The Troubles 21

The

TROUBLES A CHRONOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONFLICT

MAY - JUNE

1973

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. 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 ASHTON CENTRE CHURCHILL STREET BELFAST BT15 2BP Tel: (028) 9020 2100 • Fax: (028) 9020 2227 E-Mail: glenravel@ashtoncentre.com This 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.

For back issues of the single Troubles Magazine visit the Glenravel stall every Friday morning at St George's Market. You may also obtain them at our website at www.troublesmagazine.com where sold out issues can also be downloaded.

E-Mail: info@troublesmagazine.com

SOURCE MATERIAL BELFAST NEWSLETTER Various issues for period covered

BELFAST TELEGRAPH Various issues for period covered

IRISH NEWS Various issues for period covered

MAY 1973

Tuesday 1st May 1973 UDA member is to be extradited UDA member, Robert William Taylor from Derry, is to be extradited to Eire where he is wanted for questioning in connection with the double murder in Co. Donegal last New Year’s Day. Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Lowry and Mr Justice McGonigal and Mr Justice Gibson dismissed Taylor’s appeal against an extradition order granted by a resident magistrate at Coleraine, and also his application for a writ of habeas corpus to show cause why he should not be released.

Sir Robert, in a written judgment, said the evidence in the last case was totally imprecise and lacking in detail. Even the most favourable construction which it would bear afforded no support for an argument based on any definition of an offence of a political character.

Taylor, an 18-year-old apprentice bricklayer of Shearwater Way, Clooney, is wanted by Garda for questioning in connection with the death of Oliver Boyce and Breige Porter, both of whom were found shot dead at Drumadoony, Burnfoot on January 1st.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Taylor fires new salvo at ‘That Paper’ With the anti-White Paper crisis continuing to snowball in the Unionist Party, Mr John Taylor claimed today that anyone who supported the British Government’s proposals was sentencing Ulster to long-term violence.

He had called for a new White Paper which would take more fully into account the wishes of the majority of Northern Ireland people.

Mr Taylor was one of three anti-White Paper candidates for the Assembly Elections nominated last night by Fermanagh-South Tyrone Unionist Association. The Mid Ulster constituency association has also given the thumbs-down sign to the White Paper.

And it was revealed that a meeting of Loyalists in West Belfast, including Official Unionists, and members of Vanguard, UDA and LAW, yesterday advocated total rejection of the White Paper and agreed to support only candidates who will sign an undertaking pledging themselves to the United Loyalist Front. A statement from the group said the White Paper contained devious methods of obtaining a united Ireland, which could not be accepted by the loyalist majority.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 ‘Civvies’ for pupils who pass trouble areas Some boys at a leading Belfast Grammar school who have been running into trouble on their way to and from school through disturbed areas, are being told that they need no longer wear their uniforms.

The pupils concerned attend the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and for some time now have been receiving police protection through parts of the city. The Headmaster of ‘Inst’, Mr Victor Preskett, said today that this was not overall policy with his pupils. He added: "What has happened, as far as I know, is that one or two boys asked their housemaster if the rules governing school uniform could be relaxed because they had to pass through troubled parts of the city. It is up to the housemasters to consider each case".

Loyalists stage a roof top protest at the Crumlin Road Jail against the extradition of Robert Taylor

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Army check bomb in post office A suspect bomb packed into a mail sack was smuggled through tight security into the Berry Street Post Office sorting depot in the centre of Belfast.

The device, found this morning by a worker who was sorting mail, is thought to have been put into a Post Office van somewhere in West Belfast, without the driver knowing. The depot is inside the gated zone around the former Grand Central Hotel where a unit of the Royal Artillery is billeted.

Several fire appliances were standing by as the Army experts moved in to examine the device.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 £2000 bail in arms case A 24 year-old haulage contractor, who appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Courts on an arms charge after his home was raided by troops yesterday, was remanded on £2000 bail until next Wednesday. The raid in Shandon Street, off New Lodge Road uncovered medical equipment, two loaded Armalite rifles and a Garrand rifle.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Man remanded A Belfast man, of Oldpark Avenue, was remanded in custody until May 15th charged with armed robbery at Belfast Co-Op in Frederick Street last August.

He is also in custody accused of attempting to cause an explosion at Little Donegall Street on February 3rd.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Women hit by bullets A 50-year-old Aughnacloy woman was seriously injured when gunmen fired several shots into her home just before midnight.

The Aughnacloy woman, a Roman Catholic was hit in the thigh and back after gunmen fired several shots through the window of her house in Shanalurg. Police believe two gunmen took part in the attack.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Bar blasts Two of the bar staff at the Brown Horse public house in Library Street had lucky escape when an explosion rocketed the building. The two were inside the building when a bomb went off, but neither was hurt. A number of customers had left the bar just before the explosion.

Police believe the device was either placed at the front door of the bar, one of the city centre’s best known, or hurled from a passing car.

Earlier another public house was targeted. Two youths placed a gas cylinder with a burning fuse at the front of McIlhatton’s bar in Durham Street. The blast caused considerable damage to the building but there were no casualties.

The bombers made off at high speed in a waiting car.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Tyrone man jailed for eight years A 19 year old man from Drumrallagh, Strabane, was jailed for eight years when found guilty at Tyrone County Court in Omagh yesterday on three charges arising from the possession of a rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition.

The charges followed a shooting incident near Strabane on the night of December 27th.

The court was told that three soldiers waited in ambush for two men whom they had earlier seen carrying rifles. The men were challenged to stop and when they did not do so the soldiers fired. The 19-year-old man was seriously wounded and another Strabane man Eugene Martin Devlin, was killed.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 IRA man who skipped bail loses £500 An IRA man who appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Court was ordered to forfeit his bail of £500 which he entered into in September 1971 but failed to honour.

The man from Ardmonagh Gardens was re-arrested. When he appeared he refused to recognise the court, saying he was a member of the IRA. He was sent for trial in custody to the Recorder’s Court on May 21 accused of possessing 200 Post Office Giro cheques and obtaining £300 by using similar cheques.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Youth remanded A 17-year-old youth of McDonnell Street was remanded in custody for a week charged with attempting to murder two soldiers earlier this month. The court heard that two soldiers were shot after gunmen fired at their foot patrol from a derelict house.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 UDR man killed as wife waved to him UDR Colour Sgt. John Ruddy was gunned down in a hail of assassins’ bullets while his wife waved goodbye to him, a murder trial jury heard.

Down Assizes was told that Sgt. Ruddy was taking a short cut through a field on his way to his job as a storeman at Newry UDR depot. His wife usually saw him off and waved to him from the back door of their home. The sergeant had almost come to the main road when the gunmen struck and he was hit by eight bullets from an M1 carbine.

The trial started in Downpatrick yesterday of a 19-year-old chef of South End Terrace, Newry, who is accused of murdering the 50-year-old part-time soldier on October 10th last year. Before the hearing started, a capital murder charge was withdrawn after legal submissions by defence counsel. The man now faces a non-capital murder charge. Crown Prosecutor Mr Liam McCollum, QC, said that although the man did not fire the fatal shots, he played a vital role in setting up the ambush. "That he knew the nature of the crime, makes him guilty as an accessory before the fact," said the prosecutor.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Bid to aid bombed-out The Northern Ireland annual delegate conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions next week will be asked to support a move to enable shop workers to claim compensation for loss of wage increases where shops have been closed because of bombings.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Mother’s expression foiled escape A self-confessed UVF man was jailed for a year at Down Assizes for trying to escape from the Maze Prison last December.

The 18-year-old man of Hanna Street, Belfast refused to recognise the court.

The sentence will run consecutively with a four-year term imposed at an earlier court on arms charges.

Another 19 year-old of Halliday’s Road, Belfast was given a six-month sentence for helping in the escape bid. The court heard that the 19 year-old prisoner was due to be released on bail from the prison on December 14th.

The 18 year-old took his place but the mother waiting to take her son home noticed the switch.

A prisoner officer became suspicious when he saw the expression on the mothers face and took the prisoner back into the jail where a role call revealed the switch-over. Mr John McKee, Crown prosecutor, told the court that the woman had signed a bail bond for her son – but the man brought to the prison gates to meet her was an impostor.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Ammo in tin draws jail term An Andersonstown man found in a taxi with a tin of ammunition in his pocket was jailed for two years at Belfast City Commission. The 27 year-old of Creeslough Park, was in a taxi stopped at an Army road check at Glen Road on April 4th. A tin containing 13 rounds of ammunition was found in his pocket. By direction of the judge the man and another 30 year old of Carrigart Avenue were found not guilty of possession of a revolver and five rounds of ammunition found down the side of a cushion in the back seat of the taxi in which they were travelling.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Demos delay bomb hearing A Court hearing involving 10 people on charges made after the London bomb explosions, on March 8th, was postponed "because of the May Day demonstrations".

The three girls and seven Lambeth men - all but one with Belfast addresses, were due to appear at Lambeth magistrates court on remand, accused of conspiring together and with others to cause explosions likely to endanger life or damage property.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Falls Road kidnap charge A man appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s court charged with kidnapping a motorist on the Falls Road.

The 22 year-old from Ballymurphy Road, is accused of kidnapping the motorist at the Falls Road-Donegall Road junction yesterday morning.

A detective told the court that the motorist had slowed down at the Donegall Road junction when two men, one armed with a pistol, kidnapped him. He was driven in his own car to a shed and questioned about his work for three hours before being released.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Explosive materials found in raid A 44 year-old Ardoyne man of Etna Drive appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in custody for a week. He was arrested by troops this morning after a blast bomb, detonators and other explosive materials were found in his home. The court heard that some of the materials were found under the floorboards of an upstairs bedroom and the rest found in a brown suitcase in the kitchen.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Snipers fire at patrol A single shot was fired by a sniper at an Army patrol in the Shantallow area of Derry. There are no casualties and fire was not returned.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 2 on triple murder bid charge A man alleged to have told police he was a lieutenant colonel in the UDA, went on trial at Belfast City Commission yesterday charged with the attempted murder of three men at Cliftonville Road last September. The 33 year-old of Enfield Parade was alleged to have told a detective "I am a lieutenant colonel in charge of the UDA on the Shankill and in Co.Armagh, and assassination is not part of our policy." The man along with a 26 year-old from Crimea Street, jointly charged, denied attempting to murder three men on September 17th.

