The Northern Ireland Troubles : Operation Banner 1969–2007

94 Pages·2011·4.46 MB·English

by  Aaron Edwards

Essential Histories
The Nor thern Ireland
Troubles
Operation Banner 1969–2007
O
SPREY
Aaron Edwards
PUBLISHING
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com
Essential Histories
The Nor thern Ireland
Troubles
Operation Banner 1969–2007
Aaron Edwards
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com
Contents
Introduction 7
Chronology 11
Background to war
History, myth and memory in the Troubles 14
Warring sides
Brits, Provos and Loyalists 21
Outbreak
Politics in the streets 27
The fighting
From counter-insurgency to internal security 33
Portrait of a soldier
Soldiering the peace: General Sir Mike Jackson GCB, CBE, DSO, DL 63
The world around war
The international dimension 68
Portrait of a civilian
A reporter’s-eye-view: Malachi O’Doherty 74
How the war ended
Ceasefire to endgame 77
Conclusion and consequences 82
Bibliography 90
Index 94
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Introduction
For more than a generation Northern Ireland housing and electoral politics, while
was the site of one of Europe’s most bloody aminority of extremists were intent on
and protracted recent conflicts. Between sparking civil unrest and anarchy. The storm
1969 and 2007 the Troubles, as the conflict whipped up by NICRA protest marches
became euphemistically known, claimed the would lead to a groundswell of support for
lives of around 3,700 people, with over ten aradical redistribution of these civil rights,
times as many injured in countless bomb eventually bringing both communities into
and gun attacks. The sectarian nature of the direct confrontation with one another.
conflict, together with the indiscriminate The NICRA marches sparked off counter-
character of the violence,entrenched the demonstrations led by fundamentalist
bitterness and hatred that continues to Protestant preacher the Revd Ian Paisley,
polarize relations between and within whose oratory sent crowds into frenzied
communities in Northern Ireland today. hysteria when civil rights marches passed
Butwhat are the origins of the Troubles? through predominantly Unionist areas.
How did the main protagonists fight their Heavy-handed responses by militant
‘war’? And why did political violence persist Loyalists and elements of the local Royal
for so long? Moreover, what lessons can be Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the auxiliary
drawn from the transition from the long war Ulster Special Constabulary (USC, or ‘B’
to – hopefully – a long peace? Specials) provoked further unrest and
Although the conflict between Protestant violence. The reformist impulse behind
Unionists and Catholic Nationalists has its theinitial civil rights marches soon gave way
roots in the settler–native confrontations of to a mushrooming of militancy. Protestants
the 17th century, its most recent phase can were jettisoned from NICRA’s ranks, and as
be traced to the partition of Irelandand the the province spiralled further into sectarian
formation of a separate Northern Ireland in clashes and civil disorderthe Irish
the 1920s,and the subsequent hold over Republican Army (IRA) emerged as the
politics, culture and society enjoyed by the cutting edge of Catholic defenderism.
Ulster Unionist Party until the collapse of In the heightened atmosphere of the
the Stormont administration in 1972. In Orange Order’s annual marching season
thelate 1960s a conglomerate of Catholics, during the summer of 1969, nationalist
nationalists, Republicans and agnostic protestors soon found themselves in open
socialists – along with a handful of conflict with their Protestant neighbours
Protestants – opposed to Unionist andthe police. Widespread sectarian rioting
dominance founded the Northern Ireland led to the formation of vigilante groups as
Civil Rights Association (NICRA). The respective communities clashed on the
organization aimed ‘to bring to Northern streets of Northern Ireland. The Troubles,
Ireland effective democracy, and to end which had lain subdued since the 1920s –
allthe forms of injustice, intimidation, with only the occasional glimmer of violence
discrimination and deprivation, which – had been reignited.
resultfrom the partisan rule of the Stormont Few actions in the Troubles were as
regime’. Many activists were exercised by momentous as the intervention of British
what they saw as the local Unionist regime’s troops. Ordered into the province on
discriminatory policies towards them in jobs, 14August 1969 by Home Secretary James
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8 Essential Histories • The Northern Ireland Troubles
Cities, towns and villages in Northern Ireland
N NORTHHANNEL LarneNorth Belfast1East Belfast2South Belfast3West Belfast4Carrickfergus Bangor Holywood12Newtownards3 orough DownDownpatrick IRISHNewcastleSEA 20 miles0 40 km0
CBallycastle rim Ballymena Antrim Belfast4 Lisburn Hillsb ewry Warrenpoint
ey nt N
Portrush ColeraineLOUGHFOYLEBallymonLimavadyDerry/Londonderry ADungiven Derry/Londonderry Strabane Magherafelt CastledergTyroneCookstown OmaghLOUGHNEAGHNORTHERN IRELANDDungannon IrvinestownLurganAughnacloyPortadownhClogher Armagh ArmaghLisnaskeaKeady REPUBLICCullyhannaOF IRELANDCrossmaglen
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Introduction 9
Callaghan, following a request by his British troops stand guard in Belfast in August 1969.
