The
TROUBLES ISSUE 20
March/April 1973
IRA BOMB LONDON
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THE TROUBLES
THE TROUBLES A CHRONOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONFLICT
It can often be a contentious issue of debate of when and how Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’ began, who and what is to blame, and even which event in case led us to where we are now. You can go back 30 years, or even 300 years and beyond for in reality Ireland has been engaged in conflict with England for centuries. Therefore, in order to compile a chronological record of the modern Troubles - the term usually given to the most recent conflict, we must mark a defining point of start, which we have taken as partition itself and from which we began in Issue 1. In turn again, we feel it is equally important to give you the reader some understanding why events spiralled as they did into a bloody civil war. This is not another view of the Troubles, this has been done and redone. This is the historical recording of events compiled by people from different parts of Belfast who lived through them. Our objective as local historians is to compile what we hope will be as near as possible a definitive reference to events as they unfolded through the last three decades. In terms of research we have used as much material as possible and from diverse perspectives. We are confident that we have covered events as they were reported at the time. If however you feel that we have either left something out or indeed got something wrong we are more than happy to hear from you. As mentioned above this series of publications is the historical recording of the Troubles and all corrections are more than welcome. GLENRAVEL PUBLICATIONS ASHTON CENTRE CHURCHILL STREET BELFAST BT15 2BP Tel: (028) 9020 2100 • Fax: (028) 9020 2227 E-Mail: glenravel@ashtoncentre.com This series of publications is designed to create a better historical understanding of what has become known as ‘The Troubles.’ Therefore for educational purposes you are more than welcome to use any material from them. All that we ask is that the source is acknowledged and a copy of the material sent to us after publication. We use material that has been placed in the public domain. We try to acknowledge all the copyright holders but sometimes this is not possible. If you claim credit for something that has appeared in this publication then we will be happy to know about it so that we can make the appropriate acknowledgements.
SOURCE MATERIAL BELFAST NEWSLETTER You can obtain back issues of The Troubles in three easy ways. 1. Using the back cover send a cheque or postal order direct to our office. 2. Going on our internet site at www.glenravel.com and using our ebay shop 3. Visiting the Glenravel Project’s stall at St George’s Market in Belfast every Friday morning (facing chemist) Editions of The Troubles which are sold out can can be downloaded completely free of charge at our webpage - www.glenravel.com
Various issues for period covered
BELFAST TELEGRAPH Various issues for period covered
IRISH NEWS Various issues for period covered
THE TROUBLES
MARCH 1973 Thursday 1st March 1973 Blast at customs warehouse A bomb has exploded inside a customs bonded warehouse in Belfast’s Gordon Street. The bomb was estimated to have contained between 15-20lb of explosives. Extensive damage was caused to the warehouse which normally contains several thousand bottles of spirits
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of explosives, in a petrol tin, was defused by an Army bomb expert. It is thought that the device had been there for a considerable time. Thursday 1st March 1973 Death toll for women and children Statistics just released have stated that since August 1969 a total of 47 women and 37 children under the age of 15 have died from gunshot wounds, explosions and riot injuries. So far this year seven women and children have lost their lives.
Thursday 1st March 1973 Army attacked Two shots have been fired at an Army vehicle at the corner of Thursday 1st March 1973 Broadway and the Falls Road. Fire was not returned and there were no Post office raided casualties. Almost 500 pounds has been seized during a Post Office raid in the County Antrim village of Armoy. A van stolen in the raid had been Thursday 1st March 1973 stolen in Ballymena. No shots were fired during the robbery. Car high-jacked A man in his car, which was being hi-jacked in the lower Falls area of Belfast, has driven the vehicle, along with the two hi-jackers up to an Thursday 1st March 1973 Army patrol and proceeded to inform the soldiers that he had been hi- Boy defuses bomb jacked. Two men have been arrested and a .38 revolver and ammuni- An eight-year-old boy, playing under the stage of the War Memorial tion recovered. The incident happened at the junction of Varner Street Hall in Clogh, near Roslea, County Fermanagh, has discovered and and Osman Street. then defused a 15lb bomb. Two devices were discovered by the boy, who pulled a wire from it after he showed the device to his mother. Thursday 1st March 1973 The second bomb, a claymore type device exploded when the Army Bomb at Celtic Park arrived, slightly injuring the soldiers. An Army patrol has uncovered a booby-trapped bomb in a grandstand at Belfast’s Celtic Park. The device, containing four and a half pounds BELOW - IRA bomb attack on Gilmore’s Store, Lisburn Road
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Thursday 1 March 1973 IRA says they shot soldier The Provisional IRA have claimed responsibility for the killing of a 20-year-old soldier on Belfast’s Crumlin Road on Wednesday. The dead soldier, Lance Corporal Alan Kenington, was shot dead by a sniper as he shared sweets with colleagues. Thursday 1st March 1973 Off-licence bombed A bomb has exploded and destroyed a Catholic owned off-licence in the Belmont Road area of Belfast. The bomb at Nelson’s off-licence caused severe damage but no one was injured in the attack. Thursday 1st March 1973 Houses petrol bombed Petrol bombs have been thrown at the homes of two Catholic families in Ravenhill Avenue in East Belfast. The sitting room of one house was slightly damaged but a petrol bomb which was thrown at the other house failed to explode. Several men were seen running away after the attack. None of the occupants were injured.
Thursday 1st March 1973 Soldiers ambushed in Newry Two mobile patrol vehicles have come under fire as they passed the Daisy Hill hospital in Newry. The vehicles were struck by a number of bullets but no one was injured in the attack. It is thought that the ambush was carried out by a number of men armed with an automatic weapon and several rifles. Thursday 1st March 1973 Bomb explodes in Newcastle A bomb has exploded in the kitchens of the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle. Damage to the hotel was slight. Thursday 1st March 1973 House petrol bombed The home of a money lender in Lurgan has come under petrol bomb attack. The home at Lough Road was occupied at the time but damage was confined to the living room.
Thursday 1st March 1973 Increase in troop levels Thursday 1st March 1973 Army strength in the North is to be increased by 1,000 to Bomb explodes at Falls Road café approximately 17,500, in order to help guard polling stations during A bomb, which was concealed inside a two foot square parcel, has next week’s border plebiscite. exploded outside a café on Belfast’s Falls Road. The device was discovered by a pedestrian outside the Continental Café and the Army was called to the scene. The bomb exploded a short time later. Thursday 1st March 1973 Extensive damage was caused by the blast. Protest march in Newry A group of women from Newry’s Derrybeg estate have staged a protest Thursday 1st March 1973 to the Army-UDR base at Downshire Road. The women were Explosives found in chicken coop protesting against the shooting by the Army of a 12-year-old boy from A primed bomb, estimated to have contained around 15lbs of the Derrybeg estate. explosives has been discovered in a chicken coop at Ardilea Street in the Oldpark area. Also discovered with the explosives, which were Thursday 1st March 1973 concealed in a bin, were two RPG7 rockets, boosters, an RPG7 sight in Arms finds its case, two clocks and a quantity of detonators. During February the Army and RUC have captured two rocket launchers, 44 rifles, 59 pistols, 11 shotguns, four machineguns, three mortar bombs, 980lbs of explosives and almost 8,000 rounds of ammunition.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Man shot dead in Belfast A man has been shot dead in Belfast. The man, who has not been identified, was gunned down in the Protestant Woodvale Avenue area of the city. It is thought the dead man may have been a bus conductor or a driver. He is the third person to be killed in the city in the past 24 hours. LEFT- The internment camp Long Kesh
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Friday 2 March 1973 Border shooting Gunmen have fired 50 shots at an Army patrol close to the border at Carnagh, Crossmaglen. Fire was returned and the Army say a man was seen to fall.
Friday 2 March 1973 Shots fired in football ground According to the RUC a number of shots were fired into Windsor Park football ground on Thursday night. The shooting happened as the team was undergoing a training session.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Taxi driver is shot dead The man who was found by the security forces in the back of a car in the Malvern Street area of the Shankill Road has been identified as being 56-year-old Stephen Kernan. Mr Kernan, came from Station Road in Whiteabbey and worked as a taxi driver.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Youths shot from passing car Two youths have been admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds to the legs after an incident at the Whiterock Road. It is believed that the youths were fired on from a passing car. Their condition is not thought to be serious.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Friday 2nd March 1973 Soldier wounded in Ballymurphy Man shot dead in Belfast city centre A soldier has been grazed on the head when a burst of automatic fire The second man to die in the city is understood to be a 38-year-old man was directed at his mobile patrol in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. from the Falls area. The man, whose name has not been released, was shot as he walked along Linenhall Street behind the City Hall. He was dead on arrival in hospital.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Suspected IRA men detained Soldiers have detained several men after a raid on a club at Ardoyne Avenue-Brompton Park. It is understood that among those arrested were five officers and three volunteers in the Provisional IRA. Troops remove the body of David Glennon from a car parked in Mansfield Street in the Shankill area of West Belfast in which he was killed by loyalists
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Friday 2 March 1973 Shots fired on Springfield Road Soldiers on duty on the Springfield Road, and at the post at Blacks Road have come under fire from gunmen during the night but there were no casualties.
Friday 2nd March 1973 New UDR barracks opened A new barracks for the Ulster Defence Regiment has been opened at Coleshill on the outskirts of Enniskillen. The barracks will be the base for A and B Companies of the 4th Fermanagh Regiment.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Weapons found in New lodge Troops have seized two weapons and a quantity of ammunition during a search in the New Lodge area of Belfast. It is not known if any arrests were made.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Army blows up car The Army has blown up and set fire to a stolen car which was found parked at the side of the Europa Hotel and near the Unionist Party headquarters in Glengall Street. The car had been stolen on Wednesday in Adelade Street but was found not to contain any explosives.
Friday 2nd March 1973 RUC vehicle attacked An RUC Land Rover has come under fire in the Portadown Road area of Lurgan. Several shots were fired from the direction of a local school. Several shots struck the vehicle but none penetrated its armour and no one was injured. Friday 2nd March 1973 Hunger strike- Bernadette Devlin to meet MP’s Bernadette Devlin, MP, has led a deputation to see Lord Windlesham and Labour MP’s and raised the case of the 70-year-old Armagh woman who is on hunger strike in Armagh Prison.
Friday 2nd March 1973 Shot boy is buried A black flag has been carried in front of the funeral of the 12-year-old boy who was shot dead in the Derrybeg estate in Newry on Wednesday. The funeral of the dead boy, Kevin Heatley, of Second Avenue, Derrybeg, was attended by thousands of mourners.
Friday 2nd March 1973 RUC man wounded An RUC man has been shot twice by youths who tried to hi-jack his car on the Falls Road in the early hours of the morning. The man opened fire on his attackers and fired about six shots up Rockmore Road. It is thought that one of the youths may have been wounded in the attack. BELOW LEFT - The outline of a body in Linenhall Street where a man was shot dead. BELOW - Voters leaving Dee Street polling station after voting on the Border Poll
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Saturday 3 March 1973 Hooded body found on border The hooded body of a full time sergeant in the UDR has been discovered close to the Derry-Donegal border. The dead man has been named as English born David Charles Deacon, who was aged 39 and was married with three children. Soldiers who went to the scene at around 8.00am saw two men crossing a field with a rifle. One shot was fired but the men, one of whom was limping, escaped across the border.
Saturday 3rd March 1973 Bus driver is shot dead Buses in Belfast have come to a standstill as busmen protested over the killing of driver Patrick Crossan. Mr Crossan was shot dead by two gunmen who boarded his bus as it pulled up at a scheduled stop on Belfast’s Woodvale Road. Mr Crossan, a father of two, lived at Ladbrook Drive in Ardoyne. Saturday 3rd March 1973 Men caught in crossfire A man and his 17-year-old son have had a narrow escape when they were caught in crossfire as they drove along the Deerpark Road at the junction with Alliance Avenue. Six shots were fired at soldiers but no one was injured in the attack. A local resident said that they had been trying for weeks to get the Army to move their observation post as it only attracted trouble.
Anton Brown
Saturday 3rd March 1973 IRA offensive in Newry IRA activity in Newry has reached a new height as they launched an offensive against troops. According to Army reports, eight high velocity shots were directed at one of their patrols in the O’Neill estate. At 11.00pm 16 shots were fired at another patrol in Dominic Street. The shots came from the direction of Dublin Road. Fire was returned but no hits were claimed. Soldiers have said that they did shoot a man who fired three shots at a mobile patrol in canal Street. Just before 1.00am three shots were fired at Courtney Hill in the south east end of the town. In the same area soldiers found a man who had been shot in the leg. It is believed that he was fired on from a passing car. Earlier in the day there was rioting on the Newry-Camlough Road near the entrance to the Derrybeg estate where a 12-year-old boy was shot dead by soldiers earlier in the week. At one stage a lorry carrying a load of stones was tipped on the roadway before setting fire to the vehicle. Saturday 3rd March 1973 Bomb exploded in Derry supermarket A woman has been treated for shock after a bomb exploded in a Derry supermarket close to her home. The bomb, estimated to have contained between 10-15lbs of explosives, was contained in a plastic bag and had been left on the floor of Kelly’s Supermarket in Spencer Road. A half hour warning was telephoned to a local newspaper.
Charles Deacon
David Doersett
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Saturday 3 March 1973 Army come under fire at checkpoint A single shot has been fired at an Army checkpoint on Derry’s Northland Road. The sniper is believed to have been operating from the direction of Brooke Park. No one was injured in the attack and nothing was found during a follow-up search.
treatment of Mrs Smith by the RUC during her court appearance and the statement stated that she was manhandled and thrown into a prison van.
Saturday 3rd March 1973 Suspect device Soldiers in Belfast dealing with a suspect device blew up a car in a Saturday 3rd March 1973 controlled explosion in Franklin Street. The owner had left his car in Man wounded in Lurgan the street and had gone to the YMCA for a game of snooker. He A man has been wounded in the buttock in a shooting incident in a returned later to find his car wrecked and the suspect device on the public house in William Street-Brownlow Street. It is understood that back seat, a cooked chicken, destroyed. two men entered the premises and ordered one of the customers out of the building. The man started to run towards the other end of the bar and one of the gunmen opened fire, hitting the man once. He was taken Saturday 3rd March 1973 to hospital but his injuries are not serious. Preparations for poll The Floral Hall in Belfast is to be used as a polls counting centre. Saturday 3rd March 1973 Soldiers are at present preparing the building by installing barbed wire Arms raids on UDR men’s homes and anti bomb wire around the perimeter. The hall will be used on 9th Two armed raiders have burst into the home of a UDR man at Moy. March to count the votes. The men tied up a woman occupant and stole a Sterling sub-machine gun, 29 9mm bullets and .38 revolver. A short time later another UDR man’s home in the same area was raided and a sub-machine gun was Monday 5th March 1973 taken. Busmen go on strike Bus men in Belfast are continuing with their strike in protest against Saturday 3rd March 1973 the killing of bus driver Patrick Crossan. The strike will continue until at least Wednesday. UDR man held up A masked man has held up a UDR man on his way home and took his pistol from him. The incident happened at Loughgall near Portadown. Also in Portadown the Army have found three rounds of ammunition Monday 5th March 1973 during a search in Obin Street. Soldier killed in Falls area A soldier has been shot dead in the falls area of Belfast. It is understood that the dead man, 19-year-old Pte Gary Barlow, was a member Saturday 3rd March 1973 Car hi-jacked in Ardoyne – occupants questioned of a patrol which was carrying out a follow up operation after an earlier Two men have been held and questioned in the Ardoyne area of Belfast shooting incident. The soldier, it is thought was somehow separated after their car was hi-jacked. The vehicle was taken at Brompton Park- from his colleagues, by a group of women. As the soldiers searched a Jamaica Street. Eventually both men were released and their vehicle garage, local women angry at the Army’s presence hurled abuse at the returned to them. soldiers. The patrol commander then took the decision to withdraw his soldiers; however after they left the area they realised that the soldier had been left behind. On returning to the area it was discovered that Saturday 3rd March 1973 the soldier had been shot through the head with a pistol bullet. Soldiers attacked in Falls area A soldier had a narrow escape in the Falls area of Belfast when five shots were fired at his patrol. The shooting happened at Marchioness Street in the Lower Falls. One of the bullets passed through a soldiers Monday 5th March 1973 helmet, narrowly missing his head. Soldier dies from gunshot wounds A soldier, a member of the Royal Green Jackets, has died in hospital Saturday 3rd March 1973 from gunshot wounds he received in East Belfast during the loyalist Hunger striker given bail strike. The dead soldier has been named as Private Raymond Hall. Mrs Mary Smith, the 70-year-old woman who has been on hunger strike According to an Army spokesman he was shot in the back ay a gunman at Armagh Prison, has been released on bail. A statement smuggled out in Welland Street in the Albertbridge Road area. He is the second of the prison by political prisoners expressed disgust at the callous soldier to have died as a result of Protestant violence.
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Monday 5 March 1973 Youth shot in Ardoyne A 16-year-old youth from the Ardoyne area of Belfast has sustained gunshot wounds during the night. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are as yet unknown and are being investigated by the RUC. Earlier in the evening a soldier spotted a gunman at the rear of a house in Havana Street. Shots were fired but no hits were claimed. Monday 5th March 1973 Protestant girl wounded in shooting A 14-year-old Protestant girl has ben shot in the leg as around 13 shots were fired from a car on the Ormeau Road. The shots were directed at a group of Catholic youths who had just left a club in the Carolan area. On seeing a suspicious car approach them, the youths began to run and the occupants opened fire on them hitting the girl who was out walking with a friend.
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Monday 5 March 1973 Arms find in Highfield estate Soldiers have seized a pistol and some ammunition during a search of Highfield Drive in Belfast.
Monday 5th March 1973 Weapon uncovered in Turf Lodge An M1 carbine has been uncovered during a search in the Turf Lodge area. It is not known if any arrests were made.
Monday 5th March 1973 Man injured in rocket attack A 20-year-old soldier has been injured in a rocket attack on the vehicle in which he was travelling. The attack on the Saracen armoured personnel carrier took place during the night as it travelled on the MoyBenburb Road. It is believed that an IRA unit were lying in wait for the soldiers and launched the attack using a Russian made RPG7 rocket Monday 5th March 1973 launcher. The rocket struck the Saracen whose rear doors were open at the time causing the vehicle to overturn into a ditch. It is reported that RUC Land Rover attacked in Short Strand A gunman has fired three shots at a Land Rover from the direction of the injured soldier had one of his legs amputated. Clyde Street-Short Strand. All the shots hit the vehicle but none of the RUC men inside were injured. Monday 5th March 1973 Newry bomb attack Monday 5th March 1973 The interior of the Top Hat bar in Newry’s Canal Street has been badly damaged in a bomb attack. A ten minute warning was given by two Bomb explodes in Falls A bomb, which was contained in a gas cylinder has been planted out- men who planted the 5-10lb bomb on a counter on Saturday night. side a hall on the Upper Falls Road. The hall is used for community There were no casualties in the attack and there was no structural projects but it is understood that the damage to the premises is not damage caused to the building. extensive. Monday 5th March 1973 Ammunition find A search of Harryville Street in East Belfast has uncovered ten rounds of ammunition and four riot shields. No arrests were made. Monday 5th March 1973 Shot fired at school Soldiers have opened fire on a gunman in a car after he is said to have fired a shot at Our Lady of Mercy School in the Silverstream area. The soldiers believe they hit one man in the car but the vehicle drove off at high speed.
Monday 5th March 1973 East Belfast blaze A number of lock-up garages behind the Strand Cinema in East Belfast have been destroyed during the night. One car was also destroyed. The cause of the outbreak is not yet known.
