As always, we begin today’s newsletter by jumping into our time machine and looking back at a key event that also took place in October 1973 in the hope that it brings you back to a place and time.
On the 9th of October, Elvis and Priscilla Presley divorced after 6 years of marriage. In Belfast, Brian Faulkner and the UUP were also on the verge of splitting, given the tensions arising from potential power-sharing…
Political developments in October 1973
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, William Whitelaw, chaired a series of talks at Stormont Castle, Belfast, on the 5th of October. The main topic was the formation of an Executive to govern Northern Ireland. The talks involved representatives of, the Ulster Unionist Party, the Alliance Party, and the SDLP. There were 3 key areas that Mr Whitelaw wanted to focus on during the talks;
Those matters which would be devolved and for which the Executive would have full responsibility. He hoped that they would be discussed fully between the parties.
Those matters which were reserved to the Westminster Government, primarily security. Under the Constitution Act, the Executive would form an Advisory Committee to the Secretary of State on these matters, and the Secretary of State was willing to discuss them at any time with the parties, either together or singly.
Standing Orders for the Assembly. This was entirely a matter for members of the Assembly and it would be wrong for the Secretary of State to play any part. He would, however, be willing to help privately if the parties thought that would be desirable.
The parties disagreed on internment, policing, and the Council of Ireland. However, they made progress in other less controversial areas in the social and economic spheres.
Just 3 days later, a group of Ulster Unionists who were opposed to sharing power with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) called for the resignation of Ulster Unionist Party leader Brian Faulkner.
Following the talks held at the beginning of the month, representatives of the UUP, the Alliance Party, and the SDLP, met again at Stormont Castle in Belfast on the 9th of October for further talks. The parties announced that they had reached an agreement on an economic and social programme. This preceded another meeting on the 16th, where representatives of the UUP, the Alliance Party, and the SDLP, met again for additional talks on the possibility of a devolved government for Northern Ireland. The positions of the parties on matters related to law and order were beginning to move closer to each other although there remained serious differences of opinion on specific issues.
With the potential for power-sharing on the horizon, the Standing Committee of the UUP held a vote to establish whether members would be allowed to take part. The vote came in 132 to 105 in favour of any future power-sharing. While party leader Brian Faulkner expressed his public pleasure at the result, the narrowness of the victory was an indication of deep divisions within the UUP.
Not quite a political development, but the craziest thing happened in October 1973. The IRA used a hijacked helicopter to free three of their members from the exercise yard of Mountjoy Prison, Dublin. One of those who escaped was the IRA Chief of Staff. He was later recaptured in December 1977.
Shootings in October 1973
01/10/73 - UVF gunmen hijacked a taxi at Annadale Embankment in Belfast and shot dead the passenger, Catholic civilian Eileen Doherty (19). A 57-year-old man was charged in connection with the murder in 2010.
03/10/73 - Ex-Ulster Defence Regiment soldier Ivan Vennard (32), was shot by the IRA while on a postal round, Kilwilkie, Lurgan, County Armagh.
16/10/73 - The IRA shot dead patrolling RUC officer William Campbell (27), near Capital Cinema, Antrim Road, Belfast.
28/10/73 - An IRA sniper shot dead patrolling British soldier Stephen Hall (27), in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
28/10/73 - The IRA shot dead off-duty RUC officer John Doherty (31), a native of County Donegal, near his mother's home, in Lifford, County Donegal.
29/10/73 - Patrick Campbell (34), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by two members of the UVF at his home, Cline Walk, Banbridge, County Down. Later it was alleged that Campbell had been killed by Robin 'The Jackal' Jackson who was a member of the Glenanne Gang, plus one other UVF member. It was also alleged that Jackson was an RUC Special Branch Agent. A week after the shooting police found 79 rounds of ammunition at Jackson's home. He was detained and Margaret Campbel, Patrick's widow, picked Jackson out as one of the killers in an identity parade. However, the charges against Jackson were eventually dropped. In 2015 Margaret Campbell started a civil case against the police for alleged security force collusion in the killing of her husband. On the 21st of November 2021, the case was settled out of court with Mrs Campbell receiving a 'significant' undisclosed payment.
Bombings in October 1973
02/10/73 - An IRA incendiary bomb caused extensive damage to a department store in Colchester, Essex. Another IRA firebomb caused damage at Heathrow Airport.
03/10/73 - British Soldier Lindsay Dobie (23), was killed by a booby trap bomb in a parcel that was left at Bligh's Lane British Army base, Creggan, Derry.
04/10/73 - Four people were injured when an IRA bomb exploded at a British Army careers office in London.
04/10/73 - The UFF claimed responsibility for a grenade attack on a Catholic-owned pub near Banbridge. Six people were hurt.
12/10/73 - Civilian Raymond McAdam (24), was killed in an IRA bomb attack on a shop, Annaghmore, near Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh.
22/10/73 - The UDA detonated a bomb at Wilson's Bar, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast. A Protestant civilian, Ronald Fletcher (46), who was walking by, was killed when part of the building collapsed.
28/10/73 - A Catholic civilian was wounded by a booby trap bomb planted by the UVF on a farm at Carnteel. He died on the 8th of November.
As always, thanks very much for reading this and I hope you enjoyed it enough to come back on Thursday to read the next issue (fingers crossed!). Don’t forget to click the share button below to send it to any of your family or friends who would enjoy reading it, or subscribe to ensure you don’t miss anything.
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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.