PD and the Burntollet Bridge Incident Flashcards
who were the members of the PD?
mainly university students and from the Nationalist community
Why was the PD set up?
anger at the violence NICRA had faced in October 1968
desire to disrupt the Stormont administration
unhappy with the limited nature of O’Neill’s five point programme
what does the PD stand for?
People’s Democray
who were the leaders of the PD?
Michael Farrell and Bernadette Devlin
what were the aims of the PD?
one man, one vote houses on need free speech fair boundaries jobs on merit repeal of the Special Powers Act
describe the tactics of the PD
confrontational (march through protestant areas)
march between Belfast and Derry
what happened in the Burntollet Bridge Incident?
during PD march from Belfast to Derry, marchers were ambushed, which the police did little to deflect, most attackers were the ‘B’ Specials
how did the burntollet bridge incident damage the reputation of the PD?
ignored condemnations and did it anyway
tactics too confrontational
how did the burntollet bridge incident damage the reputation of RUC?
they are believed to have not protected the marchers from the ambush
how did NICRA react to the Burntollet Bridge Incident?
began to march again after calling off marches in response to O’Neills reforms, as they believed nothing had changed
how did O’Neill react to the Burntollet Bridge Incident?
established the Cameron Commission to investigate increasing violence
called a general ‘crossroads election’ to prove that the public were behind him
how did OUP react to the Burntollet Bridge Incident?
2 cabinet ministers (one being Brian Faulkner) resigned from government as O’neill wasn’t strong enough to control the situation
12MPs called for O’Neill’s resignation 30th January 1969
