Norther Ireland Part One (1969–1975) Northern Ireland

These posts are not to promote any paramilitary group 

it is merely showing incidents that the RGJ might have been caught up in during their tours.

Northern Ireland The Forgotten War

The Irish Republican Army (IRA), also called Provisional Irish Republican Army, republican paramilitary organization seeking the establishment of a republic, the end of British rule in Northern Ireland, and the reunification of Ireland.
The IRA was created in 1919 as a successor to the Irish Volunteers, a militant nationalist organization founded in 1913.

The Volunteers (also known as the Irish Volunteers) were local militias in late 18th century Ireland raised to defend Ireland from the threat of French and Spanish invasion when regular British soldiers were withdrawn from Ireland to fight abroad during the American Revolutionary War and the government failed to organise its own militia. Taking advantage of Britain’s preoccupation with its rebelling American colonies, the Volunteers were able to pressure Westminster into conceding legislative independence to the Dublin parliament. Members of the Belfast 1st Volunteer Company laid the foundations for the establishment of the United Irishmen organisation. The majority of Volunteer members however were inclined towards the yeomanry, which fought and helped defeat the United Irishmen in the Irish rebellion of 1798.

Events of the Provisional I R A actions

1969 to 1975

From the year 1969 until 1997, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) conducted an armed paramilitary campaign primarily in Northern Ireland and England, aimed at ending British rule in Northern Ireland in order to create a united Ireland.

The Provisional IRA emerged from a split in the Irish Republican Army in 1969, partly as a result of that organisation’s perceived failure to defend Catholic neighbourhoods from attack in the 1969 Northern Ireland riots. The Provisionals gained credibility from their efforts to physically defend such areas in 1970 and 1971. From 1971–72, the IRA took to the offensive and conducted a relatively high intensity campaign against the British and Northern Ireland security forces and the infrastructure of the state. The British Army characterised this period as the ‘insurgency phase’ of the IRA’s campaign.

( 24th September 1969: L/Cpl Michael Pearce.)

( 25th October 1969: Rfn Michael Boswell, Rfn John Keeney,  RTA caused by riots.)

The IRA declared a brief ceasefire in 1972 and a more protracted one in 1975, when there was an internal debate over the feasibility of future operations. The armed group reorganised itself in the late 1970s into a smaller, cell-based structure, which was designed to be harder to penetrate. The IRA now tried to carry out a smaller scale but more sustained campaign which they characterised as the ‘Long War’, with the eventual aim of weakening the British government’s resolve to remain in Ireland. The British Army called this the ‘terrorist phase’ of the IRA’s campaign. The IRA made some attempts in the 1980s to escalate the conflict with the aid of weapons imported from Libya. In the 1990s they also began a campaign of bombing economic targets in London and other cities in England.

On the 31st August 1994, the IRA called a unilateral ceasefire with the aim of having their associated political party, Sinn Féin, admitted into the Northern Ireland peace process. The organisation ended its ceasefire in February 1996 but declared another in July 1997. The IRA accepted the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 as a negotiated end to the Northern Ireland conflict.

Beginnings
In the early days of the Troubles (1969–72), the Provisional IRA was poorly armed, with only a handful of old weapons left over from the IRA’s Border campaign of the 1950s. The IRA had split in December 1969 into the Provisional IRA and Official IRA factions. In the first years of the conflict, the Provisionals’ main activities were defending nationalist areas from attacks.

In contrast to the IRA’s relative inaction during the rioting of 1969, in the summer of 1970, the Provisional IRA members mounted determined armed defences of the nationalist areas of Belfast against loyalist attackers, killing a number of loyalists in the process. On the 27th June 1970, the IRA killed seven Protestants in rioting in Belfast. Three Protestants were shot in Ardoyne in north Belfast after gun battles broke out during an Orange Order parade. When loyalists retaliated by attacking the nationalist enclave of Short Strand in east Belfast, Billy McKee, the Provisionals’ commander in Belfast, occupied St Matthew’s Church and defended it in a five-hour gun battle with the loyalists (see Battle of St Matthew’s). One of his men was killed, he was badly wounded and three loyalists were also killed. The Provisional IRA gained much of its support from these activities, as they were widely perceived within the nationalist community as being defenders of nationalist and Catholic people against aggression.

Initially, the British Army, deployed into Northern Ireland in August 1969 to reinforce the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and restore government control, was welcomed in Catholic nationalist areas as a neutral force compared to the Protestant- and unionist-dominated RUC and Ulster Special Constabulary. However, this good relationship with the nationalist community did not last long. The Army was soon discredited in the eyes of many nationalists by incidents such as the Falls Curfew of July 1970, when 3,000 British troops imposed martial law conditions on the nationalist lower Falls area of west Belfast. After a gun and grenade attack on troops by Provisional IRA members, the British fired over 1,500 rounds of ammunition in gun battles with both the Official IRA and Provisional IRA in the area, killing six civilians. Thereafter, the Provisionals continued targeting British soldiers. The first soldier to die was gunner Robert Curtis, killed by Billy Reid in a gun battle in February 1971.

1970 and 1971 also saw feuding between the Provisional and Official IRAs in Belfast, as both organisations vied for supremacy in nationalist areas. Charlie Hughes, commander of the Provisionals’ D Company in the Lower Falls, was killed before a truce was brokered between the two factions.

In 2005 the organisation declared a formal end to its campaign and had its weaponry decommissioned under international supervision.

Chronology Events of the

Provisional Irish Republican Army

actions

(1969–1975)

1970

26th June 1970: Three Provisional IRA volunteers and two young girls were killed when an IRA bomb prematurely exploded in a house in Creggan, Derry.

27th June 1970: Rioting erupted in parts of north, west and east Belfast following Orange Order marches past Catholic areas. IRA volunteers used firearms to defend the Short Strand and Ardoyne from attack by loyalist gunmen and rioters. Five loyalists and one nationalist were shot dead. See Battle of St Matthew’s.

3rd–5th July 1970: Falls Curfew: A British Army raid in the Falls district of Belfast developed into a riot between soldiers and residents and then gun battles between soldiers and the ‘Official’ IRA. The Provisional IRA also attacked troops with improvised grenades. The British Army sealed-off the area, imposed a 36-hour curfew and raided hundreds of homes under the cover of CS gas. Four civilians were killed by British soldiers and more than 60 wounded.

11th  August 1970: Two Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb attached to an abandoned car near Crossmaglen, South Armagh. The bomb contained 20 lb (9.1 kg) of gelignite and exploded when one of the officers attempted to open one of the car’s doors.

4th September 1970: An IRA volunteer was killed when a bomb he was planting at an electricity transformer in Belfast exploded prematurely.

16th November 1970: The IRA shot dead two alleged criminals in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. The men were alleged to have been involved in protection rackets, fencing stolen goods, minor racketeering, moneylending, burglary and robbery.

1971
January 1971: Following months of clashes between British soldiers and nationalists in Ballymurphy, the British Army held secret talks with the IRA. It was agreed that, in parts of West Belfast, the IRA would be responsible for policing and there would be no activity by the British Army or RUC.

3rd February 1971: Under pressure from the Unionist government, the British Army began a series of raids in nationalist areas of West and North Belfast. This sparked clashes between nationalists and British soldiers, and between nationalists and loyalists. Eight soldiers and a number of civilians were wounded. The IRA saw the raids as a breach of the policing agreement, and violence continued for the next few nights.

6th February 1971: The British Army shot dead an IRA staff officer, James Saunders, during violence in North Belfast. The British Army claimed soldiers removing barricades in the Oldpark district came under gun and bomb attack, and that a British marksman shot dead a man holding a pistol. In nearby Ardoyne, soldiers shot dead a Catholic civilian, whom they claimed was armed, after an armoured personnel carrier was attacked.

6th February 1971: During clashes between nationalists and British soldiers in the New Lodge district, the IRA opened fire on a group of soldiers, killing Gunner Robert Curtis. He was the first British soldier killed in Ireland since the 1920s. The next day, James Chichester-Clark, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, declared on television that “Northern Ireland is at war with the Irish Republican Army Provisionals”. An IRA volunteer was shot dead in a shootout with the British Army in the Bone area of Belfast and the British Army shot dead a Catholic civilian. Eight British soldiers and five civilians were also injured in various gun battles around Belfast.

8th February 1971: During clashes in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, two British Army scout vehicles came under sniper fire and had a bomb thrown at them. A soldier was shot in the head and died on 15th February.

9th February 1971: At the funeral of James Saunders, IRA volunteers fired a three-volley salute over his coffin. The funeral cortege was forced to make a detour when 300 loyalists blocked the Oldpark Road and stoned mourners. There were also scuffles with police. There was controversy after a British soldier was filmed saluting the coffin as it passed his armoured car.

9th February 1971: Five men were killed when their landrover was blown up by an IRA landmine at Brougher Mountain transmitting station, County Tyrone. They were on their way to inspect a transmitter: two of the dead were BBC engineers, the other three were construction workers. The landmine was intended for a British Army patrol that usually inspected the transmitters.

