If you’re a movie buff like me, you’ll be well aware of the blockbusters that Leonardo DiCaprio has starred in. Born in November 1974, one of my favourites of his is Gangs of New York alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. Gangs became a theme in this instalment of our journey through The Troubles, with suspicions around the "Glenanne gang" and their activities, as well as the activities of the “Balcombe Street Gang”.
Political Developments in November 1974
November 1974 began with Lord Donaldson and Mr Moyle giving evidence to the Gardiner Committee.
During the meeting, the following was discussed;
An apparent lack of urgency in the prison building programme.
An absence of Government policy for Community Relations.
A lack of close liaison between the Government and the Army, which sometimes appeared to act independently in a way which suggested that NIO Ministers had not been properly consulted.
It was later announced on the 18th of November that a new high-security prison would be built at Maghaberry, County Antrim, costing £30m.
On the 6th of November, 33 Republican Prisoners escaped from the Maze Prison through a tunnel. Hugh Coney (24) was shot dead by a sentry during the escape. 32 of the prisoners were captured by the end of the day.
In an interesting development, the Ministry of Defence in London stated that the names of British soldiers killed during the conflict in Northern Ireland would not be added to war memorials. The reason given was that the conflict in Northern Ireland was not classified as a war.
British Home Secretary Roy Jenkins announced on the 25th of November that the IRA was to be proscribed (declared illegal) in the United Kingdom and further emergency powers would be introduced through legislation.
Just 2 days later, Jenkins introduced the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Bill into the House of Commons, Westminster. One of the provisions of the Bill provided the police with powers to arrest and detain suspected terrorists for up to 48 hours in the first instance, and for up to seven days if the police applied to the Home Secretary for additional time. The provision also allowed for exclusion orders to be made against people suspected of involvement in terrorism. Jenkins described the provisions in the Bill as "draconian measures unprecedented in peacetime".
In what felt like a month with lots of political developments, the Irish government introduced legislation which would allow people to be tried for offences committed outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland.
Paul Hill was arrested in Southhampton on the 28th of November and taken to Guildford for questioning about the bombings on the 5th of October 1974. On the 29th of November 1974, Hill signed a statement admitting his involvement in the Guildford bombing. He became the first of the 'Guildford Four' to be charged with the bombing.
On the 29th of November, The Labour government rushed through the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Bill. As mentioned, the new Act gave the police powers to detain people for up to seven days without any charge being brought against them. The Act also allowed the authorities to 'exclude' people from entering Britain. Although it was initially viewed as a temporary measure, the Prevention of Terrorism Act was to be renewed each year and made permanent by a Conservative government in 1988. Many critics of the Act claimed that it was mainly being used as a means of monitoring the movements of innocent Irish people. Indeed many thousands of, mainly Catholic, Irish people were screened under provisions in the act although never charged with any offences.
Shootings in November 1974
02/11/74 - Civilian Lorenzo Sinclair (44) was shot from a passing car at the entrance of Park Bar, Lawther Street, Tiger’s Bay, Belfast.
04/11/74 - The UDA shot dead Catholic civilian Ivan Clayton (48) outside the University Road (Belfast) pub where he worked as a security guard.
06/11/74 - An IRA sniper shot dead patrolling British soldiers, Brian Allen (20) and Stephen Windsor (26), while on foot patrol, Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
06/11/74 - IRA volunteer, Hugh Coney (24), was shot dead by the British Army during an escape attempt from Long Kesh Prison, County Down.
08/11/74 - IRA volunteer Gerard Fennell (28), was shot dead by a British Army sniper from a concealed observation post during the attempted hijacking of a van, Stewartstown Road, Twinbrook, Belfast.
08/11/74 - The "Protestant Action Force" claimed responsibility for killing Catholic civilian Paul Armstrong (18) who was found shot dead in a derelict bakery on Byron Street, Belfast. This was claimed as retaliation for the Guildford pub bombings.
09/11/74 - In addition Billy Hull, a former leader of the Loyalist Association of Workers (LAW), and Jim Anderson, a former UDA leader, were shot and wounded in attacks by Loyalist paramilitaries.
