NI Flashcards
14 Aug 69
Troops deployed in Londonderry to support Civil Authority after the Battle of the Bogside where rioting took place as the culmination of longstanding grievances between Londonderry’s Protestant and Catholic communities.
14/8/69 = Deer UFO Jeep
15 Aug 69
Troops deployed in Belfast after nationwide violence is sparked by the Battle of the Bogside.
15/8/69 = Tail UFO Jeep
5 Oct 69
First soldier shot
5/10/69 = Law Toes Jeep
1 Jan 70
Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) officially formed, replacing the B Specials, a quasi-military reserve police force.
1/1/70 = Tie Tie Case
6 Feb 71
First soldier killed, Gnr Robert Curtis
6/2/71 = Shoe Noah Cut
9 Aug 71
Internment introduced giving British authorities the power to imprison people indefinitely without trial. This sparked a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience led by the SDLP.
Overall, the policy increased terrorist activity, boosted IRA recruitment and further polarised the Catholic and Protestant communities.
9/8/71 = Bee UFO Cat
30 Jan 72
Bloody Sunday - 13 people shot by Security Forces in Londonderry. Sparking international outrage and protests across the island of Ireland.
30/1/72 = Mouse Tie Can
24 Mar 72
Stormont prorogued introducing direct rule from Westminster after Brian Faulkner, NI’s leader, refused to allow control of security to be transferred to London.
Nobody expected the doors of Stormont to remain closed for so long by Direct Rule continued for most of the next three decades.
24/3/72 = Nero Ma Can
21 Jul 72
22 IRA bombs explode in Belfast on Bloody Friday, sparking loyalist paramilitaries to toughen their position.
21/7/72 = Net Key Can
28 Jun 73
Elections took place following the UK Gov’s proposal of an NI Assembly elected by proportional representation (i.e. power sharing). The Sunningdale Agreement followed as an attempt to establish a power-sharing executive.
28/6/73 = Knife Shoe Comb
15 May 74
Ulster Workers Council (UWC) strike in opposition to NI Executive. This partly caused the collapse of the Sunningdale agreement following opposition from Unionists who feared it was a slippery slope to reunification with its Council of Ireland bringing together leaders from the south and north.
15/5/74 = Tail Law Car
5 Dec 75
Internment ended
5/12/75 = Law Tin Coal
13 Mar 78
Republican prisoners begin their Dirty Protest in opposition to the removal of their ‘Special Category Status’. This was removed because the British Gov didn’t enjoy the association with political prisoners.
13/3/78 = Dam Ma Cave
27 Aug 79
Lord Mountbatten assassinated and 18 soldiers killed at Warren Point (largest loss of life to Armed Forces at this point)
27/8/79 = Neck UFO Cab
1 Mar 81
Hunger strike by Republican prisoners begins. Its aim is to try and secure political status for prisoners. It secured international attention and put pressure on the British Gov.
1/3/81 = Tie Ma Fat
2 Mar 81
The Dirty Protest ends to focus attention on the hunger strikers
2/3/81 = Noah Ma Fat
5 May 81
Bobby Sands dies after 66 days on hunger strike. Neither side had been willing to compromise in the negotiations. More than 100,000 people attended Sands’ funeral.
5/5/81 = Law Law Fat
3 Oct 81
Hunger strike called off after British Gov signal they are open to reforms once the strike was over. The reforms met many of the prisoners’ demands. 10 hunger strikers have died after seven months. Overall, the strikes demonstrated the power the republican movement had to motivate mass demonstrations.
3/10/81 = Ma Toes Fat
12 Oct 84
IRA bomb explodes at the Grand Hotel, Brighton, killing four. The bomb was aimed at the Conservative party who were holding their conference there.
“Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once – you will have to be lucky always. Give Ireland peace and there will be no war.”
12/10/84 = Tan Toes Fire
15 Nov 85
Anglo Irish Agreement signed by PMs Thatcher and Fitzgerald. It gave the ROI a greater role in NI affairs in an attempt to drain support from Sinn Fein.