The two also pleaded not guilty to possessing a pistol with intent to endanger life, and having a stolen police pistol.

Tuesday 1st May 1973 Youth remanded on explosives charge A 17 year-old student of Hampstead Park, Derry was returned for trial in custody to Londonderry Assizes next month. The 17 year-old appeared at a special court in the city charged with causing an explosion at the car sales and services premises of Joseph Lucas Ltd., Duncreggan Road, on July 12th last year. The court was told that the damage amounted to about half a million pounds. He was also charged with possessing a .45 revolver on the same occasion. He remained silent throughout the hearing and when asked if he wished to say anything in answer to the charges he shook his head.

Fire bomb attack on the Avon Tyre Depot in Belfast’s Clifton Street

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Faulkner refuses to budge on Paper In a statement today to try to sort out confused Unionists attitudes to Assembly Elections, party leader Mr Brian Faulkner that to oppose every proposal of the White Paper and to reject it’s framework entirely completely would be unreasonable, anti-British and anti-Union.

He also insisted that the White Paper many of the fundamentals of Unionism and safeguarded Northern Ireland’s position as a part of the United Kingdom.

And he added: "If there are those who, whatever their chosen label, wish to set off down that dark and dangerous path way from Britain, then the electorate at large should be aware of the implications of being totally against the White Paper and should know that the term ‘Unionist’ or ‘Loyalist’ could not possibly be applied to such a crazy course of action".

It was Mr Faulkner’s reply to the week-end rejection of the White Paper by the Orange Order which said it contained the seeds of Ulster’s destruction and also to the considerable number of Unionist associations that have issued a blanket condemnation of the British Government’s proposals.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Anti-Unionist loyalists out in strength The Anti-White Paper Loyalists will be making their first bid for public support in the local elections. As nominations came in today it was clear that they were fielding a considerable number of candidates.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Youth found shot dead in quarry Detectives are trying to establish the identity of a young man found murdered near a disused quarry on the outskirts of Belfast.

This latest victim of the assassination squads was found shot twice through the head and once in the chest in a minor road at Carnmoney.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Antrim bomb hero An assistant in an Antrim newsagent’s shop risked his life when he carried an unexploded gas cylinder bomb out of the premises and left it on a nearby riverbank. The bomb had been thrown through a window in the Horseshoe Shop in Dublin Road. It was later defused by an Army expert. The shop owner Mr Lawrence McKenna, said his assistant found the bomb when he opened the premises at 7.30 am. "He doesn’t want his name disclosed, but it was a very brave thing to do," he said.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Soldier wounded in Derry A soldier was seriously wounded in Derry when a gunman opened fire at a foot patrol at the junction of Foyle Road and Bishop Street, on the fringe of the Bogside. The sniper is believed to have fired two shots, both of which hit the soldier who was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 School is blasted Broadbridge Roman Catholic Primary School in Co. Derry was extensively damaged by a bomb early today. The bomb, which had been placed at the front door, damaged the walls and roof and blew out windows.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Blasts: Ten in London court Maximum security precautions were in force today at Lambeth Court today as ten people were remanded in custody for a week on charges made after the London bomb explosions on March 8.

Three girls and seven men all with addresses in the North, are accused of conspiring together with others to cause explosions likely to endanger life or seriously damage property.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Probe into P.O. bombs riddle Investigations were going on today into how two bombs were smuggled into the Post Office sorting depot in the centre of Belfast yesterday.

The bombs each weighing about 30lbs were discovered in mail sacks by a worker sorting mail in the depot in Berry Street at the rear of the main Post Office in Royal Avenue.

The office is behind the Grand Central Hotel where troops are now billeted and security in the area is the tightest in central Belfast.

Both bombs were defused by an Army expert five hours after they were found.

One theory on how they got inside the depot is that they were put in a mail van somewhere in the city without the driver knowing, and he unwittingly brought them in for sorting.

Each bomb was in a sack and was well packed around the sides.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Protestants clash with troops after Derry rally Eight soldiers were hurt as angry Protestants confronted troops in the Waterside area of Derry last night.

The rioting in the Irish Street estate came after a meeting addressed by the Reverend Ian Paisley, protesting against the granting of an extradition order in the Belfast High Court yesterday against an 18 year-old Derry youth wanted in questioning in Eire about a double murder in Donegal last New Year’s Eve. After the protest meeting, which the Army estimated was attended by about 200, a crowd of more than 100 marched to Waterside RUC station where a deputation handed in a petition.

ABOVE - The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Ramsey viewing the burnt out houses in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast.

LEFT - Bomb attack on the Marshall’s Garage in Belfast’s Bedford Street

The crowd returned to Irish Street where a section broke away and started by stoning passing cars. A patrol of four soldiers attempted to disperse the crowd, estimated at about 100, but the patrol was surrounded. At one stage, said an Army spokesman, a girl was beating a NCO over the head with a brick and he had to be rescued by a colleague with the aid of a baton. The crowd then tried to get through to the predominantly Roman Catholic Gobnascale estate nearby but were held back by troops.

Shortly by 11 pm there was a concerted attack on troops, and during this time an Army spokesman said three thunder flashes were thrown at soldiers.

Eight soldiers were injured and two of them were taken to hospital. One was detained overnight for observation and one was discharged after treatment. Two arrests were made.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Proscribe the UDA Opposition MP, Mr Ivan Cooper, called on Mr Whitelaw, to give immediate consideration to proscribing the UDA, who he alleged, was responsible for last night’s explosions in the Derry area.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Murder bid court hears of lead tests Belfast City Commission was told at the continuing trial of two men charged with attempted murder that forensic examination of their hands did not show they had fired a gun. A fitter aged 33 of Enfield Parade, who was said to have claimed to be a lieutenant colonel in the UDA at Shankill and Co. Armagh and a 39 year-old steel fixer of Crimea Street, pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder three Roman Catholic men early on the morning of September 17 outside the bombed Imperial Hotel at Cliftonville Road.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 School and pub are targets for bombs Bombers struck at a Coleraine School, a Carrickfergus public house and a Strabane café as the violence continued throughout the North last night.

And in other incidents rockets were fired at troops in the Claudy area, an Orange Hall on the outskirts of Larne was destroyed by fire and two Protestant men were found beaten up in West Belfast.

Strabane: An Army expert worked for several hours to defuse a 10 lb bomb found in the kitchen of the Piccolo Café in Abercorn Square. The bomb, the fifth to be defused in the town this week, was discovered around midnight.

A rocket was reported to have been fired at troops in the Claudy area but security forces said there were no reports of casualties or damage.

Coleraine: An explosion at St. John’s Roman Catholic School at Hazelbank Road just before midnight badly damaged the interior of the building. Police said two men were helping with enquiries.

Carrickfergus: An explosive device planted on a windowsill of the Brown Cow public house at Woodburn Road caused moderate damage to the bar after it exploded just after 1am, Police said there were no casualties.

Belfast: A hoax bomb call lured police into a sniper’s sights on the Antrim Road area last night but none of the RUC men was hurt.

Larne: Fire believed to have been started maliciously, gutted Fourtowns Orange Hall on the Ballysnod Road early today.

Cookstown: Six or seven shots were fired at the towns UDR headquarters last night but there were no casualties.

Magherafelt: Two cars parked outside Ballymaquigan GAA Hall were machinegunned, probably by gunmen in a car.

Fire bomb attack on Andrews Car Showroom at Smithfield Square, Belfast

Newry: Local police are treating a blaze at a contractor’s premises on the Belfast Road as malicious. One room in the building owned by Belfast firm, H. & P. Campbell, was damaged.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Re-trial ordered The trial of a Newry man accused of murdering a UDR sergeant ended abruptly last night when the prosecution learned that a juror was a part-time soldier.

Lord Justice Jones ordered that the jury at Down Assizes be discharged and a re-trial of Thomas Anthony O’Hanlon start next week.

O’Hanlon (19), a chef, of South End Terrace, has denied the murder of UDR Colour Sergeant John Ruddy (50), on October 10 last year.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973 Bomber weeps as he gets five years A 23 year old Strabane farmer wept yesterday as a judge jailed him for five years for causing an explosion which wrecked the recreation hall in Sion Mills last October.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Stop Faulkner Election-Call South Down Unionists began an attempt today to block the nomination of party leader Mr Brian Faulkner as a candidate in the Assembly elections.

In a statement, the central committee of South Down Imperial Unionist Association urged that each divisional association in the constituency should have an undertaking from it’s candidate that he or she will be committed to renegotiating the White Paper.

The central committee has expressed its "complete rejection of the White Paper".

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Soldier shot in Derry dies A solider who was shot in the Brandywell area of Derry yesterday afternoon died in hospital early today. He has been named as Sgt. Thomas Wayne Crump (27), serving with the 22nd Light Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery.

He is the third soldier to be killed by sniper fire in the past week. He was hit in the head by two bullets while on foot patrol at the junction of Foyle Road and Bishop Street. A married man, with two young children, he came from Pontypridd in Glamorganshire.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Murdered man was kidnapped The man found murdered yesterday morning was kidnapped as he left his girlfriends home at Whitewell on Tuesday night, it was revealed today.

Liam McDonald an 18 year-old Roman Catholic who lived at Carnreagh Bend, Rathcoole, was found shot twice through the head and once in the chest at a disused quarry on the Ballyduff Road early yesterday.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Murder attempt: two not guilty Two men charged with attempted murder of three Roman Catholics at Cliftonville Road last September were cleared on all charges by a jury at Belfast City Commission today. But on walking from the dock, the two accused – one of them claiming to be a lieut. in the UDA – were re-arrested by detectives under the Special Powers Act. Thursday 3rd May 1973 Four injured in Ulster gun attacks Three soldiers and a young man were shot and wounded and a Randalstown garage was wrecked by a bomb during IRA violence throughout the North last night.