Monday 5th March 1973 Shots fired at UDR centre Eight shots have been fired from the old St John Bosco boxing club in Newry at the UDR centre on Downshire Road. No one was injured in the attack. Monday 5th March 1973 Bomb at Bessbrook A bomb has exploded inside a mini car which was parked at the side of the road between Bessbrook and Drumbanagher. The RUC at Newry received a telephone warning but did not go to the area immediately because they suspected an ambush. Monday 5th March 1973 Petrol bomb attack in Bangor Petrol bombs have been thrown at two Protestant owned houses in Abbot’s Close and Whitehill Pass in Bangor. The occupant of one of the houses was slightly burned on the foot by one of the bombs.
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Monday 5 March 1973 Customs post bombed A bomb has exploded in the customs post at Beleek. It is believed that the device had been planted during the night. Although no warning was given, customs staff discovered the bomb and the building was evacuated. No one was injured in the attack. Monday 5th March 1973 Shop bombed in Derry A bomb has damaged a shop in Derry’s Waterloo Street. The device was carried into the premises by two youths who informed customers that they had two minutes to get out. Smoke was seen coming from the bag and five minutes later the bomb, estimated to contain between 510lb of explosives detonated. There were no injuries in the attack.
statement said that the Special Investigations Branch of the Military Police are investigating the incident with a view to disciplinary action against the soldier. Monday 5th March 1973 Raid on gun shop A licensed gun dealer has been tied up and robbed by four men in Armagh. A small quantity of ammunition was stolen.
Monday 5th March 1973 Attempted jail break in Armagh An escape attempt by five women at Armagh Prison has been foiled after a warder spotted that a bar in a cell window had been cut. The women had reached the top of the perimeter wall of the jail when the alarm was raised. The women were hiding in an unoccupied Army Monday 5th March 1973 observation post on the prison wall and were preparing their descent. Bomb is planted at bakery One woman attempted to scramble through the barbed wire and drop to A bomb containing 5lb of explosives has been planted at a bakery in the ground but she became entangled. Derry’s Park Avenue. The device, which failed to explode, was planted by two youths. An Army expert managed to drag the bomb out into the Monday 5th March 1973 street where it was defused. Lurgan shooting Seven shots have been fired at soldiers on patrol in the Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan. There were no casualties in the attack and fire was not Monday 5th March 1973 Soldiers in unauthorised shooting returned. A number of people have been arrested during a follow-up Army headquarters in Derry have said that the shots heard during the search and held for questioning. night in the Lone Moor Road and Brandywell areas were fired by a soldier in what appeared to be unauthorised circumstances. A Monday 5th March 1973 Arrests A total of 35 known IRA men, including 15 officers, a battalion commander and a bomb expert, have been captured by the Army in the last five days. In addition to this a total of 27 people, 16 Protestants and 11 Catholics have been arrested on firearms charges since Wednesday. Tuesday 6th March 1973 Injured soldiers flown to hospital Three soldiers have been flown to hospital in Belfast after they entered a booby-trapped house on the border. The explosion, which occurred at Mullaghbawn, South Armagh, left the men with facial injuries, a broken leg. Their exact condition is not yet known. Tuesday 6th March 1973 Bomb explodes at furniture store A bomb has exploded at the Northern Furnishing Stores on Belfast’s Dublin Road. It is estimated that the device contained around 20lbs of explosives and that the damage to the store was extensive. TOP - The funeral of Constable William Wylie who was killed in an IRA ambush at Crannagh Bridge BOTTOM - The bus in which Patrick Crossan was shot dead by Loyalists. Mr Crossan had been the driver
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Tuesday 6 March 1973 Shots fired at soldiers Shots have been fired at an Army patrol on Belfast’s Crumlin Road. No one was injured in the attack which was mounted from a passing car. Fire was not returned. Tuesday 6th March 1973 Arms finds Guns, ammunition and bomb making material have been discovered by soldiers carrying out searches in the Ardoyne and Oldpark and Shankill areas of Belfast. In the Shankill a revolver, rifle and 256 rounds of ammunition were found and in Battenburg Street two .303 rifles, a starting pistol, a \Mills grenade and 40 rounds of ammunition were discovered. In Ardoyne four detonators, circuit tester and four cwt of amonium nitrate were found in Berwick Street, while in Glenbryn Parade a double barrelled shotgun, a zip gun and 150 rounds of ammunition were found. In the Oldpark area, soldiers discovered a home made mortar bomb, 70 rounds of ammunition five shotgun cartridges and 50lbs of sodium chlorate. In Hillview street 50 large bore rifle rounds, 30 rounds of revolver ammunition and two boxes of shotgun pellets were uncovered,
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girl’s father who told them that the child was ill. As they travelled by military vehicle to hospital a single shot rang out. No one was injured in the attack. The girl was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Tuesday 6th March 1973 Bomb explodes as people play bingo A 20lb bomb has exploded without warning at the side of St Patrick’s Hall in May’s Lane, off North Queen Street. A number of people were inside the building at the time playing bingo but only a small part of the device exploded and no one was injured in the attack. Tuesday 6th March 1973 Bomb defused in Finaghy An Army bomb disposal expert has defused a 20lb device which had been planted at a French polisher’s at Locksley Drive in the Finaghy area. Tuesday 6th March 1973 Republican club attacked A bomb, estimated to have contained between 10-15lb of explosives in a gas cylinder has been thrown through the front window of the Joe McCann Republican Club in Atlantic Avenue. The building was extensively damaged and the windows in nearby houses were broken.
Tuesday 6th March 1973 Racecourse attacked Three jumps at Downpatrick racecourse have been destroyed by fire during the night. The attack followed a warning that the whole racecourse had been Tuesday 6th March 1973 booby-trapped but a preliminary search found nothing. Gunman shot in Oldpark area .Soldiers have claimed that they shot a gun man in the Oldpark area of Tuesday 6th March 1973 Belfast after they came under fire at the Louisa Street Army post. Three Soldiers attacked in Andersonstown shots were fired at the soldiers but no hits were made. Three blast Soldiers have come under fire in the Andersonstown area as they rushed bombs and fifteen shots were also directed at troops in the same area a child to Musgrave hospital. The soldier had been approached by the during the night. No casualties were reported.
Samuel Martin
William Kenny
Patrick Crossan
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Tuesday 6 March 1973 House searched after shooting Soldiers searching a derelict house in McDonnell Street in the Lower Falls area of Belfast have discovered, two twelve bore shotguns, a M1 carbine and a quantity of ammunition.
Tuesday 6th March 1973 Cookstown bank robbed Four armed men have carried out an armed robbery at the Hibernian Bank in James Street. It is understood that the raiders got away with around £20,000.
Tuesday 6th March 1973 Drinking club raided RUC personnel, backed up by soldiers have carried out a raid on a Protestant drinking club in Heathfield Street, off Belfast’s Oldpark Road. 56 dozen bottles of stout and three bottles of spirits were taken away.
Wednesday 7th March 1973 Soldier arrested A soldier has been put under arrest after a shooting incident occurred in Derry’s Brandywell estate. The identity of the soldier, who is believed to be a Captain in the Royal Artillery, will not be released until he appears in court. An Army spokesman has said that the soldier was off duty at the time.
Tuesday 6th March 1973 Portadown arms find Soldiers, searching a scrap yard in Obin Street, Portadown, have found a quantity of arms and ammunition. The haul is believed to have included a Martini rifle, four detonators, several magazines and 17 rounds of ammunition.
Wednesday 7th March 1973 UDR men’s guns stolen It has been reported that between 8-10 armed men have held up eight members of the UDR who were on duty at a polling station in the Shankill area of Belfast. It is understood that eight UDR men were on guard at the polling station and that the raiders took all eight of the UDR men’s SLR rifles and ammunition.
Tuesday 6th March 1973 Larne church attacked Two petrol bombs have been thrown into St McNissi church hall in BELOW - Belfast’s buses brought to a standstill following Victoria Road. No one was injured in the attack and damage was the murder of Patrick Crossan confined to the outside of the building. FACING PAGE - The funeral of Patrick Crossan
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Wednesday 7 March 1973 Soldiers attacked in Derry A member of the Grenadier Guards had a narrow escape when a sniper opened fire on his patrol in Derry. The patrol had been on its way down Creggan Broadway when a single shot rang out from the area of St Mary’s Church. The bullet passed through the soldiers rifle but did not hit him. A follow up search was later carried out in the area. Nothing was found.
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Wednesday 7 March 1973 Raid at Orange Hall Three men, all of whom were armed with revolvers, have carried out a raid on Killeter Orange Hall. The hall serves as a part time Labour Exchange and the men escaped with an undisclosed sum of money. Wednesday 7th March 1973 Explosion in Derry An explosion which was heard all over Derry has been traced to a demolition site in Bishop Street. It is believed that the explosion was caused by an oil drum which had been left on top of hot ashes.
Wednesday 7th March 1973 Soldier shot dead in Belfast The soldier who was shot dead in the Whiterock area of Belfast has been named as 22-year-old Guardsman Anton Brown. He was a Wednesday 7th March 1973 married man with one child. The soldier died after a sniper fired a Bomb attack on Newry pub single shot at him as he carried out a search in Whitecliff Crescent. A bomb which had been planted by two men in Kelly and Calverts public house in Newry has been carried outside by a man who had been drinking in the bar. The bomb, which was in a plastic carrier bag, and Wednesday 7th March 1973 Shots fired at post was attached to a can of petrol, exploded in the street. No one was The Army has reported that 21 high velocity shots have been fired at injured. their observation post in Alliance Road, in Ardoyne. No one was injured in the attack and fire was not returned. Thursday 8th March 1973 Bombs in Belfast and Derry Wednesday 7th March 1973 Throughout the day in Belfast and Derry bombs have been exploding. Shot fired in Lisburn Five bombs have so far exploded in each city and there have been A single shot is reported to have been fired at a man who was driving several suspect devices. his car along the Ballinderry Road-Causeway End during the night. In Belfast the Midlands Hotel, beside York Street railway station was No one was injured in the shooting. bombed causing extensive damage. Other bombs exploded at a Lisburn
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Road supermarket, a tobacco wholesalers in Glengall Street, a furniture warehouse in Talbot Street and the Merville Inn on the Shore Road. In Derry the bombs all exploded at around lunchtime. The first of the explosions was at Ebrington Army barracks. A short time later, Lanes (Business Equipment) Ltd and Thompson’s painters in Foyle Street were both extensively damaged in bomb attacks. An hour after these attacks a bomb exploded close to Waterside RUC barracks. The device had been pulled from a nearby supermarket and the fifth explosion was at a shop in Spencer Road which was owned by a former internee.
ammunition, a bandolier, two shotgun cartridges and an explosive device.
Thursday 8th March 1973 Bombs rock London Two massive car bombs have exploded in the centre of London. The first bomb to explode was at the Old Bailey. The bomb. which was in a Ford Cortina, was left in Seacoal Lane and the resulting explosion blew out the front of the courthouse and completely wrecked the nearby George public house. A number of people are reported to have been injured in the blast. The second bomb to explode was planted outside the Army recruiting offices at Great Scotland Yard, just off Whitehall. At least ten minutes warning was given. The bomb rocked hundreds of Thursday 8th March 1973 Government offices and shattered windows as far as Trafalgar Square A third in Dean Stanley Street, near Conservative central office and Body discovered in car The body of a 35-year-old Catholic man has been discovered by a Transport House was defused. There are reports that several people woman outside her home in the Oldpark area. The man, who has been have been trapped in cars and buildings at the scene of the explosions. named as David Glennon, of Divismore Crescent, Ballymurphy, was found on the rear seat of a car in Summer Street. The car had been Thursday 8th March 1973 stolen from Craven Street in the Shankill area. Man and woman shot in South Armagh A man and his daughter have been each wounded in the leg after armed Thursday 8th March 1973 men entered their home in South Armagh. The man and his 18-yearChildren sell ammunition old daughter are said to live in the village of Meigh which is midway The security forces have been called to a school in the Bloomfield area between Newry and Forkhill. It is understood that the man works as of Belfast in response to the information that children have been a rates collector and was a witness for the council in a large number of selling bullets in the playground for three pence per round. It was later prosecutions in South Armagh over the last two years. On Tuesday he discovered that the children had found the ammunition in a hole on gave evidence against a number of cases of non payment of rates in waste ground. A search uncovered a total of 1,125 rounds of assorted Newtownhamilton. Both the injured are in hospital.
Edward Sharpe
Gary Barlow
Gordon Gallagher
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Thursday 8 March 1973 Youth shot in Ligoniel Gunmen have broken into a house at Brae Hill Parade in the Ligoniel area as a woman and her son lay sleeping. On hearing glass smash the woman got up and was confronted by a gunman who demanded money, when her son investigated the noise he was shot in the abdomen and his mother in the neck. Neither are in a serious condition.
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Thursday 8 March 1973 Shots fired in Lurgan Eight shots have been fired in the Edward Street-Hill Street area of Lurgan. The RUC have said that a man, armed with an SLR rifle was seen running away from Arthur Street towards the Shankill estate.
Thursday 8th March 1973 Shots fired at hotel Thursday 8th March 1973 Four shots have been fired at the Cushendall Hotel in Cushendall during the night. Later, two containers were found against the wall of Store bombed in Newry A shop which specialised in the sale of musical instruments, owned by the hotel. It was initially thought they were bombs but one was found Mr Eber Clarke, at the mall has been badly damaged in a bomb attack. to contain petrol and the other diesel oil. Thousands of pounds worth of organs, pianos and show band instruments were damaged in the attack. BELOW - IRA bomb attack on shops on the Lisburn Road
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THE TROUBLES
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Thursday 8 March 1973 Bread vans destroyed Three bread vans have been set on fire at the rear of Russell’s bakery on the Melmount Road in Strabane.
Friday 9th March 1973 Arrests after London bombs Ten people, seven men and three women have been arrested by Scotland Yard following yesterdays bomb attacks in London. It is understood that only two of those arrested are known to the RUC.
Thursday 8th March 1973 Arson attack on Armagh farm Upwards of 30,000 bales of straw were destroyed by fire on the Carmichael farm at Lisbanoe, outside Armagh city. The straw was stacked in a field and the RUC are treating the fire as malicious.
Friday 9th March 1973 Sniper shoots soldier A soldier has been shot in the groin by a sniper as he guarded a working party in the New Lodge Road area of Belfast. He was stuck by a single shot and was rushed to Musgrave Park Hospital. The wounded man had been a member of a patrol were providing cover for soldiers who Friday 9th March 1973 London bomb hoaxes were erecting ramps at the junction of Trainfield Street and the New Police have sealed off the Foreign Office in Whitehall following a new Lodge Road. His condition is not known. bomb scare. Three cars which were parked in the inner quadrangle were inspected by the police who sealed off the area. At least one car was blown up but no explosive devices were found. Friday 9th March 1973 Sniper kills soldier outside polling station A soldier has been shot dead on sentry duty outside a Belfast polling station. The soldier, who has been named as Private John Green, of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment, was shot in the chest and died almost immediately. He had been on duty outside a polling station at Slate Street in the Grosvenor area at around 6.45 when gunmen fired five shots. Pte Green was single and came from Atherton, Lancs. Friday 9th March 1973 Post Office bombed A bomb has exploded at Dungiven Post Office early today. It had been planted by two men who told the staff that they had minutes to get out. The device exploded a half hour later causing extensive damage top the building. Friday 9th March 1973 Soldier dies as vehicle overturns A British Army soldier died during the night when the vehicle in which he was travelling overturned at Brustin Brae Road in Larne. Three other soldiers were also injured. The dead man’s identity will not be revealed until his next of kin have been informed. Friday 9th March 1973 Shots fired in Ardoyne Three high velocity shots have been fired in the Ardoyne area of Belfast at a hall which was being used as a polling station. There were no casualties in the attack. TOP - Fire bomb attack on Clokey’s shop in King Street LEFT - An army saracen after it was struck by a Russian made rocket close to the Armagh border FACING PAGE - Bomb attack on the Northern Furnishing Store on the Dublin Road
THE TROUBLES
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THE TROUBLES TOP - The remains of an army Land Rover after it struck a mine at Parkanaur on the main Dungannon-Omagh Road. The driver was killed. MIDDLE & BOTTOM - Firebomb attacks on shops in North Street Friday 9th March 1973 Weapons discovered A single shot has been fired at soldiers at Flax Street Army posy. No one was injured in the attack. Later, acting on a tip off, soldiers have discovered a rifle and ammunition in a garden in Ardoyne. Shots were also fired at troops in a mill in the Ligoniel area. No hits were claimed. Friday 9th March 1973 Machine gun attack on RUC An RUC Land Rover has come under heavy machine gun fire near the M2 intersection with the Shore Road. The shots came from the direction of Mill Road and although several bullets struck the vehicle no one was injured in the attack. Friday 9th March 1973 Sniper opens fire in Bone area A sniper has fired a single shot at the Ballycastle Street-Oldpark Road observation post. Fire was returned but no one was injured.
Friday 9th March 1973 Soldier dies in hospital A 31-year-old soldier, Corporal Joseph Leahy, has died in hospital from injuries he received in a booby-trap blast near Mullaghbane, near Forkhill. Friday 9th March 1973 Shot fired in Bessbrook A single shot has been fired at troops in Bessbrook as they returned from guarding a polling station. Fire was returned but no hits were reported.
Friday 9th March 1973 Bus hi-jacking An Ulsterbus has been hi-jacked in Patrick Street, Newry. The vehicle was driven to the Barcroft estate were it was set on fire.
Friday 9th March 1973 Soldiers attacked in Lurgan Three shots have been fired at soldiers in Lurgan from the direction of Taghnevan estate. The soldiers were guarding a polling station which was located in a local school. No one was injured in the attack.
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Friday 9 March 1973 Lurgan arms find A quantity of arms and ammunition has been uncovered by soldiers in the wake of recent shootings in the Lurgan area. In the latest find five shotguns, 2,000 rounds of .22 ammunition, a pistol magazine, a flare and two hand-radios were uncovered. Also in Lurgan, four shots were fired at a polling station in Tullygally School. No one was injured.
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Saturday 10 March 1973 Suspect car is blown up Soldiers have blown up a suspect car near the Albert Clock in Belfast. No explosives were found in the car but the alert caused disruption of traffic.
Saturday 10th March 1973 Man shot during riot A young Protestant man has been shot and seriously injured as he walked Friday 9th March 1973 along Arthur Road in the Whitewell area of Belfast. According to local Soldiers attacked at Carrickmore people, the man had been walking near Arthur Road Bridge when a red Soldiers on duty at a polling station at Carrickmore have come under van pulled up along side him and a burst of shots rang out. He was shot fire from a sniper. A single shot was aimed at the troops but no injuries in the stomach. were reported. The shooting is the second attack in the village in 12 hours. Saturday 10th March 1973 Shankill Road shooting Friday 9th March 1973 A second night of shootings has taken place at Wimbleton Street, off the Shankill Road. A burst of shots was fired into a house from a passTransformer bombed An explosion at an electricity transformer has blacked out the village of ing car and a 30-year-old man was hit in the shoulder. His condition is Annalong for a time during the night, The RUC have said that the trans- not serious. former at Glassdrummond has been extensively damaged by the blast. Saturday 10th March 1973 th Friday 9 March 1973 Bar owner kidnapped RUC come under sniper attack in Armagh A bar owner, who had been walking along the Woodstock Road in A bullet has punctured the tyre of an RUC Land Rover in the Drumbreda Belfast was bundled into a car by three men who drew up beside him. area of Armagh. There were no casualties. He was then driven to his bar, made to open the premises and robbed of Friday 9th March 1973 Shot fired at soldiers in Toome A single shot has been fired at an Army escort as it prepared to leave the village of Toome with Ballot boxes which were destined for the counting centre in Belfast. Friday 9th March 1973 Ballot papers burned in Derry Around 300 people have burned their ballot papers outside the polling station at St Cecillia’s school in the Creggan area of Derry. Saturday 10th March 1973 Man shot on country road A farmer on his way to feed his cattle has discovered a man bleeding badly from gunshot wounds on a country road near Portadown. It is understood that the man , who is in a critical condition, had been badly beaten and shot in the chest. His condition has been described as critical. The man has been named by local people as 32-year-old Patrick John Turley, from Bessbrook. TOP - Bomb attack on the Co-op Store on Ainsworth Avenue. BOTTOM - Funeral of UDR Private William Kenny who was shot dead in the New Lodge area
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THE TROUBLES
money. He was then tied to a lamp post outside his premises and the Monday 12th March 1973 raiders made off. The man, who has not been named was not injured Long Kesh escape and managed to free himself after a half hour. A massive security operation has swung into place after the escape of a man from Long Kesh. The man who escaped was 23-year-old Billy Saturday 10th March 1973 Kelly . It is believed that two other men tried to escape with him but they were captured by soldiers between the inner and outer wires of the House petrol bombed A 58-year-old Catholic woman and her 28-year-old daughter have been camp. Beside them were a pair of wire cutters. The identity of Mr treated in hospital for burns after a petrol bomb was thrown into their Kelly was not known for several hours after his escape was noticed. home at Jordanstown. Both women received burns to the face and This was due to the disruptive techniques adopted by other detainees. It is believed that heavy fog has disrupted the search for the escapee. legs. Saturday 10th March 1973 Attack on bar Two men have attempted to set fire to the Jordanstown Inn on the Shore Road at Whiteabbey. When the attack failed they then fired nine shots at the building. No one was injured in the attack and the premises were not damaged. Saturday 10th March 1973 Farmer injured in explosion A farmer has been injured by a booby-trap explosion on his farm at Ballywallan, Newtownbutler. The man had gone to inspect a disused farmhouse on his land and had just opened the door when the bomb exploded. It is thought that the bomb had been intended for the security forces.