Although the text of the Agreement stated that there would be no change in the status of Northern Ireland without the consent of the majority of its citizens, unionists felt hugely betrayed by Margaret Thatcher.
Since Bobby Sands’ election as an MP during his hunger strike, Sinn Fein had recognised the power of pursuing a twin ‘armalite and ballot box’ strategy and had been drawing support from the moderate SDLP.
15/11/85 = Tail Dad Foil
15 Dec 93
Downing Street Declaration signed by PMs Major and Reynolds.
It stressed that self-determination by the people of Northern Ireland was crucial to a lasting peace settlement.
This same principle had also been recognised in a joint-statement by John Hume (SDLP leader) and Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein leader) following their talks in April.
15/12/93 = Tail Tin Bum
13 Oct 94
Cease-fire announced.
A briefing paper, believed to have been circulated amongst IRA members before the ceasefire, stated that “the leadership believes there is enough in common to create a substantial political momentum… It is the first time in 25 years that all the major Irish nationalist parties are rowing in roughly the same direction. These combined circumstances are unlikely to gel again in the foreseeable future.”
Two months later, on 13 October, the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) also announced a ceasefire. It said, “The permanence of our ceasefire will be completely dependent upon the continued cessation of all nationalist/republican violence, the sole responsibility for a return to War lies with them.”
13/10/94 = Dam Toes Beer
9 Feb 96
Cease-fire ends with the Canary Wharf Bomb
John Major’s Conservative government had refused to rule out weapons decommissioning as a precondition to peace talks.
Weeks later, the Provisional IRA bombed the London Docklands area and ended its ceasefire. PIRA had been refusing to decommission its weapons until it had forced the British out of NI.
9/2/96 = Bee Noah Beach
19 Jul 97
Cease-fire 2.0 announced after the newly elected Tony Blair removed decommissioning as a precondition. His landslide victory meant that we wasn’t reliant on Unionist MPs for support, unlike the previous Conservative government.
19/7/97 = Tap Key Back
10 Apr 98
Good Friday Agreement signed.
The main focus of the talks had been on the creation of new political structures. These areas of negotiation were referred to as the ‘three strands’.
Strand One - A new Northern Ireland Assembly with executive and legislative powers.
108 members elected by proportional representation.
Compulsory power-sharing between unionists and nationalists.
Strand Two - A North-South Ministerial Council responsible for cross-border co-operation.
Strand Three - A British-Irish Council and British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference for closer ties between the UK and Ireland.
Paramilitaries
Schemes to facilitate the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons, with a target of disarmament by May 2000.
The early release of prisoners for organisations deemed to be on ceasefire.
Policing
An Independent Commission on Policing, to help create a new police force acceptable to both communities.
Security
‘Normalisation’ of the security presence in Northern Ireland. A gradual withdrawal of the British Armed Forces and removal of military structures.
Rights and Equality
The European Convention on Human Rights to be enshrined in British law.
A new Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, with membership reflecting both communities.
A new Equality Commission, to advise on and monitor obligations relating to equality.
10/4/98 = Toes Ray Beef
15 Aug 98
Omagh bomb kills 39 civilians, the worst terrorist attack in NI to date. It is claimed by RIRA, who’s members had split from PIRA in opposition to the 97 ceasefire.
A few weeks after the bombing, the Real IRA announced a “complete cessation” of its campaign of violence.
15/8/98 = Tail UFO Beef
Sep 98
NI Power Sharing Assembly (devolved power from Westinster). The first time in 25 years that a devolved government sits at Stormont.
9/98 = Bee Beef
15 Mar 99
Solicitor Rosemary Nelson murdered. She had represented high profile republican paramilitary clients.
