outcome of the events planned for the weekend of 29/30 Jan 72."<ref name="McCann25years">Eamonn McCann, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/sep/19/bloodysunday.northernireland Bloody Sunday truth 'was known 25 years ago'], ''The Guardian'', 19 September 1999.</ref>
  
 
*'''30''' - The [[Bloody Sunday]] massacre took place in Derry when soldiers from the [[Parachute Regiment]] opened fire on a civil rights march. 13 people died on the day, and a 14th, John Johnston, died later as a result of his injuries.<ref>[http://www.museumoffreederry.org/history-bloody-events.html HISTORY – BLOODY SUNDAY – EVENTS OF THE DAY], Museum of Free Derry, accessed 7 April 2011.</ref>
 
*'''30''' - The [[Bloody Sunday]] massacre took place in Derry when soldiers from the [[Parachute Regiment]] opened fire on a civil rights march. 13 people died on the day, and a 14th, John Johnston, died later as a result of his injuries.<ref>[http://www.museumoffreederry.org/history-bloody-events.html HISTORY – BLOODY SUNDAY – EVENTS OF THE DAY], Museum of Free Derry, accessed 7 April 2011.</ref>
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 +
==March==
 +
*'''13''' - [[Harold Wilson]] meets an [[IRA]] delegation in Dublin.<ref>Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.</ref>
 +
*'''24''' - British Government imposes direct rule in Northern Ireland.<ref>Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.</ref>
  
 
==April==
 
==April==
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*'''1''' - . A statement asserting Rooney's innocence is read at local Catholic churches after Lt-Col [[Robin Evelegh]] of the [[Royal Green Jackets]] claimed he was an IRA gunman who had fired at the army.<ref name="Dillon53-55">Martin Dillon, ''The Dirty War'', Arrow Books, 1991, pp.53-55.</ref>
 
*'''1''' - . A statement asserting Rooney's innocence is read at local Catholic churches after Lt-Col [[Robin Evelegh]] of the [[Royal Green Jackets]] claimed he was an IRA gunman who had fired at the army.<ref name="Dillon53-55">Martin Dillon, ''The Dirty War'', Arrow Books, 1991, pp.53-55.</ref>
 
*'''2''' -  the [[Provisional IRA]] attacked the Four Square laundry van on the Twinbrook estate, killing the driver, 21-year-old Sapper [[Ted Stuart]]. His colleague Lance Corporal [[Sarah Jane Warke]] of the Royal Military Police escaped. At the same time, other IRA units attacked two offices linked to the MRF: one above a massage parlour at 397 Antrim Road, and the other at College Square East, but succeeded only in wounding a bystander.<ref>Martin Dillon, ''The Dirty War'', Arrow Books, 1991, p29-32.</ref>
 
*'''2''' -  the [[Provisional IRA]] attacked the Four Square laundry van on the Twinbrook estate, killing the driver, 21-year-old Sapper [[Ted Stuart]]. His colleague Lance Corporal [[Sarah Jane Warke]] of the Royal Military Police escaped. At the same time, other IRA units attacked two offices linked to the MRF: one above a massage parlour at 397 Antrim Road, and the other at College Square East, but succeeded only in wounding a bystander.<ref>Martin Dillon, ''The Dirty War'', Arrow Books, 1991, p29-32.</ref>
 +
*'''4''' - Patrick Connolly killed in a grenade attack on his home in Portadown.<ref>Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.25.</ref>
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*'''14''' - Loyalists steal SLR rifles and ammunition from an Army base in Belfast.<ref>Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.26.</ref>
 +
*'''14''' - [[Ulster Citizens Army]] manifesto issued.<ref>Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.</ref>
 +
*'''23''' - [[UVF]] steal 85 SLR rifles, 21 Submachineguns, ammunition and other equipment from King's Park [[Ulster Defence Regiment|UDR]]/[[TAVR]] base in Lurgan.<ref>Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.26.</ref> John Potter cites the [[11 UDR]] Operations Officer as giving details of the sergeant on duty at the time, which identify him as [[Billy Hanna]]. Potter dates the raid to 20 October and gives a smaller number of weapons taken.<ref>John Potter, ''Testimony to Courage: The History of the Ulster Defence Regiment 1969-1992'', Casemate Publishers, 2008, p.90.</ref>
 +
*'''25''' - Brigadier [[Denis Ormerod]], head of the [[Ulster Defence Regiment]], tells Belfast Rotary Club that membership of the [[Ulster Defence Association]] is not a bar to membership of the [[UDR]].<ref>Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.26.</ref>
 