26th February 1971: Two RUC officers attached to the Special Patrol Group were killed in a gun battle with the IRA in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

8th March 1971: A PIRA volunteer was shot dead by the Official IRA in the Lower Falls area of Belfast. This was part of an ongoing dispute between the PIRA and the OIRA. In response the PIRA shot and seriously injured a member of the OIRA.

9th March 1971: The IRA kidnapped three off-duty Scottish soldiers in Belfast and brought them to a mountain road outside the city, lined them up, and shot each of them in the head. They were the first off-duty soldiers to be killed in the conflict.

21th April 1971: The Royal Navy survey launch Stork, attached to HMS Hecate, was towed to open seas and sunk by an IRA unit in Baltimore, Republic of Ireland.

15th May 1971: IRA volunteer Billy Reid was killed during a gun battle between the IRA and the British Army on Academy Street, Belfast. Two British soldiers were wounded in the incident.

22nd May 1971: Cpl Robert Bankier  Aged 24. (1 R.G.J.) Shot by a sniper when he left his Land-Rover to disperse some children who were blocking the road in the Markets area of Belfast, The children were covering gunmen who when the children dispersed on either side of the road opened fire down the middle killing Cpl Bankier.

25th May 1971: A bomb was thrown into Springfield Road British Army/RUC base in Belfast, killing army Sergeant Michael Willetts as he shielded civilians from the blast with his body. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross. Seven RUC officers, two British soldiers and 18 civilians were injured.

27th June 1971: The first reported and recorded IRA operations in Tyrone that involved the use of firearms occurred within a short space of time in the east and west of the county. In the first operation a number of shots were fired from a passing commandeered car at a British Army sentry on duty at Pomeroy RUC barracks. This attack occurred at around 1:30am. Shortly afterwards a British Army mobile patrol was ambushed near Victoria Bridge. No hits were reported in either incident.

12th July 1971: Rfn. David Walker. There is some ambiguity between the Lost Lives entry about David Walker’s death and the contemporary report in 39 Brigade Commanders Diary logs (Sheet 26, 12 Jul 1971). The former states that Dave was shot by a sniper. However the Bde log states that his colleague on duty reported a slow-burst of four rounds. The RMP WO1 SIB found four strikes in the walls close to where Dave fell. He told his colleague he had been hit in the back (entry wound was through his left shoulder blade). From the bullet strikes, RMP deduced the shots had come from the Percy Street area. Source material TNA 39 Airportable Brigade Commanders Diary July 1971. The IRA claimed his death was in retaliation for the killings of two civilians in Derry by the British Army the previous week. David`s murderer was killed in later years by the Parachute Regiment.

14th July 1971: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA ambush on a mobile-patrol in the Andersonstown area of Belfast. Three IRA gunmen using automatic weapons fired at least 35 shots at the patrol.

8th August 1971: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack while on foot patrol in the Ardoyne area of Belfast. The IRA said he was shot in retaliation for the shooting dead of a civilian by the British Army the day before on the Springfield Road.

9th August 1971: 343 suspects were detained as internment was introduced. In the following two days 17 people were killed in gun battles between the IRA and British Army. The IRA killed one British soldier and one UDR soldier while the British Army shot dead one IRA volunteer and 14 civilians. Between 1971 and 1975, 1,981 people were interned; 1,874 were Catholic/republican, while only 107 were Protestant/loyalist.

9th August 1971: A UDR soldier was killed in a joint Provisional and Official IRA ambush in Clady, County Tyrone.

9th August 1971: Cpl Kneller 1st RGJ shot and wounded by an IRA sniper firing at the Albert Street Mill from Divis Flats. During the next few day`s a number of members of The RGJ where injured or wounded.

10th August 1971: Norman Watson, a Protestant, was killed in crossfire between the IRA and soldiers in Armagh.

11th August 1971: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army while carrying out a bomb attack on their patrol in the Andersonstown area of Belfast.

16th August 1971: The commander of the Provisionals’ Belfast Brigade, Joe Cahill, gave a press conference claiming only 30 IRA volunteers had been interned.

18th August 1971: An IRA volunteer was shot dead during a gun battle between the IRA and the British Army in the Creggan area of Derry City.

23rd August 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper on Flax Street in the Ardoyne area of Belfast. The soldier was shot in the head as he exited a British armoured vehicle. Another British soldier from the same regiment was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Ardoyne during a gun attack on an observation post. He had been shot in the mouth. The Daily Express published a picture of the dead soldier, George Crozier, on its front page the next day.

25th August 1971: A civilian was killed when the IRA bombed the NIES office on Malone Road in Belfast. An inadequate warning was given.

29th August 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper near Crossmaglen, County Armagh. The soldier was travelling in a British patrol consisting of two armoured vehicles when they accidentally crossed the border into County Monaghan. When attempting to turn back angry locals blocked their way and set one of the vehicles on fire. After eventually managing to get back across the border the patrol had to stop to change a damaged wheel. While this was happening a six-man unit from the IRA’s Monaghan Brigade arrived on the scene and took up sniping positions in nearby fields. One soldier was killed after being shot in the neck and another injured when he was struck in the shoulder.

31st August 1971: A British soldier was killed when he was shot by an IRA sniper in Stockmans Lane in the Andersonstown area of Belfast. A single shot was fired by a sniper which passed through the shoulder strap of another soldier’s flak-jacket before hitting the other soldier in the head.

3rd September 1971: A UDR soldier was shot dead when an IRA unit attacked Kinawley British Army base in County Fermanagh.

9th September 1971: A British Army bomb-disposal expert was killed attempting to defuse an IRA bomb in Drumankelly, County Antrim.

13th September 1971: The Leeson Street Patrol, Northern Ireland, 1971. R Company, The Royal Green Jackets, where Cpl Thompson was awarded the DCM for outstanding Bravery.

14th September 1971: A British soldier was shot dead during an IRA attack on a British Army mobile patrol in Edendork, County Tyrone.

15th September 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA in the grounds of Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

17th September 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

18th September 1971: An RUC officer was shot dead in an IRA gun attack on his foot patrol in Strabane, County Tyrone.

23rd September 1971: A patrol boat belonging to the Northern Ireland Fishery Conservancy Board was bombed and wrecked by an IRA unit at Derrynver, Lough Neagh.

1st October 1971: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun-attack on a British Army foot patrol in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

2nd October 1971: An IRA volunteer died after the bomb he was transporting exploded accidentally outside Lisburn.

11th October 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA while on foot-patrol on the Letterkenny Road in Derry.

15th October 1971: Two RUC officers were shot dead when an IRA unit attacked their patrol car on the Woodvale Road in Belfast.

16th October 1971: Rfn. Joseph Hill. Was shot dead by the IRA during riots in the Bogside area of Derry.

17th October 1971: Two British soldiers were killed when their armoured mobile patrol was caught in an IRA sniper ambush in Belfast.

23rd October 1971: Two unarmed female IRA volunteers were shot dead by the British Army in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

24th October 1971: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by undercover RUC officers during a bomb attack in Donegall Place, Belfast.

27th October 1971: Two British soldiers were killed when the IRA bombed Rosemount British Army base in Derry.

27th October 1971: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on patrol near Toome, County Antrim.

27th October 1971: A British soldier was killed when a British Army armoured personnel carrier struck an IRA landmine in Kinawley, County Fermanagh.

29th October 1971: An RUC officer was killed when the IRA bombed the RUC base on Antrim Road in Belfast.

30th October 1971: A British soldier was killed when the IRA bombed a British Army Observation Post on the corner of Cupar Street in Belfast.

31st October 1971: A British soldier was killed in an IRA sniper attack on his patrol in Stockmans Lane, Belfast.

1st November 1971: Two RUC officers were shot dead by an IRA unit while investigating a robbery at Avoca Shopping Centre in Belfast.

2nd November 1971: Three civilians were killed when the IRA bombed the Ormeau Road RUC base. The three were drinking in the Red Lion bar which is next door to the base.

4th November 1971: A British soldier was killed in an IRA sniper attack on Henry Taggart British Army base in Ballymurphy, Belfast.

7 th November 1971: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA drive-by attack in Lurgan, County Armagh.

9th November 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper on Foyle Road in Derry City.

11th November 1971: Two RUC officers were shot dead by the IRA in Belfast. They had left the base to go into a shop on the street behind it when they were ambushed by an IRA unit.

18th November 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA while guarding a bus depot in the Short Strand area of Belfast.

24th November 1971: A civilian was killed in the crossfire during an IRA attack on a British Army base in Strabane.

24th November 1971: A British Army bomb disposal expert was killed attempting to defuse a car-bomb in Lurgan, County Armagh.

27th November 1971: Two Customs Officials were killed when IRA snipers attacked Killeen Customs Post near Newry. The soldiers guarding the post were the intended targets.

27th November 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol in the Falls Road area of Belfast.

29th November 1971: An off-duty British soldier was shot dead by the IRA near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

6th December 1971: A civilian was killed in an IRA bomb attack in Belfast. The bomb destroyed a business premises. The damage resulted in one of the walls collapsing in on top of the building next door, crushing a civilian.

7th December 1971: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Curlagh, County Tyrone.