15/3/99 = Tail Ma Baby
1999
Northern Ireland Assembly formed - devolved power from Westminster
99 = Baby
Jun 00
Some IRA weapons dumps are independently inspected in ROI
6/00 = Shoe Sauce
Jul 00
Final terrorist prisoners released from the Maize prison
7/00 = Key Sauce
3 Aug 01
Ealing bombing by RIRA
3/8/03 = Ma UFO Soda
3 Nov 01
Birmingham bombing by RIRA
3/11/01 = Ma Dad Soda
2001
RUC disbanded and PSNI formed
01 = Soda
2002
Hugh Orde takes over as Chief Constable PSNI
Loyalists have an internal feud
Denis Donaldson arrested at Stormont in connection with a PIRA espionage operation targeting Stormont.
Direct rule re-imposed following a breakdown in relations between the two parties, and following the 2003 Assembly elections, the parties failed to form a government.
02 = Sin
Mar 03
Loyalist feud escalates and two senior Loyalists are murdered. Up to 50 loyalists flee the violence to Scotland.
3/03 = Ma Swim
Jul 03
A RIRA attempt to smuggle a 1,200 lb HME bomb into Londonderry fails when PSNI stop the lorry.
7/03 = Key Swim
26 Nov 03
NI Assembly elections held. The DUP and SF gain a significant proportion of the vote at the expense of the UUP and SDLP
26/11/03 = Nosh Dad Swim
13 Sep 04
Ken Barrett (former SB informer) pleads guilty to the murder of Pat Finucane. Republicans call for an inquiry about possible collusion.
13/9/04 = Dam Bee Sir
31 Jan 05
Robert McCartney murdered in a Belfast bar, allegedly by members of PIRA / Sinn Fein. The Sinn Fein hierarchy called for witnesses and perpetrators to come forward to no avail, demonstrating public division.
31/1/05 = Mat Tie Seal
7 Mar 09
Massereene Barracks shooting - two unarmed soldiers of 38 Engr Reg were shot dead. Two other soliders and two civilian delivery men were also shot and wounded during the attacks. The Real IRA claim responsibility.
7/3/09 = Key Ma Soap
9 Mar 09
Two days after Masserene, PSNI officer Stephen Paul Carroll is shot dead by a sniper in Craigavon, County Armagh. This is the first killing of a police officer in NI since 1998. The Continuity IRA claim responsibility.
9/3/09 = Bee Ma Soap
6 Jan 10
UDA decommissions its weapons in front of independent witnesses
6/1/10 = Shoe Tie Toes
22 Feb 10
RIRA claim responsibility for a car bomb that detonated outside of a courthouse in Newry. The first successful car bomb attack since 2000.
22/2/10 = Nun Noah Toes
12 Apr 10
Devolution completed with the transfer of all police and justice authority to the Northern Ireland Assembly. A bomb is detonated outside of the MI5 building in Belfast. ONH claim responsibility.
12/4/10 = Tin Ray Toes
28 May 10
UVF accused of killing former Red Hand Commando member Bobby Moffett in broad daylight on the Shankill Road, Belfast.
28/5/10 = Navy Law Toes
3 Aug + 4 Oct 10
Two further car bombs are detonated in Londonderry
3/8/10 = Ma UFO Toes
4/10/10 = Ray Toes Toes
2 Apr 11
PC Ronan Kerr killed after a bomb exploded under his car in Omagh. The Real IRA claim responsibility.
2/4/11 = Noah Ray Dad
11 Apr 11
RIRA issue a fresh threat to all PSNI officers and highlight their objection to the Queen’s visit to Ireland.
11/4/11 = Dad Ray Dad
17-20 May 11
Queen Elizabeth visits the Republic of Ireland for the first time.
17-20/5/11 = Duck Nose Law Dad
Jun + Jul 11
Increased rioting during the summer marching season throughout the province.
6+7/11 = Shoe Key Law
27 Jun 12
Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Sinn Fein MLA and former IRA Commander Martin McGuinness
27/6/12 = Neck Shoe Tin
26 Jul 12
The Real IRA announces it is merging with the Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) and other minor independent DR groupings.
26/6/12 = Nosh Shoe Tin
1 Nov 12
Prison Officer David Black is shot and killed on the M1 whilst travelling to work. The Real IRA claim responsibility stating that it was done in retaliation for the treatment given to Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry Prison.
