the Deteriorating Situation Flashcards
PIRA
Provisional IRA
IRA
Irish Republican Army
UVF
Ulster Volunteer Force
UDA
Ulster Defence Association
UFF
Ulster Freedom Fighters
When were concerns raised over the impact of marches on this tense situation?
As the July & August marching season approached
July 1969
violence breaks out in Belfast and Derry
Belfast July 1969
- houses were burnt by loyalists, which forced Nationalists to leave homes
- Seven people were killed
- 100 were wounded
Derry - August 1969
violence began after the Apprentice Boys parade on 12 August, which commemorates the Siege of Derry in 1689. The violence resulted in rioting and violence which is known as the “Battle of the Bogside”
Consequences of violence in Derry, August 1969 (Irish govt)
As a consequence, the Irish Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, moved Irish troops and tiled hospitals to Donegal/Derry border. Calm was restored in Derry, but broke out again in Beltast.
Belfast, August 1969
vIolence erupts in all areas of Belfast - it had become a war zone.
- seven people died and hundreds were wounded.
- Bombay street was burnt by loyalists and nationalists were left to live in refugee camps in church hall and community centres
Consequences violence Belfast august 1969
British army troops were sent to NI They were initially welcomed by
Nationalis
However, the IRA did re-emerge in Nationalist areas.
NI government responses to violence summer ‘69
worried about whether the security forces in NI could cope with the increasing violence and tension
British government responses to violence summer ‘69
- Concerned about NI
- Set up cabinet committee investigating NI violence
Irish government responses to violence summer ‘69
- concerned about safety of Catholic minority community
- sent intel officer to NI
Why was there an increase in loyalist paramilitary groups?
Loyalists were angry at what they saw as concessions to Nationalists
Why was there an increase in republican paramilitary groups?
Republicans were forming to protect the Catholic/Nationalist community
December 1969
IRA split OIRA and PIRA
Official IRA aims
- establish socialist Ireland
- Marxism
- 1974 split again INLA
May 1972
OIRA ceasefire
PIRA self nickname
Defender of Nationalist community
PIRA aims
- achieving civil rights
- defending Catholic population
- destroying Stormont gov.
- The creation of an Ireland free from British imperialism
I Ran Away
- Accusation IRA faced not defending Catholics during ‘69 violence
- 60 members 13 guns
Loyalist paramilitary aim
return to the days of Unionist domination
Why did UVF grow in size?
- Rise of NICRA
- O’Neill’s appeasement of Catholics
UVF aims
- oppose IRA
- ensure NI remained part UK
UDA formation and aims
- sept. 1971 formed
- defend loyalist areas from IRA
Why UDA too big to ban?
30,000 members
UFF
- paramilitary attacks
- banned 1973
Battle of the bogside
- violence began after the Apprentice Boys parade on 12 August, which commemorates the Siege of Derry in 1689.
- The violence resulted in rioting and violence which is known as the “Battle of the Bogside”
Why were loyalist paramilitaries formed?
Loyalists were angry at what they saw as concessions to Nationalists
Why were republican paramilitaries formed?
to protect the Catholic/Nationalist community
The British Army might have stopped violence, but what else was needed?
New political ideas
Outcome of Chichester-Clarke going to London to meet British PM Harold Wilson, August 1969, London
the “Downing Street Declaration”
What did the Downing Street declaration aim to do?
Reassure the two communities 🇮🇪🇬🇧
What did the Downing Street declaration aim to ensure nationalists of?
That “every citizen of NI is entitled to the same equality of treatment and to be free from discrimination.”
What did the Downing Street declaration aim to ensure unionists of?
that “NI should not stop to be part of the UK without the consent of the population of NI.”
What additional reforms were introduced in the Downing Street declaration?
- One Man👨 One Vote🗳️
- End of Gerrymandering
- Hunt Report 🔫👋🪖
- Scarman Tribunal 🏠
- Single housing authority introduced ☝️ 🏡
- £2 million invested to create work schemes 👷♂️
- Measures to prevent job discrimination were introduced
What did the Hunt Report do?