8th December 1971: Two British soldiers were killed in separate IRA gun attacks in Belfast.

10th December 1971: A UDR soldier and an ex-soldier were killed when their car was attacked by an IRA unit near Clady, Strabane.

11th December 1971: A bomb attack on a furniture shop on the Shankill Road in Belfast killed four Protestant civilians, including two children. No organisation claimed responsibility, but there was speculation that it may have been planted by the IRA in retaliation for the McGurk’s Bar bombing of 4th December.

16th December 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

18th December 1971: Three IRA volunteers died in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely.

21st December 1971: A Catholic publican was killed when he picked up and attempted to remove a bomb that had been planted in his pub on Lisburn Road, Belfast. Although Catholic-owned pubs were usually targeted by loyalists, the Sutton database lists the IRA as responsible.

21st December 1971: An unarmed IRA volunteer was summarily executed after being captured by the British Army in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

29th December 1971: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun attack on a foot patrol in the Brandywell area of Derry City.

31st December 1971: An IRA volunteer was killed when a bomb he was assembling exploded accidentally in Santry, Dublin.

1972
5th January 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

7th January 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed in a gun-battle with British troops in the Falls area of Belfast.

12th January 1972: An off-duty RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA unit in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

13th January 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while driving a van through Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

17th January: Seven IRA volunteers, jailed in the prison ship HMS Maidstone, made good their escape through a porthole on the side away from the dock. They swam to the dockside and hijacked a bus which they drove to the Markets area. The escapees later held a press conference.

18th January 1972: A Catholic civilian was shot dead, apparently by the IRA, after he came forward as a witness to the IRA hijacking of a bus in The Mount area of Belfast.

21st January 1972: A British soldier was killed when he stepped on an IRA landmine near Keady, County Armagh.

26th January 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed when a bomb he was planting at an RUC base in Castlewellan, County Down, exploded accidentally.

27th January 1972: An IRA unit which included Martin Meehan fought a 4-hour gun battle with a British Army detachment at Dungooley in south County Armagh. The British Army alone fired over 4,500 rounds while the IRA returned fire with assault rifles and an anti-tank gun. There were no casualties in the battle with the exception of a pig which was caught in the crossfire. 8 IRA volunteers were arrested south of the border but were eventually acquitted.

27 thJanuary 1972: Two RUC officers were killed when their patrol vehicle was hit by IRA gunfire in the Creggan area of Derry.

28th January 1972: An off-duty RUC officer was shot dead in an IRA gun attack at a garage in the Oldpark area of Belfast.

30th January 1972: Major Robin Alers-Hankey. Died four months after being injured in an IRA sniper attack in the Bogside area of Derry.

1st February 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

2nd February 1972: A bomb exploded at the Catholic-owned Imperial Bar in Stewartstown, County Tyrone. The pub was officially closed in mourning for those who died on Bloody Sunday, but some customers had gone in through the back door for a drink. One Catholic civilian was killed. There was initial newspaper speculation that the IRA had bombed the bar because it had not closed fully, and the Sutton database lists the IRA as responsible. However, it is generally believed that loyalists were responsible for the attack, which fits the pattern of loyalist attacks in the county.

5th February 1972: Two IRA volunteers were killed when a bomb they were transporting exploded accidentally on a barge in Lough Neagh.

10th February 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed in a gun battle with the RUC in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

10th February 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on their Armoured Personnel Carrier in Cullyhanna, County Armagh.

13th February 1972: An off-duty British soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh.

16th February 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in separate IRA gun attacks in Derry and at the Moira roundabout in County Down.

21st February 1972: Four IRA volunteers died in Belfast when a bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely.

29th February 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Lurgan, County Armagh.

1st March 1972: An off-duty UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA at his home in Garrisson, County Fermanagh.

2nd March 1972: An RUC officer was shot dead in an IRA ambush in Newry.

3rd March 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper team on Manor Street in Belfast.

4th March 1972: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the RUC during a bomb attack on a factory in Boucher Street, Belfast.

4th March 1972: A bomb exploded at the Abercorn Restaurant in Belfast without any warning. Two civilians were killed and over 100 people injured. The IRA were blamed, but denied responsibility.

8th March 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead at his workplace by the IRA in Middletown, County Armagh.

9th March 1972: Three IRA volunteers were killed when a bomb they were assembling exploded accidentally in a house in Clonard, Belfast.

14th March 1972: Two IRA volunteers were shot dead by the British Army in Dove Gardens, Derry City.

14th March 1972: A two-man IRA unit armed with sub-machine guns ambushed a joint British Army/RUC patrol on Brackaville Road outside Coalisland. Over 50 shots were fired by the unit. The RUC officer who was driving the police patrol vehicle was killed.

14th March 1972: After the end of a three-day cease fire, an IRA bomb caused widespread damage in the main street of Lisburn. Three soldiers and an RUC officer were wounded.

15th March 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA booby-trap bomb attack in Belfast. An RUC officer was killed in an IRA gun attack in Coalisland, County Tyrone.

20th March 1972: Two RUC officers, a British soldier and four civilians were killed when the IRA detonated a carbomb on Donegall Street in Belfast. The warning had been inadequate.

20th March 1972: Rfn. John Taylor. Was shot dead by an IRA sniper on William Street in Londonderry.

23rd March 1972: The IRA detonated two car bombs in Main Street, Bangor.

25 thMarch 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed when two IRA units engaged each other in error on the Springfield Road in Belfast.

28th March 1972: The IRA carried out a car-bomb attack on Limavady RUC base in County Londonderry. Two civilians who were driving past at the time were killed in the explosion.

29th March 1972: A British soldier was killed in an IRA booby-trap bomb attack on Wellington Street in Belfast.

30th March 1972: A civilian was killed in the crossfire of a gun-battle between the IRA and the British Army in the Andersonstown area of Belfast.

7th April 1972: Three IRA volunteers died when a bomb they were assembling exploded accidentally in a garage in the Greencastle area of Belfast.

8th April 1972: A British soldier was killed in an IRA sniper attack on his patrol on the Springfield Road in Belfast.

13th April 1972: The IRA detonated a car-bomb on the Main Street of Ballymoney, County Antrim. Despite a warning to evacuate the area, one civilian was killed.

17th April 1972: A British Army officer and three soldiers were shot and wounded by an IRA unit at Divis Flats, Belfast. A nine-year-old boy was also injured.

19th April 1972: A UDR soldier was killed after being kidnapped by the IRA near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

25th April 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun-attack on a British Army Permanent Vehicle Checkpoint on the Donegall Road in Belfast.

29th April 1972: A civilian was killed in the crossfire between an IRA unit and the British Army outside Oldpark British Army base in Belfast.

10th May 1972: An IRA bomb set a fire that destroyed the Belfast Co-operative store.

11th May 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on patrol in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

13th May 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed in a gun-battle with the British Army on William Street in Derry.

13th May 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in a gun-battle with the IRA in Ballymurphy, Belfast.

17th May 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack while repairing a damaged perimeter fence at Crossmaglen British Army base in County Armagh.

18th May 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper on Flax Street in Belfast.

20th May 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on patrol in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

23rd May 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast.

26th May 1972: The IRA detonated a car-bomb on Oxford Street in Belfast. A civilian was killed in the explosion.

28th May 1972: Four IRA volunteers, along with four civilians, were killed when a bomb they were preparing exploded accidentally in the Short Strand area of Belfast.

30th May 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in separate IRA sniper and bomb attacks in Belfast.

2nd June 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on their foot-patrol in Rosslea, County Fermanagh.

6th June 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in separate IRA sniper attacks in Belfast.

8th June 1972: A member of the Garda Síochána was killed when he set off an IRA booby-trap bomb. He had strayed a few yards across the border into Legkelly, County Fermanagh.

8th June 1972: A UDR soldier was killed by an IRA sniper on the Buncrana Road in Derry.

9th June 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by an IRA unit after leaving his workplace in Finaghy, Belfast.

11th June 1972: Colonel Gaddafi announced that he had supplied arms to “revolutionaries” in Ireland. There were shooting incidents across Belfast and Northern Ireland, including a gun battle between Loyalist and Republican paramilitaries in the Oldpark area of Belfast. Three civilians and a British soldier were killed.

12th June 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA during a gun-battle in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

18th June 1972: Three British soldiers were killed in an IRA booby-trap bomb attack. The bomb had been left in a derelict house in Bleary, County Armagh.

19th June 1972: An associate of the OIRA was shot dead by the IRA during a dispute in the Cracked Cup Social Club in Belfast.

19th June 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Ardoyne, Belfast.

21st June 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on guard duty at a British base in Derry.

24th June 1972: Three British soldiers were killed by an IRA land mine attack near Dungiven, County Londonderry.

26th June 1972: Rfn James Meredith was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on mobile-patrol in Abercon Road Londonderry.

26th June–8 July 1972: IRA ceasefire and talks with British government.

27th June 1972: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA after attempting to drive though one of their vehicle checkpoints.

7th July 1972: A civilian was shot dead after crashing his car into an IRA roadblock.

