Topic 5: The Troubles (1980s-97)

Question 1

5

Describe IRA activity from 1987

Answer 1

• Became one of best equipped undergound organisations
• 1988, 9 soldiers injured at barracks in West Germany
• 1987, IRA bombed Remembrance Day service in Enniskillen, NI - killed 11
• 1991, IRA exploded motor bomb near PM
• 1992, Baltic Exchange (City) bombings

Question 2

3

Describe the 1992 Baltic Exchange bombings

Answer 2

• killed 3
• caused £800m in damage
• inflicted more financial damage than 10k bombs in NI

Question 3

3

Describe Libyan support for IRA

Answer 3

• Colonel Gaddafi ordered 4 separate shipments
• Included 1k rifles, semtex plastic explosives
• British intelligence did not pick this up - worst lapse for decades

Question 4

3

Describe the back-channel policy

Answer 4

• Web of secret talks between Gerry Adams (SF leader), John Hume (SDLP leader), British govt, Irish PMs Haughney and Reynolds, IRA leaders
• Breached convention that mainstream politicians should not speak with those associated with violence
• By 1993, a message a week was passing between British and Republicans

Question 5

2

Describe the ‘Hume-Adams process’

Answer 5

• Adams (SF President) and Hume (SDLP leader) were 2 dominant figures in nationalism
• by 1993, Adams/Hume publicly announced that they were ready to put forward a peace report to Dublin

Question 6

3

Describe John Hume in the peace process

Answer 6

• Argued purpose of nationalism was to accomodate unionist interests in United Ireland
• Challenged idea British prescence was root of problems
• 1991, wrote draft peace declaration

Question 7

2

Describe Hume’s draft peace declaration

Answer 7

• Aimed to show that British govt was not standing in way of Irish unity
• Incentivised Republicans to halt terrorism

Question 8

4

Describe the effects of the Hume’s draft peace declaration

Answer 8

• Subsequent violence from both sides due to sudden likelihood of agreement
• IRA attempted to assassinate leading unionist figures
• Loyalist gunmen went on rampage in retaliation
• Major noted in memoirs that this sparked a renewed determination for peace

Question 9

4

Describe the role of Major in peace negotiations

Answer 9

• Took significant risk in communicating with Reynolds/Adams/Hume
• Convinced NI warranted sustained attention
• Shift in attitude compared little time devoted by past PMs
• Had rejected SF involvement in negotiations until IRA announced ceasefire

Question 10

2

How did Major take significant risks in his back-channel policy

Answer 10

• Parliamentary majority dependent on tory unionists e.g. govt minister Lord Cranborne
• 9 UUP MPs could threaten legislative agenda

Question 11

5

Describe the Downing Street Declaration 1993

Answer 11

• December 1993
• Unveiled by Major and Reynolds (Taoiseach)
• Reaffirmed Irish self-determination in South
• Agreement affirmed that NI would be transferred to ROI only if majority of population favoured such a move
• ‘Irish dimension’ - people of NI/ROI had exclusive rights to decide cross-border issues

Irish dimension would become ‘Principle of Consent’ in GFA

Question 12

1

Describe how Clinton aided the NI peace process in Major’s time

Answer 12

• By Feb 1994, Clinton administration dropped long-standing ban on Adams entering US

Question 13

3

Describe the IRA ceasefire

Answer 13

• 31 August 1994
• IRA announced ceasefire
• 25 years of conflict and 3k deaths

Note: Provisional IRA has started 1969

Question 14

4

Describe the IRA’s return to violence

Answer 14

• Unionists did not lay down weapons accordingly
• Concerns IRA would not respect ceasefire
• IRA carried out bomb attacks at Canary Wharf and Manchester in 1996
• Yet peace process continued