Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, and a special mention to the superstar mums doing it on their own, playing both mum and dad.
A shorter instalment today. That’s a couple of months on the trot where things seemed to have “quieted” down. the calm before the storm. Stay tuned.
Political Developments in September 1974
September 1974 began with Enoch Powell receiving the endorsement of the Ulster Unionist Party in South Down to stand as the official candidate in forthcoming elections.
Brian Faulkner and his supporters launched the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland the following day.
In mid-September, demonstrations were held in Belfast by Loyalists and Republicans in support of prisoners who were protesting about parole and food.
On the 16th of September, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Merlyn Ress wrote to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The memo is entitled 'Northern Ireland: Extremist Groups'. It begins by mentioning the efforts of the Northern Ireland Office to promote contacts between Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups.
"Since then (12th July 1974) moves to promote contacts between loyalist and republican paramilitary groups have continued. They were instigated initially by Andy Tyrie, Chairman of the UDA (without the knowledge of many of his supporters) and now involve a part at least of the leaderships of the Official and the Provisional IRA.
At a recent conference of the three groups, attended by over 60 of their members, ...there was a certain amount of camaraderie...
We are keeping ourselves well informed and providing modest unattributable support."
As we progress through the timeline, we’ll see that meetings between Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups weren’t uncommon throughout The Troubles.
Shootings & Stabbing in September 1974
06/09/74 - The OIRA shot dead RUC officer William Elliott (48) during a robbery on an Ulster Bank in Rathcole, Newtownabbey, Antrim.
07/09/74 - Civilian Mary Bingham (58) was shot dead during an IRA sniper attack on a British foot patrol, in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
08/09/74 - Catholic man Arthur Rafferty (56) died three weeks after being shot on Newington Street, New Lodge, Belfast, by the IRA. A piece of cardboard was found nearby that had written on it: "This is the penalty for a sexual assault on a child of seven years old at the Waterworks". After the shooting, a caller rang the Irish News and said it had been a "punishment shooting" carried out by the IRA.
16/09/74 - The IRA shot dead Rory Conaghan (54), a judge, at his home, Beechlands, off Malone Road, Belfast.
16/09/74 - The IRA shot dead Martin McBirney (55) at his home on Belmont Road, East Belfast. His sister-in-law, Frances Cooke, suffered a fatal heart attack upon hearing the news.
18/09/74 - Patrick McGreevey (15), a Volunteer in the OIRA's Youth Wing, was shot dead by the UVF in Clifton Street, Belfast.
22/09/74 - The IRA shot dead former prison officer William McCully (58) at his home, Hillmount Gardens, Finaghy, Belfast.
25/09/74 - The UVF shot dead Catholic civilian Kieran McIlroy (20) on Limestone Road, Belfast
29/09/74 - The UDA stabbed to death Catholic civilian Gerard McWilliams (23) on Lecale Street, Belfast
30/09/74 - The UVF shot dead Catholic civilian Ralf Laverty (55) at his workplace, a bakery on Orby Road, Belfast.
30/09/74 - Civilian John Cameron (57) was shot at his home on Elimgrove Street, Belfast. It’s reported he was mistaken for a Catholic neighbour.
Bombings in September 1974
11/09/74 - There was an attempted car bomb attack in Blacklion, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland. Three masked gunmen in British military uniform had hijacked the car, placed a time bomb inside and forced the owner to drive it into the village. They claimed to be from the UVF and threatened to attack his family if he did not comply. The driver parked the car in the middle of the village and alerted the Irish Army and Garda. The village was evacuated and the Army carried out a controlled explosion on the car. They estimated that the bomb would have destroyed most of the village.
16/09/74 - The UVF left a booby-trap bomb in a parcel outside a factory in Pomeroy which killed the owner, Catholic civilian Michael McCourt (28).
29/09/74 - Twenty-three mortar bombs were launched by the IRA at a British Army facility in Crossmaglen. The facility was also hit by automatic fire.
29/09/74 - An aerial bombing was attempted on the British Army base at Crossmaglen by two IRA members who hijacked a three-seat Cessna plane from a flying club at Dundalk, while another two IRA men remained on the ground to prevent club members from raising the alarm. The IRA unit loaded the aircraft with four cylinder bombs and forced the pilot to fly over the border. The attack failed after the hijackers got lost, and one of them launched a bomb five miles away from the intended target before flying back to the Republic. The dropping of the bomb was witnessed by British soldiers manning a border outpost. The Cessna eventually made a safe landing in a field near Ravensdale, County Louth. The strike was intended to support the mortar attack on the same compound.
Thanks very much for reading. I hope you found it a little interesting and will come back on Tuesday!
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Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.