9th July 1972: A UDA member was shot dead by the IRA in the Markets area of Belfast.

11th July 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun attack in Derry.

13th July 1972: Four British soldiers and an IRA volunteer were killed in various gun-battles across Belfast. The British Army also killed two# armed men.

14th July 1972: An IRA volunteer was shot dead in a gun battle with the British Army. Also killed in the violence were three British soldiers, an OIRA volunteer and a civilian.

15th July 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in separate IRA attacks in Belfast and Armagh.

16th July 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on their armoured vehicle in Crossmaglen, County Armagh. In Belfast an RUC officer was killed in an IRA gun attack on his patrol car. A member of the IRA Youth Section was killed by a rubber bullet fired by security forces in Strabane, County Tyrone.

18th July 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper at the British Army base in Ballymurphy, Belfast. The IRA also shot dead a civilian who attempted to stop a bomb attack on a building in Belfast.

20th July 1972: A civilian was shot dead attempting to stop an IRA bomb attack on his business premises.

21th July 1972: On “Bloody Friday” 22 bombs in Belfast killed two British soldiers, a UDA member and six civilians and injured 130 others. The IRA officially apologised for this set of attacks in 2002. An IRA volunteer was killed in a gun battle with British troops in the Markets area of Belfast.

23rd July 1972: A UDR soldier was kidnapped and shot dead by the IRA in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

24th July 1972: A Chinese restaurant was destroyed by an IRA bomb in the Dockside area of Derry. As British troops arrived on the scene they were ambushed by a sniper. One civilian was wounded in the crossfire.

24th July 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Ballymurphy, Belfast.

26th July 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA attack on a British foot-patrol in the Unity Flats, Belfast.

28th July 1972: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by a British sniper while sitting in a car outside the “Starry Plough Bar” in Belfast.

31st July 1972: Three car bombs exploded in the Claudy bombings, killing nine people on Claudy High Street near Derry. The IRA have always denied involvement, but they are believed to have been responsible. In Operation Motorman, the biggest British military operation since the Suez crisis, the army used 12,000 soldiers supported by tanks and bulldozers to dismantle barricades and take IRA held “no go areas” in Belfast and Derry.

3rd August 1972: An IRA volunteer and a British soldier were killed in separate attacks in Belfast and Tyrone.

4th August 1972: L/Cpl. David Card. Was killed by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol in the Andersonstown area of Belfast.

7th August 1972: Four British soldiers were killed in three separate IRA attacks across Northern Ireland.

9th August 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed when a bomb exploded accidentally in a garage in Newry.

11th August 1972: Two IRA volunteers died when the vanbomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in the Lower Falls, Belfast.

14th August 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA booby-trap bomb attack at Casement Park British Army base in Belfast. A civilian was also killed in the crossfire between an IRA unit and a British patrol in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

17th August 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA in a sniper attack just off the Grosvenor Road in Belfast.

18th August 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in separate IRA sniper attacks in Belfast.

22th August 1972: The IRA shot dead a member of the Loyalist Association of Workers on Turin Street in Belfast.

22th August 1972: A bomb prematurely exploded at a customs post in Newry, killing nine people, including three IRA volunteers.

23rd August 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack in the Andersonstown area of Belfast.

24th August 1972: A British soldier was killed in an IRA landmine attack on a British mobile-patrol in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

25th August 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in the Shantallow area of Derry.

26th August 1972: Two UDR soldiers were killed in an IRA remote controlled bomb attack in Cherrymount, County Fermanagh.

26th August 1972: Two IRA volunteers died in a premature bomb explosion in Downpatrick, County Down.

27th August 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Creggan Heights, Derry.

28th August 1972: Cpl. Ian Morrill. Was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack on Beechmount Avenue in Belfast. A civilian was also killed when he triggered a booby-trap bomb near his farm in County Fermanagh. It was reported that the bomb had been intended for soldiers who were patrolling the area following reports of gunfire.

30th August 1972: Rfn. David Griffiths ( Shot by sniper ) one of Two British soldiers who were killed in separate IRA gun and bomb attacks in Belfast. In the early morning of 30th of August 1972 a foot patrol of ‘B’ Company, 3rd Royal Green jackets, commanded by 2nd Lieutenant A. Kinnear, moved slowly down the street, the soldiers keenly but nervously alert. The practice of the patrol was to move forward in a leap-frogging manner with the first section of the patrol taking up a stationary position to cover the second section of the patrol as it moved quickly forward. The second section then took up a similar position to cover the advance of the first section.

Rifleman Griffiths moved quickly forward from his covering position to take up a kneeling position in front of the window of the house on the comer of Clonards Street, which unbeknown to him, was occupied by the I.R.A. gunmen. The previously loosened brick was silently removed and, edging his rifle quietly through the gap, the terrorist gunman shot Rifleman Griffiths in the back at point-blank range.

Although wearing body armour in the form of a flak-jacket the range was too close for the jacket to protect him adequately – he was mortally wounded and died a few minutes later. In the confusion, the murderers made good their escape via the back door of the house, through the narrow back streets of The Falls, until they merged into the safety of the residents of the area, sympathetic to their cause. Only 24 hours previously, Corporal Morrill of ‘A’ Company, 3rd Green Jackets, had been killed in the same area whilst searching a terrorist suspect.

Griffiths was buried with full military honours at Allerton Cemetery, his coffin being borne on a gun-carriage and the service attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Robin Evelegh, 3rd Royal Green Jackets, and Griffiths’ platoon commander, 2nd Lieutenant Andrew Kinnear; sold with a poignant hand written letter from a fellow Green Jacket who was charged with the removal of Griffiths’ body to the mortuary – on collecting his private possessions for return to his family, the tip of the round that killed him was found inside of his flak jacket.

10th September 1972: Three British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on a British Armoured Personnel Carrier near Dungannon, County Tyrone.

10th September 1972: L/Cpl Ian George  Died of unknown causes in his sleep whilst on tour.  

15th September 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack in the Bogside area of Derry.

17th September 1972: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army during a riot in the Creggan area of Derry.

18th September 1972: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA gun attack while on foot-patrol in the Lecky Road area of Derry.

20th September 1972: A British soldier was killed in a gun battle with the IRA on Springhill Avenue in Ballymurphy, Belfast.

21st September 1972: A UDR soldier and his wife were killed in an IRA gun attack on their home in Derrylin, County Fermanagh.

22nd September 1972: A British soldier was killed in an IRA sniper attack in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

27th September 1972: A British soldier was killed in an IRA gun attack in Derry. A civilian, who was a member of the Orange Order, was killed in an IRA gun attack at the corner of Ligoniel Road and Mill Avenue, Belfast.

29th September 1972: An IRA volunteer and a British soldier were killed in a gun-battle in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

30th September 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

2nd October 1972: An undercover British soldier was shot dead by the IRA in the Twinbrook area of Belfast.

2nd October 1972: The IRA kidnapped and killed four alleged informers.

6th October 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed during an IRA attack on a British Army base in the Lower Falls, Belfast.

10th October 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA outside his home in Newry.

10th October 1972: Three IRA volunteers died when a bomb they were assembling exploded in a house in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

13th October 1972: An RUC officer was shot dead by the IRA while driving a car along Castle Street in Belfast.

18th October 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on a British mobile-patrol in the Falls Road area of Belfast.

22nd October 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA on his farm in Derrydoon, County Fermanagh.

22nd October 1972: Two barges were bombed and sunk by the IRA at Lough Neagh with a loss of £80,000.

24th October 1972: Two British soldiers were killed in separate IRA sniper and bomb attacks in Belfast and Armagh.

28th October 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol on Bishop Street in Derry.

31st October 1971: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

8th November 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA while driving his car through Lurgan, County Armagh.

10th November 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA while manning a vehicle checkpoint in the Oldpark area of Belfast.

13th November 1972: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army while driving his car along La Salle Drive in Belfast.

14th November 1972: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA as he stood guarding homes which were being raided by the British Army in the Unity Flats complex in Belfast.

16th November 1972: An RUC officer was killed by an under-car booby trap bomb which detonated as he drove through Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

20th November 1972: Two British soldiers were killed by a booby-trap bomb hidden in an abandoned house in Cullyhanna, County Armagh.

22nd November 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA at his home near Maghera, County Londonderry.

28th November 1972: The IRA fired 15 rockets at ten security posts throughout Northern Ireland. An RUC officer was killed in a rocket attack on Belleek RUC base, County Fermanagh. This is the first recorded use of an RPG-7 by the IRA. Two IRA volunteers were killed in a premature bomb explosion in the Bogside area of Derry. A British Army bomb disposal expert was killed attempting to defuse an IRA bomb in the Strand Road area of Derry.

29th November 1972: Another three rockets hit British Army posts in Northern Ireland.

5th December 1972: The IRA fired 15 rockets and mortars at security posts throughout Northern Ireland. An off-duty UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA outside a post office in Killeter, County Tyrone.

6th December 1972: Eleven British soldiers were hurt when their APC was hit by a rocket in the Lower Falls district of Belfast. One of them lost an arm. Another three soldiers were hurt in a gun attack on their APC in the Ballymurphy district of Belfast.