The first Army casualty was at St. Katherine’s Road in the Falls area. A patrol of the Second Light Infantry was moving along an alleyway when a burst of shots hit one soldier in the arm and leg. Fire was not returned. The injured man’s condition was later said to be not serious.

This shooting was followed by several sniper attacks on Army observation posts in the Oldpark area of the city. The first attack was on the Louisa Street-Glenpark Street post and a short time later eight shots were at the post in Gracehill Street.

Finally four high velocity shots were directed at soldiers in an observation post Oldpark Road-Roseapenna Drive. On each occasion soldiers returned fire but no hits were claimed and there were no Army casualties.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Children flee as rocket goes astray.

At 8.49 children playing in the Highfield estate had a narrow escape when an RPG 7 rocket fired from Ballymurphy went through the roof of a house at High Green. The rocket was fired at the Army post at Blackmountain school but missed its target.

At the same time 15 high velocity shots were fired at the Army post at Springhill Avenue. No one was injured in either incident.

LEFT - Sgt-Major Ronnie Vines on his wedding day who died in an IRA bomb attack.

RIGHT - Bomb attack on Expandite on Belfast’s Antrim Road

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Sniper fired on.

Sniper attacks on the Army continued throughout the city extending to the Turf Lodge area where a soldier spotted a gunman in St. Patrick’s Training School grounds. The soldier fired at the man but did not hit him and the gunman returned one round.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Home attacked by gunfire Shortly before 11pm several shots were fired into the home of a Protestant family in Dunmurry, but no one was injured.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Man injured A 46-year-old man suffering from lacerations was treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital after an explosion and gunfire were heard in the Thistle Street area. A police spokesman said the explosion was apparently caused by a blast bomb.

The man was later released from hospital.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Troops open fire on car A car being driven down the Mountpottinger Road turned when it saw a patrol of soldiers at Vulcan Street. Three shots were fired from the car at civilians and the soldiers returned the fire hitting the car twice but the gunmen made off. A second Army casualty came when a sniper fired six shots at an Army vehicle checkpoint at Glenveagh Drive, Glen Road. One soldier was shot in the arm but his injury was not serious At 10.30 gunmen claimed their third Army casualty when a sniper opened fire from the roof of a building in Dungannon on a mobile patrol. The condition of the injured soldier was later said to be satisfactory. His colleagues did not return fire. In Lisburn, shortly after midnight a UDR mobile patrol was fired on at Mooresbridge on the Hillsborough Road. Fortunately none of the patrol was injured and fire was not returned.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Loyalist prisoners in rooftop protest A number of loyalist prisoners protested last night on the roof of Crumlin Road jail against the proposed extradition of a young Derry UDA man. The nine men, who had climbed on to the roof by a rope ladder made of sheets, were sprayed with water in an attempt to bring them down. The demonstration started at 5.30 and lasted several hours. Six of the men were returned to their cells by police and prison warders after an hour, but others joined the three remaining and they stayed on the roof until dusk, singing loyalist songs as a crowd collected outside the jail waving Union Jacks. The men finally returned to their cells.

The protest was made against the High Court dismissal of an appeal against an extradition order on Robert William Taylor (18), who is wanted for questioning in Eire about the murder of a youth and a girl in Donegal on January 1st.

Thursday 3rd May 1973 Official IRA will wage civil war – UDA The Official IRA is preparing for a civil war and will prove the greatest danger to Ulster, the UDA vice-chairman, Mr. Tommy Herron, warned a loyalist meeting in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, last night.

Mr. Herron said that the Officials were training in the midlands of Southern Ireland, around Mullingar, with weapons such as grenade-launchers, mortars and mines, which were designed for use against civilians.

He said’ "Loyalists will find that the Official IRA will be our most formidable

foe. They are shrewder, sharper and they plan things better. "They are training like blue blazes, and in the end they will have more support than the Provisionals."

Mr. Herron said that the Officials’ command structure was untouched, and that the Army had orders not to interfere with them. He claimed that an Official IRA member recently dropped a gun from his coat by accident as an Army patrol was passing, but the soldier had ignored him. He warned that if civil war came, the UDA could not handle it completely and would need political help.

Mr. Herron added: "Several countries are helping the Officials, but we have nobody. "The Protestant politicians don’t shout loudly enough for us. Unless the VUPP succeeds, and they put people in who will help us, the fight that is going to come will be one sided against us."

Friday 4th May 1973 I will not resign, says Faulkner Mr. Brian Faulkner made it clear to Unionist delegates today that he will not give up the party leadership voluntarily. He told 200 delegates to the standing committee: "I will not resign." If the party wanted a new leader, he emphasised, they could go ahead and choose someone, but he intended to remain and to fight his corner.

Friday 4th May 1973 Garage man is hero on double blast day A garage employee carried a large bomb into the street a short time before it exploded in the centre of Belfast today. Minutes later a second bomb, placed on petrol tanks at another garage nearby, went off, badly damaging the showroom.

No one was injured in either of the explosions, which happened in the Bedford Street area, close to the City Hall.

Friday 4th May 1973 Digger is bombed A mechanical digger being used for excavation work by the Ministry of Agriculture at Duemenny outside Strabane was damaged by a bomb.

An Army expert destroyed more explosives where they were left in a second digger and failed to go off because of a faulty timing device. A can of petrol was left beside it.

Friday 4th May 1973 No warning explosion in Armagh No warning was given before a bomb wrecked the Cosy Corner public house and adjoining shop at Annaghmore, Loughgall. Police said the owner and his wife and family were asleep in another part of the building when the explosion occurred, but no one was hurt.

Friday 4th May 1973 700 attend Loyalist rally According to RUC reports, about 700 people attended a rally in Portadown last night, called as a protest against the proposed extradition of an 18 year-old Derry youth the Garda want to questioning connection with a double murder in Donegal.

Friday 4th May 1973 Slight damage caused by explosion A bomb which went off without warning outside the telephone exchange at Clogher early today caused slight damage to the fire station next door. Police said no one was hurt when the bomb went off around 2am and that only a few windows in the station were smashed.

Friday 4th May 1973 Provos blambed for shooting Mr. Ivan Cooper MP for mid Derry, blamed the Provisional IRA for the shooting outside the SDLP delegates meeting at Ballymaguigan GAA hall, Magherafelt, on Tuesday night when two cars were raked by gunmen in a passing vehicle.

Friday 4th May 1973 Eye for an Eye, warns Herron on extradition An eye-for-an-eye warning was given by the vice-chairman of the UDA last night over the extradition of an 18 year-old Derry man to Eire.

Speaking in Portadown, Mr. Tommy Herron said that those people responsible for the extradition of Robert Taylor for questioning in connection with a double

Friday 4th May 1973 Sleeping family unhurt by blast A Co. Armagh family escaped injury when a bomb went off without warning while they were asleep early today.

Friday 4th May 1973 In Belfast gunmen fired on workers leaving the Sirocco engineering plant in the city’s east end. Generally however, it was a quiet night for security forces.

LEFT - Booby trap bomb attack on a police mans car in Belfast’s Eglantine Avenue.

ABOVE - Bomb attack on the depot of Nestle, Crosse & Blackwell on Belfast’s Limestone Road

murder in Co. Donegal last year would be punished in accordance with the Biblical text "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

In the audience at the Brownstown estate where 1000 member of the UDA in para-military uniform and their supporters. There was also a warning for the Eire police from Mr. Herron who said that if one of them stepped across the border into North then "we will take care of him."

He pointed out that North had not meddled in the affairs of the Republic but from now on "we will start meddling in the affairs of Eire." There was condemnation from Mr. Herron of the leadership of Mr. Brian Faulkner, and of the White Paper which was described as being "anti-British."

The parade of men who came from a number of centres in the North was watched by several thousand people lining Portadown’s main streets. Strong security measures were in operation and there were no incidents. Four bands accompanied the parade.

Friday 4th May 1973 Police murder second man charged A second man has been charged with the murder of the ‘Santa Claus’ policeman who was gunned down while delivering Christmas presents in Lurgan last December.

A 22 year-old man of Kilwilkie Road, Lurgan, appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Court today, charged with murdering Constable George Chambers at the Kilwilkie estate on December 15th. When charged at Glenravel Street police station the accused replied he had nothing to do with it.

The other man, who faces the same charge, is an 18 year-old unemployed labourer of Cinderford, Gloucester. Both men were remanded in custody for a week.

Friday 4th May 1973 Woman’s head was blown off – inquest Belfast Coroners Court was told yesterday that the head and shoulders of a woman was blown a hundred yards in the air when a bomb exploded killing eight people in the Short Strand area of the city last May. Two women and four men were blown to pieces when a 70lb bomb exploded without warning in Anderson Street on May 27th.

They were – Geraldine McMahon (17), of Stanhope Drive; Mrs Mary Clarke (27), Anderson Street: Edward McDonnell (27), Kilmood Street; Henry Crawford (39), Harper Street; Martin Engelen (19), Altcar Street; John Joseph Nugent (31), Cullintree Walk; Joseph Fitzsimmons (17), Mountpottinger Road; and John Joseph McIlhone (17), Clyde Street.

A police inspector who arrived at the scene minutes after the blast said – "The narrow street was in complete devastation". The inspector said at least 50 homes were badly damaged when the blast ripped up the street in the early hours of the morning. Number 29 Anderson Street, in which Mrs Clarke lived with her three young children was demolished.

A forensic expert, Mr. Robert Hall, said a bomb had exploded beside a car and all those killed must have been close when it exploded.

Mr. Hall said the bomb was partly made of nitro benzene and swabs taken from the hands of McDonnell and Crawford showed traces of explosives. Constable George Shirlow, who attended the identification of the bodies, said only five were positively identified and the other three were identified by death notices which appeared in a Belfast morning newspaper.

