The Northern Ireland 'Troubles'

BACKGROUND

One of the main consequences of Partition was the Northern Ireland Troubles - Over 30 years of bombings and shootings which deeply affected Northern Ireland and led to over 3000 deaths - a figure which is sadly even still being added to.

We look in this section at how a new Ireland emerged from the 1920's a divided Ireland with two countries going often in different directions. We also look at the experiences of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland and how these experiences would lead to conflict in 1969. A conflict which we are only just coming to terms with.

NICRA wanted an end to discrimination and equal rights for all.
They wanted :

Equal opportunities for jobs
Better opportunities for Catholics to get housing
A fairer voting system where Cathoics were fairly represented
An end to the B Specials and a fairer policing system.

SOME PROTESTANTS THOUGHT THAT NICRA WAS REALLY CONTROLLED BY THE IRA AND THAT IT REALLY WANTED A UNITED IRELAND. THEY WANTED IT STOPPED!

SOON CATHOLIC HOMES WERE BEING ATTACKED AND BURNT OUT. THERE WERE RIOTS AND NORTHERN IRELAND LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO HAVE CIVIL WAR!

British soldiers were welcomed at first to Northern Ireland by Northern Ireland's Catholics! They protected them from attack from Protestant gangs - some were even given tea and biscuits

HOWEVER this would soon change. The army was used to try and find IRA weapons and suspects. Soon Catholic houses were being RAIDED. TEAR GAS was used to break up riots. CURFEWS (where a time is set to be in for) were set up all over Belfast. Many Catholics felt intimidated and angry.

One event in particular would turn this anger to a dangerous level - Bloody Sunday

4. BLOODY SUNDAY

BY 1972 MANY OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S CATHOLICS WERE AGAIN GETTING ANGRY AND CONCERNED.
THE BRITISH ARMY HAD ARRIVED IN 1969 BUT LITTLE HAD BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS EQUAL RIGHTS FOR CATHOLICS.
IN FACT THE ARMY HAD MADE THINGS WORSE BY CREATING ANGER AMONG CATHOLICS THROUGH ITS RAIDS AND CURFEWS IN CATHOLIC AREAS.

IN JANUARY 1972 ONE EVENT WOULD TRIGGER A GREAT DEAL OF ANGER AND HELP THE IRA GET SUPPORT FROM MANY CATHOLICS.
A PEACEFUL, CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH, SET OUT IN DERRY. HOWEVER, DURING THE MARCH, MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH ARMY BEGAN FIRING ON THE CROWD- 14 CIVILIANS WOULD DIE AND THE IRA YET AGAIN BEGAN TO GET SUPPORT.

THE TROUBLES WOULD LAST FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND CLAIM OVER 3,000 LIVES. MANY TERRIBLE EVENTS TOOK PLACE.

As the violence increased after Bloody Sunday the BRITISH GOVERNMENT decided to try and take control.

They the SUSPENDED THE NORTHERN IRELAND PARLIAMENT AT STORMONT
They began to rule Northern Ireland DIRECTLY from the WESTMINSTER PARLIAMENT in LONDON
This was only supposed to be TEMPORARY but lasted over 30 years!

WHAT WAS IN THE
GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT?

TODAY- A WORRYING TIME

Many people across Northern Ireland are worrying about whether the troubles may return. In 2010, a PSNI officer and 2 soldiers were killed by the Real IRA Paramilitary group.
In 2011, a police constable Ronan Kerr was killed by a terrorist car bomb.
in 2012, the Belfast City council voted not to fly the Union flag over City hall all year but only on certain agreed days- This led to massive, and often violent, flag protests which caused major disruption and tension New peace talks in 2013 did not solve the big issues of parading, flags and dealing with the past

In 2016 several attempts have been made to kill people such as prison officers.

But the Northern Ireland Assembly is still working and the VAST majority of the people of Northern Ireland do not support any type of violence. Events like the Giro D'Italia cycle race, the G8 international summit in Fermanagh and hosting the Irish open and MTV music awards show how far Northern Ireland has come and how a huge majority want a peaceful future with our communities working together to make the whole country better for all.