March 1978: "I Must Note For The Record"

Oct 03, 2024

In March 1978, Charlie Chaplin’s coffin and remains were stolen from a Swiss cemetery in an extortion plot. I don’t have any reference to Northern Ireland or The Troubles with this one; just found this a really fascinating fact. Who knew?

Political Developments in March 1978

March began with The Ulster Unionist Party refusing to consider talks with DUP Leader Ian Paisley and leader of the United Ulster Unionist Movement Ernest Baird.

On the 7th of March, the Secretary of the Police Authority of Northern Ireland W. Baird sent a letter to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Sir K. Newman on the worries of the senior medical officer at Armagh and of the Police Surgeons’ Association on the treatment of detainees. It read;

“Lest there should be any element of misunderstanding between us following my telephone call to you this a.m. on the subject of the worries of the Senior Medical Officer at Armagh and of the Police Surgeons’ Association, I am writing to summarise the position.
The Complaints Committee met Dr Alexander, Dr Elliott and Dr Irwin yesterday evening. Both Doctors Elliott and Irwin are worried about a resurgence of a number of matters concerning the treatment of persons held in custody. They point to a general worsening of attitudes after the Amnesty International team had completed their visit. They are uneasy that no result has emerged about specific cases reported to you last year. They have further specific cases which they allege cause grave concern. They do not wish such cases to disappear into the ‘long statutory labyrinth’ which it is alleged was not designed to cover the current situation.
If no satisfaction is given to them, they propose to convey their misgivings to Amnesty International, but in the first instance, they have asked the Police Authority to use their good offices to arrive at a solution.
That was why I was directed to enquire if you would meet with the Complaints Committee and the Doctors (including Dr Alexander of Castlereagh Police Centre) on Thursday at 4:00 pm this week. This you feel unable to do, but say you would meet the Doctors yourself separately, i.e. without the Complaints Committee. There the matter rests and I shall report the situation to Mr Canavan when he can be got in touch with later this morning.
P.S. I must note for the record that you would not agree to your Senior Deputy standing in your stead.”

Politically, March ended when, at the IRA annual Easter Rising commemorations, several speakers stated that the campaign in Northern Ireland would be intensified.

Shootings in March 1978

01/03/78 - British soldier Paul Sheppard (20), was killed in a machine gun attack on a British Army mobile patrol, Cliftonpark Avenue, Belfast.

03/03/78 - The IRA launched a gun attack on a British Army pedestrian checkpoint on Donegall Street, Belfast. Soldier James Nowosad (21), and female civilian Norma Spence (25), who helped search female suspects, were shot dead.

08/03/78 - Thomas Trainor (29), a member of the INLA, and Denis Kelly (31), a Catholic civilian, were shot dead by the Red Hand Commandos in Portadown, County Armagh. The RHC was a Loyalist paramilitary group with links to the UVF.

16/03/78 - The INLA shot and injured a prominent member of the Orange Order and brother of the former commander of the UDA Mid-Ulster Brigade in Portadown, County Armagh.

17/03/78 - British soldier David Jones (23) was shot dead by the IRA during a gun battle in a field near Maghera, County Derry. Jones had been undercover at the time. IRA Member Francis Hughes was arrested following the incident.

25/03/78 - A gun and grenade attack was carried out on the Loyalist Queen's Bar in Thomas Street, Portadown, County Armagh, in retaliation for the murder of Thomas Trainor. Trainor's brother was later arrested and charged with the shooting.

28/03/78 - An INLA bomb team was intercepted by the RUC in Finaghy Road North, Belfast. Officers shot and seriously wounded one of the men, who was a key member of the organisation in Belfast.

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Bombings in March 1978

04/03/78 - British soldier Nicholas Smith (20) was killed by a booby-trap bomb in Crossmaglen, County Armagh. Smith was killed while attempting to remove an Irish flag from a telegraph pole; the flag had been wired to a landmine below the pole and exploded when it was removed.

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I’ve also recently released Tales of The Troubles: Volume 1. The Early Years - 1960s. Check it out. It would be a great addition to your library or a gift for someone for Christmas. Stay tuned for Volume 2, covering the 1970s.

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