counterpart in the Northern Ireland (© Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis)
government, the troops’ task was to
‘providemilitary assistance to the civil – made up of the RUC, the locally recruited
power’. Despite its initial peacekeeping Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR, later the
posture the British Army was very quickly Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Force),
thrust into the midst of a vicious cycle and the British Army – from time to time
gripping Northern Ireland’s streets. Between also served to generate international furore
1971 and 1997 Britain saw 770 of its armed and led to high-profile inquiries. The Parker
forces personnel killed and countless and Compton Inquiries investigated
wounded. Approximately 250,000 soldiers allegations of the ill-treatment of terrorist
qualified for the Northern Ireland clasp suspects, while the Saville Inquiry was
ofthe Army’s General Service Medal, and appointed to determine responsibility for
Operation Bannerbecame the longest theevents of ‘Bloody Sunday’, when soldiers
campaign in British military history. shot dead 14 people. These investigations
In both political and military terms portrayed Britain and her Security Forces in a
Operation Bannerwas one of the most poor light and, arguably, handed propaganda
significant interventions in modern times. It victories to militant Republicanism.
lasted longer than the Palestine deployment Many Catholic nationalists joined the
under the British Mandate (1920s to the IRA, a clandestine organization with a long
1940s) and was infinitely more complex lineage stretching back to the separatist
andcontroversial than the Aden campaign Fenian Movement and the Irish Republican
of the 1960s. Politically, many high-profile Brotherhood. In 25 years of violence,
atrocities – such as the indiscriminate Republican paramilitaries (mainly the IRA)
bombing of civilian targets by the various were responsible for the murders of over
terrorist groups – provoked universal outrage. 2,000 people – mostly Protestants. Loyalist
The knee-jerk reactions of the Security Forces paramilitary groups – founded primarily in
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10 Essential Histories • The Northern Ireland Troubles
response to the escalation of Republican weapons in 2005. Power-sharing institutions
violence – killed over 1,018 people, mostly were finally devolved by the British
Catholics. The Security Forces were government to the local Stormont Assembly
responsible for approximately 363 deaths. in a deal between Ian Paisley’s Democratic
Despite the highly sophisticated propaganda Unionist Party and Gerry Adams’ Sinn Féin
campaigns undertaken by terrorists, the sad inMay 2007. Meanwhile, it had been
truth was that most victims of the Troubles announced in July 2006 that due to the
were ordinary Protestants and Catholics. winding up of the IRA’s campaign the year
Even with the running-down of their before – and in the spirit of ‘normalization’ –
respective military campaigns and the the British Army would be terminating
onsetof the ‘peace process’ in the 1990s, Operation Bannerin July 2007. The
paramilitaries continued to harass their statements that Loyalist paramilitaries
respective communities with intimidation, wereending their terror campaigns
threats, violence and murder. servedfurther to bolster the fledgling
While the 1998 Belfast (or ‘Good Friday’) power-sharing executive at Stormont. All
Agreement saw the main Unionist and ofthese developments acted as the adhesive
nationalist traditions reach a political binding together the peace and political
accommodation, violence continued on processes in the decade after the signing
thestreets until the decommissioning of IRA ofthe Belfast Agreement.
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Chronology
1920 Government of Ireland Act passed, Special Constabulary members
partitioning Ireland into North (‘B’Specials) at Burntollet
andSouth 28 AprilNorthern Ireland’s Prime
Minister, Terence O’Neill, resigns
1922 Formation of the RUC from office
10 AugustRioting in Belfast and
1939– IRA bombing campaign in England Derry/Londonderry
1940 14 AugustBritish troops deploy onto
Northern Ireland’s streets
1941 April–MayBelfast ‘Blitz’ by the DecemberIRA splits into Official and
German Luftwaffe Provisional wings
1956 DecemberIRA launches its border 1970 April‘B’ Specials disbanded; Ulster
campaign, Operation Harvest Defence Regiment formed
3–5 JulyFalls Road Curfew
1957 Internment temporarily introduced
on both sides of the border 1971 6 FebruaryFirst British Army soldier,
Gunner Robert Curtis, killed by the IRA
1962 FebruaryIRA calls a halt to Operation 9 AugustInternment reintroduced
Harvestand dumps arms
1972 30 JanuarySoldiers from 1st
1964 The Revd Ian Paisley leads protest Battalion, The Parachute Regiment,
march into Divis Street in the Falls open fire on civil rights marchers;
Road area, sparking off three nights 27people are wounded, 14 fatally.