- disarming RUC 🔫
- removal of B Specials 👋
- introduction of UDR
What did the Scarman Tribunal find? 🏠
1,820 families fled their homes (1505 Catholic families) 🏠
Nationalist response to Downing Street declaration
- Happy with reforms
- believed a brighter future in NI was possible
Unionist response to Downing Street declaration
- Violence erupted
- Unionists saw it as further concessions to nationalists
- Hunt report resulted in extreme violence on the Shankill Road
What brought the PIRA into conflict with the British army?
Its aim of “removing British imperialism from Ireland”
How did nationalists see the British army before the start of 1970?
As a source of protection from the RUC🛡️
How did the British army find itself in a difficult situation in the 1970s?
Trying to maintain order while a political answer was found
What did the British army try to do when the IRA campaign started to take off in 1970?
Protect itself
What did the British army do in July 1970?
Imposed a 34-hour curfew on the Lower Falls area while a house-to-house search for weapons was completed
Successes of the Falls Road curfew
A number of weapons, ammunition and explosives were found
Failures of the Falls Road curfews
It was a public relations disaster for the British army
Consequences of the Falls Road curfew
- Five civilians were killed ⚰️
- 3000 women from Andersonstown broke the curfew - arrived with food and supplies for residents 🍎
- damaged the British army’s relationship with the nationalist community 🚫🤝
- Increased IRA membership (100 to 800) ⬆️
Why was the Falls Road curfew broken?
3000 women from Andersonstown broke the curfew bringing food and supplies to the residents
How many people died as a consequence of the Falls Road curfew?
Five people
Causes of internment
- It has previously worked
- Believed it was essential to ending IRA violence 🤜 and locating weapons 🔫
Why did PM Chichester Clark resign March 1971?
- Inaction from the British government
- PM Heath did not want to further alienate the nationalist community
Why was the British government not giving a stronger response between 1970 and 1971?
Prime minister Heath did not want to further alienate the nationalist community
Who became the new leader of Northern Ireland after Chichester Clark resigned?
Brian Faulkner
What could Brian Faulkner not do, despite having a better grasp on the situation?
Decrease levels of violence ⬇️🚫🤜
When was violence an all-time high in 1971?
By July and August the marching season
What emerged for the RUC and British army, particularly in Belfast and Derry?
No-go areas
What was Faulkner’s response to increasing violence in 1971?
Internment
Internment
The arrest and detention of a person without a trial
What did Brian Faulkner say when introducing internment?
“we have to get men of violence of the streets”
Nationalist response to internment
- Nationalists viewed internment as one-sided and abusive
- 1874 Catholics vs 107 Protestants had been in turned between 1971-75
- IRA membership increased
- despite high levels of Loyalist violence, nationalists and civil rights supporters were targeted for internment
How many Catholics had been interned from 1971 to 1975?
1874
What happened as a result of internment?
- IRA membership increased
- The relationship between the British army and nationalists deteriorated due to their involvement
Who were targeted for internment, despite high levels of Loyalist violence?
nationalists and civil rights supporters
What were the political reactions to internment?
Stormont cabinet conclusions 9 August 1971- interment would “involve the UK in derogation of the European convention of human rights. “
What did the SDLP do in response to internment?
- rent and rates strike - 16,000 households refused to pay their house rent and rates 💰
- held 48-hr hunger strike outside 10 Downing Street 🍲
What did NICRA do in response to internment?
began to hold anti-internment marches
Consequences of internment: loyalists 💣 🍺
- UDA established September 1971
- December 1971 UVF bombing of McGurk’s. 15 people died - single worst atrocity of 1971
Consequences of internment: British army
- Reputation within nationalist community destroyed
- 22 January 1972 protest held Magilligan internment camp - beat protesters 🪧 used batons and CS gas ☁️
22nd January 1972: event
Protest at Magilligan internment camp, British soldiers beat protesters and use Batons and CS gas
Unionist response to interment
Initial support decreased when it failed to reduce levels of violence ⬇️🚫🤜
Was internment successful?
No 452 men were arrested not one was an active PIRA member
Why was internment not successful?
The intelligence used was out dated
What followed internment?
