June 1975 saw the release of one of the most popular movies ever made. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Jaws centres around a shark that is hunting down people in the water around Amity Island. Over in Northern Ireland, civilians continued to be hunted by both sides of the divide, with many continuing to lose their lives.
Political Developments in June 1975
A referendum was held across the UK on the 5th of June on whether or not the UK should continue to remain in the Common Market (later to become the European Union). Northern Ireland had a slight majority in favour of joining the Common Market.
On the 18th of June, at Westminster, a Bill was introduced to make amendments to the Northern Ireland Emergency Provision Act (1973). The main amendment had the effect of giving control of detention to the Secretary of State.
Shootings (and Stabbling) in June 1975
03/06/75 - Protestant civilians David Thompson (34) and John Presha (30), as well as off-duty Ulster Defence Regiment member Alfred Doyle (24) were found shot dead in a car in Killeen, County Armagh. Republican paramilitaries were responsible for the killings.
04/06/75 - IRA volunteer Francis Jordan (21) was shot dead while planting a bomb outside the British Army barracks at Pit Bar, Mill Vale, near Bessbrook, County Armagh.
05/06/75 - INLA member Brendan McNamee (22), was shot dead by members of the Official Irish Republican Army in the continuing feud between the OIRA and the INLA.
10/06/75 - UVF member Roy Suitters (39) was shot dead by the IRA at his greengrocer's shop, Crumlin Road, near Ligoniel Road, Belfast.
10/06/75 - The OIRA shot dead Saor Éire Volunteer Larry White (25) near his home in County Cork.
11/06/75 - Civilian Kenneth Conway (20) died one day after being shot at the junction of Woodvale Road and Glenvale Street, Shankill, Belfast.
14/06/75 - The UDA shot dead Catholic civilian Margaret O’Neill (56) in a drive-by shooting on New Lodge Road, Belfast.
14/06/75 - Civilian Joseph Branagh (35) was shot outside the Garden Bar, Meadow Street, Tiger’s Bay, Belfast.
15/06/75 - INLA/IRSP members fired several shots from a hijacked car at two Protestant men on West Circular Road in the Springfield Road area of Belfast. There were no reported injuries. It was later reported the INLA believed they were Loyalist paramilitaries.
18/06/75 - The INLA shot and wounded an RUC officer at Hamilton Street, Derry during an ambush on an RUC mobile patrol.
20/06/75 - The Protestant Action Force claimed responsibility for shooting dead Catholic civilian Anthony Molloy (18) at his home on Ballymena Street, Belfast.
22/06/75 - Catholic civilian Hugh Duffy (30), died two days after being shot by the UDA while walking home from work, Fraser Street, off Newtownards Road, Belfast.
22/06/75 - Thomas Irvine (23), a Protestant civilian, was shot dead by the IRA from a passing car while he was standing at Westland Road, Belfast.
22/06/75 - Catholic civilian Hugh Brankin (32) was shot dead in an attack by the Protestant Action Force, which was a cover name used by the UVF, in Greenisland, County Antrim.
22/06/75 - Protestant civilian Alan Raymond (23) was shot by a passing car while standing at Westland Road, Belfast.
22/06/75 - The UVF tried to derail a train by planting a bomb on the railway line near Straffan, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. A civilian, Christopher Phelan, tried to stop the UVF members and was stabbed to death. His actions, however, reportedly delayed the explosion long enough to allow the train to pass safely.
24/06/75 - Protestant civilian Alan Ralph was shot shortly after leaving work, while getting into his car, Balfour Avenue, off Ormeau Road, Belfast.
28/06/75 - The UVF shot dead Catholic civilian Patrick Rolston (16) outside Throne Hospital, Belfast.
Bombings in June 1975
01/06/75 - Margaret Kilfedder (61), a Protestant civilian, was killed in a bomb attack on her home, Garrison, County Fermanagh. The house was previously owned by a UDR soldier.
12/06/75 - UVF members James McGregor (28) and Thomas Chapman (28) were killed when a bomb they were transporting by car exploded prematurely in Great Patrick Street, Belfast.
13/06/75 - 3-year-old girl Michelle O’Connor was killed and her father was badly wounded by a UDA booby-trap bomb in Belfast. They were following their normal morning routine, with the man taking his daughter in the family car to a nearby nursery school. The bomb had been wired to the car on Sunnyside Park and exploded as the girl got inside.
17/06/75 - The People's Liberation Army claimed responsibility for several bomb hoaxes in Belfast.
19/06/75 - The Protestant Action Force claimed responsibility for killing Catholic civilian Francis Bradley (16) in north Belfast. He was killed by a bomb left in an oil can at a filling station on Great Patrick Street.
21/06/75 - The PLA claimed responsibility for four hoax car bombs left on main roads in Derry. In a statement, the PLA said it "regretted" the action but said it was done to draw attention to the denial of political status to IRSP prisoners.
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Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.