7th December 1972: Mother of ten, Jean McConville, was kidnapped and killed by the IRA, allegedly for informing the British Army of IRA activities, although her family contend that she was killed for comforting a wounded British soldier. The IRA denied any involvement in the killing until the 1990s, when it acknowledged its action and helped to locate the body.

8th December 1972: Rfn. Raymond Joesbury. Was shot dead by the IRA while on mobile patrol in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast.

10th December 1972: A British soldier was killed by a booby-trapped rocket launcher which had been planted by the IRA at Fort Monagh British Army base in the Turf Lodge area of Belfast.

13th December 1972: An off-duty RUC officer was shot dead by the IRA outside the Chester Park Hotel in Belfast.

16th December 1972: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by loyalists at his butchers shop in Derrylin, County Fermanagh.

18th December 1972: Ulster Unionist Party Councillor William Johnston was kidnapped and shot dead by the IRA in Armagh town. He was also a member of the Police Authority.

20th December 1972: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Claudy, County Londonderry.

24th December 1972: A British soldier was killed after being shot by an IRA sniper on Lecky Road in Derry.

27th December 1972: An IRA volunteer was killed by the British Army while carrying out a gun attack on their patrol in Strabane, County Tyrone.

29th December 1972: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army while out walking in Ballyarnet, County Londonderry.

1st January 1973: A rocket hit Springfield Road RUC base in Belfast, injuring two people. The following night, another rocket was fired at Beragh RUC base, County Tyrone. It missed the target and hit an unoccupied house nearby.

4th January 1973: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA outside his home in Straidarran, County Londonderry.

5th January 1973: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA outside a filling station in Belfast. He had been mistaken for an off-duty British soldier.

14th January 1973: Three members of the RUC were killed in separate IRA bomb attacks in Cappagh and Derry City.

16th January 1973: An off-duty UDR soldier was kidnapped and shot dead by the IRA in Belfast. his body was dumped in an abandoned car.

18th January 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army during an attempted robbery in the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

25th January 1973: A judge was shot dead by the IRA on the Falls Road in Belfast.

26th January 1973: A UDR landrover was hit by an IRA grenade and gunfire near Whitecross, County Armagh. Three soldiers were hurt. Another soldier was badly wounded by a sniper while patrolling in Lurgan, County Armagh.

30th January 1973: A UDA member was kidnapped and shot dead by the IRA near Rodney Parade in Belfast. It was alleged that the UDA member had been involved in the killing of a 15 year old Catholic boy the day before.

1973

1st February 1973: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack while he was manning a vehicle checkpoint in Strabane, County Tyrone.

2nd February 1973: A UDA member was killed in an IRA drive-by gun attack on the Oldpark Road in Belfast.

4th February 1973: An IRA volunteer, along with three civilians, were shot dead by British Army snipers in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

6th February 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA rocket attack on a British Army Armoured Personnel carrier in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

7th February 1973: A UDA member was kidnapped by the IRA and later found shot dead in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

8th February 1973: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA sniper as he sat in a stationary patrol car in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

10th February 1973: Two IRA volunteers were killed when a bomb they were assembling exploded prematurely near Strangford, County Down.

14th February 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while patrolling the Divis Flats complex in west Belfast.

20th February 1973: Two British soldiers were killed when their mobile-patrol was ambushed by IRA snipers in Cupar Street, Belfast.

21st February 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA gun attack on Fort Pegasus British Army base in the Whiterock area of Belfast.

25th February 1973: A nine-year-old child was killed after he triggered an IRA booby trap bomb which had been planted at the rear of his house.

27th February 1973: Two RUC officers were killed when their patrol was ambushed by an IRA sniper in Aghagallon, County Antrim.

28th February 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA gun attack on a patrol in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

3rd March 1973: An off-duty UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Mullennan, County Londonderry.

4th March 1973: A British soldier was killed when the IRA carried out a gun attack on a British Army unit which was raiding homes in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

6th March 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while patrolling the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. Another British soldier was wounded by an IRA booby-trap bomb planted in a derelict house near Forkill, County Armagh. He died on 8th March 1973.

8th March 1973: The Provisional IRA conducted its first operation in England, planting four car bombs in London. Two bombs exploded, killing one person and injuring 265 others. Ten members of the IRA team, including Gerry Kelly, Dolours Price and Marian Price, were arrested at Heathrow Airport trying to leave the country.

8th March 1973: During the Border-Poll a number of polling stations came under IRA attack with a British soldier being shot dead by the IRA at a station in the Lower Falls.

13th March 1973: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby trap bomb while on patrol in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

16th March 1973: A UDR soldier was kidnapped by the IRA and shot dead on the New Lodge Road in Belfast.

17th March 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA landmine attack on his armoured patrol near Dungannon, County Tyrone.

23rd March 1973: Three British soldiers were killed by the IRA after being lured to a house on Antrim Road in Belfast. All three were shot dead.

26th March 1973: The IRA fired four rockets at British and RUC targets. One was fired at a British Saracen APC near the border, one at an RUC landrover near the border and another at a British patrol in Belfast.

27th March 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA landmine attack on a British mobile patrol in Ballygawley, County Tyrone.

29th March 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol in Andersonstown, Belfast.

1st April 1973: A rocket was fired at Caledon RUC base, County Tyrone. It exploded against the perimeter fence and caused little damage.

7th April 1973: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on a British armoured patrol near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

9th April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol in Lurgan, County Armagh.

11th April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA while on foot-patrol in the Bogside area of Derry City.

12th April 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

17th April 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by a British Army sniper while standing talking with a number of men in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

20th April 1973: A British soldier was shot by an IRA sniper in the New Lodge, Belfast. A British post was hit by a rocket and then raked with gunfire in Ballymurphy, Belfast. The British returned fire but there were no casualties.

28th April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Shantallow, Derry City.

29th April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on mobile-patrol in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

3rd May 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol on the Foyle Road in Derry City.

5th May 1973: Three British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on their foot patrol in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

10th May 1973: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. In Fermanagh, an IRA volunteer Anthony Ahern was killed when a landmine he was preparing near Rosslea exploded.

13th May 1973: Two British soldiers were killed when the IRA detonated a remote-controlled bomb as their foot patrol passed on the Donegall Road in Belfast. In Tyrone, an IRA volunteer was killed as he attempted to smash his car through a British Army UDR checkpoint near Coagh.

14th May 1973: A civilian was killed when he triggered an IRA booby-trap bomb hidden in a derelict cottage on Moy Road in Portadown, County Armagh. The bomb was intended for the security forces.

17th May 1973: A booby trap bomb in Omagh, County Tyrone killed four off-duty British soldiers. A fifth soldier died of his injuries on 3rd June.

18th May 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army while carrying out a sniper attack on a British patrol.

24th May 1973: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA remote-controlled bomb attack as they searched houses in Cullaville, County Armagh.

26th May 1973: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army foot patrol on Finaghy Road North, Belfast.

5th June 1973: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Belmore Street in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

5th June 1973: A civilian was found shot dead near Clogher, County Tyrone. The IRA said he was killed for being an informer.

12th June 1973: Six civilians were killed by an IRA car bomb on Railway Road in Coleraine, County Londonderry. The warning given by the IRA had been inadequate.

21st June 1973: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an empty building on Lecky Road, Derry.

21st June 1973: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an empty building in Strabane.

25th June 1973: Three IRA volunteers were killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in their car on Gortin Road near Omagh, County Tyrone.

26th June 1973: The IRA shot dead a civilian who worked for the British Army as he left Bligh’s Lane British Army Base, Derry.

1st July 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier at Bull Ring, Belfast.

4th July 1973: A British base in Derry was hit by two rockets and raked with gunfire. Another rocket exploded against the fence of a British base in Belfast, hurting two people. Two British patrols were ambushed elsewhere in Belfast and two people were hurt in the crossfire.

10th July 1973: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier outside Tully’s Bar in Belleek, County Armagh.

11th July 1973: A rocket was fired at a British post guarding a gasworks in Derry. It hit an anti-rocket screen and there were no casualties. The IRA claimed responsibility.

17th July 1973: Two British soldiers were killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an electricity junction box at Divis Flats, Belfast.

18th July 1973: A patrolling British soldier was wounded by an IRA landmine near Clogher, County Tyrone. He died on 22nd July 1973.

20th July 1973: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in Middletown, County Armagh.

20th July 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty UDR soldier outside his home in Ballintemple, County Armagh. He was also a member of the Orange Order.

21st July 1973: Two IRA volunteers were killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in their car in Newcastle, County Down.

3rd August 1973: IRA members shot dead a civilian who was delivering wages to the British Leyland factory on Cashel Road, Dublin. They were carrying-out an armed robbery.

11th August 1973: An IRA volunteer died when the bomb he was transporting exploded prematurely in a car at Kilclean, County Donegal.

11th August 1973: An IRA assault team consisting of over 20 volunteers surrounded Crossmaglen RUC barracks. The barracks was hit with rockets, mortars and machine gun fire. The RUC fired a large number of shots at the unit. There were no serious injuries on either side.