1/11/12 = Tie Dad Tin
4 Dec 12
The Belfast Council votes to only fly the Union Flag on designated days, breaking the tradition since 1906 of flying it every day. Riots continue into 2013 in protest.
4/12/12 = Ray Tin Tin
4 Mar 13
PSNI intercept a van with 4 mortar rockets pre fixed in the back and a false roof. 3 arrests made.
4/3/13 = Ray Ma Dam
17/18 Jun 13
G8 Summit successfully conducted in Enniskillen with no major security scares/
17/18/6/13 = Duck Dove Shoe Dam
18 Apr 14
Tommy Crossan was shot a number of times at a fuel depot off the Springfield Road. He was once a senior figure in the Continuity IRA. It is believed he had been expelled from the group some years ago after falling out with other dissidents.
18/4/14 = Dove Ray Deer
4 Mar 16
Prison Officer Adrian Ismay has a bomb explode under his car, he dies of his wounds 11 days later. The New IRA claim responsibility.
4/3/16 = Ray Ma Dish
Sep 16
Royal Marine Ciaran Maxwell appears in court in relation to creating hides containing explosives, firearms and PSNI uniforms.
9/16 = Bee Dish
Jan 18
Dissident republican paramilitary group, Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH), declares a ceasefire.
1/18 = Tie Dove
Apr 19
Lyra McKee, a journalist, is mistakenly shot dead by RIRA/NIRA while observing rioting in the Creggan area of Londonderry.
Her murder comes days before the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising and triggers a backlash amongst the republican community.
2019 Themes
Dissident republican activity was on the rise with at least eight attacks targeting police between Jan-Sep. This compares to one attack in 2018.
2019 Actors
The New IRA and the Continuity IRA are responsible for increased violence. Both groups are said to want to demonstrate they continue to exist and that they remain capable of violence, partly as a means to attract recruits - not just young individuals, but those from an older generation.
New IRA
NIRA is a term used by the media for the group that formed in 2012 after the Real IRA merged with RAAD and other smaller republican militant groups.Members still identify themselves as the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA).
It is the bigger than the Continuity IRA and is seen as more dangerous. It has a wider reach, including Belfast and Derry.
New IRA political wing
Saoradh is the political party associated with the New IRA.
Continuity IRA
The Continuity IRA emerged in 1986 after a split with PIRA. However, it did not become active until the PIRA ceasefire of 1994. It is smaller and less active than RIRA and there have been a number of splits since the mid-2000s.
ONH
Óglaigh na hÉireann
Formed after a split within the Real IRA and started carrying out attacks in 2009.
However, with the growth of the larger Real IRA after it merged with other dissident groups in July 2012 to form the ‘New IRA’, the organisation’s activity has steadily declined.
It called for a ceasefire in 2018.
In 2019, many former members of Oglaigh na hEireannalso joined the New IRA.
CIRA power base
Its power base is north Armagh, but it also has a presence in Fermanagh.
CIRA sources of support
The US government suspects the Continuity IRA of having received funds and arms from supporters in the United States. Security sources in Ireland have expressed the suspicion that, in co-operation with the RIRA, the Continuity IRA may have acquired arms and materiel from the Balkans.
Feb 14
RIRA / NIRA send seven letter bombs to British Army recruitment offices in south-east England; the first time republicans had struck in Britain since 2001.
2/14 = Noah Deer
18 August 20
10 suspects were arrested in Northern Ireland as part of an all-island operation against the New IRA. The Republic Gardai also raided properties in ROI but arrested nobody.
Saoradh
Formed in 2016 and intimately tied to RIRA/NIRA. It has no elected representatives serving in any form of government. PSNI claim it is the “mouth and hub” of RIRA/NIRA.
Mar 19
RIRA/NIRA militants sent five explosive packages to locations across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The bombs were sent to Waterloo Station, the University of Glasgow, locations near Heathrow and London City airports, and a postal office in County Limerick. No casualties resulted from the attack. However, this was the first instance the New IRA used the postal service to conduct a mass attack on civilians.
