October 1976: Chaos Theory
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, famous for his role as Deadpool, was born in October 1976. He also starred in an underrated movie called Chaos Theory. If you’re familiar with the branch of mathematics with the same name, you’ll know that it deals with complex systems whose behaviour is highly sensitive to slight changes in conditions so that small alterations can give rise to strikingly great consequences. It sounds very similar to the powder keg goldfish bowl of Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
Political Developments in October 1976
October 1976 was an unusually quiet month on the political front. The only significant development was rioting that followed news of a boy’s death, where representatives of the Peace People were attacked by some of the rioters. Republicans also denounced the Peace People organisation as being pro-British.
Shootings in October 1976
01/10/76 - Victor Dormer (25) died one month after being shot at his relative's house on Copperfield Street, Belfast. There were claims he was a civilian who was shot by the IRA. However, there were other claims that he was a former British soldier. A man was imprisoned for his murder but there was no charge of IRA membership.
03/10/76 - The UFF claimed responsibility for shooting dead Catholic civilian Kevin Mulhern (33) at his home in Knockwellan Park, Derry.
06/10/76 - The UDA killed Catholic civilians Francis Nolan (34) and Catherine O’Connor (68) at their home in Victoria Gardens, Belfast. The men stabbed the woman 36 times and then shot her son-in-law. The inquest was told that the killings might have been revenge for the shooting of two Protestant men (one a UDA volunteer) in a nearby pub on the 24th of September 1976.
08/10/76 - Off-duty Prison Officer Robert Hamilton (25) was shot dead by the IRA outside his home in Derry
10/10/76 - Brian Stewart (13) died six days after being shot by a plastic bullet near his home in Norglen Road, Turf Lodge, Belfast. The shot was fired by a British soldier.
11/10/76 - The UVF shot dead Catholic civilian Peter Woolsey (39) at his farm in Cornascriebe near Portadown.
11/10/76 - Civilian Anne Magee (15) died two weeks after being shot while in a shop on Manor Street, Lower Oldpark, Belfast.
13/10/76 - Two members of a Protestant family, William Corrigan (41) and Leslie Corrigan (19) died as a result of a gun attack outside their home near Portadown, County Armagh. The IRA carried out the attack.
13/10/76 - Former British soldier Edward Donnelly (22) from Scotland was killed by Loyalists in Belfast.
17/10/76 - Catholic civilian Bernard McCarron (45) was found shot and beaten on Richmond Street, Belfast. He had been in a pub with links to loyalist paramilitaries. Detectives said his Fermanagh accent may have drawn attention and a witness said the murder was purely sectarian.
24/10/76 - British soldiers Anthony Abbott (19) and Maurice Murphy (26) were killed when an IRA sniper team ambushed a British patrol in Ardoyne, Belfast.
26/10/76 - UDR soldier Joseph Wilson (55) was shot dead at his workplace on Eglish Street, Armagh town.
28/10/76 - The Red Hand Commandos and Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for killing former Sinn Féin vice-president Máire Drumm. She was shot dead by gunmen dressed as doctors in Mater Hospital, Belfast. She had retired a short time before her killing and had been in the hospital for an operation. A UVF member (formerly a soldier), who worked as a security officer at the hospital, was among several men jailed.
28/10/76 - UDR soldier Stanley Adams (29) was killed in an IRA gun attack in Pomeroy, County Tyrone.
30/10/76 - The UVF kidnapped and shot dead Catholic civilians Charles Corbett (22) and John Maguire (56) in Belfast. Their bodies were found on Glenbank Place.
30/10/76 - Stephen McCann (20), a Catholic civilian, was abducted and killed at the rear of Glencairn Community Centre, Belfast. Members of the UVF gang known as the 'Shankill Butchers' were responsible for the killing. McCann had been a founder member of the Witness for Peace movement and author of the song 'What Price Peace?'
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Bombings in October 1976
08/10/76 - RUC member Arthur McKay (43) was killed by a booby trap bomb in an abandoned van while on RUC patrol in Gortmacrane, near Kilrea, County Derry.
09/10/76 - Civilian Yvonne Dunlop (26) was killed when IRA firebombs exploded in a shop on Bridge Street, Ballymena. Another civilian, Sean McCrystal (41), was found beaten to death and on fire, in the entry between Bridge Street and Prospect Place. It was believed that the UVF were responsible.
16/10/76 - A house that was booby-trapped by the Provisional IRA exploded at Garryhinch on the Laois-Offaly border. The bomb exploded while Garda Michael Clerkin (24) was inside, the blast killing him instantly as the house collapsed on top of him and seriously injured four other Garda officers.
16/10/76 - IRA members Paul Marlowe (31), Francis Fitzsimmons (28) and Joseph Surgenor (23) were killed when a bomb they were planting exploded prematurely at Belfast Gas Works, Ormeau Road, Belfast.
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Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.