13th August 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty RUC Reservist at his workplace on Cathedral Road, Armagh town.

16th August 1973: Two IRA volunteers were killed when a mortar prematurely exploded during an attack on Pomeroy British Army/RUC base, County Tyrone. The IRA attacked the base for about an hour with machine-guns, a dozen mortars and three rockets.

18th August 1973: Two IRA firebombs exploded at Harrods Department store in London causing slight damage.

20th August 1973: Book bombs were sent to a number of places in London including the Old Bailey and the Union Jack Club. Ten incendiary devices were also defused in Londons West End.

22nd August 1973: An IRA book bomb exploded at the Conservative Party Central Office in London.

23rd August 1973: The IRA accidentally shot dead a civilian as she drove her car at Tullyvallan, County Armagh. The sniper had mistaken her car for that of a UDR soldier.

23rd August 1973: A book bombs was sent to the Lieutenant General of the Ministry of Defence in London but was defused. An IRA bomb in a tube station in London was also defused.

24th August 1973: A civilian was found shot dead in a car on Buncrana Road, Derry. The IRA said it killed him for being an informer.

24th August 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at the London Stock Exchange.

25th August 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at the Bank of England in London. An IRA bomb was also defused in Oxford Street.

25th August 1973: The IRA shot an undercover British soldier outside Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. He died on 18th September 1973.

27th August 1973: The IRA destroyed The Royal Bastion monument to British Governor Walker in Derry with a large bomb.

28th August 1973: The IRA shot dead a UDR soldier in the Culdee area of Armagh town.

29th August 1973: Two IRA bombs exploded in Solihull Shopping Centre in England. A building society was extensively damaged.

30th August 1973: A British Army officer was killed while trying to defuse an IRA bomb at Tullyhommon Post Office, County Fermanagh.

23rd August 1973: Two IRA volunteers were hurt in a premature explosion in a house on Elaine Street, Belfast. One died on 30th August and the other died on 1st September 1973.

30th August 1973: A shoe shop in London was destroyed by an IRA firebomb and a bomb was defused at Baker Street tube station.

31st August 1973: One IRA volunteer was killed and another wounded in a shootout with the British Army on Ballymurphy Road, Belfast. The other died on 22nd September 1973,James Bryson 25 years, Ballymurphy, west Belfast, an IRA activist, he was shot and fatally wounded by undercover British soldiers in Ballymurphy on 31st of in August 1973. He died in hospital on the 22nd of September 1973. Patrick Mulvenna (19), also an IRA activist was shot dead in the same incident. Both men were getting out of a car when they were shot. An RGJ  was awarded the Military Medal for this incident. ( for a full read up on this story please see The Bryson report ) https://www.memorialatpeninsula.org/?p=14239

31st August 1973: Three vehicles were damaged when an IRA bomb exploded on Old Quebec Street in London.

5th September 1973: A civilian was killed when he triggered a booby-trap bomb by driving his tractor into a field near Belcoo, County Fermanagh. It is believed it was planted by the IRA and intended for the security forces. The RUC had just removed a dummy bomb at the scene.

7th September 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty UDR soldier near Belcoo, County Fermanagh.

8th September 1973: An IRA bomb exploded at the ticket office in Victoria Station, London, injuring five people.

10th Septepmber 1973: The IRA detonated bombs at two train stations in London. Injuring 13 people.

12th September 1973: Two Police officers were injured when an IRA bomb exploded at the offices of the Royal Naval Association in London. A woman collapsed and died during an evacuation following a hoax bomb alert at Euston Station in London.

17th September 1973: A British Army bomb disposal expert was wounded attempting to defuse an IRA bomb which had been planted in Birmingham, England. He died on 23rd September 1973. Another IRA bomb was discovered at a Household Cavalry camp in Surrey.

20th September 1973: Five people were injured when an IRA bomb exploded at the Headquarters of the Duke of York in London.

22nd September 1973: A civilian was found shot dead on Foyle Road, Derry. The IRA claimed it killed him for being an informer.

2nd October 1973: An IRA incendiary bomb caused extensive damage to a department store in Colchester, Essex. Another IRA firebomb damaged Heathrow airport.

3rd October 1973: A British soldier was killed by a booby-trap bomb in a parcel left at Bligh’s Lane British Army Base, Derry.

3rd October 1973: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier in Lurgan, County Armagh. He was also a member of the Orange Order.

4th October 1973: Four people were injured when an IRA bomb exploded at a British Army careers office in London.

16th October 1973: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Antrim Road, Belfast.

28th October 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

28th October 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty RUC officer near Lifford, County Donegal.

31st October 1973: Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape. Three IRA volunteers escaped from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin after a hijacked helicopter landed in the exercise yard. One of the escapees was former IRA Chief of Staff Seamus Twomey.

6th November 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier in Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

13th November 1973: A civilian was found shot dead near the Floral Hall on Antrim Road, Belfast. The IRA said it killed him because he was an informer.

14th November 1973: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army observation post on Moira Street, Belfast.

14th November 1973: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army patrol on Lecky Road, Derry.

15th November 1973: The RUC shot dead an IRA volunteer during a gun attack on Keady British Army/RUC base, County Armagh.

24th November 1973: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA landmine near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

24th November 1973: The British Army shot dead a Fianna member during a bomb attack on a British Army patrol at Divis Flats, Belfast.

25th November 1973: The IRA shot dead two patrolling British soldiers at Rossville Flats, Derry. Six rockets and heavy gunfire hit Belleek RUC base, County Fermanagh. The attack came from the other side of the border.

( 26th November 1973: Rfn Nicolas Allen, Death by violent or unnatural causes. )

27th November 1973: The British Army shot dead an IRA volunteer as he tried to hijack a car in Coalisland, County Tyrone.

1st December 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Edward Street, Lurgan, County Armagh.

3rd December 1973: The British Army shot dead an IRA volunteer at Central Drive, Derry. The IRA unit was attempting to ambush a British patrol.

10th December 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Leeson Street, Belfast.

11th December 1973: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb attached to his car at his home in Newcastle, County Down. Another under-car bomb blew-off an RUC officer’s leg in Downpatrick, County Down. Belcoo RUC base in County Fermanagh was attacked with rockets and machine-guns, wounding one officer.

15th December 1973: The IRA shot dead a former RUC officer at Derrynoose near Keady, County Armagh.

15th December 1973: An IRA volunteer died when the bomb he was carrying exploded pematurely as he walked across Clady bridge Strabane.

17th December 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at Collier House in London.

18th December 1973: The IRA carried out a series of attacks in London. IN one attack two police officers were injured in an explosion in Ronan Way. 52 People were injured when a bomb exploded at Horseferry House and six people were injured when a bomb exploded at a Postal sorting office.

19th December 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at a postal sorting office in London.

20th December 1973: The IRA accidentally shot dead a civilian on Atlantic Avenue, Belfast. An RUC Reservist was the intended target.

23rd December 1973: The IRA carried out a series of bombings in London. Bombs exploded at Kensington police station, Hammersmith offices, George Wimpey and outside the White Lion pub.

24th December 1973: The Provisional IRA left two packages which exploded almost simultaneously in the late evening on Christmas Eve. One was in the doorway of the North Star public house South Hampstead, which exploded injuring six people, and the other exploded on the upstairs verandah of the nearby Swiss Cottage Tavern where an unspecified number of people were injured.

24th December 1973: Three IRA volunteers were killed when their bomb prematurely exploded in Clarke’s Bar on Monaghan Street, Newry.

26th December 1973: One person was injured when an IRA bomb exploded at Stage Door public house in London.

31st December 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a British soldier who was traveling in an APC on Beechmount Avenue, Belfast.

1st January 1974: A civilian was shot dead during an IRA sniper attack attack on a British Army patrol on McClure Street, Belfast.

17th January 1974: The IRA shot dead an off-duty UDR soldier near his home at Trillick, County Fermanagh.

20th January 1974: A UDR soldier was found shot dead in a field near Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. He had been shot by the IRA.

21st January 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA remote-controlled bomb hidden in an electricity distribution box on Lone Moor Road, Derry. It was detonated when a British foot-patrol passed.

23rd January 1974: An IRA unit which included Rose Dugdale and Eddie Gallagher hijacked a helicopter and used it to drop bombs on Strabane RUC station. One of the bombs landed on the grounds of the station, but failed to explode.

25th January 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA landmine as he and his patrol searched a field near Ballyronan, County Londonderry.

26th January 1974: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Antrim Road in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

29th January 1974: An IRA sniper fired at a bus carrying Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel at Shimna Parade in Newcastle, County Down. The RAF personnel returned fire, killing a civilian.

29th January 1974: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Dungiven Road in Derry.

4th February 1974: Twelve people were killed in the M62 Coach Bombing, when a bomb exploded on a coach as it was travelling along the M62 motorway at Birkenshaw. The dead included nine soldiers, and two young children.

18th February 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb while on foot-patrol at Moybane, County Armagh.