Violence and destruction followed from August to December 1971
How many people died due to internment?
143
How many people were left homeless due to internment?
Thousands
What was another consequence of internment?
Ballymurphy massacre
Ballymurphy massacre
- Consequence of internment
- 11 civilians shot dead
Bloody Sunday: consequence of?
Internment
30 January 1972: Bloody Sunday: event
- Anti-internment march in Derry
- a riot developed
- British army sent “parachute regiment” to the Bogside in Derry
- 14 civilians shot dead
- 12 civilians injured
Consequences of Bloody Sunday on 31 jan 1972
- events of bloody Sunday, discussed in Westminster
- Home Secretary, R.Maulding announced enquiry, Widgery report
- however, he stated “when people fire on troops, when people attack soldiers with bullets and bombs, they must expect retaliation”
- Bernadette Devlin MP, Unity party, PD walked across parliament and slapped Maulding 👋
Who was in Derry on the 30th January 1972?
Bernadette Devlin MP
Widgery report
- Regarded as a “white wash” ⚪️🧼
- failed to provide a satisfactory explanation of the events of bloody Sunday
- official inquiry into events of bloody Sunday
- Announced the next day 👋
Unionist response to bloody Sunday
- Continued to support NI gov
- viewed march as illegal
- Believed the IRA was involved in organisation of march
- William Craig started Ulster Vanguard
Nationalist response to bloody Sunday
- ⬆️ hostility to NI. State
- Believed attack was unprovoked
- Believed those killed were innocent
- British Embassy in Dublin burnt down 🔥🏢
- ⬆️ IRA membership, especially Derry
- ⬆️IRA bombing
What did Britain face due to its role in Northern Ireland?
International condemnation
What went up and intensified due to bloody Sunday?
- IRA membership, especially in Derry
- hostility to NI state
- British Embassy in Dublin, went up in flames 🏢🔥
- IRA bombing 💣
British gov response bloody Sunday
- Widgery report
- Westminster concluded that Northern Irish government had lost control over northern Irish state
Causes of direct rule, 24th March 1972
- B.Faulkner demanded power to rearm RUC + re-establish the B-specials
- P M. Heath demanded control of law, order and Justice in NI, F refused
- 22 March F called to Westminster
- presented with proposed changes
- F and entire NI government resigned- could not accept loss of control over security
What did Heath demand control over in NI?
Control of law, order and justice f refused
What happened on the 22 March 1972?
F and senior Stormont members ordered to Westminster
What did Faulkner believe would happen on the 22nd March 1972?
Talks about Northern Ireland would happen
What were the proposed changes that Heath presented Faulkner and senior Stormont members with?
1) transfer of security control to Westminster ➡️
2) referendum of future of Irish border 🗳️
3) gradual removal of internment
4) introduction of Secretary of State NI 🕺
5) political talks with other NI political parties - community government 🤝
Direct rule, 24 March 72 event
- British PM Heath suspend Stormont introduced “direct rule”
- NI would be governed by British government in London
- W.Whitelaw new SOS
What does direct rule mean?
Northern Ireland would be governed by the British government in London
Who was Northern Ireland’s new Secretary of State on the 24th March 1972
William Whitelaw
What happened as a result of direct rule? (Unionist response)
- Increased support for loyalist paramilitaries
- sectarian killings increased, especially in Belfast
Why were unionists horrified at the removal of Stormont?
Viewed Stormont as a barrier against united Ireland
What happened during the last hours of Stormont (28 March 72)?
100,000 unionist protested at Stormont - organised by Ulster Vanguard
Ulster Vanguard
Organisation created by William Craig
What happened in the aftermath of Direct Rule?
⬆️ support DUP
DUP
Democratic Unionist Party
Political party organised by Rev. Ian Paisley
Why were nationalists pleased with Direct Rule?
Happy at the end of Stormont
Why did the RoI gov and the SDLP support DR?
Chance of a new political beginning
Why was the IRA pleased with DR?
- Achieved one of its aims - destroying Stormont
Why was the IRA displeased with DR?
Saw it as evidence of British involvement in NI
NICRA response to DR
Stated campaign for civil rights would continue in NI
