Irish Troubles information Flashcards
To understand the Irish Troubles in North Ireland
What was life like in NI?
Heavy discrimination against Catholic people by Protestants
- Denied housing, discriminatory workplace conditions and hiring policies
- Education segragation
- Unionist Gerrymandering
How did discrimination impact political functions within NI?
Gerrymandering occurred, where electoral boundaries were re-drawn to decide and reduce the voting power of the Catholic people.
What was the Battle of Bogside?
15,000 Apprentice Boys isgnored police warnings and marched through Derry, near a Catholic stronghold.
SOme members and RUC entered the stronghold, causing violence. Catholic people erected barricades and threw stones and Molotov cocktails. The Loyalists threw pennies at the Catholics.
The B-specials were deployed in the evening, which were known to be anti-Catholoic, and bombarded the area with almost 1,100 canisters of tear gas.
What was Operation Demetrius?
Internment, the detention or imprisonment of individuals without trial or due process, occurred at dawn on the 9th of August.
- Houses were raided, with terror tactics being employed
- Used old list of names by MI5 of suspected IRA and paramilitary members
What was the Ballymurphy Massacre?
British Paratroopers were sent to Ballymurphy during Operation Demetrius to arrest suspected IRA volunteers.
- Soldiers opened fire on the building, claiming to be under fire from snipers
- 6 civilians were shot dead
- Catholic priest and Daniel Teggart shot dead going to aid of wounded
- Shot 14 times in the bac
Overall 11 people died.
Why did Bloody Sunday occur?
After a peaceful NICRA march with 20,000 people went off course, some people began throwing stone at soldiers
- Shots were fired at aggressors, and the 1 BN parachute regiment sent armoured vehicles to control the violence
- People were seized and shot with rubber bullets
How many people were injured as part of Bloody Sunday?
27 people shot, 21 soldiers fired 108 rounds.
What was the impact of Bloody Sunday?
Widespread anger in Derry and other places
Widgery report was held, clearing the actions of soldiers and British authorities, but actions ‘bordering on the reckless’
- Families outraged, demanding another report (that occurred after 12 years)
When did Direct Rule occur, and why?
28 March 1972