09/11/74 - The "Protestant Action Force" claimed responsibility for shooting dead two Catholic civilians, Patrick Courtney (29) and William Tierney (31), in Templepatrick.
10/11/74 - The UDA shot dead Catholic civilian John McQuitty (41) at his home on Clovelly Street, Belfast.
10/11/74 - The OIRA and PIRA exchanged fire in the Bawnmore area of Newtonabbey on the outskirts of Belfast. A follow-up search by the British Army recovered a revolver and ammunition.
11/11/74 - Allan Quartermaine, a London insurance broker, was shot and mortally wounded in his chauffeur-driven car at traffic lights on King's Road, Chelsea, London. Quartermaine died a week later. It is believed that the IRA was responsible for the shooting. At the time police thought the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.
12/11/74 - The UDA killed Catholic civilian Joseph Elliott (21) in a drive-by shooting on Ardmore Road, Derry.
12/11/74 - Civilian Joseph Taylor (17) was shot at his workplace, a petrol filling station, West Circular Road, Belfast.
12/11/74 - Two civilians, Leonard Cross (19) and Hugh Slater (29), who worked for the British Army were found shot dead by the side of Sheriffs Road near Derry. It’s believed that they were abducted, possibly, at a public house just over the border.
12/11/74 - The "Protestant Action Force" claimed responsibility for shooting dead Catholic civilian Michael Brennan (26) at St Mary Youth Centre on Carolan Road, Belfast.
15/11/74 - Patrolling British soldier Anthony Simmons (19), was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol, Fountain Street, Strabane, County Tyrone.
15/11/74 - The UVF shot Catholic civilian Kevin Regan (26) in Maguire's Bar, Larne. He died on the 20th of November.
16/11/74 - Whilst on mobile patrol, UDR soldier Thomas McCready (32), was killed by an IRA sniper in Newry, County Down.
17/11/74 - Civilian John Bailey (17) was shot by a passing car while walking along Upper Crumlin Road, Belfast.
20/11/74 - The "Protestant Action Force" claimed responsibility for a gun attack at Falls Bar in Aughnamullen, near Clonoe. The pub owner, Patrick Falls (49), was killed and a customer was wounded. This was claimed as retaliation for the killing of an RUC officer in Craigavon earlier that day. A British Army UDR soldier was later convicted for the attack, which has been linked to the "Glenanne gang".
21/11/74 - Civilian William Burns (39) was found shot in his car, Apsley Street, Donegall Pass, Belfast. it’s not known who was responsible.
22/11/74 - The UDA shot dead Catholic civilian Geraldine Macklin (20) at her workplace on Springfield Road, Belfast.
22/11/74 - Civilian Michael Hanratty (43) was shot from a passing car, at the entrance to the Hole in the Wall Social Club, Ballycarry Street, Belfast.
23/11/74 - The UDA shot dead civilians Mary Sheppard (41) and William Hutton (50), a Catholic and a Protestant, at Arkle Taxi Depot, Clifton Street, Belfast.
23/11/74 - Catholic civilian Thomas Gunn (34) was found dead in a car on Hightown Road, near Belfast. He had been kidnapped and shot in the head by the UVF.
23/11/74 - Protestant civilians John McClean (24) and Heather Thompson (17) were killed at their workplace on Crumlin Road, Belfast, by members of the IRA.
25/11/74 - The UDA shot dead Catholic civilian Patrick Cherry (36) as he sat in a car on Portaferry Road, Newtownards.
25/11/74 - The UDA shot dead Protestant civilian John Ramsey (35) as leaving work at Ewart’s Mill, on Crumlin Road. He was assumed to be catholic.
25/11/74 - Civilian James Murdock (55) was shot by a passing car at the junction of Bray Street and Rathlin Street, Belfast.
26/11/74 - Civilian Thomas Hamilton (34) was shot at his shop, in Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.