23rd February 1974: A large gun battle between the IRA and the British army occurred near Strabane, County Tyrone. The engagement also involved mortar rounds fired by the IRA. Some 25 Traveller caravans were trapped between the warring factions, and one of the vehicles was destroyed by a mortar bomb.

24th February 1974: A civilian was found shot dead at Rathlin Drive in Derry. He was killed by the IRA as it believed he was an informer.

2nd March 1974: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Donegall Street, Belfast.

3rd March 1974: An IRA landmine exploded and killed an UDR soldier at Donaghmore, County Tyrone.

10th March 1974: Two civilians were killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb hidden in a car at Dromintee, County Armagh. It was meant for a British foot-patrol.

12th March 1974: A Fine Gael senator, Billy Fox, was kidnapped by the IRA and later found shot dead near Clones, County Monaghan.

13th March 1974: The IRA shot dead a British soldier at a checkpoint on Chapel Lane, Belfast.

15th March 1974: Two IRA volunteers were killed when their landmine prematurely exploded on Aughnacloy Road in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

15th March 1974: A civilian was killed by an IRA lorry bomb on Queen Street in Magherafelt, County Londonderry. The warning sent by the IRA had been inadequate.

16th March 1974: IRA snipers shot dead two patrolling British soldiers at Moybane, County Armagh.

17th March 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling RUC officer in Craigavon, County Armagh.

17th March 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Foyle Road, Derry.

19th March 1974: An off-duty RUC officer was killed by an under-car booby-trap bomb at his home on Glenkeen Avenue in Greenisland, County Antrim.

21st March 1974: An IRA sniper shot a patrolling British soldier on Antrim Road, Belfast. He died on 28th March.

23rd March 1974: The IRA shot dead a former British soldier as he sat in his car in Mountfield, County Tyrone. He had recently retired.

26th March 1974: A civilian was killed by an IRA car bomb on Springfield Road, Belfast. He had been driving past at the time.

1st April 1974: It was reported that “small arms fire, mortar bombs and possibly rockets were used” in an attack on a British base in Derry. Two British soldiers were hurt.

9th April 1974: The IRA shot dead a British commanding officer at his home near Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland, England.

10th April 1974: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier at his workplace in Derrylin, County Fermanagh.

11th April 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA landmine near Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh.

11th April 1974: A patrolling UDR soldier was killed by a remote controlled bomb in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

14th April 1974: The IRA shot dead an undercover British soldier who was watching a republican commemoration parade at Meenan Square, Derry.

16th April 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead an RUC officer outside Newtownhamilton RUC base, County Armagh.

18th April 1974: A civilian was killed when he triggered a booby-trap bomb near Loup, County Londonderry. It exploded about 8 ft from his tractor as he drove past Saltersland church hall. There had been a small explosion there earlier in the day. It is believed both bombs were planted by the IRA and that the second bomb was for security forces investigating the first.

20th April 1974: A civilian was found shot dead by the side of Upper Springfield Road, Belfast. The IRA shot him because it believed he was an informer.

22nd April 1974: A civilian who worked for the British Army was found shot dead in his car at Silverbridge, County Armagh.

1st May 1974: A British outpost came under IRA attack at Crossmaglen, County Armagh. It was hit by three rockets and a 15-minute gun-battle followed. No injuries were reported.

2nd May 1974: Up to 40 members from the Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade attacked a British army/UDR base at the Deanery in Clogher, County Tyrone with machine gun and RPG fire resulting the death of one female UDR soldier.

10th May 1974: The IRA shot dead two patrolling RUC officers on Finaghy Road North, Belfast.

13th May 1974: Two IRA volunteers were killed when their bomb prematurely exploded at a petrol station at Donnydeade, County Tyrone.

31st May 1974: A former Royal Navy serviceman was killed by a booby-trap bomb left in a bin at his home on Strabane Old Road, Derry. He worked for the Department of Environment at Ebrington Barracks in Derry. It is believed to have been planted by the IRA.

5th June 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Irish Street in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

17th June 1974: A bomb exploded at the Houses of Parliament in London, causing extensive damage and injuring 11 people.

18th June 1974: A patrolling RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an entry off Market Street, Lurgan, County Armagh.

22nd June 1974: An RUC officer was shot dead from a passing car driven by IRA volunteers in Belfast.

22nd June 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on New Lodge Road, Belfast.

24th June 1974: Two IRA volunteers died when the bomb they were planting in Derry exploded prematurely.

29th June 1974: An IRA sniper shot a patrolling British soldier on Whiterock Road, Belfast. He died on 4th July.

2nd July 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in a derelict house near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

12th July 1974: The IRA shot dead a UDA member at Tiger’s Bay, Belfast.

17th July 1974: The IRA bombed the Tower of London. One civilian was killed.

20th July 1974: A former British soldier was found shot dead in a derelict house on Arundel Street, Belfast.

23rd July 1974: A UDR soldier is killed by an IRA car bomb on Bridge Street, Garvagh, County Londonderry.

30 thJuly 1974: The IRA devastated the commercial centre of Bangor town, County Down, in an overnight fire bomb attack.

30th July 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Hillman Street, Belfast.

13th August 1974: Two Royal Marines were killed when the IRA detonated a remote-controlled bomb in their observation post at Drummuckavall, County Armagh.

23rd August 1974: The IRA shot dead an undercover RUC officer in Diamond Bar on George Street, Omagh, County Tyrone.

23rd August 1974: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier at Cabragh, County Tyrone.

26th August 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA sniper in Craigavon, County Armagh.

27th August 1974: An IRA volunteer died when his bomb prematurely exploded in a house on Barcroft Park, Newry.

7th September 1974: A civilian was shot dead during an IRA sniper attack on a British patrol in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

8th September 1974: A Catholic man died three weeks after being shot on Newington Street, Belfast. A piece of cardboard was found nearby that had written on it: “this is the penalty for a sexual assault on a child of seven years old at the Waterworks”. After the shooting a caller rang the Irish News and said it had been a “punishment shooting” carried out by the IRA.

16th September 1974: The IRA shot dead a judge and a Martin McBirney, a magistrate, in Belfast. The judge was shot dead at his home in Beechlands and the magistrate was shot dead at his home on Belmont Road.

22nd September 1974: The IRA shot dead a former prison officer at his home on Hillmount Gardens, Belfast.

29th September 1974: Twenty-three mortar bombs were launched by the IRA at a British Army facility in Crossmaglen. The facility was also hit by automatic fire. The attack was to be combined with an air strike that was eventually called off.

29th September 1974: An aerial bombing was attempted on the British Army base at Crossmaglen by two IRA members who hijacked a three-seat Cessna plane from a flying club at Dundalk, while another two IRA men remained on the ground to prevent the members of the club from raising the alarm. The IRA unit loaded the aircraft with four cylinder bombs and forced the pilot to fly over the border. The attack failed after the hijackers became lost, and one of them launched a bomb five miles away from the intended target before flying back to the Republic. The dropping of the bomb was witnessed by British soldiers manning a border outpost. The Cessna eventually made a safe landing in a field near Ravensdale, County Louth. The strike was intended to support the mortar attack on the same compound.

5th October 1974: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on an RUC patrol at Greenhaw Road, Derry.

5th October 1974: Guildford pub bombing – four British soldiers and a civilian were killed and 182 were hurt when the IRA bombed a pub frequented by off-duty soldiers. Four people, dubbed the “Guildford Four”, would be convicted for the bombing and imprisoned for life. Fifteen years later Lord Lane of the Court of Appeal would overturn their convictions noting “the investigating officers must have lied”. Some had spent the entire 15 years in prison, years after the IRA volunteers who carried out the attacks came forward. No police officer was ever charged.

8th October 1974: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb on West Street in Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

21st October 1974: The IRA kidnapped and shot dead a British Territorial Army soldier in Belfast. His body was found in a derelict house.

23rd October 1974: A British soldier died three weeks after being shot by an IRA sniper on Racecourse Road, Derry.

28th October 1974; The IRA detonated a van bomb outside the British Army base at Ballykinlar in County Down, killing two soldiers.

30th October 1974: An IRA volunteer died when his bomb prematurely exploded at a garage on Strand Road, Derry.

6th November 1974: An IRA sniper shot dead two patrolling British soldiers in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

7th November 1974: Two British soldiers were killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb at an electricity substation near Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

7th November 1974: An off-duty British soldier and a civilian were killed when a bomb was thrown through the window of the Kings Head pub in Woolwich, England. Twenty-eight people were injured. Two British soldiers were killed by a bomb near Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

12th November 1974: Two civilians who worked for the British Army were found shot dead by the side of Sheriffs Road near Derry.

14th November 1974: An IRA volunteer died after the bomb he was planting outside a telephone exchange in Coventry exploded prematurely.

15th November 1974: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA sniper in Townsend Street Strabane.

16th November 1974: A patrolling UDR soldier was killed by an IRA sniper in Newry.

20th November 1974: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in Craigavon, County Armagh.

21st November 1974: The Birmingham pub bombings kill 19 people. The “Birmingham Six” would be tried for this and convicted. Many years later, after new evidence of police fabrication and suppression of evidence, their convictions would be quashed and they would be released. The IRA has never claimed responsibility.

