December 1975: The End of Internment

Balcombe Street Siege

Jul 21, 2024

During a weekend when The Open Championship is taking place at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland, it’s fitting that our tenuous link to the past, and what else was taking place in the world in December 1975 mentions the birth of the greatest golfer to ever play the game; Tiger Woods. A lot has happened in the life and career of Tiger over the years, and I suppose the same could be said about the political situation in Northern Ireland.

Political Developments in December 1975

Huts at Long Kesh internment camp during the ’70s

The 5th of December signalled the end of internment in Northern Ireland, with the last 46 people who had been interned without trial being released. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Merlyn Rees said those guilty of crimes would be brought before the courts. During the period of Internment, from the 9th of August 1971 to the 5th of December 1975, 1,981 people were detained; 1,874 were Catholic/Republican, while 107 were Protestant/Loyalist.

On the 9th of December, a poll published in the Daily Telegraph showed that 64% of people in Britain wanted the British Army to be withdrawn from Northern Ireland.

British Prime Minister Harold Wilson visited Derry/Londonderry on the 18th of December. However, shortly after his visit, two British soldiers were killed in Derry in a bomb attack which the IRA carried out.

As the trouble began to escalate on both sides, the authorities in the USA foiled an attempt to ship weapons to the IRA on the 22nd of December. This wasn’t a first, or last, in terms of arms smuggling during the Troubles.

Shootings in December 1975

01/12/75 - Protestant civilians Charles McNaul (55) and Alexander Mitchell (46) were shot dead while sitting in the Dolphin Café on Strand Road, Derry. Gunmen carrying pistols picked them out and opened fire without warning. The INLA later admitted responsibility and claimed its gunmen believed the two men were members of the UDA.

06/12/75 - British police chased a group of four IRA men through the West End of London. There was a car chase and an exchange of gunfire before the IRA members took over a council flat in Balcombe Street and held the married couple living in the flat hostage. This marked the beginning of a six-day siege during which time the IRA members demanded a plane to take them to the Republic of Ireland. The siege ended when the hostages were released unharmed, and the IRA members surrendered to the police. This became known as the Balcombe Siege.

19/12/75 - Three Catholic civilians were killed during a gun and bomb attack by the RHC on the Silverbridge Inn, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh. Patrick Donnely (24) had just arrived outside in his car when he was shot dead by the Loyalist paramilitaries who then began shooting into the bar before throwing a bomb into the premises. Michael Donnelly (14), the son of the owner of the bar, was shot dead as was Trevor Bracknell (35). Six people were injured, some seriously, in the explosion.

21/12/75 - Civilian Christine Hughes (43), was shot at her home, Mountainview Parade, off Crumlin Road, Belfast.

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01/12/75 - IRA volunteers Laura Crawford (25) and Paul Fox (20), died when killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely at a car park, King Street, Belfast.

06/12/75 - IRA volunteers Sean Campbell (20) and James Lochrie (19), died when the landmine they were setting exploded prematurely, on Kelly's Road, Killeen, County Armagh.

15/12/75 - Political activist Ronald Traitor (17) died a short time after being injured during a bomb attack on his home, Bayyoran Park, Portadown, County Armagh.

18/12/75 - The IRA killed British soldiers Cyril McDonald (43) and Colin McInnes (20) in a bomb attack, at Bank Place, near Guildhall Square, Derry. It was later established that the soldiers had been lured out of their sangar by children who offered them sweets. While the soldiers were distracted IRA volunteers lowered a bomb onto the roof of their sangar which exploded a few minutes later.

19/12/75 - See Silverbridge Inn shootings on the 19th of December.

19/12/75 - Two men were killed as a result of a car bomb planted by the Red Hand Commandos, a group closely associated with the UVF, outside Kay's Tavern, Crowe Street, Dundalk, County Louth. The bomb exploded at 6:15 pm. Hugh Watters (60) was killed immediately and Jack Rooney (61) died later on the 22nd of December 1975 as a result of his injuries.

20/12/75 - The UDA bombed a popular Irish pub in London, Biddy Mulligans, injuring five people. The pub was said to have been frequented by Irish republican sympathisers. The UDA claimed one of its "associate units" carried out the attack.

26/12/75 - The UVF bombed the Catholic-owned Vallelly's Bar at Ardress. Catholic civilian Seamus Mallon (31) died of his wounds on the 30th of December. The attack has been linked to the Glenanne Gang.

31/12/75 - INLA Volunteers using the cover name "People's Republican Army" killed 3 people, Sylvia McCullough (31), Richard Beattie (44) and William Scott (28), whilst injuring 30 more, in a bomb attack on a pub in Gilford, County Down. The Armagh brigade of the People's Liberation Army also claimed responsibility.

Thanks very much for reading. I hope you found it interesting and will come back on Tuesday!

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