The names which appeared were those of Geraldine McMahon, McIlhone and Fitzsimmons.

A policeman told a court that a revolver and ammunition was found at the scene of the blast.

Verdicts of misadventure were returned on McDonnell, Crawford, Nugent, Mrs Clarke, Engelen and McIlhone. Open verdicts were returned on the two teenagers killed in the blast – Geraldine McMahon and Joseph Fitzsimmons.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Blasts kill three soldiers Three soldiers died and several others were injured in two separate land-mine explosions near Crossmaglen in South Armagh today.

Two of the soldiers died in the second blast as they were searching the area for bombers who planted a massive land-mine which killed a paratroops sergeantmajor three hours earlier.

Company Sergeant-Major William Ronnie Vines (36) of the 2nd Paras, was in charge of foot patrol investigating a suspicious mound on the road at Moybane about 500 yards from the border when bombers detonated a huge land-mine close by, killing him almost instantly. Several others were hurt.

Extra troops were quickly rushed into the district to hunt for the bombers. An army spokesman described the mood by civilians as "extremely hostile" towards the security forces.

The second blast happened just before noon as soldiers were tracing wires near the scene of the first explosion. They apparently triggered off a booby-trap device and two died instantly.

An army spokesman said later that both these soldiers were Roman Catholics and both had several children.

Even more troops moved into the area after the double-killing and an Army spokesman said the hunt for the killers was continuing.

As the Provisional IRA later claimed responsibility for the deaths, an Army officer commented: "These blasts would appear to have been part of a devious booby-trap and these three soldiers were victims of elaborately laid ambushes."

It was later learned that the two soldiers that died in the second blast were members of 17/21st Lancers, based at Gosford Castle, near Markethill. Their names were not being released until relatives had been informed.

Meanwhile detectives at Newry have appealed for help from the public.

Anyone with information about the killings is asked to phone Newry 2222 or use the confidential phone at Newry 3015.

The blasts were the latest in the stepped-up IRA campaign in South Armagh, where there have been five land-mine blasts, mostly aimed at Paratroopers, in the last 24 hours.

South Armagh Provisional IRA today claimed responsibility for a land-mine attack on an Army patrol near Forkhill, Co. Armagh yesterday.

This afternoon the Loyalists Association of workers condemned the murders and called on Mr. Heath, Mr. Whitelaw and the Government to allow the security forces to "concentrate their all-out efforts on the immediate and final defeat of the IRA, who are daily causing havoc, death and destruction in our beloved province".

Saturday 5th May 1973 Camera Robot in bomb drama Army explosives experts, using a robot equipped with a miniature television camera, defused a 20lb bomb in an Antrim Road laundry in Belfast.

An explosives expert looked at the bombs time-clock on a small television set and then rushed to the laundry with five minutes to go before the bomb exploded.

The bomb had been planted at 10 o’clock by two armed men and a girl who held up a woman worker at the Monarch laundry near the Cliftonville Road junction.

The bombers threw a suit over the parcel containing the bomb and escaped after giving a 40 minute warning.

The woman, in a state of shock, ran to an adjacent laundrette and warned staff and customers to get out. Civilians evacuated the area before soldiers arrived.

After an hour a tank like robot equipped with a miniature television camera was directed into the laundry. Pictures of the bomb were relayed to a monitor in an armoured personnel carrier 50 yards away. As the bomb steadily ticked away the robot was withdrawn and minutes later sent in again with the camera perched

further along a steel extension on the robot.

On a second viewing the explosives expert noticed that a time clock on the 20lb bomb showed five minutes were left before the device would explode. He immediately ran to the laundry and defused the bomb.

This is the first time the Army had been seen using this equipment which minimises the risks to their men.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Shooting in New Lodge Shots were fired at troops in the New Lodge road area of Belfast today. The Army say fire was returned, but it is not thought anyone was hit.

Saturday 5th May 1973 IRA escaper weds in Eire Sean McStiofain was among the guests at the wedding in Dundalk today of Provisional IRA man Francis McGuigan (25), who escaped from Long Kesh last year disguised as a priest.

McQuigans 20 year-old bride, a former Dundalk Festival Queen, wasn’t happy at the extra police and special branch activity in the town because of the wedding, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. "Don’t make me be rude," she told a reporter. "I think it is very unfair that people should be stopped and searched going to a wedding."

McQuigan who escaped from Long Kesh in February last year snapped: "It is bloody ridiculous. It is only a wedding, not a protest march. People are only here to enjoy themselves." Police and Special Branch men mounted checks on all roads into Dundalk and cars were being searched. The extra security was due to rumours that some wanted Provisional leaders – including David O’Connell – would be among the guests.

McGuigan comes from Jamaica Street, Ardoyne. The acting president of Provisional Sinn Fein, Mrs. Marie Drumm, attended the ceremony.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Police Stations under attack Surgeons were today fighting to save the life of a policeman shot in the head during an ambush on Coalisland police station last night.

The constable, who has not been named, is a married man in his early 30s. He was guarding the front gate of the station while a mobile patrol was returning from duty when a sniper fired several single shots. It is believed, that the constable was struck by an Armalite bullet.

A burst of automatic fire from a Thompson sub-machinegun followed as the policemen in the Land Rover dived for cover. An Army sentry at the station returned fire but didn’t claim any hits.

It wasn’t until after the attack that police discovered a bomb, which was thrown at the rear of the station during the attack and failed to explode.

The injured policeman was flown by helicopter to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. His parents live in Foxhole Road, Paignton, Devon.

Another attack on a police station at Magherafelt last night failed. A rocket fired from private ground about 300 yards from the station missed its target and caused no damage. An Army sentry fired several shots at the attackers, but claimed no hits.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Kidnap attempt An attempt to kidnap a UDR man near Swatragh failed. Four men in a car tried to stop the part-time soldier, but a quick follow up operation by his unit resulted in the car being intercepted at a vehicle checkpoint. Fire was directed from the car at the patrol and the UDR men returned the shots, hitting the vehicle several times as the men car made off.

TOP LEFT - Police officers at the body of Mr Caddoo.

LEFT - The lane where Mr Caddoo was killed.

ABOVE - Mr Caddoo

Saturday 5th May 1973 Rifle discovered during search A police-Army search team found 140 rounds of assorted ammunition and .303 rifle in a disused cinema on the Donegall Road in Belfast at 6 pm.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Sniper attacks The Army reported several sniper attacks on posts on the Ballymurphy area of Belfast and on each occasion fire was returned, no casualties were suffered and no hits were claimed.

Several bursts of automatic fire were heard in the Rathcoole area of Belfast, and shots were fired at a mobile Army patrol in Church Road but no one was injured.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Bomb defused In Newry, a 10 - 12lb bomb planted by two young men in a confectionery shop at Trevor Hill was dragged to the street by an Army explosives expert and after a controlled explosion was made harmless. In Larne, a 10-15lb bomb extensively damaged St. Comgall’s RC social club at Victoria Road.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Girl has gunshot wounds A five-year-old girl has been admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital with gunshot wounds to her leg and chest following an incident at Cullingtree Road in the Falls district. The girl, Jane Cochrane, of Naple Street, was injured in Distillery Street when four shots were fired at an Army foot patrol in Cullingtree Road from a house in the Grosvenor Road last night. The Army returned fire but claimed no hits.

Saturday 5th May 1973 Bail - but man still held An Ardoyne man re-arrested under the Special Powers Act last week after being granted bail on a gun charge appeared again at Belfast Magistrate’s Court.

The 29 year old, who gave his address as Holmdene Gardens is charged in consorting with others in having a pistol in Ardoyne on April 17th.

An earlier court heard that paratroopers hiding in a derelict house saw a group of men in Brompton Park passing a rifle and pistol among each other. The troops opened fire on the gunmen, killing one, later the 29 year-old Ardoyne man was identified as the man carrying the pistol. The prisoner was remanded on continuing bail of £5000 for a week, but is still in custody under a detention order at Long Kesh.

Monday 7th May 1973 Eire tightens the net in big anti-IRA operation Sixteen road blocks still ringed Dundalk as hundreds of Irish troops and Gardai continued unprecedented swoops for IRA suspects in the border counties.

As ten men arrested during the huge weekend police operations were appearing today at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, the massive clamp-down on traffic in border areas continued.

Joint Army – Gardai checkpoints were set up along the Castleblayney – Monaghan Road and, as the massive man-hunt continued there were rumours that Provisional IRA men had fled north across the boarder to Co. Armagh.

Monday 7th May 1973 Just two weeks of happiness The Belfast born widow of one of the soldiers killed in the Crossmaglen blasts on Saturday disclosed today that she and her husband were married only nine weeks ago.

And for all but a two week honeymoon, Company Sergeant Major Ronnie Vines and his wife Hazel were kept apart by the Troubles, with Mrs. Vines remaining in married quarters in Aldershot, England.

Monday 7th May 1973 IRA unit broken up before it started The joint police - Army task force has broken up a new Provisional IRA company in Derry before it could go on the offensive.

This was revealed after the Secretary of State, Mr. Whitelaw, met Army and police chiefs for his weekly security briefing at Stormont Castle today.

He was told that the key men of the IRA unit, based at Strathfoyle, had been arrested and their weapons seized before they had the opportunity to go on the offensive.

Monday 7th May 1973 RUC man forced to quack like a duck A policeman was made at gunpoint to behave like a duck and make quacking noises in a Shankill Road bar last year, a Belfast City Commission jury heard.

ABOVE - Bomb attack on Hobson’s Electrical Shop on Belfast’s Great Victoria Street.

RIGHT - Bomb attack on the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Alfred Street, Belfast

The jury was also told by Mr. Robert Babington, QC, Crown prosecutor, that the policeman’s colleague was forced to lay face downwards in the toilet of the same bar. A 27 year-old of Mayo Street and 24 year-old of Cumbria Street were originally charged with the attempted murder of Constable Malcolm McConaghie on November 22 last year.