3/19 = Ma Dope
OIRA
The Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) is one of two splinter groups that broke away from the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in 1969 (the other being the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA)).
OIRA was by far the less violent of the two IRA offshoots. It declared a ceasefire in 1972 and disbanded 8 Feb 10 with its weapons being decommissioned.
PIRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army or Provos. It emerged in 1969 after a split with the IRA and became the dominant faction in 1972.
It declared a final ceasefire in July 1997 and in 2005 formally ended its armed campaign by decommissioning its weapons.
Following the final ceasefire, its political wing, Sinn Fein, was admitted into multi-party peace talks on the future of NI which resulted in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
INLA
Irish National Liberation Army.
Formed in 1974 it was a much smaller group than PIRA and declared a ceasefire on 22 Aug 98.
In Oct 09 it formally vowed to pursue its aims through peaceful political means and began decommissioning its weapons.
IPLO
Irish People’s Liberation Organisation.
Formed in 1986 by disaffected members of INLA. It developed a reputation for intra-republican and sectarian violence before being forcibly disbanded by PIRA 31 Oct 92 in The Night of the Long Knives.
PAC
Provisional Army Council.
PSNI
Police Service of Northern Ireland
HQNI
Headquarters Northern Ireland
SB
Special Branch
UUP
Ulster Unionist Party
The main unionist (UK) party during the troubles although currently only the fourth largest party in NI. It is often considered an offshoot of the Conservative party.
It has been unrepresented in Westminster since losing its two seats in 2017 and most recently won 11.7% of the vote in 2019.
DUP
Democratic Unionist Party.
A unionist party founded in 1971 by Ian Paisley who led it for the next 37 years.
Now led by Arlene Foster it has, by a margin of one, the most seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and it is the fifth-largest party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
DUP position on power sharing
It is traditionally opposed to power sharing agreements and campaigned against the Good Friday Agreement. Although, in 2006, the DUP co-signed the St Andrews Agreement and agreed to share power with the republican party Sinn Féin who agreed to support the Police Service, courts, and rule of law.
DUP political positions
The party has been described as right-wing and socially conservative, being anti-abortion and opposing same-sex marriage. The DUP sees itself as defending Britishness and Ulster Protestant culture against Irish nationalism. The party is Eurosceptic and during the UK European Union (EU) referendum it supported the Brexit campaign in 2016.
SDLP
Social Democratic Labour Party.
An Irish nationalist party that currently has 12 MLAs (Member of the Legislative Assembly) in the NI Assembly and two MPs in Westminster.
The SDLP party platform advocates Irish reunification and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom.
Since February 2019, the SDLP have been in partnership with Fianna Fáil (a major ROI political party)
SDLP history
During the Troubles, the SDLP was the most popular Irish nationalist party in Northern Ireland, but since the Provisional IRA ceasefire in 1994, it has lost ground to the republican party Sinn Féin, which in 2001 became the more popular of the two parties for the first time. Established during the Troubles, a significant difference between the two parties was the SDLP’s rejection of violence, in contrast to Sinn Féin’s support for the Provisional IRA and physical force republicanism.
PSF
Provisional Sinn Féin (‘We Ourselves’ not ‘Ourselves Alone’). The ‘Provisional’ part of the name has fallen out of use.
Irish republican party active in both ROI and NI that has been traditionally associated with PIRA.
Sinn Féin is one of the two largest parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly, winning one seat less than the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
In the UK House of Commons, Sinn Féin holds seven of Northern Ireland’s 18 seats, making it the second-largest bloc after the DUP; there it follows a policy of abstentionism, refusing to sit in parliament or vote on bills.
IRSP
Irish Republican Socialist Party
Often referred to as the political wing of INLA. It holds no seats and rarely participates in elections.
AP
Alliance Party.
A centrist liberal party aligned with the Liberal Democrats. It is Northern Ireland’s fifth-largest party, currently holding eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one seat in the HoC.