Saturday 10th March 1973 Haysheds destroyed At Killcready, Armagh, 16,000 bales of hay have been destroyed in a fire and at Brootally a hayshed and 1,000 bales were destroyed and at a farm at Keady another fire destroyed a hayshed and 1,500 bales of hay.
Monday 12th March 1973 15 IRA men arrested It has been reported at a conference in Stormont Castle that the Army have arrested 15 members of the IRA at the weekend and seized 16 guns. Eleven of the guns were taken from Protestant sources and five from the IRA. Monday 12th March 1973 Man killed in UDA club A member of the UDA, 25-year-old David Eccles, of Silverstream Road has been killed in a UDA club in Belfast on Saturday night. Five other people were injured in the shooting. Two of these have been discharged from hospital and the remaining three are not considered to be serious. A man has been charged with killing him and has appeared in court. Monday 12th March 1973 Man shot from passing car A 24-year-old Catholic from the Springfield Road area is very seriously ill in hospital after he was shot from a passing car as he walked up the Grosvenor Road.
Monday 12th March 1973 Saturday 10 March 1973 Shooting in Markets area Army base attacked A 19-year-old catholic youth from the Cavehill Road area of Belfast has Security at the St Angelo airbase at Enniskillen, which is the head- been admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds. It is understood that he quarters of the Royal Tank Regiment, has been breached. The security was shot in the ankle but it is not known where they were fired from. breach began when a laundry van, which was completing its rounds and which included the base, was hi-jacked. The driver was forced to Monday 12th March 1973 take a bomb into the base in the van, which was then left in a clothes Soldiers come under attack in Ardoyne store. A controlled explosion was later carried out. The store was A nail bomb has been thrown at soldiers in Berwick Road in Ardoyne. destroyed by the blast. Fire was returned by the soldiers but no hits were claimed. Soldiers have also opened fire on a gunman in Cranbrook Gardens in the same area but no hits were claimed. Saturday 10th March 1973 Teenager shot in Derry Monday 12th March 1973 A teenage youth has been admitted to hospital in Derry suffering from Single shot fired gunshot wounds to the leg. It is believed that the youth was shot in the A single high velocity shot has been fired from a car at the Graymount Creggan area of Derry. His condition is not serious. estate but the target is not known and there were no casualties. th
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Monday 12 March 1973 Warehouse damaged in attack A huge blaze has severely damaged a warehouse at Bath Place in the Lower Falls. The fire, in a furniture warehouse was brought under control several hours later. No one was hurt in the attack.
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Monday 12 March 1973 200lb bomb detonated on border An Army bomb disposal expert has detonated a 200lb bomb which had been planted at Wattle Bridge near the border at Newtownbutler. The road was closed to traffic while the bridge was subject to a structural examination.
Monday 12th March 1973 Rocket launcher discovered in Newry Security forces have discovered a Russian made RPG7 rocket launcher Monday 12th March 1973 in a sack at Canal Quay in Newry. An optical sight was also found with Hay store destroyed the weapon on a pile of coal in a factory yard. Attacks on farms have continued with three hundred bales of hay being destroyed in a blaze on a farm at Legmacaffrey, Newtownbutler. FireMonday 12th March 1973 men managed to save a further 2,700 bales on the same farm. Orange hall bombed An Orange hall on the Newry-Newtownhamilton Road at Beleek has Monday 12th March 1973 been wrecked by a bomb. The device is estimated to have contained Man shot in Dungannon between 60-100lbs of explosives. A man has been admitted to the South Tyrone hospital with a gunshot wound to the thigh. According to the RUC the man was shot as he Monday 12th March 1973 answered the door of his home at Cooney Park, Lisnahull. The injured UDR man wounded man is not believed to be seriously hurt. An off duty member of the UDR has been wounded during a shooting outside a public house at Bridgend just inside Donegal. He was wounded Monday 12th March 1973 in the shoulder and buttocks when six shots were fired at him as he left Rifle found by children the bar. He was treated in Altnagelvin hospital and not seriously Five young boys have discovered a .303 rifle hidden under shrubbery when they went for a walk along a disused railway line at Selshion, injured. Portadown. They reported the find to their parents who in turn Monday 12th March 1973 informed the RUC. Army claims hit in Derry Soldiers in Derry have claimed that they shot a man who opened fire Monday 12th March 1973 on them near the Bligh’s Lane post. Seven shots were directed at the Catholic youth attacked in Rathcoole soldiers who were travelling by Land Rover. A Catholic youth had a narrow escape when a gunman burst into his flat in Rathcoole and fired a shot at him as he lay in bed. Although the Monday 12th March 1973 man fired from point blank range he missed the man and only a small Army bomb expert injured hole, caused by a .22 round could be seen on a sheet. An Army bomb disposal expert had a narrow escape when he was blown across the street when a bomb exploded in a jeweller’s shop on Carlisle Monday 12th March 1973 Road. He was bruised and cut but his injuries were not serious. Chapel attacked in Carrick A petrol bomb has been thrown through the vestry window of St Nicholas’s Catholic Church at Carrickfergus. Little damage was caused. Monday 12th March 1973 Army stops UDA vehicles Soldiers stopped a number of vehicles on Saturday night which were Tuesday 13th March 1973 carrying around 100 members of the UDA. The vehicles were stopped Soldier killed on border on the basis of information received. A number of people were A soldier has been killed and two others seriously injured when a bomb detained and some firearms and cudgels were seized. exploded at Crossmaglen in South Armagh. The dead man, Private John William King, aged 23, of the Royal Hampshire Regiment died when his eight man patrol moved along a narrow road in the town land Monday 12th March 1973 Petrol bomb attack on bar in Newtownabbey of Coolderry. At a bridge they saw a parcel and as they thought it could A petrol bomb has been thrown into the Hill Tavern on the Carnmoney possibly be a bomb there was an explosion. The lives of the injured Road but no damage was caused to the premises. soldiers are not in danger.
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THE TROUBLES
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Tuesday 13 March 1973 Anger at Army shooting Local people have strongly denied that an Ardoyne man who was shot by the Army in the Ardoyne are was not a gunman as claimed by soldiers. The dead man, 28-year-old Edward Sharpe, was they say, standing at the door of his Cranbrook gardens home when he was shot. The Army claim that the man was shot by a soldier using a night sight and that he was climbing over a wall at the time.
Tuesday 13th March 1973 East Belfast explosion injured youth dies A 16-year-old youth who was badly injured in an explosion at a vacant shop on the Woodstock Road in East Belfast a week ago, has died in hospital. The dead youth has been named as Alexander Welsh, of Tamery Street. The dead boy and another youth were both taken to hospital after the blast and treated for severe blast burns. No one else was in the area at the time of the explosion.
Tuesday 13th March 1973 Milk churn bomb discovered An Army bomb disposal expert has examined a milk churn found by a roadside in County Derry. The churn contained 150lbs of explosives. The churn was discovered after experts blew up two other churns which were also filled with explosives. In other searches in the county, security forces found 50 rounds of ammunition, half a pint of nitro benzene a battery and a pair of binoculars.
Tuesday 13th March 1973 British Legion hall bombed A bomb has exploded without warning at a British legion Hall in Whiteabbey causing extensive damage. The RUC believe that the bomb may have been planted inside the building. Two people were treated for shock after the blast but no one was injured.
Tuesday 13th March 1973 Belfast arms find Soldiers have found a number of pistols and ammunition during a planned search in a Protestant area of West Belfast. In the roof of a garage in Donegal Avenue, they discovered four pistols, 1,134 rounds of ammunition, ammunition clips, magazines and cleaning equipment. .Also found was a UDA lieutenant’s jacket, two UDA type hats and two pocket radios.
Tuesday 13th March 1973 Explosives found in Dungiven Security forces searching the countryside near the town of Dungiven have discovered a quantity of bomb making equipment, a pistol with 100 rounds of ammunition and masks.
Tuesday 13th March 1973 Hay destroyed in blaze BELOW - Bomb attack on the Merville Inn on the Shore More than 500 bales of hay have been destroyed in a blaze on a farm at Collone. The hayshed was also destroyed in the attack. Road
THE TROUBLES th
Wednesday 14 March 1973 Escape plans discovered A bid by detainees to tunnel their way out of Long Kesh has been foiled when their escape plans were discovered. An Army search revealed that a three feet tunnel had been dug underneath one of the huts and that it ran for a distance of three and a half feet. However the authorities have said that the tunnel was a considerable distance from the perimeter. The detainees are believed to have used parts of a bed and a small vice used for handicrafts to dig the tunnel. The soil from the hole was stored in the cavity walls of the Nissan huts and these
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have been damaged to the extent that the prisoners have had to be moved to another compound. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Belfast bomb attacks Four bombs have exploded in Belfast and one in Lambeg. The targets for the Belfast bombs are said to have included the Kensington Hotel at College Square East, Stewarts Supermarket, McMullan’s filling station on the West Circular Road, Stanley Harvey’s garage at Clarence Street West . The Lambeg bomb was at the Coca Cola plant, where the bombers duped the security man into letting them in to plant a bomb in the plant’s boiler house. Wednesday 14th March 1973 UDA man buried The funeral has taken place in Belfast of the UDA man who was shot dead in a club at the weekend. Dennis Eccles, who was described as a Colonel in the UDA in death notices is said to have been a district commander. Several volleys of shots were fired over the UDA man’s coffin by eight men, four dressed in UVF uniforms and four in UDA. Several hundred members of paramilitary organisations attended the funeral, including the UDA and the LAW Rangers. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Date for elections announced The date for the postponed council elections in the North has been announced by the Secretary of State and is to take place on Wednesday 30th May. They were to take place on the 6th December but were put off because of pressure from some parties which contended that the political climate was unsuitable for holding elections. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Soldier wounded in border attack A soldier has been seriously wounded when six shots were fired at him from the southern side of the border. One bullet struck him in the back. Wednesday 14th March 1973 UDR man shot in Portadown A UDR man has been shot in the shoulder after he was taken from his home by four masked men who took his revolver. According to local reports he was then blindfolded and driven to Drumnasoo on the main Portadown-Armagh road. The man began to struggle with his captors and a shot was fired. He was then dumped at the side of the road and the men drove off. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Soldier claim hit Military policemen are claiming a hit after they opened fire on a man in Portadown. The soldiers say they spotted the man with a pistol near the railway station and challenged him but he ran off. Further
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RIGHT - A British sniper guarding the Floral Hall in North Belfast where the count for the Border Poll will take place challenges are said to have been issued after which they opened fire and claimed a hit. However before the soldiers could reach the man a car pulled up and the wounded youth was pulled in before speeding off. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Car bombs explode at Caledon Two bombs, each estimated to have contained 50lbs of explosives have blown up at a monument on Lord Caledon’s estate and caused extensive damage to the structure. According to the RUC the bombs were placed at the base and further up the structure. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Short Strand bomb attack A bomb has caused extensive damage to offices belonging to Richardson’s fertiliser plant at the Short Strand. A warning was given and extensive damage was caused to the building. Wednesday 14th March 1973 School teacher wounded A 32-year-old school teacher has been shot and wounded by two men, one of whom was armed with a revolver, burst into St Paul’s School in Beechmount Parade. The reason for the attack is not known. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Gunmen observed in Milltown Soldiers are said to have fired at a gunman they observed in Milltown cemetery. They are claiming a hit but there has been no trace of the gunman.
Thursday 15th March 1973 Factory bombed The Rock Brick Factory at Rock Road Drumankelly, just outside Lisburn has been targeted by bombers. Two youths and a girl are said to have left the device at the factory at around 1.30pm. A warning was given and no one was injured in the attack.
Wednesday 14th March 1973 Soldiers attacked in Bogside Five shots have been fired at soldiers in the Bogside area of Derry. In a follow up search empty cartridges were found in the grounds of St Thursday 15th March 1973 Arms find in Dungiven Columb’s college. Following the discovery of a bomb making factory in Dungiven on Tuesday soldiers have carried out further searches and uncovered an Wednesday 14th March 1973 IRA arms dump in a rural area outside the town. The find included a Landmine discovered Three 150lb landmines have been discovered by troops on the Gulladuff- Thompson sub machine gun, a Garrand rifle, two Lee Enfield rifles, a Bellaghy Road at Bellaghy. The bombs were detonated by Army M1 carbine and a rifle which has not yet been identified. experts. Wednesday 14th March 1973 Bomb explodes at Dungannon A bomb in a creamery can has exploded without warning between two rows of houses at the Ballygawley Road housing estate in Dungannon. No one was injured in the blasts.
Thursday 15th March 1973 Bomb attack on bar A suspect bomb has been discovered at Murphy’s bar in Great Patrick Street, Belfast at around 10.15. The area was evacuated and the 10lb bomb was made harmless by an Army expert.
THE TROUBLES
Thursday 15th March 1973 Army open fire in Ardoyne There have been several shooting incidents in Ardoyne during the night. The Army retuned fire when they came under attack and believe they wounded a man who opened fire on an observation post. In another incident they say they missed a man with a gun who opened fire at Berwick Road, near Alliance Avenue. Thursday 15th March 1973 Bomb at garage A bomb has exploded at a garage on the Newry side of Newtownhamilton. A warning was given and the area was evacuated. Slight damage was caused to the garage but a soldier suffered several broken ribs when he was blown into the road by the force of the blast.
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Thursday 15th March 1973 Gunbattle at Benburb Gunmen have opened fire on soldiers in the village of Benburb. Several gunmen are said to have been involved and the gunfire was described as being heavy. Also at a farm at Laraghshankill near Benburb around 1,000 bales of hay, a poultry house, 200 hens, a hayshed and a tractor were destroyed in a blaze and at Tynan 3,500 bales of hay were also destroyed on another farm. Thursday 15th March 1973 Incendiary attack in Coleraine An incendiary device has ignited in the Lombard cafĂŠ, in Queen Street, Coleraine during the night but little damage was caused. A fire has also destroyed two wings of the Rural Council offices in the town.
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Thursday 15th March 1973 Malicious fire at Cookstown Several thousand pounds worth of damage has been caused by a fire at Lin Hill garage. The fire, which is being treated as malicious, has burned out one car and caused extensive damage to a van and several other vehicles. Thursday 15th March 1973 Tunnel uncovered in prison The security forces have discovered yet another tunnel at Long Kesh. The hole, about a foot deep, was found under a study hut in a compound occupied by special category prisoners. It was discovered as a result of a routine search. Prisoners are now refusing their visits because due to increased security measures they are now required to remove their shoes before and after visits. Friday 16th March 1973 Bombs explode in Belfast and Lisburn Three bombs have exploded in Belfast and one near Lisburn. All the attacks took place near lunch time. Two of the Belfast bombs exploded at King Street in the Smithfield area. They had been planted in Clokey’s paint shop and in a neighbouring tobacconist shop. A third bomb was at a chemical merchant in Nelson Street and the fourth bomb exploded at the Coachman’s Inn on the main Belfast –Lisburn Road. No one was injured in the attacks. Friday 16th March 1973 Man dies in bomb attack A well known Belfast bookmaker, Larry McMahon, has been killed during a bomb attack on his Jordanstown home. The bomb exploded on the porch of 42-year-old Mr McMahon’s home. No warning was given. Less than a half hour later, a second bomb destroyed the Royal
Hotel at Whitehead. Mr. McMahon had just recently bought the hotel. The RUC are said to be investigating which organisation killed Mr. McMahon and planted both devices. Friday 16th March 1973 Two injured in gun battle A 55-year-old man and a 14-year-boy have been injured in Newry. The first to be injured, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the chin; however there is dispute over the circumstances in which he was shot. The Army claim that he was standing behind soldiers when he was shot, but local people say that he was standing in front of them. At around 10.00pm RUC and Army personnel went to Goss’s garage at Merchants Quay after receiving a warning that a bomb had been placed there. As they redirected traffic away from the area a number of shots rang out striking the 55-yearold man in the legs. The suspect device was later declared a hoax. Just before 11.00pm ten shots were fired at an Army mobile patrol at Francis Street-Patrick Street. Fire was returned but no hits were claimed. A few minutes later a .303 rifle and a number of shells were found by soldiers. It is believed that they were dropped by the gunman. Friday 16th March 1973 UDR man wounded at Garvagh A member of the UDR has been slightly wounded during a gun battle with raiders who stole shotguns from members of the regiment in Garvagh on Thursday night. According to reports a number of raiders went to the home of a UDR man and stole three shotguns. The UDR man, who had been in bed at the time , managed to get out a window and took a pistol with him. He rushed to the home of another member of the UDR and together they returned to try and stop the raiders. The UDR men opened fire on the raiders who returned fire, shooting one of the UDR men. The raiders then dropped the shotguns and made off. Their car was found abandoned in the Aghadowey area.
THE TROUBLES
Friday 16th March 1973 Bomb explodes at GAA club A bomb has exploded at St Mary’s G.A.A. hall on the Hightown Road in Glengormley causing extensive damage. The RUC have said the bomb exploded inside the hall. No one was injured in the attack.
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An Army spokesman has said that they believe two youths and two teenage girls, using an Armalite rifle and pistol, carried out the shooting.
Friday 16th March 1973 Suspect device at Kinawley Friday 16th March 1973 A coffin which was found in a telephone kiosk at Cassidy’s Cross, Farm attacked Kinawley was dragged into the open by an Army bomb disposal Five thousand bales of hay were destroyed in a blaze in a hayshed on a expert. The coffin was found to be empty. A suspect parcel behind the Protestant owned farm at Myroe, near Limavady. kiosk was blown up by the Army.
Friday 16th March 1973 Shots fired at Eglington Saturday 17th March 1973 The driver of a Ford Transit van was uninjured when gunmen opened UDR man killed in New Lodge fire on him as he drove through the village of Eglington. It has become known that the UDR man who was shot dead in the New Lodge Road area of Belfast on Friday night had been held captive Friday 16th March 1973 throughout the day without the security forces knowing that he was House attacked in Belfast missing. The dead man, William Kenny, had been hi-jacked at gunTwo shotgun rounds have been fired into a Protestant house in Alliance point at Halliday’s Road in the New Lodge area at 9.30 yesterday Road, Belfast. Windows in the house were shattered but none of the morning. Although it was known that his car had been hi-jacked it was occupants were injured. not known that he had also been kidnapped. Twelve hours later the UDR man was found shot dead in an entry between the New Lodge Friday 16th March 1973 Road and Stratheden Street. Shots fired into house Two shots have been fired into the living room of a Catholic occupied house in Malcolmson Park, Maralin. The shots narrowly missed a woman and her Saturday 17th March 1973 ten-year-old daughter who were in the house at the time. Soldier dies in explosion A soldier has died when a 150lb land mine exploded in front of his Friday 16th March 1973 Land Rover about five miles from Dungannon. The dead soldier has Soldiers come under fire in Derry been named as Driver Michael John Gay, aged 18, of the 18/26 Eight shots have been fired at a two man military police patrol in Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport. The second soldier in the vehicle Upper Bennet Street in Derry but neither of the soldiers were injured. was taken to the South Tyrone Hospital where he was treated for shock.
