3. Civil Rights protests 1968-1972
Deployment of British Army in
Northern Ireland Increase in
paramilitary actions
4. The Civil Rights
Movement
✣ Established by students as a form of protest about housing, unemployment
and politicaline qualities.
✣ This movement was met with hostility by some elements of the protestant
community who thought it was a method of interfering in Northern Irish
issues.
✣ The main method of protesting was marches.
✣ When these were attacked some of the marchers alsoused violence.
✣ The police have been accused of taking sides in these clashes.
✣ Marches led to increased confrontation between Unionists and Nationalists
and led to increased suspicion and hatred of the Police, and later armed
forces.
4
6. Government Action
The Police
Used force against the violent minority of the marchers. Were seen
by Catholics as acting unlawfully. The Army Were sent to aid the
RUC. Were used to conduct house to house searches.
6
7. Government Action continued
Consequences.
Catholic population of Northern Ireland felt increasingly isolated. Popularity of
paramilitary groups increases as Nationalists lose faith in security forces. Unionist
paramilitary groups step up recruitment. Continued unrest and calls for Political
change. Which later lead to Internment Tit for tat killings No go areas being
created as paramilitary groups take to the streets
9. Preventative Measures
Internment
This is imprisonment of suspects without trial. These men were badly
treated, they were denied sleep, subjected to continuous noise and often
hooded at times when they were not being interrogated. Nearly all of
the 1600 internees were Catholic. Consequences of Internment Rapid
increase in the number of paramilitary attacks. (April-July of 1971 8
killings, August-November 114 killings)Public outcry at treatment of
innocent men. Increased feeling of isolation amongst the catholic
population.
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10. A Protest Rally organised for30 January 1972 to
complain at the use of Internment.
11. The Rally What
happened?
✣ Protestors throw stones at the army.
✣ Water Cannon and Rubber Bullets used to disperse the crowd.
✣ Confrontation continues and further.
✣ Suddenly gun shot is heard and within seconds 13marchers are lying
dead, others are wounded and hundreds of others are in shock.
✣ The British Army has killed 13 members of the public stones are
thrown and rubber bullets fired.
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12. Immediate Reactions
The Army Claims
It only ever returned fire. The Protestors Claim that no shots were fired
other than those by the armed forces Independent Witnesses Offer
conflicting accounts but cannot PROVE that shots were fired at the
army. The Inquiry into these events has recently been re-opened, this may
result in an accepted version of events becoming available.
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14. Interpretations of
events
The Official Version of events. The men of the
Parachute regiment responded to gun shot. They had
been under attack from the crowd for some time, through
stone throwing and reacted to shots being fired by
returning fire. This is an acceptable reaction. It is
regrettable that innocent people may have been as a
result of the paratroopers self defence. The Marchers
Version of events. The armed forces were provocative.
They had halted a peaceful protest and were aggressive
towards members of the protest group. The frustrated
actions of some marchers resulted in the paratroopers
opting for brute, murdering force. They opened fire on
innocent men, women and children.
14
16. ✣ Paratroopers were armed with both rubber bullets
and live ammunition.
✣ They may have mistakenly used live ammunition.
✣ The paratroopers were fearful of being shot at the
IRA was becoming increasingly active.
✣ If they thought they were being shot at, they might
have panicked themselves.
✣ The parachute regiment is not trained for crowd
control situations. They are trained to be
aggressive.
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17. Consequences
⨳ Break down of Law and Order in
Northern Ireland.
⨳ IRA attacks on mainland Britain.
⨳ Unionists become more extreme.
Northern Ireland assembly suspended.
⨳ Increase in number of soldiers in the
province
⨳ Increased sympathy for extremists of
both sides from abroad.
⨳ Change in IRA tactics Splinter groups
from the IRA emerge, the Irish National
Liberation Army.
⨳ Police and Army made increasingly
unwelcome in Nationalist areas.
⨳ Government reform gerrymandering
ends, B-Specials disbanded, direct rule
from Whitehall(London), new security
force established (Ulster Defence
regiment) which each in themselves have
consequences
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18. Reaction to Government
actions
Dublin, happy with Direct Rule as it ends Unionist control over the province.
Calls for IR Acease-fire. Unionists. Feel betrayed by London. Unionist
paramilitary groups increase number of sectarian attacks Nationalists.
Many were pleased with Direct Rule .Civil Rights protestors still press for
reform though. IRA. View direct rule as Britain trying toil legally take
what is not rightfully there. Escalation of violence