But when the trial resumed this afternoon the asked to be rearranged and pleaded guilty to assaulting Sergeant Trevor Gray and Constable Malcolm McConaghie on November 22nd last and imprisoning them against their will for approximately two hours.

Monday 7th May 1973 Garda ask for three more men Eire police are seeking the extradition of three other men from the North as well as Derry man Robert Taylor, for questioning in connection with the double murder of a young man and his fiancé on New Years Day in Co. Donegal.

The RUC have received extradition applications from the Garda naming three other men they believe can help with their inquiries. The three wanted men are at present in custody in the North facing charges relating to offences in the North. It is unlikely, on past practice, that they would be handed over to the police in the South until they have been dealt with by courts here and have served any sentences which might be imposed.

Monday 7th May 1973 Half of our post offices bombed – report More than half of the North’s main post offices and many of the smaller offices have been damaged by bomb attacks since 1969, according by a joint statement issued by the Post Office Users’ Council and the Post Office.

In addition 20 telephone exchanges have been destroyed and 27 others extensively damaged. At least 10 of these have not been put back into action.

Monday 7th May 1973 This man couldn’t have killed – Laird Mr. John Laird, the Unionist MP who opposes extradition of Derry man Robert Taylor to Eire, claimed there was evidence that Taylor could not have committed the double murder in Co. Donegal.

"I have statements from people covering the movements of Taylor on the night of the murder except for about between 25 or 30 minutes, during which time it would have been impossible to carry out the alleged act." said Mr. Laird.

This information had not been sought by Eire police, he said. It was hoped that Army witnesses now on duty outside Ulster could also be produced to back the claim, and efforts were being made to contact them.

Mr. Laird said that his fear was that if the Northern authorities response to the new evidence was that witnesses could give evidence at an Eire trial, then Taylor had no hope of a fair hearing before a Donegal court.

Monday 7th May 1973 Soldier and policeman escape gun attack A gun attack was launched on an RUC man and a soldier as they walked along Rossnareen Avenue in Andersonstown about 6.30 pm last night.

Four automatic shots believed to be from a Thompson submachine gun, were fired at them. Police said the two men were then surrounded by a hostile crowd who stoned them and forced them to withdraw from the area.

Monday 7th May 1973 Ardoyne gun attack Gunmen fired two shots at a man and his wife walking along Berwick Road in the Ardoyne to Mass but neither was hit. Three men had followed them along Stratford Gardens and one produced a revolver. Seeing this the man dived to the ground on top of his wife as the bullets whistled over their heads.

The gunmen were challenged by troops as they ran past the Alliance Avenue Army post but did not stop. Two shots were fired at them by the soldiers as they made off into the Glenbryn area.

Monday 7th May 1973 Bomb blast In Derry several shops in the city centre were wrecked by a bomb in a hijacked milk float. The float was hijacked in Sloan’s terrace and the driver held captive while the bombers planted a 100lb charge in the vehicle and left it in Ferryquay Street opposite Woolworth's. Half an hour warning was given before the large blast which hurled debris over a huge area and sent a huge pall of smoke high over the city centre.

Monday 7th May 1973 Six held in big Gardai round up In a weekend of intense security operations, six men were arrested in what is believed to be the clampdown on illegal organisations by the new Eire Government. In Dundalk four men were arrested by the special branch, three of them in connection with explosives offences. The fourth is said to have escaped from prison. In Wicklow two men were held after armed special branch detectives raided a suspected IRA training ground near Blessington.

LEFT - A soldier at the scene of the bomb at a disused match factory on the Donegall Road in which two British soldiers died.

RIGHT - The soldiers who died. Thomas Taylor and (FAR RIGHT) John Gaskell

Tuesday 8th May 1973 Gun gang wound soldier A soldier was shot in the leg when four gunmen opened fire on a mobile patrol in the Whiterock Road area. In the Belfast incident the four gunmen fired about eight shots at two Army vehicles at the junction of Whiterock road and Glenalina Road. The soldier who was shot was in the first vehicle, but an Army spokesman said he was not seriously injured. The soldiers did not return fire, he added.

Tuesday 8th May 1973 Bombers strike in Belfast and Cookstown Bombs exploded in Cookstown and Belfast last night damaging a newspaper office, a large food depot and builders’ supplies premises.

Expandite at Halliday’s Road in the New Lodge area was the first target. At 5 o’clock three youths, one armed with a revolver, entered the rear of the building which houses supplies for builders and left a 20lb bomb. They gave a fiveminute warning and escaped. The bomb exploded about twelve minutes later causing extensive damage. Several hours later police and soldiers rushed to a large food depot on the Limestone Road, several hundred yards form the Expandite building. They discovered a wicker basket with an explosive device attached near the front door of the store which is used by Crosse and Blackwell, Nestles and Northern Ireland Trailers.

Explosive experts said it was too dangerous to approach the device, and a robot was directed towards the bomb. As it was approaching, the 40lbs of explosives in the basket went off causing sever damage to the store and goods.

The Mid-Ulster Mail Offices in Cookstown were extensively by a bomb at 11 pm. A 10lb bomb in a duffle bag was left in the doorway of the offices, which are in the town’s main street.

Tuesday 8th May 1973 Provos’ challenge to the Officials The Derry brigade of the Provisional IRA has claimed responsibility for the milk van bomb, which caused extensive damage to shops in Ferryquay Street last Saturday afternoon. And the Provisionals have challenged the Official IRA to state publicly whether they are observing their cease-fire.

In a statement the Provisionals said: "We would like the Officials to state publicly if they are sticking to their so-called cease-fire as a landmine in the Carnhill area of Derry last week which was discovered and detonated by the Army, was not laid by us. "We do however accept responsibility for all other military action in the city during the past two weeks with the exception of the killing of the soldier at the Westway roadblock 10 days ago."

Wednesday 9th May 1973 Young boy shot in ambush A seven year-old boy was seriously wounded in an ambush and a solider was shot in the back in the same incident. The boy was playing near his home in Juniper Rise in the Twinbrook estate, Dunmurry, yesterday when a sniper fired a burst of shots at soldiers alighting from a Land Rover.

The soldier and child fell to the ground as shots rang out from the Stewartstown Road direction. Fire was not returned and the injured were taken to the Musgrave Park Hospital. The bullet which struck the boy went into his back and through his stomach. Several hours later at Belfast’s Antrim Road another seven yearold boy was injured when gunmen fired an RPG 7 rocket at an Army observation post. Shortly before 5 pm the rocket was fired at the post from the Churchill Street junction with Antrim Road. The missile missed the post and hit

the attic of a nearby house, dislodging tiles, one of which struck the boy on the head. He was taken to hospital where he received several stitches in a deep gash. He was reported to be comfortable.

Wednesday 9th May 1973 Troops shoot gunman Before midnight soldiers claimed a hit on a gunman seen with a rifle in the Rodney Parade area of the Falls in Belfast. The man was spotted in the firing position on waste ground at the rear of the Parade. Two shots were fired at him.

Wednesday 9th May 1973 RPG attack Attacks continued on police stations throughout the North with an RPG 7 rocket assault in Belcoo. The missile was fired from a field struck the wall of the building causing slight damage. No one was injured.

A mobile police patrol came under fire from two gunmen in the village of Coagh in Co. Tyrone. About 20 rounds were fired by the gunmen. No one was injured.

Wednesday 9th May 1973 Petrol bomb attack In Carrickfergus a petrol bomb was thrown into the home of a Roman Catholic family. The bomb damaged furnishings in a ground floor room but police were quickly on the scene and extinguished the blaze before a fire appliance arrived.

Wednesday 9th May 1973 Shots fired Five shots were fired by a single gunman at an Army patrol in the Creegan area of Derry, but there were no casualties and fire was not returned. The gunman was seen running off and was pursued by soldiers. But a crowd of 40 youths prevented the soldiers from catching him.

Thursday 10th May 1973 Grim death of UDR Corporal An off-duty UDR Corporal was shot dead as he left a milk churn at his Tyrone Dairy Farm, two miles from the border. Mr. Frank Caddoo (24), of Rehaghy, near Achnacloy, joined the regiment a year ago. He was married with an 18 month-old daughter, Michelle and his wife, Carol, is expecting another baby.

Mr. Caddoo owned a 200 acre farm and was leaving the churn at the farm gate on the main Benburb-Auchnacloy Road when the gunmen struck just before nine o’clock.

The gunmen pulled the corporal off his tractor and shot him twice in the head from point blank range. Mr Caddoo was a Protestant.

His body was found in a clump of bushes a few yards a way from the tractor.

There were signs of a struggle and detectives think he might have made a run for it. Mr. Caddoo’s father, who also lives in the farmhouse 100 yards away, heard the shots and ran down the lane to find his son dying.

The gunmen escaped in a car over the Monaghan border two miles away. Later troops and police found the burned-out car on Ballagh Bridge, a few yards on the Tyrone side of the border. As murder squad detectives investigated the scene, no one was allowed near the house. Three hours after the killing, the dead man’s body was still lying in the bushes, covered in a sheet of plastic.

Corporal Caddoo was the fifth member of the UDR to die at the hands of gunmen so far this year. In addition, 32 soldiers, five RUC men and one RUC Reserve constable have been killed.

Thursday 10th May 1973 Body reported Security forces were investigating a report that a body had been spotted in wooden country on the Fermanagh border at Mullnahinch, Roslea.

The initial report came from an Army helicopter pilot, and Eire police are be-

Wednesday 9th May 1973 Derry rioting A number of stoning incidents occurred in the Creggan area of Derry, the Army used rubber bullets and CS gas to disperse the rioters.

Wednesday 9th May 1973 UVF man jailed for having guns A 23 year-old merchant seaman of Silverstream Avenue, Belfast was fined at Belfast City Commission after pleading guilty to remaining a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force last year. The Judge, Mr. Justice Gibson, imposed the fine after hearing a plea from the defence counsel, Mr. John Curran, that the accused involvement with the UVF was a temporary one.