Bombings in November 1974
07/11/74 - British soldiers Vernon Rose (30) and Charles Simpson (35) were killed by an IRA booby trap bomb at an electricity substation at Aghalarg, near Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
07/11/74 - Off-duty British soldier Richard Dunne (42) and civilian Alan Horsley (20), were killed when, at 10:17 pm, a bomb was thrown through the window of the Kings Arms, Woolwich, England. Thirty-five other people were injured. The bomb was believed to contain 6 lbs of gelignite. The pub was close to the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich and was frequented by soldiers. Initially, a left-wing extremist group called Red Flag 74 said it had placed the bomb, however, responsibility was subsequently claimed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army and specifically by part of the Active Service Unit apprehended at the Balcombe Street Siege. Some of the Guildford Four were wrongfully charged with involvement in this bombing.
14/11/74 - IRA volunteer James McDade (28) died after the bomb he was planting outside a telephone exchange in Coventry, England exploded prematurely.
20/11/74 - RUC officer Robert Forde (29) was killed by an IRA booby trap bomb hidden under a pathway, Rathmore, Craigavon, County Armagh.
21/11/74 - There were bombs planted in two public houses, the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town of Birmingham and killed a total of 21 civilians (two of whom died in the weeks following the explosions). There was widespread outrage amongst the general public and the British government came under pressure to be seen to be acting against the threat of further bombs. On the 29th of November 1974, the Prevention of Terrorism Act was passed. Six Irish men, the 'Birmingham Six', were arrested and convicted of causing the explosions and served 16 years in prison before being freed on appeal on the 14th of March 1991. Although it’s widely believed the IRA were responsible, they have never officially admitted responsibility. Those who lost their lives were Jane Davis (17), Eugene Reilly (23), Desmond Reilly (20), Maureen Roberts (20), Marilyn Nash (22), Pamela Palmer (19), Stephen Whalley (21), Lynn Bennett (18), Anne Hayes (19), Michael Beasley (30), Maxine Hambleton (18), John James (51), Charles Grey (44), John Rowlands (46), Stanley Bodman (51), Trevor Thrupp (33), James Caddick (40), Paul Davies (20), Neil Marsh (20), Thomas Chaytor (28) and James Craig (34).
25/11/74 - The IRA carried out three bomb attacks in the centre of London. In each case, a small bomb with a timer was placed inside a post office pillar box. The first bomb exploded at 5:50 pm in King's Cross and injured two people. The second bomb exploded at 6:00 pm in a pillar box in Piccadilly Circus, wounding 16 people. The final bomb exploded at 6:50 pm outside Victoria Station and two people were injured.
27/11/74 - The IRA carried out two bomb attacks near an Army museum in Tite Street, Chelsea, London. Initially, a small bomb exploded in a post office pillar box at 8:30 pm. Approximately 20 minutes later a second, larger bomb, exploded behind a hedge just a short distance away from the first explosion. Twenty people were injured in the second explosion including an explosives officer, six policemen and two ambulancemen. The tactic of the 'come-on' bomb was one which the IRA used on many occasions in Northern Ireland.
29/11/74 - The UVF bombed McArdle's Bar in Crossmaglen. Six people were wounded and one, Catholic civilian Thomas McNamee (55), died of his wounds almost a year later on the 14th of November 1975. The attack has been linked to the "Glenanne gang".
29/11/74 - The UVF bombed Hughes Bar, Church Street, Newry. Many people were wounded and one, Catholic civilian John Mallon (21), died of his wounds on the 15th of December 1974.
30/11/74 - The IRA carried out a bomb attack on the Talbot Arms public house in Little Chester Street, Belgravia, London. Two small bombs, each with a short fuse, were thrown at the window of the pub. One bomb went through the window but failed to explode, the second rebounded off the window frame and landed in the street but the explosion injured five customers inside the pub.
Thanks very much for reading. I hope you found it interesting and will come back on Sunday!
I appreciate everyone who has hit that heart icon ❤️ at the bottom recently. It makes it easier for other people to find this newsletter.
Thanks for the support!
If you’d like to let me know what you thought of today’s instalment, feel free to leave a comment below.
Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.
Timebomb: Irish Bombers, English Justice and the Guildford Four by Grant McKee and Ross Franey.