AP position on unionism
originally represented moderate and non-sectarian unionism. However, over time, particularly in the 1990s, it moved towards neutrality on the Union, and has come to represent wider liberal and non-sectarian concerns. It opposes the consociational power-sharing mandated by the Good Friday Agreement as deepening the sectarian divide, and, in the Northern Ireland Assembly, it is designated as neither unionist nor Irish nationalist, but ‘Other’.
PUP
Progressive Unionist Party.
A small unionist party linked to the UVF and RHC. Since the Ulster Democratic Party’s dissolution in 2001 it has been the sole NI party representing paramilitary loyalism.
RSF
Republican Sinn Fein.
The branch of Sinn Fein active in ROI. It only takes it seats at the level of local government.
It does not recognise the validity of the Partition of Ireland. It subsequently does not recognise the legitimacy of the parliaments of Northern Ireland (Stormont) or the Republic of Ireland (Leinster House), so the party does not register itself with them.
32 CSC
32 County Sovereignty Committee.
A republican party formed in 1997 in opposition to Sinn Fein’s positions in the Good Friday Agreement’s negotiations.
A similar split led to RIRA splitting from PIRA and 32 CSC has been described as RIRA’s political wing.
UDA / UFF
Ulster Defence Association
A loyalist paramilitary group formed in 1971. It used a covername of Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) so that the UDA would be proscribed. Responsible for over 400 deaths, often as retaliatory killings for PIRA violence.
It ended its armed campaign in Nov 07.
UVF
Ulster Volunteer Force
A loyalist paramilitary group formed in 1966. It declared a ceasefire in 1994 and officially ended its campaign in 2007, although some members continue criminal activity.
It was responsible for killing over 500 people, the majority Irish Catholics killed at random.
RHC
Red Hand Commandos / Orange Volunteers
A small loyalist paramilitary group closely linked to the UVF. It killed 13 people during the troubles. Ceasefire in 1994, ended armed campaign in 2007 and disarmed in 2009.
CLMC
Combined Loyalist Military Command
An umbrella organisation set up in the early 1990s that brought together UDA, UVF and RHC leaders.
LVF
Loyalist Volunteer Force
A small loyalist paramilitary force that split from the UVF in 1996 after breaking its ceasefire. It now exists only as a criminal group.
President of PSF
Mary Lou McDonald (since 2018 when Gerry Adams stood aside)
Chief Constable of the PSNI
Simon Byrne
PM of ROI (Taoiseach)
Michael Martin (since 2020), a Fianna Fail politician.
Sec of State for NI
Rt Hon Brandon Lewis (since Feb 2020)
UUP Leader
Steve Aiken (since 2017)
AP Leader
Naomi Long (since 2016)
PUP Leader
Billy Hutchinson (former UVF man convicted of murder).
Why did the NI Assembly collapse in 2017?
Sinn Féin withdrew from the regional government after the DUP’s role in a botched “cash for ash” green energy scheme that wasted hundreds of millions of pounds.
The background causes were deteriorating relations in recent years between the DUP and SF as the two parties were diametrically opposed not only on Northern Ireland’s position within the UK, but also issues such as the Irish language; same-sex marriage; abortion and how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.
What drove a deal to reopen the NI Assembly in Jan 20?
At the core of the deal that has revived devolution was a plan by the British and Irish governments to create two new “language commissioners” as part of a cultural policy to put Irish on a legal par with English while protecting Ulster British culture. There has also been reform to the use of ‘petitions of concern’ which the DUP had been accused of using excessively to give themselves a de facto veto.
In the strategy pursued by London and Dublin, as well as dangling the prospect of nearly £2bn in extra funding for Northern Ireland’s NHS, education system, infrastructure and police, the two governments said that if parties failed to reach an agreement by Monday there would be fresh assembly elections.
The DUP and Sinn Féin, suffered significant losses in the UK general election, particularly to the centrist Alliance party, which doubled its vote share, and a resurgent SDLP.
Op ARBACIA
8 men and 2 women, allegedly NIRA’s leadership, were arrested in Aug 20 after meetings of NIRA’s executive council were bugged.
MI5 and PSNI are now interested in how the group reforms and reorganises after this blow to its leadership.