But Mr. Gibson jailed the man for 15 months for having a shotgun, a rifle and shotgun cartridges under suspicious circumstances and without firearm certificates at his home on October 27th last year.

ABOVE - An elderly man being carried from McLoughlin’s Bar, Smithfield, after a no warning bomb attack on it.

LEFT - Bomb attack on Desmond Motors, Strand Road, Derry.

lieved to have confirmed it, but troops were approaching the area with caution in cause of booby-traps. An explosion was heard in the area during the night.

Thursday 10th May 1973 IRA units sealed off a town, says Craig Mr. William Craig has claimed that the Provisional IRA, in a training exercise, moved between 200 and 300 men from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, sealed off the town of Ballygawley, and then moved them back again.

And he said that "loyalists intelligence" knew of at least five sizeable arms dumps on the other side of the border, as well as being aware of regular rocket practice carried out by the IRA. "If we know about it, it’s rather strange that the Dublin authorities can’t know about it." Mr. Craig said in a speech to Larne VUPP branch. He said that anyone who believed the IRA was going to fold up it’s tents and go away because of the White Paper was "absolutely mad."

Thursday 10th May 1973 Shops blasted in Derry Members of the security forces have been issued with descriptions of four youths who carried out a bombing attack on some of Derry’s business premises.

News of the bombing raid reached police and soldiers after four youths held up a taxi driver and told him four bombs would explode in Strand Road.

20 minutes later, a 20lb bomb exploded, badly damaging Etan’s Bakery, followed by a second blast at a nearby fashion shop. The second bomb, 15lb., exploded only partly. An hour later, at 4 am, explosives experts began a search for the other bombs. At 5.55 am they found and defused 30lb. of explosives in the Derry Sentinel’s offices, and at 7.30 the fourth bomb, made up of 20lb of explosives, was found in the Dolphin Restaurant, also in Strand Road, and defused. There were no injuries in either of the blasts, but people living near the area were kept awake throughout the night.

Thursday 10th May 1973 Lurgan riots Fierce rioting broke out between opposition factions in Lurgan last night and seven people were treated for shock when a blast bomb was thrown. The trouble erupted between residents of the Roman Catholic Shankhill and Protestant Wakehurst estates. As police moved in to quell the disturbance, a blast bomb was thrown from the Shankhill estate into a vacant house in Dill Avenue in the Wakehurst housing complex.

A woman and her four young children were rushed to hospital suffering from shock after the blast shattered the windows of their home. An elderly woman living nearby and a police constable on duty were also taken to Craigavon hospital suffering from shock.

Thursday 10th May 1973 Gun attacks At 9.30 a burst of sub-machine gun fire was directed at a house at Tobergill Street in the Shankill Road area of Belfast, from a passing car.

Before midnight, several shots were fired through the windscreen of a car parked outside the Ulster Arms Bar on the Newtownards Road, Belfast. There was no one in the vehicle at the time.

Thursday 10th May 1973 RUC man hurt after blast A policeman was slightly injured early after a bomb extensively damaged a bungalow being built at Ballyclare. The constable had gone to the scene after the blast and was injured when a wall of the house collapsed. He was taken to hospital but was released after treatment. The bungalow is at Sleepy Hallow Road.

Thursday 10th May 1973 Murder trial: jury recalled A murder trial jury at Down Assizes in Downpatrick was recalled yesterday after being absent for one and a half days while the council argued over the admissibility of statements. A nineteen year old Newry chef, of Southend Terrace, Newry, is accused of murdering a 50 year old part-time soldier, UDR Colour Sergeant John Ruddy, on the morning of October 10th last year.

Friday 11th May 1973 RUC man in agony after booby trap blast A policeman was seriously injured today when a booby trap bomb exploded as he tried to start his car, parked in Eglantine Avenue, Belfast.

The RUC man was hurled out of the vehicle by the force of the blast and he was found screaming in agony on the roadway. A girl who was sitting in the passengers’ seat got her leg broken in the blast. And a woman passing by on the footpath was also taken to hospital suffering from severe shock.

Surgeons at the City Hospital were later fighting to save the injured policeman’s leg. An RUC spokesman said he was undergoing an emergency operation. The injured constable is thought to be stationed at Andersonstown.

Friday 11th May 1973 Cork Provo killed in Fermanagh The teenager killed last night in a premature bomb blast on the Fermanagh border at Rosslea has been named by the police. He was Tony Ahearne, an apprentice gardener, of St. Joseph’s Park, Mayfield, Cork. The Provisional IRA in a statement last night claimed him as one of their members who was on active service duty.

Parts of the badly mutilated body were found hours after the Rosslea area had been rocked by an explosion at teatime. Troops and police who went to the scene after parts of the body had been spotted from a helicopter delayed more than five hours before approaching it for fear of booby-traps. It is thought the bomb which killed Ahearne had been intended for an unapproved road cratered some time ago by the Army.

The security forces reported last night that they had found two claymore mine devices in the area.

Friday 11th May 1973 Army claim a hit on a gunman in Lurgan Before midnight an Army patrol heard several shots in the Parkview-Sloan Street area of Lurgan. The fire was not directed at the soldiers who minutes later spotted a man with a rifle. They opened fire on him and claimed a hit.

Five high velocity shots were fired at two police Land Rovers on the Lurgan Road out of Portadown. No one was injured and fire was not returned.

More than 30 shots were fired by several snipers, at a two vehicle Army patrol at 10 pm, near Coalisland.

Friday 11th May 1973 Rocket and gun attack An RPG7 rocket was fired from the Ballymurphy estate, Belfast, last night, at the Henry Taggart Army post in Belfast, causing slight damage but no one was hurt. The attack was followed by a burst of sniper fire.

Friday 11th May 1973 Two accused of trying to murder soldier A 17 year old youth and a juvenile were charged at Belfast Magistrate’s Court yesterday with attempting to murder an Army corporal at Cupar Street last March.

The 17 year old of Colinward Street and a juvenile who appeared with him refused to recognise the court.

Both had been remanded on an explosives charge which was withdrawn by the Crown yesterday when fresh charges were preferred. They are now accused of attempting to murder Corporal Edward Coates on March 14th, of causing an explosion and of having explosives with intent.

Friday 11th May 1973 Tarred girl’s fiancé is shot dead Elizabeth Hyland, the sixteen year old girl tarred and feathered by the IRA exactly a year ago, has been told that her soldier boy friend has been shot dead by a sniper in Derry. Elizabeth now lives in London and was to announce her engagement this weekend to Pte. Anthony Goodfellow (26), of Rushton, Northants, who was serving with the 3rd Btn, the Royal Anglian Regiment.

He was killed two weeks ago at an Army checkpoint.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Booby trap discovered Army bomb experts have defused a booby trap bomb at Belfast’s Springfield Road. The device made up of 14lb. of explosives, was placed near a telegraph pole. It was to have been detonated from a distance. "It had obviously been set up to get a security forces’ patrol," an Army spokesman said.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Belfast attacks In Belfast shots were fired into the home of a UDA man in Chadolly Street, off the Newtownards Road last night, narrowly missing his wife. In the Springfield Road area, a woman and her four children had narrow escapes when their home in Ainsworth Avenue was petrol bombed.

Friday 11th May 1973 Newry man cleared of UDR murder A young Newry man was found not guilty of the murder of a UDR sergeant by the direction of the judge at Down Assizes yesterday. The 19 year old chef of Southend Terrace, pleaded not guilty to murdering 50 year old part-time soldier Colour Sergeant John Ruddy on October 10th last.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Lisburn blast In Lisburn an elderly woman was detained in hospital after a car bomb blast near the railway station. Four other people were injured in the blast, because, police say, misleading warnings were given saying the bomb was in the railway station itself. But it was outside a car showroom nearby.

Friday 11th May 1973 Bomb a day for a year in Derry Bombs exploded in Derry at the rate of one a day during 1972, according to Army headquarters in the city.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Bomb finds Troops found a 20lb bomb near the boarder village of Jonesboro. It is believed the bombers intended to detonate the device form the Eire side. Police found a 40lb bomb, in the boot of a stolen car when they searched a lock up garage in Swatragh.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Fitt doubts murder bid phone claims SDLP leader Mr. Gerry Fitt cast doubts on the authenticity of telephone calls to newspapers claiming Protestants were responsible for the shooting of a social security officer in the Falls area of Belfast yesterday.

The victim, 34 year-old Mr. John McCormick, from Portadown, is critically ill and as surgeons were fighting to save the mans life, it was learned that he should have been among the 350 delegates at the Civil Service Alliance’s weekend conference in Portrush. He was shot five times in the head and arm while working in the Raglan Street area late yesterday afternoon. Minutes after the shooting the BBC and several newspapers received calls claiming a Protestant organisation had shot a "Republican sympathiser in retaliation for the murder of UDR Corporal, Frank Caddoo."

Saturday 12th May 1973 Belfast car policeman ‘Not Serious’ Miss Collette McAliskey, a sister-in-law of Mid Ulster MP Bernadette Devlin, was today recovering from the injuries she received when a booby-trap exploded under a policeman’s car in Belfast yesterday. Miss McAliskey escaped serious injury when the explosion wrecked the constable’s car outside a guest-house in Eglantine Avenue. The policeman had parked his car outside the house overnight. Miss McAliskey, a 22 year-old bank clerk from Co. Tyrone, was taking a lift with him. The 10lb bomb exploded when the car ignition was switched on.

The policeman is said to be ill but not serious.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Car bomb wrecks Derry garage A massive car bomb – estimated to be in the region of 100lbs. – ripped through a Derry garage this afternoon, wrecking the building and sending a huge pall of smoke into the air. The bombers gave a 20 minute warning after parking the car at the garage, belonging to Desmond Motors, in Strand Road shortly before 2 o’clock.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Soldier shot in Belfast can’t go home A young Welsh soldier who is paralysed from the waist down after he was hit by sniper fire at Ardoyne in Belfast last year, cannot leave hospital – because his home has not been converted for his wheelchair.