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Saturday 17 March 1973 Protestant estate searched by Army The Army has moved in to search the Protestant estate of Monkstown in the Newtownabbey area of Belfast. A full Company of soldiers was deployed to carry out the search but unusually a large number of soldiers drove into the estate unnoticed in civilian vehicles. Eight people were taken away for questioning A UDA club on the Devenish Road was searched and a UVF uniform, petrol bomb and radio equipment were seized.
Saturday 17th March 1973 Catholic owned farm attacked Two thousand bales of hay have been destroyed on a Catholic owned farm at Ballymaguigan, Magherafelt during the night. Less that two hours later 1,000 bales of hay were destroyed in a blaze in another farm in the same area which is also owned by the same man.
Saturday 17th March 1973 Bomb at Glenarm A 20lb bomb has exploded in Glenarm during the night. The device had been thrown through the window of the Shamrock Sea-Foods factory. Extensive damage was caused but no one was injured.
Saturday 17th March 1973 Shots fired at Camlough Three bursts of automatic fire was aimed at an Army patrol in the village of Camlough. No one was injured in the attack.
Saturday 17th March 1973 Booby trap bomb at Newry A civilian in Newry had a narrow escape when he walked over a trip wire connected to a hand grenade which had been set up as a boobytrap.
Saturday 17th March 1973 Ammunition find at Maghera A routine Army patrol has uncovered 50 rounds of ammunition and some safety fuse about two miles from Maghera.
Saturday 17th March 1973 Man wounded in Lurgan A Catholic man has been shot in the thigh during an incident in Lurgan’s Saturday 17th March 1973 Kilwilkie estate. According to the RUC the man was driving home when he was confronted by six or eight men, some of whom were armed. Girls held in men’s prison Three girls who have been charged in connection with the London car They ordered him to dip his headlights but he refused and accelerated. bombings are said to be held in solitary confinement at a men’s prison. Three shots were fired and one struck him in the thigh. The trio have been transferred London’s Brixton Prison from Holloway.
Saturday 17th March 1973 Petrol station bombed A bomb, estimated to have contained between 10-15lb of explosives has exploded at the Hillview petrol station in Randalstown. No one was injured in the attack. Also in Randalstown, a number of shots were fired at the RUC on the Randalstown-Toomebridge Road, but no one was hurt.
Monday 19th March 1973 Ammunition find in East Belfast Soldiers have uncovered 525 rounds of ammunition in East Belfast near Orangefield playing fields. This find comes only a day after they uncovered 800 rounds in the same area.
Monday 19th March 1973 RUC men injured in Booby trap Two member of the RUC have been injured when a booby-trap bomb Saturday 17th March 1973 exploded near the border, just south west of Beleek. It is understood Bomb explodes in Derry that the men were following wires leading to a milk churn which was A 10-15lb bomb, which may have possibly been planted by a small concealed in a culvert under a minor road. The wires lead to a battery boy, has exploded in an estate agents office in Derry. The target for the pack which was not attached and when the RUC men picked it up the bomb was the premises of John V. Arthur in Shipquay Street. The battery exploded causing facial injuries to the men. premises are only 20 yards away from one of the city’s main checkpoints. Monday 19th March 1973 th Saturday 17 March 1973 Girl escapes from remand centre Pub bombed The security forces are today searching for a girl, aged 15-16, who was A bomb estimated to contain between 5-10lbs of explosives has been on remand on an explosives charge. The girl, who has not been named thrown through the window of the Templeton Arms public house on but who is from the Andersonstown area absconded from St Joseph’s the main Aldergrove Road. Moderate damage was caused to the Training school. It is understood that she went for a walk with her building. mother and did not return.
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Monday 19 March 1973 UDA Man dies in Donegal bomb attack A UDA man from Derry has died in an explosion outside a crowded public house just across the Donegal border. The dead man has been named as Lindsay Mooney, aged 19, of Lincoln Court. It is thought that the dead man was either in the car with, or beside the bomb. 200 people were in the Kirks bar at Cloughfinn on the main LiffordBallybofey road, 30 of them have been treated for injuries.
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Tuesday 20 March 1973 Man dies in hospital after shooting An 18-year-old man, Robert Collins, of Annadale Flats has died in hospital after being shot in the head at Brompton Park early on Sunday morning. Another Protestant, who was shot in the same area a few hours earlier is still being treated in hospital. Tuesday 20th March 1973 Explosives found in Training School Soldiers have uncovered 22lbs of gelignite, five detonators and a timing device in a manhole outside St Mary’s Training College on Belfast’s Falls Road.
Monday 19th March 1973 Soldier wounded in Divis Flats A soldier has been slightly injured when a single shot was fired at his patrol in the Lower Falls. It is believed that the shot came from the Tuesday 20th March 1973 direction of Divis Flats. Fire was not returned. Rifle found in Belfast An intensive search of the Divis Flats area has uncovered an Armalite rifle Monday 19th March 1973 and some radio equipment. It is not known if any arrests were made. Fire at UDA club A Ballyhackamore public house and a UDA club at Spiers Place, off Tuesday 20th March 1973 the Shankill Road, have been badly damaged by fire at the weekend. Fire tender attacked A fire tender from Castlederg returning from a forest fire has been shot at Monday 19th March 1973 from across the border at Fourth Corgary. No one was injured in the attack. Bomb explodes in Derry Two soldiers and a six-year-old girl have been detained in Altnagelvin Tuesday 20th March 1973 hospital with injuries they received when two bombs exploded at Land-mine at Donaghmore Bishop’s Street in Derry. A hospital spokesman has said that their A 400lb land mine which was found by the Army on the Donaghmoreinjuries are not serious. Castlecaufield road has been blown up by an Army explosives expert. Monday 19th March 1973 Fireman injured A fireman has received slight back injuries while dealing with a fire at a bomb damaged mill in Armagh. He was taken to hospital but was later released.
Tuesday 20th March 1973 Conviction rate for soldiers A total of 38 soldiers have been prosecuted for offences committed during their tour of duty in the North. Of these 28 were convicted.
Tuesday 20th March 1973 Monday 19th March 1973 Soldier injured in Newry Weapons found in Lurgan A soldier has been slightly injured in Newry when a bottle was thrown Soldiers have uncovered a rifle, shotgun, cartridges and a telescopic at him in the town’s Derrybeg estate. sight on waste ground near the Shankill estate in Lurgan. Tuesday 20th March 1973 th RUC men wounded in Beleek Tuesday 20 March 1973 Two RUC detectives who were injured in a booby-trap explosion at Taxi driver shot in Sandy Row A taxi driver has been shot in the stomach as he fled from gunmen in Beleek on Monday are reported to be in a satisfactory condition. the Sandy Row area of Belfast. The driver, from Andersonstown had Neither is reported to have the serious eye damage that was initially gone to North Belfast to pick up a fare but he was instead ordered, at thought they had. gun point, to take two men to the sandy Row area. On being told to get out of the car and fearing for his life, the man attempted to escape. Tuesday 20th March 1973 Shots were fired and he was wounded. The man fell to the ground and Catholic farm at Lisburn attacked the two gunmen ran off. The taxi driver was taken to hospital but his Between 400 and 500 bales of straw have been destroyed in a malicious fire on a Catholic owned farm at Pond Park Road, Lisburn. condition is not considered to be serious.
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Tuesday 20 March 1973 Rocket discovered at Rathfriland The RUC have discovered a rocket warhead in a refuse dump at Rathfriland. It was later dealt with by the Army.
Wednesday 21st March 1973 Youth shot dead A 16-year-old youth, Bernard McErlean, of Durham Street, has been shot dead in a gun attack in the Grosvenor Road area of Belfast. The boys companion 15-year-old Kieran Nugent of Merrion |Street, was hit in the chest, arms and buttocks in the same attack. He is described as being seriously ill in hospital. Both boys had been shot by gunmen who were travelling in a white car. Local people have said that prior to the shooting an Army Saracen drove through a barrier in a side street shortly before the incident but an Army spokesman has denied any link between the two incidents and said that it was their duty to remove barriers.
Wednesday 21st March 1973 Soldier shot in Derry A soldier, a member of the 22nd Light Air Defence Regiment has been admitted to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest and arm. The man, who has not yet been named, is believed to have been shot by a single high velocity shot but his condition is not considered to be life threatening. The soldier was wounded at the junction of Barrack Street and Corporation Street. It is believed that the sniper Wednesday 21st March 1973 was operating from the Long Tower area. Portadown shooting Wednesday 21st March 1973 Eight shots have been fired from a car at Edgarstown in Portadown. No one was injured in the attack. Arms find in Belfast Soldiers have uncovered an Armalite rifle and two loaded magazines in the Lower Falls area of Belfast. In Ligoniel a search of a ditch has Wednesday 21st March 1973 uncovered 28 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Helicopter attacked Four shots have been fired at a helicopter in the Aughnacloy-Clogher area but there were no casualties. Wednesday 21st March 1973 Ammunition find in Lurgan Nine rounds of .9mm ammunition have been found in the Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan.
Thursday 22nd March 1973 Mother hi-jack vehicles in protest Mothers have blocked a Belfast street in protest against the shooting of a 15-year-old Protestant boy. The youth was wounded as he returned home from Kelvin Secondary School. The mothers hi-jacked a number of vehicles to stop traffic getting through. The vehicles were later returned to their owners. Thursday 22nd March 1973 Radios found The security forces have uncovered two two-way radios concealed in the roof of a shed at the junction of Francis Street and Silverwood Drive in Lurgan. TOP - IRA bomb attack on the Old Bailey in London. BOTTOM - A column of smoke rises over Whitehall in London after a car bomb attack. FACING PAGE TOP - Bomb attack on shops in Great Victoria Street FACING PAGE BOTTOM - Bomb attack on Smith & McClure’s Supermarket on the Lisburn Road
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Thursday 22 March 1973 Bomb at Derry pub Soldiers have found 40lbs of co-op mix, some detonators and fuse under a shed at Beechwood Avenue in Derry. A man was detained by troops but was later released.
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Thursday 22 March 1973 Blast bomb thrown in Belfast The RUC have reported that a blast bomb has been thrown from Cupar Street in the Falls into the Kashmir Road. The security forces were not involved in the incident. Later, in the same area four shots were reported to have been fired towards the Kashmir Road.
Thursday 22nd March 1973 Soldiers attacked in Bogside An Army bomb disposal expert has been stoned and hit on the mouth Thursday 22nd March 1973 by a missile as he examined a suspect car outside the Bogside Inn in Shots fired in Belfast Derry. Six shots have been fired from the Rodney area towards Tate’s Avenue. The security forces were not involved in the incident. Thursday 22nd March 1973 Soldier causes security alert An off duty soldier has caused a full scale security alert in Belfast city centre after drove his car past security barriers and into Ann Street. He then parked his car and walked off. Within minutes there was a security alert. The soldier’s car was then blown up.
Thursday 22nd March 1973 Shots fired in Ardoyne Soldiers have come under fire in Jamaica Street in the Ardoyne area of Belfast and they returned two rounds. There were no casualties and no hits were claimed. Later rubber bullets were fired by the army to disperse youngsters.
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Thursday 22 March 1973 Friday 23rd March 1973 Explosives find in Belfast Twinbrook shooting Soldiers have discovered 40lbs of explosive mixture and six Two men who were riding on a motorbike through the Twinbrook detonators in premises in Beechwood Gardens. estate during the night have come under attack from the riders of another bike. No one was hit even though four to six shots were fired. Thursday 22nd March 1973 Friday 23rd March 1973 Mystery explosion It has been reported that soldiers have heard an explosion in the Kilwilkie Blast bombs in Belfast estate in Lurgan. It has not yet been traced but no casualties have been Two blast bombs have been thrown across the peace line at Cupar Street. One of the devices failed to explode. reported and a search of the area is to be made in daylight. Thursday 22nd March 1973 Explosives find in Donegal A number of bags believed to contain explosives have been found in the Cloughfin area of County Donegal. Some of the explosives were concealed in hedges and others were buried in the ground. Members of Special Branch took the bags away for examination. Friday 23rd March 1973 Anti-sniper screen Army engineers have erected a corrugated iron anti-sniper screen at Kelvin Secondary School in Belfast only yards from where a 15-yearold boy was shot and seriously wounded on his way home on Friday.
Friday 23rd March 1973 Arms find in New Lodge A rifle, pistol and 75 rounds of ammunition have been found by soldiers in Upper Meadow Street in the New Lodge area of Belfast. Two men have been arrested in relation to the find. Friday 23rd March 1973 RUC attacked in Holywood A shot has been fired at two members of the RUC at Priory End in Holywood. No one was hit and two youths were seen running away after the incident.
Friday 23rd March 1973 Friday 23 March 1973 Hay destroyed in arson attacks IRA rejects Whitepaper 600 bales of hay have been destroyed in an attack on a Catholic college The Provisional IRA have rejected a British Government white paper in Enniskillen. This is the second time in two days the college has been and have said that the war will continue. attacked. On Thursday 200 bales of hay were destroyed. rd
Friday 23rd March 1973 Ammunition find Soldiers have uncovered120 rounds of .303 ammunition and a quantity of .22 ammunition in a house in Canton Street. In Prim Street soldiers also uncovered 10lbs of gelignite, 12lbs of chemicals, seven blast bombs and a clock. Two men and a woman have been arrested and questioned about the find.
Friday 23rd March 1973 Bomb scares Derry has had a relatively quiet night with the security forces there having to deal with five bomb scares.
Friday 23rd March 1973 Shots fired at UDA funeral A volley of shots have been fired over the coffin of 19-year-old UDA Friday 23rd March 1973 member Lindsay Mooney from Derry’s Waterside. Around 600 people Bomb hoax attended the UDA man’s funeral. Mooney died in a car bomb attack on Bomb disposal experts have blown up a ticking box which was found a Donegal pub. outside the main entrance to West London Court. The box was a hoax bomb containing a clock. Saturday 24th March 1973 Three soldiers killed in Belfast A third soldier has died in hospital hours after he and three of his Friday 23rd March 1973 companions were shot in a Belfast flat. Two of the soldiers died Shoot out in Coleraine instantly and a fourth is seriously ill after being cut down in a hail of A 50-year-old security guard who was wearing a uniform similar to an machine gun fire. The two soldiers who were killed instantly at a flat RUC one, was attacked in Coleraine. The man managed to fire at a on Belfast’s Antrim Road were Staff Sergeant Barrington Joseph number of his attackers. It is thought that the security man may have Foster, aged 28, of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment and Sgt been mistaken for a member of the RUC. Michael Muldoon, an Army dental technician. Both men were single
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and attached to Army HQ at Lisburn. The name of the soldier who Saturday 24 March 1973 died in hospital has not yet been released. Forty people arrested in Ardoyne Almost 40 people have been detained in the Ardoyne area of Belfast Saturday 24th March 1973 after three shots were fired in Etna Drive. Later 35 of those arrested Man shot dead from passing car were released. A 28-year-old man has been shot dead and his brother seriously injured when a gunman opened fire from a passing car outside their home in Saturday 24th March 1973 Durham Street. The man who died was John Huddleston. His brother Belfast arms finds William, aged 35 had just opened the front door to him when the gun- A routine Army patrol has discovered arms, explosives and man opened up with automatic fire. ammunition in the Woodvale area of Belfast. In a shed in Mountainview Place they also found five blast bombs, two shotguns and ammunition. Saturday 24th March 1973 Loyalist rally disappoints organisers Monday 26th March 1973 The United Loyalist Front rally at Belfast City hall has been deemed as Bomb at East Belfast bar being disappointing by political commentators. Reports on the rally A bomb has exploded at the Catholic owned Hiltop Bar on the Glen put the numbers who turned up as being no more than 2,000 Road in East Belfast. Minutes after the bomb exploded the RUC considerably lower than the predicted figures detained four men in a car 100 yards away from the wrecked pub. Two shotguns and a revolver were taken away by the securiy forces. Saturday 24th March 1973 Culvert bomb Monday 26th March 1973 A soldier who was travelling in one of two vehicles on patrol two miles Loyalist Front to fight election south-west of Crossmaglen. As they crossed a culvert a bomb exploded The United Loyalist Front, a group made up of loyalist MP’s and other underneath one of the vehicles. The soldier received head injuries but groups including the UDA, have reached a decision during a meeting his condition is not known. at Stormont to contest elections. Afterwards Ian Paisley, the DUP leader,
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flanked by William Craig and John Taylor, MP, told the press that they had unanimously decided to achieve maximum unity among loyalists. They said they would be contesting the elections for the new Assembly on a loyalist coalition anti-White Paper basis. Monday 26th March 1973 Rocket attack An Army vehicle has come under rocket attack in the Donegal Road area of Belfast. The rocket missed its target and struck a house in Kitchener Street. It is thought that it had been fired from the direction of Celtic Park.
Monday 26th March 1973 Rockets fired at Rosslea Two rockets have been fired at Rosslea RUC barracks in County Fermanagh. The missiles penetrated wire around the perimeter of the base but caused little damage to the building.. Shots were also heard at the time of the attack. Monday 26th March 1973 South Armagh rocket attack A rocket has been fired at an Army Saracen at Beleek, near Newtownhamilton in South Armagh. The missile missed the vehicle and although several shots were fired at the Saracen, none of its occupants were hurt.
Monday 26th March 1973 RUC man dies from injuries A member of the RUC has died in hospital from wounds that he received during an ambush almost a month ago. The dead man is Constable Ronald Macauley, who was aged 42. The dead man had been the driver of an RUC car which was riddled with bullets at Aghagallon.
Monday 26th March 1973 Bomb explodes in Strabane Two people have been slightly injured when a bomb exploded at a shop in Strabane’s Main Street. The explosion blew a hole in a wall of an adjacent shop and there was wide spread damage to the surrounding area.
Monday 26th March 1973 Belfast shootings Soldiers have claimed that they shot a gunman who fired three shots at an Army mobile patrol at Chief Street-Crumlin Road.
BELOW - Bomb attack on a public house at Whitehouse, Belfast. FACING PAGE - Bomb attack at the Donaghy & Kelly premises in Talbot Street
THE TROUBLES
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Monday 26th March 1973 Hens killed at Newry Almost 6,000 hens have died in a blaze at a Protestant owned broiler house at Portadown Road, Newry. A spokesman has said that a large quantity of eggs were also destroyed in the attack.
Monday 26th March 1973 Observation post comes under attack Twenty shots have been fired at soldiers manning observation posts at the former Worcester Valve factory during the night but there were no casualties.
Monday 26th March 1973 Man shot in Newry gun attack A civilian has been shot in the legs at Sugar Island, Newry when shots were fired at soldiers. The man is not seriously hurt.
Tuesday 27th March 1973 Eight bombs in Derry and Belfast Eight bombs have exploded in Belfast and Derry. Four blasts took place in each city. In Belfast bombs exploded at two suburban supermarkets, and Donaldson and Little furniture shop in Great Victoria Street. While the Derry bombs exploded at a Post Office, a boutique and a public house. No one was injured in the attacks.
