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The Troubles begin
The conflict began during a campaign by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to end discrimination against the Catholic/nationalist minority by the Protestant/unionist government and local authorities. The government attempted to suppress the protests. The police, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), were overwhelmingly Protestant and accused of police brutality. -
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The Troubles time span
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Peace Walls
Although temporary peace walls were built decades earlier, the first peace lines of "the Troubles" were built in 1969, following the outbreak of civil unrest and the Northern Ireland riots. They were initially built as temporary structures, but due to their effective nature they have become wider, longer, more numerous and more permanent. They're are still close to 50 peace walls in Belfast. -
January 4th
A People's Democracy march between Belfast and Derry was repeatedly attacked by loyalists. The march was attacked in Burntollet by 200 loyalists and off-duty police (RUC) officers. When the march arrived in Derry it was broken up by the RUC, which created serious rioting. RUC officers went on a rampage in the Bogside of Derry; attacking Catholic homes and threatening residents. Residents then sealed off the Bogside with barricades to keep the police out, creating "Free Derry". -
The first death
During clashes with nationalists throwing stones at an Orange Hall in Dungiven, RUC officers beat Francis McCloskey, a Catholic civilian (aged 67). He succumbed to his injuries the next day. Some consider this the first death of the Troubles. -
Rioting erupts
In response to events in Derry, Irish nationalists held protests throughout Northern Ireland. Some of these became violent. In Belfast, loyalists responded by attacking nationalist districts. Rioting also erupted in nearby towns. Six Catholics and two Protestants were shot dead and at least 133 were treated for gunshot wounds. Houses and businesses were burnt down, most of them owned by Catholics. Thousands of families, mostly Catholics, were forced to flee their homes. -
Falls curfew
A British Army raid in the Falls district of Belfast developed into a riot between soldiers and residents. The British Army sealed off the area and a 36-hour curfew was enforced. Three Catholic civilians, as well as a British journalist were killed by the British Army, sixty others were injured, and 300 were arrested. Fifteen soldiers were shot. -
Rubber Bullets
Rubber bullets were used on protesters for the first time. -
Operation Demetrius
Internment was introduced. Armed soldiers launched dawn raids throughout Northern Ireland, arresting 342 people suspected of being involved with the IRA. This sparked four days of violence in which 20 civilians, two IRA members and two British soldiers were killed. Fourteen of the civilians were killed by British soldiers. An estimated 7,000 people, mostly Catholics, were forced to flee their homes. The introduction of internment caused a major, long-term increase in violence. -
Bloody Sunday
About 15,000 people gathered in the Creggan area of Derry on the morning of 30 January 1972 to take part in a civil rights march.
The march began shortly after 10 AM, with the aim to reach the city center. However, Army barricades blocked marchers. After prolonged skirmishes between groups of youths and the Army, soldiers from the Parachute Regiment moved in to make arrests. -
Birmingham Pub Bombings
The Birmingham pub bombings were carried out on 21 November 1974, when several bombs exploded, killing 21 people and injuring 182 others. The Provisional IRA never officially admitted to the blame for the bombings, although a former senior officer confessed to their involvement. Six Irishmen were arrested within hours of the blasts, and in 1975 sentenced to life imprisonment for the bombings. The men maintained their innocence. -
The End Of Internment
The policy of internment lasted until December 1975 and during that time 1,981 people were interned. 1,874 were nationalist, while 107 were loyalist. -
The Conviction Of The Shankill Butchers
Eleven loyalists known as the "Shankill Butchers" were sentenced to life in prison for a total of nineteen murders. The gang was named for its late-night kidnapping, torture and murder (by throat slashing) of random Catholic civilians in Belfast. -
1981 Hunger Strike
Republican prisoners in the HM prison maze began a second (much larger) hunger strike. After 66 days on hunger strike, Bobby Sands (a member of parliament) died in the Maze. Nine further hunger strikers died in the following 3 months. -
HM Prison Maze Escape
Thirty-eight prisoners staged an elaborate escape from the Maze. One prison officer died of a heart attack, and twenty others were injured, including two shot with guns that had been smuggled into the prison. Half of the escapees were recaptured within two days. Others were later captured, but others evaded capture in the Republic of Ireland or the US. -
The Anglo-Irish Agreement
Margaret Thatcher and Garret FitzGerald signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The Anglo-Irish Agreement was a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The aim was to help bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The treaty gave the Irish government an advisory role in Northern Ireland's government while confirming that there would be no change in the constitutional position of Northern Ireland. -
Proxy Bombs
The PIRA launched three "proxy bombs" at British Army checkpoints. Three men were tied into cars filled with explosives and then ordered to drive to each checkpoint. the bombs were detonated by remote control. The first exploded at a checkpoint in Coshquin, killing the driver and five soldiers. The second exploded at a checkpoint in Killeen. The driver narrowly escaped, but one soldier was killed and 13 other soldiers were wounded. The third failed to detonate. -
The 2,000 lb Bomb
The PIRA exploded a 2000 lb bomb at the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Laboratory in South Belfast. The laboratory was completely destroyed, seven hundred houses were damaged, and 20 people were injured. The explosion could be heard from over 10 miles away. This was one of the largest (if not the largest) bomb to be detonated during the Troubles. -
Drumcree Conflict
Security forces sealed-off the nationalist Garvaghy area of Portadown so the Orange Order (a protestant organization) could march. This sparked serious rioting in Portadown and across nationalist areas in Northern Ireland. PIRA units became involved in several shootings and grenade attacks on security forces. This was the last time that the Orange Order's parade through nationalist areas was permitted by the authorities. -
The Troubles end
The Troubles were brought to an uneasy end by a peace process that included the declaration of ceasefires by most paramilitary organizations, the complete decommissioning of the IRA's weapons, the reform of police, and the withdrawal of the British Army from the streets and sensitive Irish border areas. During the 30-year span of The Troubles over 3,600 people died, with thousands more injured. There were at least 10,000 bombings. There are lasting effects of The Troubles even today.