Internment And Bloody Sunday Flashcards
What was operation demerits
9th august 1971 3000 troops moved into nationalist areas
342 people picked up in a day on suspicions of being apart of the IRA
Why was internment introduced?
Stop and punish IRA bombings
Increased tensions when government refused to hold an inquiry for deaths of 2 people in Derry shot by police.
Because of the 2 dead sdlp withdrew from stormount to protest.
Faulkner was left with little options as Clark resigned over Westminster not giving him more troops for security.
There was also strong unionist pressure to do something as business were being bombed.
Reactions to internet.
More violent, people killed increased by fivefold from the previous 8 months of that year.
Nationalist reactions to internment
IRA support increase at home and abroad
SDLP rent and rates strike
SDLP withdrew from local government
Civil rights marches restarted. Army and protesters clashed 8 days later at Magiligan internment camp, army used batons and CS gas to disperse protesters.
Unionist reactions to internment
The army relied on information from RUC which wasn’t up to date. Out of 2357 arrested 1600 had to be released. Senior members of IRA escaped the net.
UVF bombed McGurks Bar in Belfast in December killing 15.
Loyalist violence erupted
What and when was Bloody Sunday
30th January 1972. Illegal Protest in Londonderry by nationalist community.
Parachute regiment of British army shot at civilians who were unarmed.
Both sides place blame on each other. Army claim shots were fired form buildings at them first and were provoked. Protesters claim they were shot at for no reason.
13 casualties
Riots occurred in the aftermath
Lord widgery inquiry set up.
Nationalist reaction to Bloody Sunday
Outpouring of shock and grief
Anger and hostility towards stormount
Demanded inquiry - widgery and then Saville(2001)
Rioting in nationalist towns like Londonderry and Lurgan
Increase in IRA membership.
British embassy in Dublin was burnt.
Unionist reaction to Bloody Sunday
Initial shock and grief
Belief that victims weren’t innocent
Belief army was provoked
Formation of Ulster vanguard and 70,000 person demonstration in Ormeau park.