Monday 26th March 1973 Arson attack on Larne church A fire at St MacNissi’s Catholic Church in Larne has badly damaged the sacristy but the fire did not spread to the main church building. A Tuesday 27th March 1973 number of youths have been detained by the Army. Man shot dead in Newtownhamilton A 33-year-old Protestant man has been shot dead near his home close Monday 26th March 1973 to Newtownhamilton RUC barracks in County Armagh. The dead man, Bomb explodes in Lisburn Samuel Martin, of Armagh Street was shot dead just ten feet from his A bomb has slightly damaged the premises of Wavin Pipes on Lisburn’s back door. According to the Army a sentry returned fire after two shots Antrim Road. Windows were broken in a number of surrounding houses were fired at the base. An investigation is being carried out to try to but no one was injured in the attack. establish how Mr Martin died.
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Tuesday 27 March 1973 Soldier shot in Derry A soldier is seriously ill in a Derry hospital after being shot in the Creggan estate. He had been a member of a patrol which came under fire at the junction of Fanad Drive and Central Drive at 1.00pm. It is believed that the two shots were fired from the area of Dunree Gardens, hitting one of the soldiers in the legs. Fire was not returned
Tuesday 27th March 1973 Ammunition find in New Lodge area Soldiers carrying out a search in Stratheden Street in the New Lodge area of Belfast have discovered 3,000 rounds of ammunition and two pistols in the attic of a house.
Tuesday 27th March 1973 Shot fired in New Lodge A single shot has been fired in the new Lodge area of Belfast. The shot, fired at a patrol near the Hillman Street-Lepper Street junction struck a soldier in the wrist and abdomen. The wounded soldier was rushed to hospital where his condition is described as being serious.
Tuesday 27th March 1973 Guns stolen from Benburb house An air rifle, a double barrelled shotgun, 25 cartridges, a bandolier and a pair of binoculars have been stolen from a house in Benburb.
Tuesday 27th March 1973 Weapons found in Unity Flats Tuesday 27th March 1973 Two separate searches which were carried out by soldiers in the Unity Flats area of Belfast have uncovered a Self Loading Rifle, an Armalite Ammunition find Security forces have found 442 rounds of assorted ammunition on a rifle, seven ordinary rifles, two shotguns, a revolver and a quantity of railway embankment behind Harkness Parade in East Belfast. ammunition.
Tuesday 27th March 1973 Fire in Lisburn Tuesday 27th March 1973 Extensive damage has been caused by a fire in a Swiss embroidery works in Bomb is thrown from car Longstone Street, Lisburn. Forensic experts are trying to establish the cause A bomb which contained between two and five pounds of explosives of the blaze at the factory which employs around 30 people. has been thrown from a car on Belfast’s Antrim Road. The premises of the Christian Brothers Past Pupils Union was damaged in the attack but Wednesday 28th March 1973 no one was injured. Craig to form new party It is expected that William Craig will break with the Unionist Party in the next few days and launch a new political party based on the United BELOW - A girl looks for invoices among the bomb debris after her work place in the Donegall Street area was bombed. BELOW RIGHT - Bomb attack on the Tobacco Sales premises in Glengall Street. FACING PAGE - Bomb attack on the Midland Hotel.
THE TROUBLES Unionist Council. It is possible that the decision to form the new party could be announced at tonight’s meeting of the Vanguard Council. A meeting is also due to take place tonight of the Loyalist Association of Workers which is another constituent of the ULC and its members are known to favour the idea of a new party. Wednesday 28th March 1973 People’s Democracy demo A People’s Democracy parade and meeting outside the Army-UDR centre in Newry has passed off without incident. Around 50 people took park in the protest against Army harassment. P.D. officials in Belfast have said that the parade was organised by a splinter group and that they had no connection with the official movement.
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shot he was seen to be dragged away by local people. A short time later the Army stopped a car which was leaving the area and found a man inside suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest. The man was dead on arrival at hospital. The dead man has been named as Patrick McCabe, of Dunedin Park. Local people are challenging the Army’s claim and say that Mr McCabe was unarmed and when he had been shot in Holmdene Gardens.
Wednesday 28th March 1973 Bomb attack on Derry bar A bomb has been planted in the Errigle Bar in Derry’s Great James Street for the second time in a week. However the premises were undamaged as a customer carried the bomb out into the street where it exploded. Windows in surrounding houses were shattered but no one was injured.
Wednesday 28th March 1973 Arms find in Ardoyne Soldiers have uncovered a pistol, revolver, two walkie-takies, three empty magazines and 573 rounds of assorted ammunition during a Wednesday 28th March 1973 search of a house in Bromptom Park, in Belfast’s Ardoyne. Soldier injured in Armagh attack A soldier has been wounded in the arm when four shots were fired at an observation post on Cathedral Road in Armagh. His condition is not Wednesday 28th March 1973 serious. Soldier dies in landmine attack A young Army officer has died in a land mine attack at Omagh. The soldier was travelling in a Scout Car along the Ballygawley-Omagh Thursday 29th March 1973 road when the 500lb bomb exploded. The dead soldiers name has been Arms seized on ship given as Second Lieutenant Andrew Nicholas Somerville of the 16/5 Reports are suggesting that Provisional IRA leader Joe Cahill is among the six men who have been held after the seizure of a massive arms Lancers. He was aged 20. cargo off the Irish coast earlier today. The ship, which was seized by Wednesday 28th March 1973 the Irish Navy is said to have contained 250 rifles, 240 small arms, a Army claims dead man was gunman large quantity of anti-tank mines and explosives. The arms, which were Soldiers have said that they opened fire on a gunman in the Ardoyne unloaded from the Claudia, were taken to Collins Army Barracks in area of Belfast. The man, they say, was pointing a gun and after being Cork.
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Thursday 29th March 1973 Soldier shot by sniper A military policeman has been shot in the arm by a sniper as he patrolled an area between the Bogside and Creggan. He has been admitted to hospital but his injuries are not serious.
Artana Street when the gunman struck. She was wounded in the arm but her condition is not serious.
Friday 30th March 1973 Youths wounded in Ardoyne Two 16-year-old youths have been shot in the Ardoyne area of Belfast Thursday 29th March 1973 It is not known the exact circumstances of the shooting. Also in Ardoyne Arms find soldiers say they opened fire and hit a gunman at Holmdene GardensSoldiers have uncovered six weapons while searching a house in East Strathroy Street. A short time later a taxi was stopped and a youth was Belfast. The find on the Beersbridge Road includes; two rifles, two zip found inside. He was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment. guns, one shotgun, one air rifle, a telescopic sight and 213 rounds of ammunition. In a follow-up search at Glenallen Road a large quantity of bomb making fuses were discovered. Friday 30th March 1973 Wounded soldier dies in hospital Thursday 29th March 1973 A Scottish soldier who was wounded by a sniper in Andersonstown UDR man on arms charge Park West on Thursday afternoon has died in hospital. The dead man is A full time member of the UDR has been remanded in custody charged Private Michael George Marr, who was serving with the Gordon with having a handgun under suspicious circumstances at Upperlands. Highlanders. He is 23-year-old David Sloan of Tobermore. Friday 30th March 1973 Friday 30th March 1973 Rocket attack in Belfast Bomb in pram A Russian made RPG7 rocket has been fired at an Army Saracen in Two Ardoyne women are to appear in court charged with possession of Beechmount Avenue in Belfast. The rocket missed its target and hit a a bomb in a pram. The device, estimated to have contained 120lbs of nearby factory. No one was injured in the attack. explosives was primed and ready to go off. Friday 30th March 1973 Friday 30th March 1973 Sniper attack on Army post Girl shot in Belfast A shot has been fired at an Army observation post at Bligh’s Lane from A 14-year-old girl has been shot by a gunman who fired from a motor- the direction of St Cecilia’s school. There were no casualties and fire cycle on the Ormeau Road. The girl was with a group of friends at was not returned.
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Friday 30 March 1973 Bomb explodes at Strabane bar A bomb has badly damaged the Ballymagorry Arms bar which is situated five miles from the town of Strabane. No one was injured in the attack.
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Friday 30 March 1973 Weapon uncovered in Lenadoon An M1 carbine and 40 rounds of ammunition have been found by the Army on the Suffolk Road in Belfast.
Saturday 31st March 1973 Friday 30 March 1973 Raid on Forensic Science Laboratory Explosives uncovered in Tyrone A raid has taken place on the Fornsic Science Laboratory at Army and RUC personnel have uncovered 70lbs of explosives in a Newtownbreda. The Laboratory at Newtownbreda was opened just a disused factory between Dungannon and Coalisland. Also discovered year ago and is surrounded by a ten foot fence topped with barbed wire. were an Armalite rifle, a Thompson sub machinegun and a pistol. The raiders are understood to have tied up guards before making off with an undisclosed quantity of arms. th
Friday 30th March 1973 Bomb at Randalstown Six masked and armed men have planted a bomb at the Cranfield Inn at Randalstown. The bombers gave staff 10 minutes to get out but the bomb did not explode until thirty minutes later.
Saturday 31st March 1973 Bomb at electrical wholesalers A bomb has exploded at Walsall Conduits, electrical wholesalers in Belfast. No one was injured in the attack.
Saturday 31st March 1973 Friday 30 March 1973 Ammunition find Arms find in Lisburn A patrol of Gordon Highlanders have uncovered 600 bullets in a A substantial arms find has been made in shrubbery in Lisburn, Among garage in Andersonstown. the items found were a sawn-off shotgun, a .22 automatic rifle, two revolvers, two old UVF rifles a telescopic sight and over 600 rounds of ammunition. Saturday 31st March 1973 Malone Road bomb attack FACING PAGE - A controlled explosion carried out on an A 30lb bomb has been thrown through the window of the home of a Catholic family at Derryvogie Avenue, off the Malone Road. The unattended car in Queen’s Square. BELOW - The ruins of Whiteabbey British Legion Hall family were in another part of the house and although they were treated for shock, they were unhurt by the blast. after an IRA bomb attack. th
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Saturday 31st March 1973 Women rescue youth from Army A youth who had been arrested by the Army after a stone throwing incident in the Shantallow area of Derry has been released by a crowd of women who surrounded the patrol. The Army said that the youth Saturday 31st March 1973 was being arrested because he tried to take a rifle from a soldier who had been cut off from the rest of his patrol. The youth then “received a Bomb wrecks Portadown Shop A bomb in a duffle bag has wrecked a fashion shop in Portadown’s clip” from a rifle butt. High Street. The bomb, which had been placed in the hallway of Etams Saturday 31st March 1973 caused considerable damage. No one was injured in the attack. Underwater search for arms Saturday 31st March 1973 Naval frogmen are combing the sea off Helvick Head, County Youth wounded in Armagh Waterford for boxes of arms and ammunition thought to have been A youth has been rushed to hospital in Armagh with gunshot wounds to dumped overboard grom the gun running coaster Claudia during her both legs. His condition is not serious. escape bid from an Irish minesweeper. It is believed that the Claudia was carrying five tons of arms and explosives destined for the Saturday 31st March 1973 Provisional IRA. Bomb at Rostrevor A bomb at Rostrevor has badly damaged a church hall and smashed BELOW - The remains of a monument to Earl Caledon in windows in a nearby hotel Co.Armagh which was destroyed by an IRA bomb
Saturday 31 March 1973 Blast bombs thrown in Belfast Two blast bombs have been thrown near the peaceline at Cupar Street but no one was hurt.
THE TROUBLES
APRIL 1973 Monday 2nd April 1973 100 weapons stolen in raid The Secretary of State, William Whitelaw has ordered an investigation into the theft of approximately 100 weapons which were taken from the Belfast headquarters of the Department of Industrial and Forensic Science at the weekend. The details of the weapons taken have not been revealed but are believed to include, rifles, machineguns and pistols. Clothing was also removed from the building. Although the raid took place on Saturday at 2.00am, and involved a large number of cars, actual details of the raid have been kept quiet with the head of the Forensic Science Department, Dr John Howard, and the Ministry of Commerce, which is responsible for the department, refusing to comment on the raid. It is understood that not all the weapons in the building were taken. Local newspapers have expressed the theory that the raiders knew what they were looking for and meant to remove weapons connected with specific cases due for hearing in the future.
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Monday 2 April 1973 Incendiary attacks on Cinemas Three cinemas in Derry were targeted on Saturday night and a number of incendiary devices were left in each building. A total of ten incendiaries were planted in the ABC, Odeon and Palace cinemas but little damage was caused. The first incendiary exploded in the Odeon as staff were clearing up after the last performance and the blaze was brought under control. Other cinemas were then alerted to the possibility of attacks. The worst damage of the night was caused at the ABC in Newmarket Street where about 20 seats were destroyed. Monday 2nd April 1973 Bomb components found Three drums, which were packed with 1cwt of sodium chlorate have been discovered by the Army at Knocksallagh Park in Greenisland. The RUC have confirmed that three timing devices were also found.
Monday 2nd April 1973 Arms raids Monday 2nd April 1973 Security forces have stopped a van at Downpatrick and took UDA denies purge possession of a double barrel shotgun, cartridges and masks. Five men UDA vice-chairman, Tommy Herron, has dismissed as “nonsense” were also arrested. A short time earlier men burst into a house in the reports that several hundred UDA members had been thrown out of the town looking for weapons. They fled empty handed. organisation in a major purge designed to give the UDA a more respectable image. He said that there were no question of widespread Monday 2nd April 1973 sackings and that the only way people left the organisation was on Soldier shot in Newry compassionate grounds. A soldier has been shot as he manned a checkpoint at Lindsay Hill, in Newry. The soldier, a member of the parachute regiment, was not seriously injured. Monday 2nd April 1973 Gunrunner says Claudia had 100 tons of weapons Monday 2nd April 1973 A convicted West German arms smuggler, Gunther Leinhaeusser, has RUC man wounded in Belfast said in Hamburg that he arranged the arms deal for the IRA. He has An RUC man has been shot in the leg in Belfast when a gun was said that the weapons had cost £70,000 and that the Claudia was accidentally discharged. No other details are known. carrying 100 ton of weapons and not 5 ton. He said he could offer no explanation as to where the missing weapons were. Monday 2nd April 1973 Monday 2nd April 1973 Bomb in Belfast bar Escape bid from Long Kesh A bomb has exploded in Joy Street Belfast after a customer picked it up An escape bid from Long Kesh has failed after prison staff spotted two and threw it into the street. Little damage was caused but six people men acting suspiciously. The men, who were detainees, were spotted were treated for shock. at a fence and fled into a hut when challenged. A search later revealed a hacksaw blade and a pair of wire-cutters. Monday 2nd April 1973 Shooting incident in Belfast pub Monday 2nd April 1973 A 45-year-old man has been injured in a gun attack on a South Belfast Rocket attack bar. It is understood a gunman entered the Hatfield bar on Belfast’s A rocket which was fired at Caledon RUC barracks in County Tyrone Ormeau Road and put a gun to a man’s head. The man ducked as the during the night has struck a perimeter fence. Although the device gunman fired a shot and a second man was injured. The gunman then exploded little damage was caused. made good his escape.
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Monday 2 April 1973 Arson attack on Catholic School Fire has destroyed a temporary classroom in the grounds of St Anne’s Catholic Church at Rathmore in Dunmurry. The classroom is used by a pre-school group. Monday 2nd April 1973 Bomb at Lisnaskea garage A bomb has exploded at McCabe and Kettyle’s garage at Lisnaskea. The bomb had been planted in the garage on Saturday night and a fifteen minute warning given but it did not explode until nine hours later. The Army did not go near the device because of fears that it may have been booby-trapped.
Monday 2nd April 1973 Bomb factory discovered A large force of Gardai from Monaghan and Cavan have carried out a search in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, at the weekend. The search uncovered a bomb factory in a derelict house at Swan’s Cross, which is about five miles from the Fermanagh border. It is understood that seven home-made grenades, three containers of nitro-benzene and other bomb making material were discovered.
Tuesday 3rd April 1973 Parcel bomb explodes A bomb has exploded at a London Sorting office. The bomb, measuring one foot square, exploded at a sorting office in Paddington. A telephone caller to a Republican newspaper in Belfast later said that the bomb was planted by a group named “The Avengers”. The caller said that the group was a republican movement but not part of the IRA. Tuesday 3rd April 1973 Man killed on Ards Peninsula A 28-year-old man has been found dead at the side of the coast road between Ballyhalbert and Portavogie on the Ards Pininsula. The dead man, a Protestant man from the Ballybeen estate in the Dundonald area, has been identified as David Thomas McQueen. He had gunshot wounds to the head, neck and stomach. Tuesday 3rd April 1973 Derriaghy bar is bombed A bomb, which was planted by a number of men, has exploded at a Derriaghy bar. The device, which was left at the Traveller’s Rest, at Milltown, near Dunmurry, exploded causing considerable damage. Tuesday 3rd April 1973 Derry bomb attacks A bomb has exploded at Crockett and Guy’s hardware store in Derry’s Foyle Street. There were no casualties in the attack. A fire, which took
Tuesday 3rd April 1973 Date fixed for execution A date has been fixed for the execution of UDA man Edward Browne, BELOW - The remains of Stewart’s Supermarket, Lisburn who has been convicted of killing a member of the RUC. The date has Road, after an IRA bomb attack. been set for the 25th April. FACING PAGE - Bomb attack at the Kensington Hotel
THE TROUBLES hold of the building after the explosion, had to be dealt with by seven fire units. A bomb has also exploded at Madden’s tobacconist shop in Waterloo place. The 25lb device was planted by two youths. It exploded 15 minutes later.
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Tuesday 3 April 1973 Mansion destroyed in arson attack Lisdhu House, a three storey mansion which is over a century old, and which was occupied by troops for several months, has been destroyed by fire. The premises were vacant at the time of the attack. Fire services have withdrawn from the area on the advice of the Army who suggested that the building could be booby-trapped.
Tuesday 3rd April 1973 Checkpoint comes under attack Three shots have been fired at soldiers who were manning a vehicle checkpoint at Northland Road in Derry. There were no casualties and Tuesday 3rd April 1973 fire was not returned. Lybian Army supplied IRA The Captain of the Cyprus based coaster, Claudia has said that his vessel had been loaded in Tripoli by members of the Lybian Army and Tuesday 3rd April 1973 he stated that although they were expecting 100 tons of weapons only Car bomb at Dungiven five tons were loaded A car bomb has exploded in the County Derry village of Dungiven. The car containing a 75lb bomb had been parked on the village’s Main Street. Considerable damage was caused to McNicholl’s bar. No one Wednesday 4th April 1973 was injured in the attack. Bomb explodes at Belfast bar Three youths, their faces covered by scarves have left a holdall containing a bomb in the Hatfield bar on Belfast’s Ormeau Road. A 15 Tuesday 3rd April 1973 minute warning was given. A customer grabbed the package and threw Soldiers attacked in Belfast Two shots have been fired at an Army foot patrol on Belfast’s Grosvenor it into the street where it exploded a short time later. The explosion did Road. The shots came from the direction of Sorella Street and one of cause some blast damage to the surrounding area but the bar was the bullets ripped a soldier’s jacket but he was not injured. untouched.
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Wednesday 4th April 1973 Soldiers attacked in Ardoyne Soldiers have come under attack from a sniper operating in the Berwick Avenue area of Ardoyne. No one was injured in the attack.
Thursday 5th April 1973 Soldier wounded by sniper A soldier, who was part of an Army patrol in Mayfair Street, Belfast, has been injured when a sniper opened fire with two shots. One bullet struck the soldier and his condition is said to be serious. A short time later, in a follow-up search, a spent cartridge, of the type used in an Armalite rifle was found in a garden in Oldpark Place.
