The TroublesThe Troubles

1969-19981969-1998

OverviewOverview Three Decades of Violence Three Decades of Violence

between Northern Ireland’s between Northern Ireland’s (mainly Irish/Catholic) nationalist (mainly Irish/Catholic) nationalist community and unionist community and unionist community (mainly community (mainly British/Protestant)British/Protestant)

3524 Deaths3524 Deaths

Violence carried out by Ulster Violence carried out by Ulster Loyalist and PIRA (Provisional Loyalist and PIRA (Provisional Irish Republican Army)Irish Republican Army)

Goal of PIRA was to end British Goal of PIRA was to end British rule in N. Ireland and reunite rule in N. Ireland and reunite Ireland into the “Irish Republic”Ireland into the “Irish Republic”

BeginningBeginning

Started with civil rights march Started with civil rights march in Derry on October 5in Derry on October 5thth, 1968, 1968

Although British troops Although British troops weren’t deployed until August weren’t deployed until August 44th,th, 1969 1969

On May 21On May 21stst, 1966 UVF , 1966 UVF declared war on PIRAdeclared war on PIRA

Riots of August 1969Riots of August 1969 Riots started August 12Riots started August 12thth, 1969, 1969

Riots started as a confrontation Riots started as a confrontation between Catholics residents of between Catholics residents of Bogside and police.Bogside and police.

Rioting continued two days before Rioting continued two days before British troops were sent in.British troops were sent in.

Violence PeaksViolence Peaks Violence of The Troubles peaked Violence of The Troubles peaked

from 1970- 1972 when nearly 500 from 1970- 1972 when nearly 500 people lost their lives, half of people lost their lives, half of them civiliansthem civilians

Nationalists set up curfew on the Nationalists set up curfew on the lower area of Belfastlower area of Belfast

In 1972 the PIRA killed In 1972 the PIRA killed approximately 100 soldiers, approximately 100 soldiers, wounded 500 more and carried wounded 500 more and carried out over 1,300 bombingsout over 1,300 bombings

Sunningdale AgreementSunningdale Agreement In June 1973 a new parliamentary In June 1973 a new parliamentary

body ‘The Northern Ireland body ‘The Northern Ireland Assembly was established. Assembly was established.

Protestant workers formed the Protestant workers formed the “Ulsters Workers’ Council” (UWC) “Ulsters Workers’ Council” (UWC) and went on strike and went on strike

Three days into strike UWC on Three days into strike UWC on May 17May 17thth, 1974 detonated three , 1974 detonated three no-warning car bombs in Dublinno-warning car bombs in Dublin

Mid-Late 70’sMid-Late 70’s Merlyn Rees the Secretary of Merlyn Rees the Secretary of

State for N. Ireland lifted the State for N. Ireland lifted the proscription against UVF in April proscription against UVF in April 19741974

In October 1975 the British In October 1975 the British Government made the UVF an Government made the UVF an illegal organization.illegal organization.

An organization was formed An organization was formed whose main focus was ending The whose main focus was ending The Troubles peacefully, called Peace Troubles peacefully, called Peace People. In 1976 they won the People. In 1976 they won the Noble Peace PrizeNoble Peace Prize

First Ceasefire First Ceasefire The year leading up to the first The year leading up to the first

ceasefire was a very atrocious one.ceasefire was a very atrocious one.

The UDA and UVF increased their The UDA and UVF increased their killing of Catholics and the PIRA killing of Catholics and the PIRA responded with the Shankill Road responded with the Shankill Road Bombing in October 1993. Which Bombing in October 1993. Which accidentally killed 9 protestant accidentally killed 9 protestant civilians and no UDA leaders who were civilians and no UDA leaders who were the ones targeted.the ones targeted.

On August 31On August 31stst, 1994 the PIRA , 1994 the PIRA declared a ceasefire, although this was declared a ceasefire, although this was only temporally successful it paved the only temporally successful it paved the road for the final ceasefire road for the final ceasefire

In 1995 The United States appointed In 1995 The United States appointed George Mitchell as the United States George Mitchell as the United States Special Envoy for N. IrelandSpecial Envoy for N. Ireland

Second CeasefireSecond Ceasefire On February 9On February 9thth, 1996 less than two , 1996 less than two

years after the declaration of the years after the declaration of the ceasefire the IRA revoked with the ceasefire the IRA revoked with the Docklands bombing killing two people Docklands bombing killing two people and causing £85 million ($131.5 and causing £85 million ($131.5 million) in damage to London’s million) in damage to London’s financial centre.financial centre.