2nd December 1974: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in a field near Derrylin, County Fermanagh.

2nd December 1974: An IRA volunteer was wounded when her bomb prematurely exploded in a house on Crawford Square, Derry. She died on 7th December.

7th December 1974: An IRA volunteer died when his bomb prematurely exploded in a house on Bridge Street, Derry.

14th December 1974: IRA snipers shot dead a British soldier and an RUC officer at Killeavy, County Armagh.

17th December 1974: An IRA bomb exploded at Tottenham Court Road, London, killing a passer-by.

21st December 1974: A bomb was defused in Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, London. second bomb was defused in the King’s Arms public house in Warminster, Wiltshire.

22nd December 1974: The IRA leadership declared a temporary ceasefire, pending talks with British government officials. Shortly before the ceasefire came into effect, the IRA bombed the London home of the Conservative Party leader and former Prime Minister Edward Heath.

29th December 1974: Rfn Michael Gibson, Shot along with a RUC constable at Forkhill on joint patrol

1975

10th January 1975: The British Army shot dead unarmed IRA volunteer John Francis Green in a shed in Castleblaney in County Monaghan. The incident is notable as British troops crossed the border to kill an unarmed IRA man at his home.

20th January 1975: IRA volunteer Kevin Coen was shot dead by the British Army in Fermanagh.

21st January 1975: Two IRA volunteers driving along Victoria Street, Belfast were killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely. There were also a series of bomb attacks across Belfast.

24th January 1975: A British soldier was killed in an IRA bomb attack on Colinward Street, Belfast.

31st January 1975: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

8th February 1975: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol in the village of Mullan, County Fermanagh.

10th February 1975: The IRA leadership declare a truce. The ceasefire was to last officially until 23rd January 1976, however it was not respected by all IRA units and violence continues throughout the year.

27th February 1975: Off-duty police officer Stephen Tibble was shot dead as he joined in the chase of a suspect on his motorbike in Barons Court, London. The suspect had been spotted by a detective coming out of a house which was later discovered to be an IRA bomb factory.

17th March 1975: An unarmed IRA volunteer was shot dead by the Irish Army while attempting to escape from Portlaoise Prison, County Laois.

24th March 1975: A post office official was shot dead when he arrived at the scene of a robbery at the post office in Silverbridge, County Armagh. It is alleged that the IRA was responsible and that the gunmen thought he was an RUC officer.

25th April 1975: A UDA member was shot dead as he walked along Bachelor’s Walk in Portadown, County Armagh. Gunmen, thought to be IRA volunteers, pulled-up alongside him in a car and opened fire. Although the Sutton Database lists him as a civilian, Lost Lives lists him as a “high-ranking local UDA member”.

2nd May 1975: A UDA member was shot dead by the IRA at Ardoyne Bus Depot in Belfast.

10th May 1975: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot-patrol on Waterloo Road in Derry.

18th May 1975: An IRA volunteer was stabbed to death in a lane by the UVF in a lane outside Rathfriland, County Down.

31st May 1975: The IRA kidnapped and shot dead one of their own members from Belfast who they alleged was an informer. His body was returned to his family by the IRA in 1999.

3rd June 1975: A UDR soldier and two civilians were found shot dead in a car in Killeen, County Armagh. The IRA are believed to have been responsible. The UDR soldier was also a member of the Orange Order.

4th June 1975: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by British soldiers outside the British Army barracks in Bessbrook, County Armagh.

10th June 1975: A UVF member was shot dead by the IRA in a shop on the Crumlin Road in Belfast.

7th July 1975: An RUC officer was killed in an IRA booby-trap bomb attack in Lurgan, County Armagh.

12th July 1975: A UDA member was found shot dead on Old Templepatrick Road at Ballyutoag, County Antrim. He was a doorman at a UDA club. It is believed the IRA was responsible. Although the Sutton Database lists him as a civilian, Lost Lives lists him as UDA member.

17th July 1975: The IRA killed four British soldiers in a remote controlled bomb attack near Forkill, County Armagh.

2nd August 1975: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier near his home in Moy, County Tyrone. He was also a member of the Orange Order.

13th August 1975: Four Protestant civilians and a member of the UVF were killed in a gun and bomb attack on the Bayardo Bar in Belfast.

13th August 1975: The IRA kidnapped and shot dead a former RUC officer in County Armagh. His body was found near Newtownhamilton on 15th August 1975. He was also a member of the Orange Order.

15th August 1975: The IRA shot dead a Protestant civilian at Camrick Bar on Market Street, Armagh town. He was a close friend of Harris Boyle, one of the UVF men killed the month before in the Miami Showband massacre. He and Boyle were often seen together. The IRA said it killed him because of an alleged association with Captain Robert Nairac and claimed it was in possession of his diary, which had been stolen in Portadown.

27th August 1975: A bomb exploded without warning at the Caterham Arms public house in Caterham, Surrey, England. Ten off-duty British soldiers and 23 civilians were injured.

28th August 1975: Seven people were injured when a bomb exploded in Oxford Street, London. A telephone warning was issued to The Sun newspaper five minutes before the explosion.

29th August 1975: A British Army bomb-disposal expert attached to the police was killed attempting to defuse an IRA bomb which had been left in a shoe shop on Kensington Church Street, Kensington, London.

30th August 1975: The IRA shot dead a UDR soldier near Whitecross, County Armagh.

31st August 1975: The IRA shot dead a UDR soldier on his farm near Keady, County Armagh, He was also a member of the Orange Order.

5th September 1975: Two people are killed and 63 injured when an IRA bomb exploded in the lobby of the Hilton hotel in London.

8th September 1975: A UDA member was shot dead by the IRA in the Markets area of Belfast.

3rd October 1975: A bomb exploded at a shop on Albertbridge Road in Belfast, which was owned by Red Hand Commandos leader John McKeague. A Catholic civilian was hurt and died of her injuries on 6th October 1975. It is believed that the IRA was responsible.

6th October 1975: An RUC officer was killed in an IRA bomb attack near Limavady, in County Londonderry.

9th October 1975: A British soldier was killed in an IRA landmine attack on a British Armoured Patrol in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.

9th October 1975: A civilian was killed when an IRA bomb exploded outside Green Park tube station in London, England.

10th October 1975: A UDA member was shot dead in his home by an IRA unit on the Ormeau Road in Belfast.

14th October 1975: An RUC officer was killed in an IRA booby-trap bomb attack in Portadown, County Armagh.

29th October 1975: The IRA shot dead an Official IRA (OIRA) volunteer, in McKenna’s Bar in the Markets area of Belfast. Between 29th October 1975 and 12th November 1975, 11 people were to die in the continuing feud between the two wings of the IRA. Most of those killed were members of the ‘official’ republican movement.

31st October 1975: The IRA shot dead an OIRA volunteer in the Short Strand area of Belfast.

31st October 1975: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the OIRA in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

3rd November 1975: The IRA shot dead a Republican Clubs member in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. Part of the ongoing IRA/OIRA feud.

3rd November 1975: A 33 year old lawyer was injured by a car bomb in Connaught Square, London W2.

6th November 1975: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

9th November 1975: The IRA shot dead an OIRA volunteer in the New Lodge area of Belfast.

10th November 1975: A UDR soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper outside Gough British Army Base at Carramoyle, County Armagh.

11th November 1975: The IRA shot dead an OIRA volunteer, A Republican Clubs member and his relative in separate attacks in Belfast. Part of the ongoing IRA/OIRA feud.

12th November 1975: A civilian was killed when an IRA unit threw a bomb into Scott’s Restaurant on Mount Street, in the upper-class Mayfair area of London.

16th November 1975: An RUC officer was killed in an IRA landmine attack on a patrol in Sixmilecross in County Tyrone.

18th November 1975: Two civilians were killed when an IRA unit threw a bomb into Walton’s Restaurant on Walton Street, in the Chelsea area of London.

21st November 1975: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb when he picked up a rifle which was left in an abandoned car in Forkill, County Armagh.

22nd November 1975: Three British soldiers were killed in a gun battle when an IRA unit attacked their undercover observation post at Drummuckavall, County Armagh. ( Drummuckavall ambush ).

25th November 1975: Two RUC officers were killed when their patrol was caught in an IRA sniper ambush in Pomeroy, County Tyrone. In a separate incident a British soldier was shot dead by the IRA in the Fountain area of Derry City.

27th November 1975: The IRA killed businessman and TV personality Ross McWhirter, who with his brother Norris McWhirter, had offered reward money to anyone who would inform on the IRA.

1st December 1975: Two IRA volunteers died when killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded accidentally on King Street in Belfast.

6th December 1975: Two IRA volunteers died when the landmine they were setting exploded accidentally in Killeen, County Armagh.

6th–12th December 1975: Four IRA volunteers held two people hostage in the Balcombe Street Siege.

18th December 1975: The IRA killed two British soldiers in a bomb attack in Derry. It was later established that the soldiers had been lured out of the sangar by children who offered them sweets. While they were distracted the IRA lowered a bomb onto the roof of their sangar which exploded a few minutes later.

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