Sapper, Ken Bridegman (22), who has also lost a kidney, was hit three times by a sniper as he unloaded sandbags from a lorry while serving with the Royal Regiment of Wales in the city last July. He now sits in Rockwood Hospital, Cardiff, while efforts are made to raise enough money to for the £1,800 conversion of his family home at Llanrumney, Cardiff.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Tried to kill 7 soldiers – charged An 18 year-old apprentice plumber of Leenan Gardens, Creggan, Derry has been charged with the attempted murder of seven soldiers at Creggan Road on April 12 last. He was remanded in custody to Belfast Magistrates Court next Tuesday. The charge arises out of a land mine explosion at Byewash, Rosemount in which the seven soldiers were injured. He refused to recognise the court.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Barrel bomb defused Army experts defused a beer-barrel bomb found in a garage at Carnlough early this morning. The bomb was discovered by staff at Higgin’s garage when they arrived for work. Apparently the device had failed to ignite properly and an Army bomb expert was able to dismantle it safely.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Eire Provo’s body taken back to Cork As the body of a young Provisional IRA man, killed in a bomb blast at Roslea, on the Fermanagh border, on Thursday night was being taken home today the

cortege was met by Eire troops and police. It is understood his family are not politically minded and do not want a Provo style funeral.

The Provisionals claim he was the first volunteer from the South to die in the present conflict, and was the youngest of four sons. It is thought the bomb, which killed Tony Ahern, an apprentice gardener, had been intended for an unapproved road, cratered some time ago by the Army. Parts of the badly mutilated body were found hours after the Rosslea area had been rocked by an explosion at teatime on Thursday.

Saturday 12th May 1973 Shot man in entry was our agent – Army The Army confirmed the identity of the young man in civilian clothes found shot in the head in an entry at Ormeau Road, Belfast, two weeks ago.

He was a soldier who had deserted from the Royal Irish Rangers. And they said it was "substantially correct" that he had been discovered by the IRA while acting within their ranks as an agent for the Army.

Now police have indicated that investigations into the assassination attempt – the soldier is seriously ill in a hospital intensive care unit – are on the basis that 20 year-old Louis Hammond was shot by the Provos.

Ranger Hammond, a Roman Catholic from Andersonstown, joined the Army as a boy soldier, but deserted early last year. The Army source did not discount that what happened was that the Army last May arrested Hammond as a deserter in the Andersonstown area, at which time he was working for the Provisionals, as an intelligence officer. He agreed to continue within IRA ranks, feeding back information to the Military Reaction Force.

Monday 14th May 1973 Shot Dole man dies The Government social security officer shot by gunmen while doing his rounds in the Lower Falls area of Belfast at the weekend died in hospital. He was 34 year old Mr. John McCormick, of Balloran Heights, Portadown, who was gunned down in Raglan Street on Friday. Mr. McCormick, a native of Portadown was married with four children and joined the Civil Service seven years ago.

Monday 14th May 1973 Worker shot by rush-hour car gang Gunmen opened fire from a stolen car at two men on their way to work in Newtownabbey, wounding one. The wounded man, 20 year old Mr. Francis McCourt, who lives in Bawnmore Park, was struck twice in the stomach as the gunmen opened up during the morning rush hour in Church Road. An ambulance rushed Mr. McCourt to the Mater Hospital, in Belfast, were he underwent emergency surgery, but his condition was not immediately known.

Monday 14th May 1973 Dead man named Police named the driver of a van who was found dead with gunshot wounds after an incident at a UDR checkpoint near Coagh.

He was 21 year old Kevin Gerald Kilpatrick, of Annaghaboe, Coalisland. According to the Army the van he was driving went through a UDR checkpoint without stopping. It halted a short distance up the road and a flare was fired from the vehicle. Then, said the Army, four or five shots were fired towards the UDR men. There were no casualties and the soldiers returned the fire. On searching the area later, they found Kilpatrick’s body in the van.

Monday 14th May 1973 Dead soldier named The Army named the soldier who died in hospital following the land mine blast at a disused factory on the Donegall Road in Belfast yesterday. He was

Corporal Thomas Taylor (26), of 2nd Light Infantry. A native of Sunderland, Co. Durham, he was married with a young son and daughter. One of the three soldiers still detained in hospital after the blast is very seriously ill. He is Pte. John Gaskell (22), a married man, from Thornley, Co. Durham.

Two others are serious after the bombers detonated a 10lb. land mine as the soldiers made their way through the old match factory at St. James Crescent.

Monday 14th May 1973 Priest tells how he helped dying soldier The Roman Catholic Priest who was first on the scene of the explosion at a disused match factory in which one soldier was killed and three seriously wounded explained today what happened.

Father Hilary Armstrong, the curate of the Little Flower Oratory, Somerton Road, was driving past the building on the corner of St. James Crescent and the Donegall Road, Belfast, when the explosion occurred.

"It was approximately 8pm as I was driving my mother home from Mass," he said. "When I got inside there was still a lot of smoke and dust about, but just inside I saw a young soldier lying on the ground".

"He looked to be very badly injured. He had a wound to his head which was bleeding heavily, and his right foot and ankle had been blown off."

"He was crying out ‘Mother of God help me’ and ‘my leg, my leg.’

"When the dust settled I saw there were three other soldiers lying about 15 feet away on their faces. They were all conscious. I gave the Last Rites to the soldier near the door and then went to the others."

By now a number of men from nearby houses had rushed to the scene. "They were all in their shirt sleeves, and had probably been watching television," Fr. Armstrong said. "They did their best to help the soldiers, they were very angry.

"A crowd of women appeared and they all wanted to help, but I told them to get back in case there was another bomb there. Some of them brought blankets and put them on the soldiers."

Tuesday 15th May 1973 Whitelaw warns on booby traps Following the explosion near Portadown in which a man died, the Secretary of State, Mr. Whitelaw, warned civilians to watch out for booby-trapped devices.

And Mr. Whitelaw particularly stressed the danger to children playing in empty houses and buildings and called on parents to make them aware of the great risks. "These frightful attempts to murder members of the security forces have already had the most appalling consequences", said Mr. Whitelaw, who emphasised that anyone seeing anything suspicious should inform the security forces at once and should keep well away from any objects they found. The Secretary of State was fully briefed on the incident in which a 33 year old Portadown died last night in a booby-trap blast. Police are now almost certain that the bomb was meant to kill or maim members of the security forces.

For, just over an hour before the blast at Selshion killed father of three Mr. Robert Rutherford, the Portadown telephone exchange received an anonymous call about a bomb. "There’s a bomb in the second house in Moy", the male caller said curtly before hanging up.

Moy police were alerted and searched the house referred to but found nothing.

Then, an hour later, Mr. Rutherford opened the front door of the cottage, which is on the Moy Road just outside Portadown and triggered off the bomb, which killed him.

Tuesday 15th May 1973 Man shot by UDR was Provo A Coalisland man shot dead by UDR men after an incident at a Tyrone checkpoint was claimed today in newspaper death notices as a Provisional IRA company commander.

He was Kevin Kilpatrick (21), of Annaghaboe, Coalisland, who is described as OC of A company, Tyrone Provos. Kilpatrick was found dead in an overturned van, which failed to stop at a UDR checkpoint near Ardboe, Coagh.

Tuesday 15th May 1973 New fight to stop extradition is lost A Co. Derry man’s fight against extradition to Eire where he is wanted for questioning in a Co. Donegal double murder last New Year’s Day failed for a second time in the High Court.

A Divisional Court composed of the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Lowry, and Mr. Justice McGonical refused Robert William Taylor permission for leave to appeal to the House of Lords against the order, originally granted by a resident Magistrate at Coleraine and upheld by the High Court on May 1st.

Tuesday 15th May 1973 Youth shot A 17 year old youth is in hospital with gunshot wounds after a murder attempt in the Ormeau Road area. Police said the youth was walking along Carmel Street, off Fitzroy Avenue – when a gunman in a passing car opened up. He was struck in the left arm and was taken to hospital where his condition was later described as not serious.

Meanwhile, a 23 year old Roman Catholic shot in the head as he tried to flee from gunmen at a Nursery School in the Donegall Road area of Belfast, was reported to be ill but no serious in hospital. The man dived through a window to try to escape from the gunmen who singled him out at the Utility Street nursery.

Wednesday 16th May 1973 Big car blast shakes the city centre In sixty minutes of terror a 150lb car bomb exploded in the heart of Belfast. The blast – one of the heaviest in the city for some time – happened after soldiers and policemen diverted traffic away from the scene in York Street. Parts of the car, a Ford Cortina, where hurled more than 150 yards by the force of the blast.

Wednesday 16th May 1973 Derry blasts Two explosions wrecked a paint shop and pub in Derry. The first target for the bombers was a paint store at Park Avenue. The bomb wrecked the front of the shop but no one was injured. In the second explosion, a short time later, a pub at Abercorn Road was extensively damaged. Again no one was injured.

BELOW - Arson attack on the Cliftonville Primary School.

RIGHT - Thomas Ward who was shot dead in a public house

Wednesday 16th May 1973 Offices close for victim’s funeral Staff at Belfast Social Security Offices stayed away from work as a tribute to their colleague, Mr. John Francis McCormick, the victim of last Friday’s shooting incident in the Lower Falls, as his funeral took place in Portadown.

Wednesday 16th May 1973 Assembly Bill terms welcomed by Faulkner The Constitution Bill providing for power sharing in a new Northern Ireland Assembly to be elected on June 28 was given in large measure, the seal of approval by Unionist Party leader Mr. Brian Faulkner.

Wednesday 16th May 1973 Shankill arms haul – biggest find of ammo yet say the Army Security forces found a large haul of weapons and ammunition when they carried out a search in the Shankill Road area of Belfast.

