November 1977: Naked Exercising
Apologies for the lack of content recently.
Unfortunately, I’ve been ill, but I’m back in the driving seat again (just about…).
Let’s jump back into the timeline in November 1977.
Political Developments in November 1977
November 1977 began with Lieutenant-General Timothy Creasey taking over from David House as the General Officer Commanding of the British Army in Northern Ireland.
On the 20th of November, a communication was circulated on the subject of the treatment of prisoners who refused to wear prison clothing.
The following rules have been drawn up in respect of the above-mentioned prisoners as a result of the directive of the Director of Prison Operations.
At all times, prisoners should be encouraged to appear in a seemly manner while moving around the prison. If prisoners refuse to wear prison clothing, the following rules are to be applied;
Divine Service
Prisoners will not be permitted to attend Divine Service wearing blankets. They may attend services;
In prisoner clothing
In prisoner underwear
Naked
Chaplains will be permitted to see prisoners in cells.
Welfare Visits
Prisoners who have had permission through Assistant Governors to see a Welfare Officer will see them in the wing Interviewing Room. Prisoners will not be permitted to attend this interview wearing blankets. They may see a male Welfare Officer;
In prison uniform
In prison underwear
Prisoners who are to be visited by a female Welfare Officer must wear at least a Shirt and Trousers.
Legal Visits
The Assistant Governor on duty in the prison must be contacted before these prisoners proceed to a legal visit.
A prisoner will wear at least prison underwear on these visits. He will not be permitted to receive a legal visit wearing blankets.
Medical Treatment
Prisoners to be medically examined will not be permitted to leave their cells wearing blankets. They may attend for medical treatment;
In prisoner clothing
In prisoner underwear
Naked
Exercise
Prisoners will not be permitted to leave cells to go on exercise wearing blankets. They may exercise;
In prisoner clothing
In prisoner underwear
Naked
Library Facilities
Prisoners who wish to make use of the library facilities will not be permitted to leave cells to obtain books wearing blankets. They may obtain books;
Wearing prison clothing
Wearing prison underwear
Naked
Food and Water
If a prisoner refuses to leave his cell to obtain meals from the Dining rooms, meals and water will be left in cells.
Water for Washing
A basin of water will be left in cells in the morning and a fresh basin left in the afternoon for prisoners to wash.
Letters in lieu of Statutory Visit
A prisoner who refuses a Statutory Visit will be granted a letter in lieu of such a visit unless the Governor should otherwise direct.
Slop-Out and Ablutions
Prisoners slopping out and using ablutions in the morning and in the evening may do so;
Wearing prison clothing
Wearing prison underwear
Naked
If a prisoner refuses to leave the cell for this purpose, slopping out procedure will be as follows;
The prisoner will empty his chamber pot into a slop bucket provided. He will also immerse and clean his pot in a bucket of disinfectant provided for the purpose at the door of his cell.
Orderlies tasked with the disposal of slops must wear rubber gloves and shower on completion of the task.
Monday the 21st of November saw Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Roy Mason suggest that a 78-seat Assembly, without legislative powers, could be established at Stormont with committees which would look after non-controversial matters. This 'Five Point Plan' was similar in several respects to a scheme suggested by James Molyneaux, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, and was not warmly received by the SDLP. Interest in this proposal declined over the coming months.
Five days later, William Craig announced that the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party would cease to exist as a political party as of the 25th of February 1978.
Shootings in November 1977
01/11/77 - RUC officers came under gunfire as their car exited the M1 motorway at the Kennedy Lane roundabout in Andersontown. No injuries were reported.
04/11/77 - IRA gunmen opened fire on two RUCR officers sitting in their vehicle. The officers returned fire and the assailants fled.
04/11/77 - 21-year-old guardsman Samuel Murphy was shot in the Andersontown area while walking near his parent’s home. He died on the 14th of November. Two IRA members would later be convicted for his murder.
21/11/77 - An Army VCP came under automatic gunfire on Monaghan Road in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone close to the Irish border.
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Bombings & Arson Attacks in November 1977
01/11/77 - There were multiple bomb alerts in Belfast city centre, both real and hoax.
02/11/77 - IRA bomb attack on Homemaker Discount store on Strand Road, Derry.
02/11/77 - IRA bomb attack on U Plan store on Lower Donegal Street, Belfast.
02/11/77 - IRA bomb attack on a large furniture store in the Duncairn area of Belfast.
02/11/77 - UDR soldier Walter Kerr (34) died one week after being injured in an IRA booby-trap bomb attack in Magherafelt, County Londonderry.
03/11/77 - IRA bomb attack on Northern Furniture store on Dublin Road, Belfast.
04/11/77 - An unexploded IRA bomb was found attached to the car of a police officer as he arrived at Castlereagh RUC station. It had been wired to his ignition switch but had failed to detonate.
04/11/77 - A blast bomb was thrown at a Sangar outside the Unity Flats in Belfast which was manned by soldiers. No injuries were reported.
04/11/77 - There were 25 incendiary bomb attacks, mainly in Derry and Belfast, targeting commercial premises.
04/11/77 - A Part-time UDR soldier survived an IRA assassination attempt at his farm in County Londonderry. An explosive device was hidden in a manure heap and connected to a wheelbarrow.
08/11/77 - Major wholesalers in Corporation Street, Belfast were destroyed by an IRA car bomb.
08/11/77 - Ballylumford power station was evacuated due to a hoax device.
09/11/77 - There were three IRA attacks on commercial premises in Belfast city centre.
11/11/77 - The IRA detonated a car bomb on King Street, Belfast. A warning was given to evacuate the area although one civilian, Patrick Shields (53), was killed.
11/11/77 - There was an arson attack by a masked IRA gang who stormed the Kildress Inn in Tyrone.
11/11/77 - Gallagher's tobacco factory on Henry Street, Belfast was hit by several incendiary devices.
15/11/77 - There were Several hoax gas cylinders left across Belfast.
16/11/77 - A car bomb was placed outside a supermarket at Rasharkin, County Antrim.
18/11/77 - An IRA bomb left in the doorway of Polyprint Fabrics exploded on Lisburn Road, Belfast. Significant damage was caused, but no casualties.
18/11/77 - An Explosive device was left in the Spar shop in Cookstown. Partially detonated, minimal damage was caused.
19/11/77 - Two separate buildings were set alight in Belfast as a come-on to security services with bombs planted nearby. No casualties were reported.
22/11/77 - An IRA incendiary device was planted inside a for-sale baby blanket intended to explode in-store. A young mother unwittingly purchased the item and discovered the device at her home in Glencairn Pass, Belfast.
22/11/77 - A Soldier was injured by an explosive device planted by a Co-op on Springfield Road, Belfast which had been deliberately attacked as a come-on to security services.
28/11/77 - An attempted IRA bombing of Newtownhamilton RUC station failed as the device was diffused.
29/11/77 - The Dub supermarket in Upper Malone, Belfast was bombed by the IRA.
30/11/77 - The IRA bombed two shops on the Crumlin Road, Belfast.
Thanks very much for reading. I hope you found it interesting and will come back on Thursday!
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If you’d like to let me know what you think of today’s instalment, please comment below.
Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.
Wasted Years, Wasted Lives Volume 1: The British Army in Northern Ireland 1975–77 by Ken Wharton.
Glad to have you back, Dan, and keep up this great work. Jim