Wednesday 4th April 1973 Bomb explodes in Dungannon A bomb, which is estimated to have contained between 5-10lbs of explosives has exploded outside Devlins grocery shop in Dungannon. Thursday 5th April 1973 No one was injured in the attack. Rifles seized in Belfast The Army have said that soldiers, acting on a tip-off, have searched a derelict outhouse at Black’s Road and discovered two rifles. The weapons are said to be “very old”. It is not known if they were in Thursday 5th April 1973 Landmine detonated by Army working condition. Army bomb disposal experts have detonated a land mine which had been discovered by workmen in a culvert at Westland Road South in Thursday 5th April 1973 Cookstown. The mine is estimated to have contained betwen 300 and Bomb explodes at parochial house 400lb of explosives. The bomb was dragged from the culvert into a A no warning bomb has exploded at a parochial house in Antrim. The nearby field where it was detonated. bomb, which had been left at a gable wall, exploded causing considerable damage to the house and the chapel. Two priests and a housekeeper escaped without injury. Thursday 5th April 1973 Bomb in bin lorry It has been reported that the crew of a bin lorry which was collecting Thursday 5th April 1973 rubbish in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, unknowingly threw 13lbs of Controlled explosion in Newry explosives into their lorry and drove it to the tip at Duncrue Street. An anonymous caller has told the RUC at Newry that a car parked When the lorry arrived at the tip, the men working there received a outside the Post Office in Monaghan Street contained a bomb. The car phone call, that the load contained explosives. One of the binmen then was blown up by the Army who have said that the vehicle contained drove the lorry to an isolated part of the tip where a bomb disposal five pounds of explosives. Some windows in the area were broken but squad later dealt with the explosives. no one was injured.
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Thursday 5 April 1973 Soldier wounded in Derry A soldier has been wounded in the leg in Derry’s Shantallow area when fifteen shots were directed at his patrol. It is believed that the shots came from the flats at Carrabane Walk. The soldier is in hospital and his condition is described as “comfortable”.
Friday 6 April 1973 UDA man granted reprieve It has been announced that the UDA man who was sentenced to death for killing a member of the RUC, has been given a reprieve and his sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment.
Thursday 5th April 1973 Customs caravan attacked An attempt has been made to destroy a custom’s caravan at Killea, near Derry. It has been reported that three men, one armed with a pistol, entered the caravan and planted a bomb. A two minute warning was given and the men drove off across the border. The device failed to explode.
Friday 6th April 1973 Man wounded in Belfast A 32-year-old man has been shot and seriously wounded by a gunman who held up his shop in Sandhurst gardens in the Stranmillis area of Belfast. The man’s wife has said that the teenage gunman panicked as he was taking money from the shop’s till and shot her husband. The wounded man is a Catholic.
Friday 6th April 1973 Sniper attack on border Snipers operating from across the border at Flurrybridge, near Newry, have opened fire on soldiers. Fire was returned but no one was injured during the attack.
Friday 6th April 1973 30 people arrested in Ardoyne Soldiers have carried out a raid on a club in Ardoyne’s Brompton Park after they claimed that a wanted man was seen entering the premises. Thirty men were detained inside the building for screening.
Friday 6th April 1973 Bomb attack on Short Strand bar A bomb containing 20lbs of explosives has been discovered by a man outside Kelly’s Bar in the Short Strand area of Belfast. The man said that his attention was drawn to the device when he saw smoke coming from a bag containing the explosives. He picked up the bomb and carried it across the road where it was later defused LEFT - Mr Larry McMahon who was shot dead at his home in Circular Road in Jordanstown (below)
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Friday 6 April 1973 Booby-trap bomb explodes in Derry A booby-trap bomb has exploded as soldiers searched an empty house in Derry’s Bogside area. One soldier was injured as he and a colleague pushed a piece of furniture and activated the bomb. The soldiers were responding to an anonymous phone call. The soldier was not seriously injured.
Friday 6th April 1973 Sniper attack in Lurgan The RUC have been lured into an ambush in Lurgan with a hoax bomb warning. A sniper opened fire on the RUC men but there were no casualties.
Friday 6th April 1973 Bomb found on doorstep Friday 6th April 1973 An Army bomb expert has defused a 20-25lb bomb which was found by a routine patrol on a doorstep in Anderson Street, in the Short Strand. RUC man ambushed Shots have been fired at an RUC Reservist in Coalisland, County Tyrone. The bomb, in a bag, was found at 6.20am. The constable was uninjured in the ambush which took place in the town centre. Friday 6th April 1973 Arms find in Armagh Friday 6th April 1973 Security forces who were carrying out a search on an unoccupied farm building in Armagh have discovered three shotguns, a quantity of Parochial house attacked A Catholic parochial house which was under construction in Greencastle assorted ammunition and an incomplete booby-trap. A UDR uniform has been badly damaged by an overnight explosion. The RUC have was also amongst the find. said that the 5lb charge was left inside the building and that the blast caused substantial interior damage. No warning was given and no one Saturday 7th April 1973 was injured in the attack. Army attacked on Falls Two shots have been fired at an army vehicle near the junction of Broadway and the Falls Road. The shots missed the soldier’s Land Rover and struck a bus. No one was injured in the attack. Saturday 7th April 1973 Escape bid from Long Kesh Two men who were being held on detention orders at Long Kesh have managed escape to the prison but were recaptured a short time later. The men, who have not been named, managed to conceal themselves in a rubbish container, which was then towed out of the high security camp to a dump at Drumlough which is two miles away. There they overpowered the civilian tractor driver and drove off on the tractor. The driver made his way to a house and raised the alarm. The men were recaptured seven miles away at Ballykeel.
Saturday 7th April 1973 Soldier shot by sniper A soldier has been shot by a sniper in the Lower Falls area of Belfast. The single, high velocity shot was fired at the patrol in the Divis Flats complex. Fire was returned but no hits were claimed. The soldiers condition is not known..
TOP - Bomb attack on Morton’s Shop in King Street BOTTOM - Car bomb attack at Kirk’s Lounge at Clougfin FACING PAGE - The bomb shattered London House in Market Square, Lisburn
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Saturday 7 April 1973 Man shot in Ardoyne An Army sentry has claimed to have shot a man in the Ardoyne area. The soldier, who was in an observation post at Ardoyne bus depot said that he saw a man raise a rifle to the firing position. A follow up search failed to reveal any sign of the wounded man. Saturday 7th April 1973 Woman shot in Falls area A 76-year-old has been wounded in the leg at Clondara Street in the Falls area of Belfast. The woman had been standing at her door when she was struck by a stray bullet which had been directed at an Army foot patrol.
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Saturday 7 April 1973 Gunman observed in cemetery Soldiers based in an observation post in the Falls bus depot say they opened fire on a man who was carrying a gun in Milltown cemetery. The man was not injured and the Army say he escaped into the night.
Saturday 7th April 1973 Attack in Divis Flats A Blast bomb has exploded on the first floor of the Divis Flats complex but an Army patrol, which had been on the floor directly above the bomb, were uninjured.
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Saturday 7th April 1973 Shots fired at taxi Two shots have been fired at a taxi as it passed Brownlow Street on the Shankill Road. The vehicle was not hit and the gun man made off on foot into the side streets.
detained by a soldier. The spokesperson also claimed that the man tried to escape and was wounded in the pursuit that followed.
Monday 9th April 1973 Men shot by Army in Armagh Soldiers in Armagh are claiming two hits after they said three men tried to fire on them in Armagh. An Army spokesman said that when Saturday 7th April 1973 the soldiers challenged the men, they tried to raise their weapons and Arson attack at garage At around 3.15am a fire broke out at Maguire’s garage on the Falls that it was at this point that they were shot. The men were then bundled Road. Examination of premises revealed that access had been gained into two cars before the soldiers could arrest them. A crowd gathered to the garage through a rear window and that office records had been and some vehicles were set alight. When the Army eventually got to the area where the men were challenged they recovered a self loading burned. rifle, a .303 rifle, two pistols and a bag was also recovered. A man was later admitted to a local hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Saturday 7th April 1973 Army to detonate explosives in Derry The Army is carrying out work in the Shantallow area of Derry for the Monday 9th April 1973 Development Commissions water department. It is understood that Youth shot dead in Armagh Army sappers will detonate six 50lb charges designed to remove rock A call has been made for all schools, factories and businesses in from the path of a 27 inch main at Croppy Hill reservoir. Armagh to close during the funeral on Tuesday of 18-year-old Peter James McGerrigan who was shot dead by the Army Monday 9th April 1973 Soldier dies in hospital Monday 9th April 1973 A soldier who was shot by a sniper in Lurgan in January has died in Rocket attack on RUC barracks hospital. The dead soldier has been named by the Army as Fusilier Toome RUC barracks came under rocket attack on Saturday night. The Charles John Marchant, aged 18, from Northumberland. He was attack was supported by some 80 to 90 rounds of single and automatic serving with the third battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. fire. The rocket caused slight damage to the barracks. Fire was returned but no hits were claimed or injuries received. Monday 9th April 1973 Soldiers die in landmine attack Monday 9th April 1973 Two soldiers, members of the 2nd battalion Parachute Regiment have Shooting on Ormeau Road been killed when the Provisional IRA detonated a 200-300lb landmine A shot has been fired from Fitzroy Avenue towards the Hatfield Bar on underneath the vehicle in which they were travelling. The dead Belfast’s Ormeau Road. A short time later a youth was admitted to soldiers have been named as Corporal Stephen Norris Harrison, aged hospital with gunshot wounds. His condition is not serious. 24, of Birmingham and Lance Corporal Terence Brown, aged 24, of Perthshire. A third soldier was injured in the attack. It is understood Monday 9th April 1973 that the mine had been placed in a culvert by the IRA and that he was RUC base attacked detonated from a spot some 600 yards away. An Army spokesman has An explosion has caused extensive damage to the interior of said that a man who was seen leaving the area after the explosion was Stewartstown RUC barracks. A warning had been phoned to the RUC
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at Coalisland. No one was hurt in the attack and it is thought that the Tuesday 10 April 1973 barracks was empty at the time. Men shot in Ballymurphy The Army have detained two men in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. Monday 9th April 1973 The men, who the Army say were taking up firing positions in a garden Arms find in Belfast when they were noticed by a foot patrol. Shots were fired and one man Arms, ammunition, detonators and uniforms resembling those worn by was shot in the knee. Two rifles, an Armalite and an SLR were the UDA have been found during a search of a Sandy Row public house. recovered. An RUC spokesman has said that three rifles, two pistols, one air rifle and a starting pistol was included in the find. Tuesday 10th April 1973 th Monday 9 April 1973 Rocket attack in Belfast Bomb explodes in Lower Falls A rocket has been fired at an army Saracen armoured car in the A booby-trap bomb, intended to catch the Army, has blown up in an Grosvenor Road area. The missile missed its target and there were no empty house in the Falls area of Belfast. The exact circumstances of casualties. It is believed that the rocket was fired from the direction of the blast is not known. Granville Street-Grosvenor Road. Monday 9th April 1973 Arms find at Portadown A search of a vacant farmhouse in the townland of Drumcree outside Portadown has uncovered a Thompson sub machinegun, a revolver and a sawn-off shotgun. Also uncovered were ammunition, 20lb of explosives and other bomb making equipment. Monday 9th April 1973 Border incursion An Army spokesman in Derry has said that soldiers strayed across the border late on Saturday afternoon close to the village of Muff. The patrol was informed by a local resident that they were on the southern side of the border. The spokesman said that the soldiers were there for approximately five minutes and re-crossed the border once they became aware of their mistake. Monday 9th April 1973 Military police formed into regiment It has been announced that Military Police are to be formed into a new regiment and are to be based at Alexander Barracks, a specially constructed camp close to Aldergrove. At present there are 500 MP’s serving in the North. The new regiment is to be called the First Regiment, the Royal Military Police.
Monday 9th April 1973 Sinn Fein offices reopen The Dublin offices of Provisional Sinn FĂŠin in Lower Kevin Street, which was closed by the Garda for six months, has re-opened. The closure was made on the direction of the head of Garda Special Branch, because it was suspected that the offices were being used by members of an illegal organisation. RIGHT - Bomb attack on an ice cream depot in Raby Street
Tuesday 10th April 1973 Soldier shot in Ormeau Road A soldier has received injuries to the neck and face after a gunman fired a single shot at him at Ivanhoe Street in the Ormeau area. He was rushed to hospital where his condition is described as being satisfactory.
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Tuesday 10 April 1973 Sniper attack in Oldpark area Two pipe bomb grenades have been discovered in the playing grounds of Finiston School. This was followed by a number of sniping attacks on the Army. No casualties are reported. Tuesday 10th April 1973 Soldier shot in Strabane A soldier has been wounded in the arm in Abercorn Square area of Strabane It is believed that the sniper fired a single shot from Market Square. Fire was returned but no hits were claimed
Tuesday 10th April 1973 Search of Belfast club A search of a club in the Beechmount Pass area, known as Caesars, has uncovered a dummy rocket launcher and grenade, a quantity of grenade parts, two radios and military training manuals, three truncheons and a large first aid kit. Two men have been arrested. Tuesday 10th April 1973 Bomb explodes at church A bomb has exploded at the Church of the Holy Family at Ballygowan. The bomb, estimated to have contained 15lbs of explosives, had been placed against the doors of the new porch. Stain glass windows were blown in by the blast and severe damage was caused to the inside of the church
Tuesday 10th April 1973 Explosives find in Lower Falls Two streets in the Lower Falls area of Belfast have been evacuated for several hours after a quantity of explosives were discovered in an Tuesday 10th April 1973 alleyway between Varna and Sultan streets. The explosives were not Man shot dead in Armagh primed. The Army believe two men were hit when troops opened fire fatally wounding 20-year-old John Anthony Hughes on Monday afternoon. Hughes, of Best’s Row in Armagh was a member of the local Pearse Republican Club. The Armagh command of the Official IRA have said in a statement that the dead man was the command quartermaster for the North Armagh area and that he was killed on active service. Tuesday 10th April 1973 7,000 attend IRA man’s funeral More than 7,000 people have attended the funeral of James McGerrigan, who has been described in death notices as being an IRA volunteer and a member of the Republican Clubs. Tuesday 10th April 1973 Bombs explode in Derry Two bombs have exploded at a café and a bakery in Derry. The premises, which were only two doors away from each other in Strand Road were damaged internally but there was no structural damage to either building. Warnings were given and there were no casualties. Tuesday 10th April 1973 Bank gave money to IRA Allied Irish Banks have confirmed that they paid £5,000 to the IRA in response to a threat against the life of a branch manager. The statement said that this was the only occasion on which money was paid and that “Statements to the effect that weekly or other payments were made were made by way of extortion or otherwise are entirely without foundation.” LEFT - A house in Soudan Street after an IRA rocket went through its roof after missing its target. FACING PAGE - Bomb attack on shops in Great Victoria Street.
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Wednesday 11 April 1973 Sniper kills soldier A soldier who was part of an Army foot patrol in Derry’s Bogside has been shot dead by a sniper. It is understood that a single shot was fired at the patrol as it passed the junction of Blucher Street and Westland Street. The dead soldier’s name and unit is not being released until his relatives are informed. Wednesday 11th April 1973 UDR man killed in shooting accident A member of the UDR has been killed in a shooting accident at the regiments Kells camp, near Ballymena. An Army spokesman has said that the shooting was a “tragic accident” and said that the dead soldier, Alexander McMullan McConaghy, aged 22, of Bushmills, died when a colleagues pistol was accidentally discharged as he was cleaning it. Wednesday 11th April 1973 Republican clubs to be made legal The Secretary of State, Mr. Whitelaw has announced that regulations, which will make Republican Clubs legal, will come into operation on Tuesday. Wednesday 11th April 1973 Soldier shot in Ballymurphy A soldier has received a gunshot wound to the leg when a sniper opened fire on a patrol of soldiers from the Light Infantry in Divismore Way, in the Ballymurphy area. A single shot was fired by the gunman and while shots were returned, no hits were claimed. The wounded soldier was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where his condition is described as being satisfactory.
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Wednesday 11 April 1973 Sniper attack in Lower Falls Two soldiers from the Light Infantry have been injured when a sniper opened fire on them at Omar Street in the Lower Falls. The soldiers were not seriously injured. Wednesday 11th April 1973 Bomb explodes in garage A soldier has been injured when a 20lb bomb exploded at a garage in North Queen Street. The soldiers had gone there to investigate reports of a bomb being left at the garage. But as they approached the garage, the bomb, which had been left in a nearby doorway, was detonated from a point 100 yards away. The soldier is suffering from concussion but his condition is satisfactory.
Wednesday 11th April 1973 Observation posts attacked Shortly before midnight observation posts in the Whiterock and Springfield areas came under attack from blast bombs. The first post to be attacked was at Violet Street when a bomb was thrown at a Sanger. Later three bombs were thrown at the Whiterock post overlooking McRory Park. Soldiers in the posts were only slightly injured in the attacks. Wednesday 11th April 1973 Oldpark shootings An Army spokesman has said that soldiers opened fire on a gunman in the grounds of St Gemmas School in Ardilea Street during the night. No hits were claimed.
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Wednesday 11 April 1973 Explosives found Beechmount During a search in the Beechmount area of Belfast, the Army has uncovered six blast bombs, two mortar bombs, home made grenades and parts for mortars. The equipment was discovered in an unoccupied house in Beechmount Parade.
Thursday 12th April 1973 Booby trap uncovered in Ormeau Road Soldiers and RUC personnel carrying out a follow up search after a beer lorry was hi-jacked in the Ormeau Road searched a vacant club in nearby Lavinia Street. After entering the club, one of the search party uncovered a booby-trap device under the floorboards of a first floor landing. The bomb was defused by an Army expert. The search of the premises also uncovered between 60 and 70 cases of beer, a Sten gun and magazine and a quantity of assorted ammunition.
Wednesday 11th April 1973 Bomb attack on Strabane café A bomb has extensively damaged the Swallow’s café in the centre of Strabane. A 15 minute warning was given and the bomb exploded 40 Thursday 12th April 1973 minutes later. No one was injured in the attack. Rifles found in Newry A man has been arrested in Newry after two Armalite rifles and Thursday 12th April 1973 ammunition were found in the Courtenay Hill area. Also on Escape bid from Belfast Prison Wednesday, a search of a wooded area at Barcroft Park in the town A Provisional IRA remand prisoner at Belfast jail was caught by eleven sticks of plastic explosives and three homemade grenades were warders as he attempted to escape from the prison. The man was found. spotted in the exercise yard after sawing through the bars of his cell window and lowering himself 30 feet to the ground by a rope made of Thursday 12th April 1973 blankets. Later, a search of his cell revealed six hacksaw blades. This Portadown shooting has been the tenth escape attempt from the prison this year. A single shot has been fired at an Army mobile patrol near the urban motorway at Portadown. One shot was returned but no hits were claimed. Thursday 12th April 1973 Bomb attack in Glengormley Thursday 12th April 1973 A man and his wife have had a narrow escape when a bomb exploded Soldier is shot dead in Derry in Glengormley wrecking their home and shop on the Ballyclare Road. The soldier who was shot dead in Derry’s Bogside area on Wednesday The RUC say there was no warning and that the grocery shop, which is has been named as Idwal Keith Evans of the 22 Light Air Defence owned by Mr. Edward Gallagher, was gutted by fire. Regiment. Gunner Evans was a member of a foot patrol who was crossing from Blucher Street to Westland Street when a single high Thursday 12th April 1973 velocity shot rang out. The soldier was shot in the head and died Bomb explodes at pub instantly. A bomb has exploded during the night at a pub on Balymena-Glenarm road at Aughafadden. The premises were empty at the time and no one was hurt. It is not yet known if the bomb was planted inside or outside Thursday 12th April 1973 the bar. Army billet attacked Two shots have been fired at a Factory in Drumahoe, outside Derry. The factory is at present being used as an Army billet. One of the shots Thursday 12th April 1973 struck the front Sanger but there were no casualties. Mortar bombs fired in Belfast The Army have said that two small homemade mortar bombs have hit Thursday 12th April 1973 the Rosebank Mill in Ardoyne. There were no casualties and damage Bomb at Derry bar was slight. A bomb has exploded at a public house in the Rosemount area of Derry. Doherty’s bar at the corner of Argyle Street and Park Avenue was evacuated when the warning was given. The bomb, estimated to have Thursday 12th April 1973 been between 20 and 50lb, caused severe structural damage. RUC barracks attacked Seven shots have been fired at soldiers who were guarding Tennent Street RUC barracks during the night. No one was injured in the attack FACING PAGE - The Traveller’s Rest at Derriaghy after an and only one shot was returned. IRA bomb attack.
