The Northern Ireland Troubles (Late 1970s)

Question 1

The Northern Irish Constitutional Convention

Answer 1

• Harold Wilson announced the Northern Irish Constitutional Convention (NICC)
• NICC was an elected body that would meet to determine the future of government in Northern Ireland
• NI elections in 1975, majority for Protestant loyalists who opposed any form of power-sharing
• An agreement with Catholic nationalists wouldn’t be possible
• NICC was dissolved in 1976

Question 2

End of Special Category Status (1976)

Answer 2

• Republican (catholic) prisoners viewed themselves as ‘prisoners of war’ and believed they should have protection of the Geneva Convention
• Callaghan removed the ‘Special Category Status’
• All prisoners would be treated as ordinary prisoners including the Republican prisoners who regarded themselves as ‘political prisoners’
• This was disliked by paramilitaries, believed their soldiers/members were engaged in a war

Question 3

The Blanket Protests

Answer 3

• Republican (catholic) prisoners were now categorised as ordinary prisoners
• Expected to wear prison issued uniform
• Paramilitary prisoners refused, led to ‘blanket protests’
• IRA and INLA went around naked, only wore blankets over their bodies

Question 4

The Dirty Protests

Answer 4

• Republican prisoners refused to leave their cells in order to avoid ill-treatment of the guards
• Protested by smearing their excrement on the cell walls to prevent guards from entering
• 1979: Over 250 prisoners were taking part in the protest
• Demands growing to regain their status as political prisoners

Question 5

Maze Prisoner Demands

Answer 5

• The right not to wear prison uniform
• The right to not do prison work
• The right to one visit, one parcel and one letter per week
• The right to freely associate with other prisoners, and to organise recreational/educational activities
• Full restoration of the right to appeal, lost through the protest