On June 15On June 15thth, 1996 the PIRA caused , 1996 the PIRA caused the Manchester Bombing, this was the the Manchester Bombing, this was the largest bomb attack in Britain since largest bomb attack in Britain since WWII.WWII.

• Over 200 People InjuredOver 200 People Injured• £411 ($636.2 Million) in damage was £411 ($636.2 Million) in damage was

caused by the Manchester Bombing.caused by the Manchester Bombing.

In 1998 the INLA declared a ceasefire In 1998 the INLA declared a ceasefire after the Belfast agreement in 1998after the Belfast agreement in 1998

Political AspectPolitical Aspect After the second ceasefire talks After the second ceasefire talks

began between the main political began between the main political parties in N. Ireland to establish a parties in N. Ireland to establish a political agreement.political agreement.

These talks led to the Belfast These talks led to the Belfast Agreement of 1998.Agreement of 1998.

The Belfast agreement restored The Belfast agreement restored N. Ireland to “power-sharing”N. Ireland to “power-sharing”

Ulster Defense RegimentUlster Defense Regiment In 2004 the British government In 2004 the British government

declassified the documents declassified the documents regarding The Troublesregarding The Troubles

The documents stated that:The documents stated that:• AN estimated 5-15% of UDR AN estimated 5-15% of UDR

solders were directly linked to solders were directly linked to loyalist parliamentary group.loyalist parliamentary group.

• It was feared that UDR troops It was feared that UDR troops were loyal to ‘Ulster’ alone rather were loyal to ‘Ulster’ alone rather than to “Her Majesty’s than to “Her Majesty’s Government”Government”

• The British Government knew that The British Government knew that UDR weapons were being used by UDR weapons were being used by loyalist parliamentaries, including loyalist parliamentaries, including the killing of Roman Catholic the killing of Roman Catholic civilian and other attacks.civilian and other attacks.

Collusion in 80’s & 90’sCollusion in 80’s & 90’s Elements within the army and Elements within the army and

police have been shown to have police have been shown to have leaked intelligence to loyalists leaked intelligence to loyalists from the late 1980’s to target from the late 1980’s to target republican activists. republican activists.

In 1992 a British agent within the In 1992 a British agent within the UDA revealed Army complicity in UDA revealed Army complicity in his activities which included killing his activities which included killing and importing arms.and importing arms.

A report released in 2007 stated A report released in 2007 stated that UVF informers committed that UVF informers committed crimes including murder, within crimes including murder, within the full knowledge of their the full knowledge of their handlers.handlers.

Social RepercussionsSocial Repercussions The Troubles had a immense The Troubles had a immense

amount of psychological trauma amount of psychological trauma all through out Great Britain.all through out Great Britain.

Vandalism was also a major Vandalism was also a major problem, in 1970’s Belfast had problem, in 1970’s Belfast had 10,000 vandalized empty houses.10,000 vandalized empty houses.

Social interaction was also Social interaction was also affected, causing people from affected, causing people from different sides finding it very different sides finding it very difficult to talk and have a normal difficult to talk and have a normal conversation due to The Troubles.conversation due to The Troubles.

Causalities Causalities Between 1969 and 2001, 3,524 Between 1969 and 2001, 3,524

people were killed because of The people were killed because of The TroublesTroubles• People Responsible for KillingPeople Responsible for Killing• Republican Parliamentary Groups- Republican Parliamentary Groups-

20572057• Loyalist Parliamentary Groups- Loyalist Parliamentary Groups-

10191019• British Security Forces- British Security Forces-

363363• Unknown- Unknown-

8282• Irish Security Forces- Irish Security Forces-

5 5

• Deaths by status of victimDeaths by status of victim• Civilian- Civilian-

18551855• Members of Security Forces- Members of Security Forces-

11231123

ConclusionConclusion The Troubles lasted over three The Troubles lasted over three

decadesdecades

Enormous amounts of people lost Enormous amounts of people lost their livestheir lives

Caused tremendous amounts of Caused tremendous amounts of money to British and Irish money to British and Irish governmentsgovernments

Had a great social impact on the Had a great social impact on the people of Great Britainpeople of Great Britain