*'''31''' - First [[Director and Co-ordinator of Intelligence (Northern Ireland)]] appointed.<ref>Christopher Andrew, ''Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5'', Allen Lane, 2009, p.621.</ref> This was presumably [[Frederick Allan Rowley]].<ref name="Fanning040104">Ronan Fanning, [http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/cooperating-on-the-border-against-a-common-enemy-26216331.html Co-operating on the Border against a common enemy], independent.ie, 4 January 2004.</ref>
 
*'''31''' - First [[Director and Co-ordinator of Intelligence (Northern Ireland)]] appointed.<ref>Christopher Andrew, ''Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5'', Allen Lane, 2009, p.621.</ref> This was presumably [[Frederick Allan Rowley]].<ref name="Fanning040104">Ronan Fanning, [http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/cooperating-on-the-border-against-a-common-enemy-26216331.html Co-operating on the Border against a common enemy], independent.ie, 4 January 2004.</ref>
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==November==
 +
*'''24''' - Whitehall briefing on the [[UDA]] states that Army and [[RUC]] are instructed to direct operations  'against their extremist elements whilst making every endeavour to maintain good relations with law-abiding citizens in the organisation.<ref>Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.24.</ref>
  
 
==December==
 
==December==
 
*'''1''' - At 7.58 pm, a car bomb exploded near Liberty Hall, Dublin. There were no fatalities but many people were injured. At 8.15pm a second car bomb exploded at Sackville Place, off O'Connell Street, killing a bus driver George Bradshaw (30) and a bus conductor Tommy Duffy (23). In the wake of the attack, [[Fine Gael]] withdrew their opposition to a bill being debated in the Dáil that evening to amend the Offences Against the State Act to strengthen provisions against the [[Provisional IRA]].<ref>[http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/index2.html DUBLIN BOMBINGS OF 1st DECEMBER 1972], Justice for the Forgotten, accessed 18 June 2012.</ref>
 
*'''1''' - At 7.58 pm, a car bomb exploded near Liberty Hall, Dublin. There were no fatalities but many people were injured. At 8.15pm a second car bomb exploded at Sackville Place, off O'Connell Street, killing a bus driver George Bradshaw (30) and a bus conductor Tommy Duffy (23). In the wake of the attack, [[Fine Gael]] withdrew their opposition to a bill being debated in the Dáil that evening to amend the Offences Against the State Act to strengthen provisions against the [[Provisional IRA]].<ref>[http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/index2.html DUBLIN BOMBINGS OF 1st DECEMBER 1972], Justice for the Forgotten, accessed 18 June 2012.</ref>
 +
*'''7''' - [[Ernie 'Duke' Elliott]] of the [[Ulster Defence Association]] assassinated.<ref>Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.</ref>
 +
*'''20''' - 19-year-old [[Alphonsus McGeown]] shot dead near Loughgall.<ref>Anne Cadwallader, ''Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland'', Mercier Press, 2013, p.29.</ref>
 
*'''28''' - At 10.28pm on Thursday 28th December 1972 the second in a series of three co-ordinated bombs exploded in a red Ford Escort car at Main Street, Belturbet, Co, Cavan. Two young teenagers, Geraldine O'Reilly, aged 15 and Paddy Stanley, aged 16, lost their lives. Eight others were seriously injured. A bomb had previously exploded in a blue Morris 1100 car on Fermanagh Street, Clones, Co. Monaghan at 10.01pm seriously injuring two men. A third bomb exploded outside the licensed premises of Hugh Britton at Mullnagoad, near Pettigo, Co. Donegal, it had been left near the gable wall. No one was injured but the pub was extensively damaged.<ref>[http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/index2.html BELTURBET BOMBING 28th DECEMBER 1972], Justice for the Forgotten, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>
 