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Friday 13 April 1973 Britain stops arms supply to Libya Britain has announced that it has suspended the supply of certain arms to Libya until they give a satisfactory explanation of reports that she was involved in the Claudia gun-running. A government minister has said that this suspension applies to all arms that “could conceivably be re-exported for use by the IRA.”
Friday 13th April 1973 Man shot dead in Belfast A man has been shot dead in the Lower Falls area of Belfast. The shooting, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, began when the Army spotted a number of men enter a house in Cape Street. Shots were then fired at soldiers from the rear of the house. The two men were then seen climbing over a rear wall and according to the Army they were challenged but refused to stop. Shots were then fired and 29-year-old Edward O’Rawe was killed and his 18-year-old companion seriously wounded.
Friday 13th April 1973 Rocket attack in Lower Falls area A rocket launcher was used in an attack against British soldiers in the Falls area yesterday. The device was fired at an Army vehicle in Cape Street but missed its target and exploded harmlessly
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Friday 13 April 1973 Gun attacks in Belfast The Army have come under gun attack in the Lenadoon and Andersonstown areas of Belfast on a number of occasions during the night. Several grenade attacks were also made but no hits were recorded. At Roden Street and Marchioness Streets the Army carried out searches for two men they claimed to have hit but there was no trace of them. Friday 13th April 1973 Catholic homes attacked Three Catholic homes have been attacked in the Landsdown Road and the Cregagh estate in Belfast petrol bombs were thrown at Lansdown Road whereas at Cregagh petrol was poured around the front door. Friday 13th April 1973 Mortar bomb found near church A partially exploded mortar bomb has been found 100 yards from St Matthews Chapel on the Newtownards Road. The find was made by soldiers who heard an explosion followed by a high velocity shot. No one was injured in the attack. Friday 13th April 1973 Man wounded in Belfast A 36-year-old man has been admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to the left arm. Little is known about the shooting other than the man called at a filling station on the Shore Road requesting help.
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Friday 13 April 1973 RUC attacked at Aughnacloy Two members of the RUC have escaped injury when the Land Rover in which they were travelling was blown up as it passed over a culvert at Ravella, Aughancloy.
Saturday 14th April 1973 Supermarket bombed A supermarket at Bellaghy, County Derry has been wrecked by a bomb which had been planted by three men shortly before noon. A ten minute warning was given and no one was injured in the attack.
Friday 13th April 1973 Landmine attack in Derry An Army bomb disposal expert has said that the mine which injured four soldiers, one of them seriously, weighed about 60lb. It had been pressed into a hedge with wires leading from it to a partially built house about 150 yards away. A seven man foot patrol walked into the ambush and four of the soldiers were injured and admitted to hospital. Three others were treated for shock.
Saturday 14th April 1973 Soldier kicks bomb A soldier, on patrol in the Divis Flats complex is said to have kicked a nail bomb down a set of stairs in order to get rid of it. Members of his patrol heard the fuse being lit and the bomb was thrown at them but the soldier, said to be a member of an Army football team, kicked the device away from his squad. No one was injured in the blast.
Friday 13th April 1973 Ammunition find in Antrim The Army have uncovered 170 rounds of live ammunition and 400 spent cases during a search of a desolate area near Ballynure, County Antrim.
Saturday 14th April 1973 Youth shot dead in Belfast A 17-year-old Protestant youth from east Belfast has been shot dead in a been found dead at a Bar on the Cregagh Road. The youth, named as Joseph Adair, of Dromore Street, died in hospital several hours after the shooting. It is understood that he was found lying in the lavatory of the Cregagh Inn. He has a gunshot wound to the head and the circumstances surrounding his death are not known. Saturday 14th April 1973 Catholic priest arrested in England Coventry police have said that they have arrested five local men in relation to suspected IRA activities. One of the five being held has been identified by his solicitor as being 33-year-old Patrick Fell, an English Catholic priest at All Saints Church in Coventry. LEFT - Bomb attack on Gallagher’s grocery and hardware shop in Glengormley. BELOW - IRA bomb attack on PriceRite’s on Belfast’s Royal Avenue.
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Saturday 14 April 1973 Bomb attack near University Bombs have exploded in the area surrounding Queens University, Belfast. One bomb, contained in a gas cylinder, has exploded at College Park East. Causing damage to the Department of Celtic Studies at Queens. No one was in the building at the time of the explosion and there were no injuries in the attack. A second gas cylinder bomb has also exploded under a car at Ridgeway Street off the Stranmillis Road. Superficial damage was caused to a number of private homes. The RUC have said that there was no apparent target in this second attack and it is thought that the bombers may have been forced to abandon the device.
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Saturday 14 April 1973 Arms find in Armagh A joint Army-RUC search in Drumbreda estate in Armagh has uncovered a number of weapons in a coal shed. The find consisted of a .303 rifle with telescopic sights, a .22 high velocity rifle and a machine carbine of indeterminate make. One man has been arrested.
Saturday 14th April 1973 Derry petrol station bombed A bomb has exploded on Derry’s Culmore Road, wrecking a caravan which was being used as an office and filling station. The 20lb device was left by two men who came from the direction of Muff in County Donegal. A warning was given and the bomb exploded 15 minutes later.
Saturday 14th April 1973 Gun battle in Turf Lodge Gunmen have launched an attack on Fort Monagh on the Monagh Road. At least three people using high and low velocity weapons directed Monday 16th April 1973 around 50 shots at the soldiers in the base. No hits were claimed. Bomb explodes in Belfast city centre A bomb has exploded at the Pricerite store in Belfast’s Royal Avenue. This was the first daylight bombing in the city for several weeks. The bomb was discovered in the store by staff shortly before the RUC Saturday 14th April 1973 received a telephone warning. The premises were evacuated and no Shots fired in Lower Falls Five blast bombs have been thrown at troops in the Lower Falls area of one was injured in the attack. Belfast. The attacks took place between Balkan Street and Divis Street. Saturday 14th April 1973 Bomb explodes at cafe An electrically detonated bomb has exploded at the Rio Café at the junction of the Springfield Road and Iris Street. Only slight damage was caused by the device which was detonated from Hawthorne Street. There were no soldiers in the area at the time and it is not known what the target was. Saturday 14th April 1973 East Belfast gun attack A gunman using a Thompson sub machinegun has opened fire at Mountpottinger RUC barracks during the night. Six shots were fired at the post but no one was injured and a soldier inside returned one shot. No hits were claimed.
Saturday 14th April 1973 Explosives found in Oldpark An Army patrol in Ardilea Street in the Oldpark area of Belfast have uncovered 6lb of explosives and 6 9mm bullets during a search of a coal shed in a unoccupied house.
First aid is given to a girl injured in a bomb attack on Coulter’s Car Showroom on Belfast’s Antrim Road.
Monday 16th April 1973 Man named on “Death list” is killed Friends of 23-year-old Protestant Robert Millen, who was gunned down from a passing car in McClure Street have said that the dead man’s name, along with eight others, were on a death list which had been posted more than a month a go. The dead man was on vigilante duty at the time he was shot and was a member of the Republican Clubs.
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Monday 16 April 1973 Soldier dies from gunshot A soldier has died in a shooting incident at an Army post in Ardoyne. The Army has not released any details of the shooting other than to say that the soldier was killed at the Flax Street post. His name and unit will not be released until his relatives have been informed.
the Bligh’s Lane post came under attack from a sniper who fired a single high velocity shot.
Monday 16th April 1973 Golf club bombed A bomb has exploded at the City of Derry Golf Club at Prehen. This is the second time the club has been attacked. On this most recent occasion a box with wires attached to it was found in the locker room at Monday 16th April 1973 around mid-day and the area was evacuated. The blast caused slight Soldiers disciplined Four soldiers have been disciplined for daubing paint on the doors of structural damage. two houses in Derry’s Creggan estate. The soldiers, all members of the Anglican Regiment also distributed leaflets saying “Third Royal Monday 16th April 1973 Anglicans rule the Creggan,” in the estate.. The soldiers are based at Shots fired at Lisburn Piggery Ridge in Creggan and an Army spokeman said that they had Members of the RUC and UDR who were guarding the Colin been dealt with. No indication was given as to what the men’s Memorial Band as it paraded close to the junction of Flowbog and punishment was. Glen roads in Lisburn have come under gun attack. The Army then fired at a car which was spotted driving off at high speed from high Monday 16th April 1973 ground 400 yards away. Shots were also fired at a number of men who Woman shot dead in Belfast were spotted acting suspiciously in a nearby field. A 59-year-old woman, Mrs Margaret Miller has been shot dead in her Roden Street home as she answered a knock at the door. Four shots Monday 16th April 1973 were fired through the glass front door hitting her in the chest. Mrs Armagh shootings Miller, a Protestant, died almost instantly. An intensive search has been carried out of the woods surrounding the home of Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Simms, after soldiers said that Monday 16th April 1973 two gunmen opened fire on a foot patrol in the area on Saturday night. Soldiers wound children in Andersonstown Later, soldiers also fired at a man they said was carrying a rifle. The Soldiers in Andersonstown have shot and seriously wounded a 15-year- man is said to have been running across a sports ground. Flares were old boy and his 9-year-old sister. In an apology issued by the Army a used to illuminate the area and the Army believe the man was hit. spokesperson said that the soldiers in an observation post saw a man However, when they reached the area, he was no where to be seen and aiming a gun and opened fire on him. No hit was recorded but he then they believe he may have escaped into a nearby housing estate. claimed that three men left the area in a car and when the vehicle stopped three people ran towards a house. The three people are said to have Monday 16th April 1973 been challenged twice and then shots were fired at the people as they Shots fired in Newry ran into the house. The Army spokesman has now said “If as it seems Soldiers are claiming a possible hit on a gunman who fired ten shots at probable, these three people were not concerned in the original them at Francis Street in Newry. incident, the Army expresses its deepest regrets.” Monday 16th April 1973 th Monday 16 April 1973 Bomb in Jonesboro Derry bomb attacks A bomb has exploded in an old coach house beside Jonesboro Church Four business premises and a golf club have come under attack from in South Armagh. A Church of Ireland clergyman had just parked his bombers in Derry. The bombs were planted at True-Form shoe shop car when the bomb exploded. Some windows in the church and and at Alf’s department store. The third bomb was at a boutique next surrounding buildings were broken in the blast. door to the shoe shop and the fourth explosion was at Long’s supermarket at Woodburn. Tuesday 17th April 1973 Monday 16th April 1973 Letter bombs Gunmen attack soldiers in Derry .A full scale alert has been sent out to all members of the RUC after Six shots have been fired from the direction of the City Cemetery at five members of the RUC in Derry were sent letter bombs in the post. soldiers who were trying to free a Saracen which had become bogged Four of the bombs were sent to the RUC men’s private addresses and down on waste ground in the Anne Street area of Derry. In later attacks the fifth turned up at Victoria station in the city. None of the bombs
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exploded and they were later defused. This is the first time that letter Tuesday 17th April 1973 bombs have been used in the current campaign, Observation post attacked Four high velocity shots have been fired at the Army observation post Tuesday 17th April 1973 in Flax Street in the Ardoyne area. The shots are believed to have Culvert bomb come from the direction of Cupar Street. There were no casualties and Army experts have destroyed a massive 700lb bomb which was fire was not returned. discovered in a culvert about six miles south of Armagh city. Soldiers also found 200 metres of wire leading from the culvert to the bombs firing point Tuesday 17th April 1973 Shots fired at Unity Flats Five or six shots have been fired at the Army post in Unity Flats at Tuesday 17th April 1973 around 1.00am. The shots were fired from the direction of Millfield Arms find but no one was injured in the attack. Two rifles and a pistol have been found by troops who stopped a car at a road block in Andersonstown. The road blocks were set up after two Tuesday 17th April 1973 shots were fired at a foot patrol of the 1st Gordons. Three men have East Belfast explosion been arrested. An explosion which was heard in East Belfast after 8.00pm is believed to have been caused by a blast bomb which may have gone off in Susan Street. There was no damage and no injuries caused by the blast. Tuesday 17th April 1973 Soldiers shot by sniper Tuesday 17th April 1973 Two soldiers have been shot when a gunman opened fire on them from Portadown bomb attack a house at the junction of Mica Street-Mica Avenue in the Beechmount Three men, two armed with revolvers and the third with a sub area. According to the Army, the gunmen broke into a woman’s home machinegun have planted a bomb at a petrol station on the Gilford while she was out and lay in wait for a patrol to go by. The soldiers Road, Portadown. The bomb was left in a forecourt shop. No one was were not seriously wounded. injured in the explosion but the premises were badly damaged. Tuesday 17th April 1973 Mystery explosion in Derry A mystery explosion has been heard in Derry just before 11.00pm. The security forces are said to have received several calls from the public about the explosion but it has still not been traced. Tuesday 17th April 1973 Shots fired in Bessbrook Two shots have been fired in the village of Bessbrook. The shooting took place near the Local RUC barracks but the gunman was not spotted and no one was injured in the attack Wednesday 18th April 1973 Meat factory bombed Damage estimated to be in the region of £70,000 has been caused when a bomb reduced to rubble part of a meat factory near Clones, County Monaghan. The factory, Clones Meat Packer By-Products is located at Lackey on the Fermanagh-Monaghan border. TOP - The scene in Clonard Street after an IRA sniper opened fire on a military patrol. LEFT - An army ‘pig’ which overturned in Fisherwick Place RIGHT - IRA bomb attack in Gough Barracks, Armagh
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Wednesday 18 April 1973 Hospital guard wounded A 49 year old hospital security guard has been wounded in a gun attack on Belfast’s Grosvenor Road. The man had been out to buy cigarettes when 30 rounds were fired from a car as it sped citywards along the Grosvenor Road, near Abyssinia Street and Drew Street. Although the man’s condition is serious he is said to be stable. Wednesday 18th April 1973 Helicopter crashes An Army helicopter has crashed into a field near Caledon, County Tyrone. The helicopter was on a routine border patrol and was about two miles from the village when it struck overhead power cables. The crew was unhurt. An Army spokesman has said that no one else is believed to have been involved and that the helicopter was not brought down by gunfire.
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warning had been received. One soldier in a Saracen armoured car was almost blown out of the turret by the force of the blast. It is believed that a 30lb bomb had been planted in the building. Wednesday 18th April 1973 Rocket fired in North Belfast A rocket which was fired at an Army Saracen in the North Queen Street area of Belfast has missed its target and struck the wall of Gallahers tobacco factory. There were no casualties. Wednesday 18th April 1973 Home made mortar fired The Army have said that a home made mortar bomb, the second to have been fired in the area in the last 24 hours has exploded at a derelict house on the Albertbridge Road. No one was injured in the attack.
Wednesday 18th April 1973 Bomb at newspaper office Two members of the Irish News Staff have been slightly injured when a car bomb exploded outside the papers Donegal Street offices. Extensive damage was caused to neighbouring property.
Wednesday 18th April 1973 Rifle found by Army British troops, who were carrying out a search of the Suffolk area, have uncovered a Garand rifle and over 70 rounds of armour piercing rounds. The find was made in the Lenadoon area.
Wednesday 18th April 1973 Soldiers injured in bomb attack Seven soldiers and a civilian have been slightly injured when a bomb exploded at Coulter’s motor spares depot on Belfast’s Antrim Road. A
Thursday 19th April 1973 Belfast gun battle Three soldiers have been shot and a pregnant woman injured when a gun attack was mounted against two Army Land Rovers as they moved
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along Clonard Street. It is thought that 60 or 70 shots were fired from rifles and sub machineguns Soldiers returned fire but claim that it was the IRA who shot the woman. The Army claim that the IRA took up firing positions on waste ground, the scene of an explosion which killed four people a year ago, and ambushed the soldiers. Thursday 19th April 1973 Vanguard warning Vanguard have warned of “serious repercussion” if the authorities do not act against the Provisional Sinn Féin office opened in Andersonstown. Mrs Maire Drumm, acting president of Sinn Féin, has opened the office. Thursday 19th April 1973 Sinn Féin replies to Vanguard Sinn Féin has replied to the Vanguard call on the authorities to close the Sinn Féin offices in Andersonstown. It has described the statement as being “really hysterical” and says that Sinn Féin is a purely political organisation and that none of its members had been charged in the courts with a serious offence. The Sinn Féin statement says: “We will publish the names of every one of our members in Belfast if the UDA will do the same.” Thursday 19th April 1973 Quiet day in Belfast The Army has reported that in the 24 hour period up until 8.00am not one single shot has been fired at troops in Belfast nor has any soldier Hawthorne Street in the Falls area a search has revealed a .303 rifle, a .22 rifle and 80 rounds of 6.60 ammunition. opened fire. Thursday 19th April 1973 Man shot in Shankill A man has been shot on the Shankill Road in Belfast. It is understood that the man stopped an RUC patrol and informed them that he had been shot while walking near the junction of the Ballygomartin and Woodvale Roads. The shot, he said, came from a car which drove in the direction of the city centre. The wounded man was taken to the Mater Hospital by the RUC where it was found that a .22 bullet had gone through his shoe and lodged in his leg.
Thursday 19th April 1973 Coalisland bomb attack An explosion and fire has caused severe damage to McAvoys timber yard on the Derry Road at Brackaville. The RUC have said that the owner of the yard received a warning shortly before the fire that there was a bomb in the yard. No one was injured in the attack. Thursday 19th April 1973 Arms find at Stoneyford The RUC have uncovered seven guns which were buried in a field at Rushyhill. The guns were all Lee Enfield rifles but only one of them was in working order.
Thursday 19th April 1973 Belfast bomb attack A cylinder with a clock attached to it has been thrown into the Errigal Inn on the Ormeau Road and a short time later a warning was phoned Thursday 19th April 1973 to a local newspaper. The Army later dealt with the device and found Bomb in Strabane A bomb, which is estimated to have contained between 2- and 50lb of that it was empty. explosives, has caused severe structural damage to McLaughlin’s public house in the centre of Strabane. Two masked men carried the bomb Thursday 19th April 1973 into the pub in a suitcase and ordered the owner and four customers out Arms find in Andersonstown The Army has uncovered 200 rounds of .22 ammunition and 12 rounds of the bar. A warning was given and the bomb exploded a short time of 7.62 in the Tulleymore Gardens area of Andersonstown. At later.
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Thursday 19 April 1973 Shots fired in Newry Fifteen shots have been fired at a patrol of the 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment, in the Barley Lane area of Newry. Fire was returned but no hits were claimed on either side. . Flares and a helicopter were used to illuminate the area but the gunmen escaped. th
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Friday 20 April 1973 Army posts attacked in Derry Seven shots have been fired at soldiers manning three different observation posts in the Bogside area of Derry. None of the soldiers were hit and fire was not returned. Friday 20th April 1973 Rockets fired in Toome Two Russian made RPG7 missiles have been fired at Toome RUC barracks during the night along with concentrated automatic fire. Shots were returned but there were no injuries. Damage to the building was slight. In a follow up search after the rocket attack at Toome, a boobytrap bomb has been discovered in a derelict house at Bellaghy. 25lbs of explosives were defused.
