The legendary John Lennon released his fourth studio album, 'Mind Games', in November 1973. It included the track 'One Day (at a Time)', which is apt given what was going on in Northern Ireland at a time when the political narrative changed daily, paramilitary groups announced ceasefires, and the wheres and whens of opening fire became a hot topic.
Political Developments in November 1973
November 1973 began with a pretty big milestone in the political sphere in Northern Ireland. Jamie Flanagan replaced Graham Shillington as the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Flanagan was the first Catholic to hold this post.
In our March 1973 issue, we read about the IRA exploding two car bombs in London and, injuring over 200 people. On the 14th of November, in London, nine people were found guilty of planting the bombs. Eight of those found guilty received life sentences. Of these, six admitted to membership of the Irish Republican Army.
From public records that were released on the 1st of January 2003, we found out that the Head of Defence Secretariat 10, Mr A.W.Stephens, wrote a letter to Mr V.H.S.Benham at the Northern Ireland Office in London on the 16th of November about ‘Operation Folklore’. Within the letter, the ability of a soldier to open fire was top of the agenda.
"In my first paragraph, I said that the Annex to this letter contained most of the extra powers we considered necessary. The exception is a power of a different sort and it seems easiest to consider it separately. We feel strongly that in the wholly abnormal situation envisaged it would be essential for a soldier to be able to open fire without fear of legal penalty in certain circumstances where, under the present law, a court would consider that he had acted unlawfully. The situations we envisage include:-
a. opening fire without warning on persons merely carrying firearms (ie without having to be satisfied that they were about to use them etc);
b. opening fire at persons breaking a curfew who failed to halt when challenged; and
c. opening fire in certain other situations, eg at persons who fail to halt when challenged, in areas designated by the S of S [Secretary of State for Northern Ireland] or, perhaps, the GOC [General Officer Commanding the British Army in Northern Ireland] as "special areas", which would, typically, be exceptionally "hard" areas in which the Army needed to regain control and which might or might not correspond with areas under curfew."
Another key event in The Troubles occurred on the 18th of November when the UVF leadership declared a ceasefire to allow the political process to develop. The ceasefire would last for 43 days.
From Brian Hanley and Scott Millar’s book The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party, as well as a Daily Mirror article from the 19th of November 1973, it’s reported that The OIRA announced they were establishing auxiliary defence groups to guard Nationalist areas against sectarian attacks by Loyalist paramilitaries. Around this time a secret squad to carry out revenge attacks was also formed. The grouping never claimed responsibility and was kept unknown even within the OIRA. This is quite interesting because it wasn’t uncommon for residents in key areas to be part of a ‘vigilante/neighbourhood watch’ group.
On the 20th of November, The policy-making branch of the Ulster Unionist Party, The Ulster Unionist Council, voted by 379 to 369 in favour of power-sharing. During a meeting that day between Brian Faulkner and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw, Mr Faulkner said that it had been a tough battle. He had won, but only by a small margin. This showed how far he had pushed his people, but also how fragile relationships within the leadership of UUP were becoming.
The following day, an agreement was reached between various political parties about the establishment of a power-sharing Executive to govern Northern Ireland. An emotional William Whitelaw appeared on the steps of Stormont following the final negotiations. The Executive was to consist of 11 members. The actual composition was to be 6 ‘Faulknerite’ Unionists, 4 SDLP, and 1 Alliance Party. There were also to be 4 non-executive office holders who would not have a vote; 2 SDLP, 1 Unionist, and 1 Alliance Party.
British Prime Minister Edward Heath appointed the new Executive on the 22nd of November 1973. Brian Faulkner was to become the Chief Executive and Gerry Fitt was to be his Deputy. Politicians in Britain and the Republic of Ireland welcomed news of the Executive, but Loyalists rejected the proposals. The matter of the Council of Ireland was left outstanding and would be addressed in December 1973.