*'''28''' - At 10.28pm on Thursday 28th December 1972 the second in a series of three co-ordinated bombs exploded in a red Ford Escort car at Main Street, Belturbet, Co, Cavan. Two young teenagers, Geraldine O'Reilly, aged 15 and Paddy Stanley, aged 16, lost their lives. Eight others were seriously injured. A bomb had previously exploded in a blue Morris 1100 car on Fermanagh Street, Clones, Co. Monaghan at 10.01pm seriously injuring two men. A third bomb exploded outside the licensed premises of Hugh Britton at Mullnagoad, near Pettigo, Co. Donegal, it had been left near the gable wall. No one was injured but the pub was extensively damaged.<ref>[http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/index2.html BELTURBET BOMBING 28th DECEMBER 1972], Justice for the Forgotten, accessed 19 June 2012.</ref>
  

Latest revision as of 01:16, 12 March 2015

Events related to state violence and collusion in Northern Ireland in 1972.

January

  • 7 In a memo addressed to the General Officer Commanding British Forces, Lt. Gen. Sir Harry Tuzo, and headed 'The situation in Londonderry as at 7th January 1972', the Commander of Land Forces in the North, General Robert Ford, wrote "I am coming to the conclusion that the minimum force necessary to achieve a restoration of law and order is to shoot selected ring leaders among the DYH [Derry Young Hooligans], after clear warnings have been issued… In other words, we would be reverting to the methods of IS found successful on many occasions overseas."[1]
  • 27 In a paper on 'Marches in 1972', a senior Army planner in the North, Lt Col Harry Dalzell-Payne, tried to 'anticipate some of the problems we may face on Monday 31 Jan 72, if events on Sunday prove our worst fears'. He wrote: 'We must take stronger military measures which will inevitably lead to further accusations of "brutality and ill-treatment of non-violent demonstrators".' The paper concludes: "The only additional measure left for physical control is the use of firearms i.e. "Disperse or we fire". Inevitably, it would not be the gunmen who would be killed but "innocent members of the crowd". This would be tantamount to saying "all else has failed", and for this reason must be rejected except in extremis. It cannot, however, be ruled out. We must await the outcome of the events planned for the weekend of 29/30 Jan 72."[1]
  • 30 - The Bloody Sunday massacre took place in Derry when soldiers from the Parachute Regiment opened fire on a civil rights march. 13 people died on the day, and a 14th, John Johnston, died later as a result of his injuries.[3]

March

  • 13 - Harold Wilson meets an IRA delegation in Dublin.[4]
  • 24 - British Government imposes direct rule in Northern Ireland.[5]

April

May

June

  • 20 - British Government reprentatives, including an MI6 officer, meet IRA leaders for secret talks near the border in County Derry.[8]
  • 22 - Shots are fired from a civilian car on the Glen Road, wounding two men on the street, and a third, Thomas Gerard Shaw, in the bedroom of a nearby house. It later emerges that Captain James McGregor and Sergeant Clive Graham Williams of the Military Reaction Force are in the car.[9]
  • 26 - IRA ceasefire begins.[10]

July

  • 7 - IRA leaders meet British ministers at home of Paul Channon.[11]
  • 9 - IRA ceasefire breaks down amid a dispute with the British Army over housing of refugee Catholics in Lenadoon, Belfast.[12]
  • 10 - Northern Ireland Secretary William Whitelaw presides over a Stormont meeting which concludes that "The Army should not be inhibited in its campaign by the threat of court proceedings and should therefore be suitably indemnified." It was also decided that "The GOC would see UDA leaders that afternoon and impress upon them that while their efforts as vigilantes in their own areas were acceptable, their presence in any riot or shooting situation would not be tolerated.[13]
  • 12 - Paul Beattie shot dead by the IRA in Portadown. In retaliation, a loyalist gunman attacks McCabe's Bar, killing the owner, Jack McCabe and a customer, William Cochrane. Former RUC officer Ralph Henry is later convicted for the McCabe's Bar attack.[14]
  • 15 - Felix Hughes abducted and killed by loyalists in Portadown.[15]
  • 21 - IRA Bloody Friday bombings in Belfast kill nine people and injure 130.[16]
  • 31 - Nine people killed in republican bombing of Claudy, County Derry. Two people killed during Operation Motorman as British Army removes barricades in Derry.[17]