Thursday 19 April 1973 Shot man was IRA officer Death notices in a local paper have described the 31-year-old man who was shot dead by the Army on Tuesday as being an officer in A Company in the Provisional IRA auxiliary 3rd Battalion. Brian Smyth, from Ardilea Street was shot dead when Paratroopers opened fire on a group of men at Etna Drive-Brompton Park, hitting three of them. Local people hotly dispute the Armies version of events and say that the men were unarmed. One of the two men wounded is still very seriously ill. Friday 20th April 1973 Sniper attack in Dungannon Friday 20th April 1973 The leader of an Army mobile patrol was saved from serious injury Boy killed in Ardoyne when he and his men came under attack in the Donaghmore area of A 12-year-old boy from the Ardoyne area of Belfast has been shot dead Dungannon. Seven shots were fired at the patrol and it was some time during a shooting in the area. He has been named as Anthony McDowell. later that the soldier discovered that one bullet had lodged in his Controversy surrounds this latest shooting in Ardoyne with the Army flack-jacket. claiming that he was killed by the IRA. The boy’s uncle who was driving the car in which the boy was killed said he believed that the Friday 20th April 1973 single bullet in the car had been fired from the direction of the Army Man attacked in home post in Alliance Avenue. .A spokesman for the Parachute Regiment A Craigavon man has reported that four men, two masked and two claimed that the boy’s family had been put under pressure by local carrying guns burst into his home during the night and dragged him Republicans to blame the Army from his bed. The men fled the scene when the man’s wife began to scream. Three men were arrested a short time later in connection with the incident. Friday 20th April 1973 RUC barracks attacked Friday 20th April 1973 Mountpottinger RUC barrack has come under sniper fire from the Pylon bombed in Newry direction of Thompson Street but there were no casualties. The army An explosion which was heard in the Newry area at around 11.00pm has also reported that one of their observation posts in the Short Strand has been traced to an electricity pylon. The blast wrecked a junction area was also fired on. The soldiers returned fire but no hits were claimed box but power supplies were not interrupted.
Anthony McDowell
Keith Evans
Margaret Millar
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Saturday 21 April 1973 IRA radio bombs It has been reported that secret electronic equipment has been fitted to some Army helicopters to deal with the IRA’s most recent weapon, radio controlled bombs. The Army has revealed that the scanner has been used successfully in South Armagh by a helicopter crew working in conjunction with ground troops. Saturday 21st April 1973 Combat jackets found Three men have been arrested following a search in the Ormeau area of Belfast. The search of a house at Whitehall parade has uncovered two combat jackets, an anorak with lieutenant colonel’s badges, a starting pistol and one round of .22 ammunition.
Saturday 21st April 1973 Women shot in New Lodge Three high velocity shots have been fired at an Army patrol at the junction of Lepper Street and Stratheden Street. One member of the patrol was injured in the attack. It has been reported that three women were also injured in the attack when they went to the soldier’s aid. It is understood that as the women moved towards the soldier one of the bullets struck a wall and splintered. The women were struck by pieces of this bullet. None of the men were seriously injured. Saturday 21st April 1973 Rocket fired in Ballymurphy A Russian made RPG7 rocket has been fired at the Army post at the Vere Foster School in Ballymurphy but only minor damage was caused. At the same time 14 shots were also directed at the post. Fire was returned but no hits were claimed. Tuesday 24th April 1973 UDA guard Orange parade Junior Orangemen on their way through Belfast for their Easter Tuesday parade have been flanked by members of the UDA wearing combat jackets and berets. Black jacketed Orange Volunteers took up a position in the rear of the first contingent of juniors heading for the County Down railway station. Among those who joined the contingent was the Grande Master of Ireland, the Rev. Martin Smyth. TOP - The ramains of a car bomb which exploded outside the offices of the Irish News in Donegall Street. BELOW - Members of the UDA block off the Shankill Road in West Belfast
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Tuesday 24 April 1973 Escape attempt Two teenage brothers attempted to changed clothes in order to escape from custody. The brothers, one of whom was appearing on a firearms charge and the other on a charge of disorderly behaviour , swapped clothes and pretended to be the other. The man on the lesser charge was then granted bail but the switch was noticed by an RUC detective. Both men were then remanded in custody. Tuesday 24th April 1973 Army attacked in Derry One soldier has been injured in what has been described as a well organised attack in Derry’s Creggan estate. According to the Army a crowd of youths threw bottles and missiles at the soldiers who were investigating a suspicious car. According to the soldiers a strong smell of marzipan (a smell normally associated with explosives) was coming from the car. Nothing was found in the vehicle during the search but the soldier was struck by a missile. He was later allowed to return to duty.
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Catholic Shankill estate. After some stones were thrown a man wearing a mask fired from behind a beer barrel in Silverwood Drive. No one was injured. Tuesday 24th April 1973 Farm attacked in Coleraine Fires have destroyed several hundred bales of hay and machinery on two farms in the Coleraine area. It is understood that one of the farms at Ballycalbba is Catholic owned and the other at Doebeg is Protestant.
Tuesday 24th April 1973 Newtownabbey hockey club attacked A small tool shed owned by Mossley Hockey club at Newtownabbey has been gutted by fire. The cause of the blaze is not known.
Tuesday 24th April 1973 Army shoots Belfast girl An 18-year-old girl has been wounded by an Army sentry in an incident outside Casement Park in Andersonstown. According to an Tuesday 24th April 1973 Army spokesman a sentry saw two people on the opposite side of the RUC ambushed in Coalisland Three members of the RUC have come under attack as they drove their road about 4.00am; one appeared to point what seemed to be a pistol RUC vehicle through Coalisland. A number of rifle shots were fired towards the post. The sentry opened fire and the girl sustained a flesh and four struck their patrol car. One of the occupants was shot in the wound. neck but his condition is not serious. Tuesday 24th April 1973 Explosives found in Derry Soldiers have found a quantity of explosives and bomb making material in the Carnhill estate following a tip-off. The haul, which was found in a car, included 30lb of explosives, ten rounds of ammunition, a number of detonators, batteries and other bomb making accessories.
Tuesday 24th April 1973 Arson attack on Bar The interior of the Golf Inn at Conlig on the road between Bangor and Newtownards has been extensively damaged by a fire which followed a petrol bomb attack.
BOTTOM LEFT - Bomb attack on the Casbah Bar in Derry Tuesday 24th April 1973 BELOW - Members of the Official IRA marching on the Shots fired in Lurgan The RUC have said that five low velocity shots have been fired in the Falls Road Protestant Wakehurst estate in Lurgan. An RUC spokesman has said that stone throwing between youths from Wakehurst and from the
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Tuesday 24 April 1973 Army deny SAS are in North The Army has categorically denied reports in an Irish morning newspaper that over half of the Special Air Service Regiment, the controversial army regiment, are now serving in the North. The Irish Times have claimed that between 250 and 300 SAS men were operating on a temporary transfer to the Parachute Regiment. The paper said that an Army source had revealed that the number of SAS men here rapidly increased in early April.
Wednesday 25th April 1973 Man wounded in Lurgan A 30-year-old man was admitted to hospital in Lurgan with a gunshot wound to his leg and foot. His condition is not serious and the RUC are investigating the circumstances of the shooting. Wednesday 25th April 1973 Bomb making equipment uncovered Two men and two women are still being questioned by the RUC after a car was stopped at a checkpoint on Foyle Road in Derry. A quantity of explosives, alarm clocks, batteries and other bomb making equipment were found in the vehicle.
Wednesday 25th April 1973 Soldier shot by sniper A soldier has been shot and very seriously wounded when a sniper opened fire with a high powered weapon in the New Barnsley area of Wednesday 25th April 1973 Belfast. The shooting happened in the new Barnsley-Green Park area Sniper attack in Derry where the wounded man was on duty as a member of a foot patrol. A single shot has been fired at an Army foot patrol in Derry’s Creggan estate but no one was injured in the attack. Thursday 26th April 1973 Wednesday 25 April 1973 Weapons find in Ardoyne RUC attacked An Ardoyne couple have appeared in court charged with possession of A woman member of the RUC had a narrow escape when six shots five Lee Enfield rifles, am M1 carbine and two other rifles, a rocket were fired at the vehicle in which she was travelling. One bullet lodged launcher telescopic sights, six magazines and 67 ammunition clips and above her head but no one was injured. The shooting happened in the nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The weapons were found in the Edgarstown area of Portadown. back garden of their Jamaica Street home. th
Wednesday 25th April 1973 Explosives uncovered in Portadown In a search of the Obin Street area of Portadown security forces have uncovered 3 _ lb of plastic explosives and two shotguns. The explosives were in poor condition and were blown up by the Army on the spot.
Wednesday 25th April 1973 Army post at Casement Park attacked A rocket which was fired from a Russian made RPG7 launcher has landed at Musgrave Park Hospital. The rocket, it is believed, was fired at an observation post at casement Park on the Andersonstown Road, but missed its target. No one was injured in the attack.
Thursday 26th April 1973 UDA to block roads The Ulster Defence Association is to block roads in some Protestant areas on Sunday in a one hour token protest against the possible extradition of an 18-year-old Derry youth to the South. The Garda have been granted an extradition warrant for the man in connection with the murder of a man and his fiancée in Donegal on New Years Day. Thursday 26th April 1973 Secret meeting with loyalists In a bid to cool mounting anger over Southern Foreign minister Dr Garrett Fitzgerald’s visit to Ardoyne, it has been revealed that he also met a number of loyalists including members of the UDA.
Thursday 26th April 1973 Soldier shot in Lurgan A soldier who was a member of a foot patrol in the North Street area of Wednesday 25th April 1973 Lurgan has been wounded in a sniper attack. The wounded man was Shots fired in Belfast hit by a single high velocity shot by a sniper operating from the corner Soldiers in the Beechmount area of Belfast are claiming a possible hit of North Street and Ulster Street. after they returned fire on a man who fired two shots at them. In Cyprus Street in the Lower Falls area, four shots were also fired at FACING PAGE - A British soldier lies dead on the New Lodge soldiers but there were no casualties. Road after being shot by an IRA sniper
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Thursday 26 April 1973 Army patrol ambushed An Army foot patrol has been ambushed at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and the Limestone Road. Three low velocity shots were fired and the soldier was wounded in the shoulder. He was not seriously hurt and although fire was returned no hits were claimed. Thursday 26th April 1973 Man wounded in East Belfast A man has been shot in the knee at Avoniel Drive, off the Beersbridge Road. The RUC have said that the exact circumstances of the shooting are not clear but it is believed that the man accepted a lift in a car on the Albertbridge Road. He was then pushed out at Avoniel Drive and shot in the leg. The motive is unclear but the man’s condition is not serious.
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Thursday 26 April 1973 RUC barracks destroyed in Bomb attack The RUC barracks at Cushendall has been destroyed in a bomb attack. The building which is only manned at certain times was unoccupied at the time. Debris was hurled over a wide area but no one was injured in the attack.
Thursday 26th April 1973 Ammunition uncovered in Lisburn Three rounds of ammunition, training manuals and other items have been found in a search of a house in Seymour Street in Lisburn. It is not known if any arrests were made.
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Thursday 26 April 1973 Shots fired at Derry Army post Three shots have been fired at an Army Sanger in Bligh’s Lane from the direction of Beechmount Avenue. There were no injuries and fire was not returned.
Thursday 26th April 1973 Hi-jacked lorry on M2 A section of the motorway outside Antrim has been blocked for several hours as Army experts dealt with an abandoned oil tanker. At one stage it was thought that the tanker was booby-trapped but this turned out to be a hoax.
Friday 27th April 1973 Bomb explodes in Army HQ A bomb has exploded in the centre of Gough barracks in Armagh. The no warning bomb was driven into the barracks by a UDR mechanic who did not know that his car had been broken into during the night and a primed bomb concealed inside it. The bomb wrecked a number of buildings but only two people were slightly injured in the attack.
Friday 27th April 1973 Claymore mine explodes in Armagh A claymore type mine has exploded at Tamlaght, on the Middletown Road in Armagh. The explosion happened as soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers were carrying out a routine patrol in the area.. The bomb was detonated between the two land Rovers but none of the soldiers were injured. Friday 27th April 1973 Bomb defused in Newtownards A bomb has been discovered in the hallway of Rice’s bar at Francis Street in Newtownards by a woman passer-by. The alarm was raised and the area evacuated. After some time an Army bomb disposal expert managed to defuse the device. No warning had been given. Friday 27th April 1973 Bomb explodes at Newry shop A fire which followed an explosion at Sally’s confectionary shop at canal Street in Newry has cased major damage to the building. Dozens of windows in nearby buildings were broken in the explosion. No one was injured.
Friday 27th April 1973 Shot fired in Strabane Friday 27th April 1973 A single high velocity shot has been fired at an Army foot patrol in Meetinghouse Street in Strabane. There were no casualties and fire Soldier shot dead in Derry A soldier has been shot dead in the Creggan area of Derry. He had been was not returned. part of a unit which had been manning a vehicle checkpoint at the junction of Westway and Rosemount Hill. The soldier was hit by one Friday 27th April 1973 of two bullets fired from the direction of St Joseph’s School. Arms find at Donaghadee A .22 rifle and 122 rounds of assorted ammunition has been found during a routine search on the Copeland Islands, at Donaghadee. The RUC have said that the weapons were in poor condition and had probably been there for some time. Friday 27th April 1973 Children find grenade A group of children playing in Mayfair Street in Belfast have had a BOTTOM LEFT - An injured RUC man being led away narrow escape when they were spotted playing with a live grenade. during rioting in Bangor. The grenade was taken from the children by soldiers who had it blown BELOW - Newly-weds are allowed through a UDA up by an Army expert. A spokesman for the Army said that it was an old barricade at the Sydenham By-Pass. Army pattern grenade that was filled with an improvised but deadly explosive. FACING PAGE - Members of the UDA block the Sydenham By-Pass
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Friday 27 April 1973 Army vacate Derry post Soldiers in Derry have moved out of Brooke Park, which has been used by the Army since 1969. An Army spokesman has said that the park has been handed back to the Development Commission for the benefit of the local community. The spokesman said that it had been possible to give up the location by making more economical use of other accommodation.
Saturday 28 April 1973 Rocket fired at UDR man’s home A rocket attack has been mounted against the home of a senior member of the UDR. The attack was at the home of Lt Col J. D. Blackwell at Killymeal House in Dungannon. The rocket missed its target and exploded in nearby trees.
Saturday 28th April 1973 UDA block Belfast roads Hundreds of UDA men and women have sealed off almost all of Belfast’s main roads and brought traffic to a halt as a protest against the possible extradition to the south of a Derry man wanted for questioning about the murder of a couple in Donegal.
Saturday 28th April 1973 Soldier shot dead in Derry A soldier has been shot dead in the Creggan area of Derry. An Army spokesman has said that the dead soldier, Private Anthony Goodfellow, aged 26, of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglican Regiment was shot at the junction of Westway and Creggan Road It is believed that the sniper was operating from a derelict house north of the estate.
Saturday 28th April 1973 Weapons found in East Belfast Soldiers have seized a shotgun, two rifles, a crossbow and a quantity of assorted ammunition on waste ground in the Quinn Street area of East Belfast.
Saturday 28th April 1973 Army attacked in Belfast A mobile patrol of Royal Marines have come under fire in the Antrim Road area of Belfast. Two shots were fired from an alleyway and one struck the Army vehicle. The patrol did not return fire but gave chase. The gunman dropped his weapon as he fled the scene and a Thompson sub machinegun loaded with 23 rounds of .45 ammunition was recovered. Two men from the New Lodge Road were later arrested.
Saturday 28th April 1973 Army post attacked Four shots have been fired at an Army post in Bligh’s Lane in the Saturday 28th April 1973 Creggan estate in Derry. The shots were fired from Demesne Avenue Men wounded outside club area but no one was injured. Three men have been wounded at around 1.00am outside the
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Shamrock Club in Ardoyne. It is believed that the shots came from a Monday 30th April 1973 passing car. None of the men are seriously injured. Man is critically ill in Belfast The RUC have still not identified the young man who is critically ill in Saturday 28th April 1973 hospital after being shot in the head in the Ormeau Road area of Belfast Explosives and guns found in Belfast at the weekend. The man is thought to be in his early 20’s and was The Army have made a number of finds in the Belfast area. In Lenadoon, found in an entry in Farnham Street the search of a garage has uncovered 4 _lb of explosives and three hand made grenades. In Quinn Street a rifle and 500 rounds of ammunition was uncovered. Monday 30th April 1973 Bomb planted in Strabane pub Saturday 28th April 1973 A 10lb bomb has been found in Mardell’s public house in Railway Street, Strabane. A bomb was defused in the same premises on Friday. Army scout car attacked A landmine has exploded underneath an armoured scout car as it Also in Strabane a bomb was planted in Cochrane’s café. It too was travelled along the Beleek-Belcoo road near the Fermanagh border. defused. The vehicle was severely damaged but the soldiers inside it were uninjured. The blast left a ten foot crater in the road and it is believed Monday 30th April 1973 that the mine consisted of 250lbs of explosives. Bomb at Ballyclare parochial house The RUC have discovered a 12 foot long cylinder packed with explosives outside a parochial house at Doagh Road, Ballyclare. The fuse Monday 30th April 1973 on the bomb had burned itself out and it was defused by an army exSoldier killed in New Lodge pert. A British soldier has been shot dead on Belfast’s New Lodge Road and a companion seriously wounded when their vehicle was ambushed as Monday 30th April 1973 it slowed down to negotiate ramps on the New Lodge Road. The dead Land mine at Magherafelt soldier has been named as Graham Cox. He was aged 19 and a mem- Two civilian motorists had a narrow escape when a landmine exploded on the Culnady road at Guladuff. One driver’s car was wrecked by the ber of the Royal marines. blast but he was not hurt. Monday 30th April 1973 Bomb in Derry Monday 30th April 1973 A bomb has caused extensive damage to a Sand and gravel premises of Shots fired in Belfast W. McMonagle at Strand Road in Derry. A second blast twenty min- Twenty shots have been exchanged between rival crowds in the utes later caused extensive damage to the garage of Kevin McLaughlin Springhill and Springmartin areas of Belfast but there were no reports Motors on the nearby Buncrana Road. of injuries.
Steven Norris
Terence Brown
Edward O’Rawe
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Monday 30 April 1973 Pipe bomb thrown at Catholic home A pipe bomb has been thrown into a Catholic home in Ardcarn Park in the Dundonald area. Although the blast shattered windows in the house the family were not injured. Monday 30th April 1973 Bombs defused in Coalisland Two small explosive devices in washing-up containers have been hurled at the RUC barracks in Coalisland. One landed on the lawn and the other in the yard but neither went off and were later made safe by the Army. Monday 30th April 1973 Shots fired in Derry Two low velocity shots have been fired at the Fort George Army post. There were no casualties and fire was not returned. Monday 30th April 1973 Mystery shots in Downpatrick Between five and seven shots were fired in Downpatrick during the night but the RUC have said that there were no reports of anyone being injured and it is not known what the target was.
RIGHT - UDA members close off Bradbury Place BELOW - Women members of the UDA block Castlereagh Street
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IRA bomb attack in London’s Horseferry Road
THE TROUBLES
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IMPORTANT NOTICE TO READERS This is the last issue of The Troubles which will be published in this format. Before regular readers begin to panic there is really no need to worry as the chronology will continue and the detail which you have now become accustomed to will not change. The Troubles magazine is published by the Glenravel Local History Project which is a local historical scheme and not a professional publishing company. Recently the Project have began to put together new schemes ranging from websites through to the production of DVD’s and because of this we have decided to compile all our magazines into one single bi-monthly publication. All our titles will merge into the Belfast Magazine and for regular readers of The Troubles we can guarantee that there will be no changes to what you are used too. There will still be the same number of pages dedicated to the period covered and, as previously mentioned the detail will remain the same. The good news is the price will actually come down - now how many times have you seen that happen! In addition to this the new look magazine will become more frequent and an extra two editions will be published each year. In order to ensure you obtain your copies of the new title simple ask your newsagent to reserve you a copy of the Belfast Magazine each time it come out.* Readers outside of Ireland can still obtain their copies in the usual way but instead of paying £2.99 the new price will be £2.50. Current subscribers are not affected and to compensate for the price change an extra issue will be sent to them. If you would like to subscribe to the publication then simply send a cheque or postal for £15 to Glenravel Project 5 Churchill Street Belfast BT15 2BP This will cover you for one year and delivery is guaranteed. *The publication is distributed by Wholesale Newspapers Ltd (WNS)
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