ofintense rioting Itlater becomes known as
‘BloodySunday’
1965 Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) formed; JulyThe IRA detonates 22 bombs
former soldier ‘Gusty’ Spence across Belfast, killing nine people and
appointed as its first commander injuring hundreds on ‘Bloody Friday’;
Operation Motormanis launched to
1966 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising retake ‘no-go’ areas
heightens tensions; UVF murders
several people across Belfast 1974 4 FebruaryThe IRA kills 11
(including two young children) when
1967 Northern Ireland Civil Rights it blows up a coach carrying off-duty
Association (NICRA) formed soldiers and their families
MayLoyalist strike brings down
1968 5 OctoberNICRA march turns violent power-sharing experiment
in Duke Street, Derry/Londonderry 5 OctoberThe IRA carries out the
bombings of two Guildford pubs,
1969 4 JanuaryPeople’s Democracy march killing four people
from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry 21 NovemberThe IRA bombs
attacked by Loyalists and Ulster twoBirmingham pubs, killing 19
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12 Essential Histories • The Northern Ireland Troubles
66days’ fasting. Nine other IRA and
INLA prisoners follow suit
1982 6 DecemberINLA bombs the
Droppin’ Well pub in Ballykelly,
killing 17 people, including
11off-duty soldiers based in the town
1983 ‘Supergrass’ trials publicly identify
leading terrorists
1984 Gerry Adams begins secret dialogue
with the British government
1985 15 NovemberThe Anglo-Irish
Agreement is signed between the
British and Irish governments; start
of‘Ulster Says No’ campaign
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams gives a speech in
August 2007 commemorating the actions of Republicans 1987 8 MayElite SAS soldiers kill eight IRA
in August 1969. He is addressing followers in Bombay
terrorists in Loughgall
Street, the scene of house burnings and violence in the
8 NovemberThe IRA detonates a
early days of the Troubles. (Aaron Edwards)
no-warning bomb next to the war
memorial in Enniskillen, killing
1976 5 JanuaryIRA gunmen execute ten 11people and injuring 63
Protestant civilians in Kingsmill,
South Armagh; another is wounded 1988 6 MarchSAS team kills three IRA
NovemberThe IRA reorganizes along terrorists in Gibraltar
cellular lines 16 MarchMichael Stone, of the Ulster
Freedom Fighters (UFF), attacks the
1977 Overt military lead in security funerals of the ‘Gibralter Three’
policyis scaled back in favour of 19 MarchTwo off-duty soldiers are
‘police primacy’ abducted and shot dead by the IRA
after mistakenly driving into a
1979 30 MarchAirey Neave MP, former Republican funeral cortège
Colditz prison escapee and close
confidant of Margaret Thatcher, is 1990 24 OctoberThe IRA uses human
assassinated by the Irish National bomb tactic, killing several soldiers
Liberation Army (INLA) when a bomb
explodes under his car at the House 1991 7 FebruaryThe IRA mortars
of Commons 10Downing Street
27 August Lord Mountbatten, the
Queen’s cousin and former Chief of 1992 1 July The Ulster Defence Regiment
the Defence Staff, is blown up by the isamalgamated with The Royal
IRA; 18 British Army soldiers are IrishRangers to form The Royal
killed by the IRA in a bomb attack IrishRegiment
near Warrenpoint 10 AugustThe Ulster Defence
Association (UDA), the largest Loyalist
1981 5 MayBobby Sands becomes the paramilitary group, is banned by the
firstIRA hunger striker to die, after British government
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Chronology 13
1997 12 FebruaryLance Bombardier
Stephen Restorick is killed by a sniper;
he is the last soldier to die in
Operation Banner
20 July The IRA reinstates its ceasefire
1998 10 April The Belfast/Good Friday
Agreement is signed
15 AugustThe Real IRA, an ultra-
Republican splinter group, explodes
ano-warning car bomb in Omagh,
County Tyrone, killing 29 people
andtwo unborn children
This photograph shows the aftermath of the bombing of 1999 29 November Power-sharing
Omagh in 1998 by the Real IRA, a splinter group. The executive appointed
500lb no-warning car bomb claimed the lives of 29
2 December Direct rule ends; power
people and two unborn children and injured 380.
devolved to Stormont
(IWM HU 98383)
2000 Loyalist feud between the UDA/UFF
1993 23 OctoberShankill Road bombing and the UVF/RHC (Red Hand
by the IRA kills nine civilians Commando, a small paramilitary
group with close ties to the UVF)
1994 9, 11 & 13 MarchThe IRA mortars
Heathrow Airport 2001 The ‘Holy Cross dispute’ in Ardoyne,
31 AugustThe IRA ends its military North Belfast, sees British troops once
hostilities again deployed in a major operation
13 OctoberLoyalist paramilitaries to keep the peace
announce a ceasefire
2002 IRA spy ring uncovered at Stormont,
1995 Talks between British and Irish prompting the collapse of the power-
government and paramilitary sharing executive and suspension of
representatives devolution
1996 9 FebruaryThe IRA detonates a 2005 28 JulyThe IRA calls an end to its
massive bomb in Canary Wharf, armed campaign
London, heralding an end to its SeptemberAnnual Whiterock Orange
ceasefire Order parade in West Belfast ends in
30 MayForum Election the worst rioting in three decades; the
15 JuneThe IRA bombs Manchester IRA decommissions the last of its
city centre weapons and explosives
JulyOrange Order parade at
Drumcree, County Armagh, leads to 2006 OctoberMulti-party talks lead to the
widespread civil disturbances in St Andrews Agreement
Northern Ireland
7 OctoberThe IRA attacks 2007 8 May Devolution returns to
BritishArmy HQ in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, as Ian Paisley and
withtwo 500lb (227kg) bombs, Gerry Adams agree to enter a power-
killing one soldier and injuring sharing executive
20other people 31 JulyOperation Bannerends
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