With progress being made, and a sense of duty now established across all the major political parties in Northern Ireland, one would assume that things would kick on and have a positive impact on the ongoing conflict. However, on the 28th of November 1973, less than one week after Edward Heath appointed the new executive, Assembly proceedings were halted due to verbal assaults on those who had been named as members of the proposed Executive. The disruption was caused by Loyalists and those opposed to the new Executive. Eventually, the meeting of the Assembly had to be adjourned. Nothing’s ever straightforward in politics.
Shootings in November 1973
01/11/73 - The UVF shot dead Catholic civilian, Daniel Carson (28), as he drove out of his workplace on Dayton Street, Belfast.
06/11/73 - An IRA sniper shot dead patrolling British soldier John Aikman (25) in Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
07/11/73 - The UDA shot dead Catholic civilian Robert McCaffrey (18) outside his workplace on Springfield Road, Belfast. Elsewhere in Belfast, the UFF claimed responsibility for shooting a man as he sat in the cab of his lorry.
13/11/73 - Civilian Bernard Teggart (15), was found shot near Floral Hall, Zoological Gardens, Antrim Road, Belfast. The IRA claimed he was an informer.
14/11/73 - Civilian John Lundy (61), was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army observation post on Moira Street, Short Strand, Belfast.
14/11/73 - Civilian Kathleen Feeney (14), was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army patrol on Lecky Road, Derry.
15/11/73 - The RUC shot dead IRA volunteer Michael McVerry (23) during a gun attack on Keady British Army/RUC base, County Armagh.
18/11/73 - IRA snipers fired shots at a Saracen armoured vehicle in the Clonard area, at two British Army patrols in the Lower Ormeau area, and an RUC station at Glengormey.
24/11/73 - The British Army shot dead Fianna (IRA Youth Section) volunteer Michael Marley (17), during a bomb attack on a British Army patrol at Divis Flats, Belfast.
25/11/73 - The IRA shot dead two patrolling British soldiers, Joseph Brooks (20) and Heinz Pisarek (30), at Rossville Flats, Bogside, Derry.
26/11/73 - The IRA shot dead civilian Anthony Braden (58), who was driving his car along Jamaica Street, Ardoyne, Belfast.
27/11/73 - The British Army shot dead IRA volunteer Desmond Morgan (18), as he tried to hijack a car in Coalisland, County Tyrone.
Bombings in November 1973
01/11/73 - The UVF exploded a bomb at the Avenue Bar, Belfast. It killed Catholic civilian Francis McNelis (65).
05/11/73 - The OIRA was blamed for a 50 lb (23 kg) bomb that wrecked a milking parlour on the estate of Sir Richard Keane at Belmont, Capoquin, County Waterford. The blast followed threats related to a dispute between Sir Richard and his 65 tenants in Cappoquin over ground rents.
08/11/73 - Civilian Francis McCaughey (33), died 11 days after being injured when he detonated a booby trap bomb on his farm, Carnteel, Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.
09/11/73 - The UVF exploded a bomb at the Sunflower Bar, Belfast. It killed Protestant civilian William Wallace (62).
12/11/73 - The UVF detonate three bombs in Armagh and one more in Quinn's Bar in Dungannon. Several people are injured.
12/11/73 - The UFF claimed responsibility for detonating six car bombs in Belfast in the space of two hours. The bombs targeted four pubs, a petrol station and the former SDLP headquarters. Thirteen people were injured and many buildings were badly damaged.
18/11/73 - UVF member Charles Logan (26), was killed when his bomb prematurely exploded at a farmhouse in Desertmartin. A 500 lb UVF bomb destroyed shops and flats in the Catholic Newington area of north Belfast.
24/11/73 - Patrolling British soldier David Roberts (25), was killed by an IRA landmine near Carlingford Street, Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
25/11/73 - Six rockets and heavy gunfire hit Belleek RUC base, County Fermanagh. The attack came from across the border.
As always, thanks very much for reading this and I hope you enjoyed it enough to come back on Sunday to read the next issue.
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Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.
The Provisional IRA in England: The Bombing Campaign 1973-1997 by Gary McGladdery.
Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland by Anne Cadwallader.