August

September

  • 27 - Nineteen-year-old Daniel Rooney is killed and 18-year-old Brendan Brennan is wounded by a plain-clothes army patrol in the St James district. Martin Dillon suggests this attack may have been linked to the Military Reaction Force.[7]

October

November

  • 24 - Whitehall briefing on the UDA states that Army and RUC are instructed to direct operations 'against their extremist elements whilst making every endeavour to maintain good relations with law-abiding citizens in the organisation.[29]

December

  • 1 - At 7.58 pm, a car bomb exploded near Liberty Hall, Dublin. There were no fatalities but many people were injured. At 8.15pm a second car bomb exploded at Sackville Place, off O'Connell Street, killing a bus driver George Bradshaw (30) and a bus conductor Tommy Duffy (23). In the wake of the attack, Fine Gael withdrew their opposition to a bill being debated in the Dáil that evening to amend the Offences Against the State Act to strengthen provisions against the Provisional IRA.[30]
  • 7 - Ernie 'Duke' Elliott of the Ulster Defence Association assassinated.[31]
  • 20 - 19-year-old Alphonsus McGeown shot dead near Loughgall.[32]
  • 28 - At 10.28pm on Thursday 28th December 1972 the second in a series of three co-ordinated bombs exploded in a red Ford Escort car at Main Street, Belturbet, Co, Cavan. Two young teenagers, Geraldine O'Reilly, aged 15 and Paddy Stanley, aged 16, lost their lives. Eight others were seriously injured. A bomb had previously exploded in a blue Morris 1100 car on Fermanagh Street, Clones, Co. Monaghan at 10.01pm seriously injuring two men. A third bomb exploded outside the licensed premises of Hugh Britton at Mullnagoad, near Pettigo, Co. Donegal, it had been left near the gable wall. No one was injured but the pub was extensively damaged.[33]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Eamonn McCann, Bloody Sunday truth 'was known 25 years ago', The Guardian, 19 September 1999.
  2. ↑ Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.
  3. ↑ HISTORY – BLOODY SUNDAY – EVENTS OF THE DAY, Museum of Free Derry, accessed 7 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.
  5. ↑ Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.
  6. ↑ McCann Family Press Conference on the HET Report, Cedar Lounge Revolution, 31 January 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Martin Dillon, The Dirty War, Arrow Books, 1991, pp.53-55.
  8. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.20.
  9. ↑ Martin Dillon, The Dirty War, Arrow Books, 1991, p46.
  10. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.20.
  11. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.20.
  12. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.20.
  13. ↑ State Impunity was Official Policy, Relatives for Justice, 18 June 2012.
  14. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, pp.21-23.
  15. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.23.
  16. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.24.
  17. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.24.
  18. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.24.
  19. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.24.
  20. ↑ Martin Dillon, The Dirty War, Arrow Books, 1991, p29-32.
  21. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.25.
  22. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.26.
  23. ↑ Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.
  24. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.26.
  25. ↑ John Potter, Testimony to Courage: The History of the Ulster Defence Regiment 1969-1992, Casemate Publishers, 2008, p.90.
  26. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.26.
  27. ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.621.
  28. ↑ Ronan Fanning, Co-operating on the Border against a common enemy, independent.ie, 4 January 2004.
  29. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.24.
  30. ↑ DUBLIN BOMBINGS OF 1st DECEMBER 1972, Justice for the Forgotten, accessed 18 June 2012.
  31. ↑ Paul Foot, Who Framed Colin Wallace, Pan Books, 1989, p.426.
  32. ↑ Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland, Mercier Press, 2013, p.29.
  33. ↑ BELTURBET BOMBING 28th DECEMBER 1972, Justice for the Forgotten, accessed 19 June 2012.
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