Northern Ireland: Increasing Violence

Northern Ireland: Increasing Violence

1. Worries about summer of 1969

   • Marching season approached
   • Stormont feared collapse of already stressed security forces
   • Republic sent intelligence officer to NI
   • Loyalists resented 'concessions'
   • Republicans apprenhensive to protect Nationalists

2. Violence

   • July 1969 - Belfast riots
   • 12 August - 'Apprentice Boys' parade riot
   • 'Battle of the Bogside'
     • 50 hours
     • Stopped by small number of GB troops
   • Provincial town disturbances continued

3. Jack Lynch feared situation; issued concerns and sent Irish troops and field hospitals to the border

4. Political reforms/agreements

   • 'Downing Street Declaration' [Wilson, PM]
     • Nationalists 'every citizen of northern Ireland is entitled to the same equality... irrespective of views or religion'
     • Unionists 'Northern Ireland should not cease to be part of the UK without the consent of the people'
   • Introduction of 'one man, one vote'
   • End to gerrymandering
   • Lord Hunt policing committee
     • Disarm RUC, disband B-Specials and replace with UDR under army control
   • Investment grants
   • Job-creating schemes
   • One new housing authority [not several ones as present]
   • Nationalists were happy about reforms, more fair
   • Unionists saw reforms as 'concessions'
     • Violence on Shankill Road due to Hunt Report

5. Paramilitaries

   • 1969 - IRA split (a.k.a. I Ran Away due to lack of protection)
     • Official IRA (OIRA) - aimed for Marxist Ireland and ceasefire in May 1972
     • Provisional IRA (IRA)
       • Destroy Stormont
       • Defend Catholics
       • Remove British 'Imperialism'
       • Civil Rights
   • UVF wanted to return to Unionist domination
     • Membership thrived due to annoyance at O'Neill and NICRA
   • September 1971 - UDA formed
     • 30,000 members in year = too big to ban