Thirteen guns and more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition – described by an Army spokesman as the biggest single haul of bullets – were found when police and troops searched premises in Wilton Street and Crimea Street.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Triple killing – Housewife held in Cork A thirty year old Belfast housewife who is wanted for questioning in connection with the slaying of three soldiers in an Antrim Road flat in March, was arrested in Cork and brought before a court on an extradition warrant issued by the RUC.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Belfast bombs Belfast saw a day of bomb attacks culminating in the Army defusing a 60lb bomb left in a car at Adelaide Street near the city centre.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Woman hit in Belfast shooting A young woman is seriously ill in hospital after a shooting incident on the Springfield Road near Turf Lodge. An Army mobile patrol making its way down the Springfield Road was ambushed by three gunmen who fired eight to ten shots.

The woman was wounded in the upper left arm.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Belfast gun attacks Throughout the evening there were numerous sniping attacks on Army observation posts throughout the city. One soldier was injured by a ricochet bullet when a patrol was fired on at Corrigan Park, Whiterock Road. About eight o’clock fierce rioting broke out in the New Lodge Road between gangs of youths and Royal Marines. The rioting continued for several hours and at least 30 shots were fired at soldiers.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Rumour riots Trouble flared in the Creggan area of Derry when youths hijacked four vehicles and one unconfirmed report said that one of them was set on fire. The trouble is believed to have started following a rumour that a local man who had been taken to Crumlin Road Prison had died. But a police spokesman said this was untrue.

Thursday 17th May 1973 mortar bombs discovered At 10.28 soldiers searched a house at Abercorn Street North in the Falls area and found documents, five military-type radios, two hand made mortar bombs and a home made mortar. No arrests were made.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Letter bomb injures RM Derry Resident Magistrate, Mr. Patrick Maxwell, was slightly injured when a letter bomb exploded in his hand. He was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital for treatment but he was not seriously hurt.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Border attack on troops An Army mobile patrol came under fire in a cross border shooting incident at Killea, near the Derry-Donegal border. Seven high velocity shoots were fired at the patrol but no there were no casualties and fire was not returned.

Thursday 17th May 1973 Bomb at Airport Bombers failed in a bid to blow up one of the main runways at Aldergrove Airport. First signs of an attack came at 2.30 am when an explosion was heard but it was not until daylight when Army explosives experts searched the runways that the damage was discovered.

BELOW - The Knock-no-Moe Castle Hotel, Omagh, where four soldiers were killed in an explosion RIGHT - car bomb attack in Belfast’s York Street

Thursday 17th May 1973 Factory bombed A 15 to 20 lb bomb left outside the door of Little’s shirt factory at Spencer Road in the Waterside area of Derry caused minor damage and blew in windows in surrounding premises. Earlier four shots were heard in the Brandywell area but troops were not involved.

A bomb exploded near the perimeter fence of the telephone exchange at Ballyronan, Moneymore, it caused superficial damage to the building. It was estimated at 20 lb.

Friday 18th May 1973 Airport threat – crisis talks As top BEA officials flew into Aldergrove to inspect security after the Provisional IRA threat to destroy the airport, the Government said everything possible was being done to protect airline staff and passengers. Some BEA pilots refused to fly in to Belfast. Three flights on the Aldergrove-Glasgow had been cancelled by early afternoon and more cancellations on the route were expected. Other flights were reported to be normal.

Friday 18th May 1973 UDR man badly wounds hijacker A UDR shot and seriously wounded one of two men who tried to hijack his car in the Shankill Road area of Belfast. The shooting happened when two men, one armed threatened to shoot the man if he didn’t hand over his vehicle.

At this the UDR drew his pistol and fired four shots, hitting one of his attackers in the neck. The other man ran off. A man was later rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds. His condition was described as serious.

Friday 18th May 1973 ‘Drastic Action’ call after night of 7 deaths A soldier was very seriously ill in hospital after Northern Ireland’s worst night of violence for several months claimed the lives of seven people, including four of his colleagues and a fourteen year-old girl.

He is Sergeant Frederick Drake (25), 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, a bachelor from Munford, Thetford, Norfolk. He and the other four were victims of a booby- trapped car at Knock-na-moe hotel near Omagh.

Friday 18th May 1973 Two charged with killing soldiers An apprentice plumber and a fifteen-year-old boy appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of the two soldiers who were killed in the landmine blast at the disused match factory at Donegall Road, on Sunday night.

Both are due to appear in court again next Friday.

Friday 18th May 1973 Girl was killed by a bullet from Armalite A fourteen-year-old schoolgirl who died today, after being shot last night, was one of three civilians hit by IRA snipers in the Ballymurphy – Turf Lodge area of Belfast during the past 24 hours.

Eileen Mackin was playing in the Springhill estate, two hundred yards from her home when gunmen opened fire on an armoured personnel carrier. She was hit in the stomach, and died in hospital seven hours later, after undergoing an operation.

One of her friends, playing beside her, 14-year-old Lucy Kelly, from the Springhill area, was shot in the leg, her condition was later said to be satisfactory.

A 23 year-old woman from the Turf Lodge area was shot in the upper arm when snipers ambushed an Army patrol at the Springfield Road junction with the estate. Two soldiers were slightly injured in the same incident.

Friday 18th May 1973 Rail blasts rock city Explosions ripped through two Belfast railway stations in the IRA’s renewed bombing campaign. The first bomb blasted the County Down Station at Queen’s Quay. Minutes later the city centre shook again when a suitcase bomb exploded in the busy Great Victoria Street Station. Both bombs were planted in lavatories. No one was injured.

Friday 18th May 1973 Cottage blast victim buried The Portadown man who was killed in a booby trap blast at a cottage on Monday was buried yesterday. Roy Rutherford of Derrycoy, Portadown, was married with three young children.

Friday 18th May 1973 Extradition attacked County Antrim Republican Clubs described moves to extradite a thirty year old Belfast housewife from Eire in connection with the deaths of three soldiers in Belfast as collaboration between the British and the Government in the South.

The statement said their national organisation would resist any attempt to extradite people from either side for political offences.

Friday 18th May 1973 Father of four shot dead in pub A 34 year-old Roman Catholic man was shot dead in an Ormeau Road bar last night. The two gunmen also left a bomb in the lounge hallway of the bar, the Jubilee Arms in Lavinia Street, before Thomas Ward was murdered. The 20lb bomb concealed in a duffle bag, as carried to from the bar at 9.40 pm by a soldier and thrown over an embankment on to the old Belfast Central railway line where it later exploded harmlessly. Mr. Ward, a father of four young children was in the public bar playing darts before he was killed.

Friday 18th May 1973 Mounting trail of destruction and injury A soldier was injured when bombers detonated a Claymore mine in the Andersonstown area of Belfast last night. The landmine was hidden in a drainpipe and was detonated in Norglen Gardens as a foot patrol made its way up Norfolk Gardens. In Crossmaglen a barman in the Rio Grande Hotel raised the alarm after he spotted two suspicious suitcases lying in the cellar of the building. He quickly cleared the building and 15 minutes later there was an explosion which badly damaged part of the hotel.

Friday 18th May 1973 UDR man injured A UDR man was shot and injured by another member of the part-time regiment in an incident on the Ballynahinch-Lisburn road. The incident happened when one UDR man was driving his private car along the road, another car overtook him forcing him to brake. The occupant of the other car started walking towards him and, thinking the other man had drawn a gun he opened fire. The other man thinking that he too was under attack opened fire. One UDR man was injured and when the other discovered his identity, he drove him to Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn, where his condition was later described as not serious.

Friday 18th May 1973 Sporadic rioting Damage estimated at £20,000 was caused by a fire believed to be maliciously started at a four storey premises in Queen Street, Derry, which are used by the Development Commission’s library service. It came at the end of a day of sporadic rioting in the Creegan and Brandywell areas in which about ten vehicles were hijacked by youths and several of them burned.

Friday 18th May 1973 Bomb defused In Lisburn an Army expert successfully defused a 50lb bomb in the railway station. Passengers on board a Belfast bound train were hurriedly ordered out as police found a blue plastic bag in the ladies’ toilets. After four hours it was safely defused.

FACING PAGE - Four youths are detained by troops in McClure Street.

BELOW - The demolished house on Moy Road, Portadown, where Mr Roy Rutherford (right) was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb.

Friday 18th May 1973 Open verdict on mans death An open verdict was recorded at Belfast Coroner’s Court on a 40 year-old van driver and a part-time bar man who was found shot dead in a children’s playground at Penrith Street. A statement was read from a man identified only as witness A, which told of the circumstance of the death of Daniel Joseph Hayes, of Hillman Street, early on July 1.

The coroner Mr. J. H. S. Elliott said "It is a mystery to me why barmen are so frequent victims. They seem to be singled out again and again. This is an appalling murder. It is a nightmare."

Friday 18th May 1973 Inquest on man shot in entry Belfast coroner Mr. James Elliott commented on the unsatisfactory nature of evidence at an inquest into the shooting by the Army of a 19 year-old youth at Ardoyne last August. An open verdict was returned on Robert McCrudden, a labourer, of Springfield Road who was shot in an entry off Butler Street after a soldier saw him at 1.10 in the morning with what appeared to be a rifle.

Friday 18th May 1973 Youth’s body found after big gun battle A Belfast inquest was told that after an early morning gun battle on the Ligoniel Road last July 15 a youth was found dead near the scene. An open verdict was returned on John Mooney (17) of Legland Street, who was found dead after an engagement between the Army and a number of youths.

Friday 18th May 1973 Shot man had been beaten A 37 year-old labourer who lived with his mother was severely beaten up by his captors before being shot in the head twice in a stolen car in Jaffa Street in August last year, Belfast Coroner’s Court was told. The court was told that Francis Wayne, of Elizabeth Street, Belfast, had left his mother at 5.30pm on August 12, 1972. At 9.50pm later that night he was found shot dead.

Saturday 19th May 1973 House attacked Just after 11pm, an explosive device was thrown into the rear bedroom of a house in College Park Avenue where a woman was sleeping. It landed on the floor and the woman, a Roman Catholic, managed to muffle it in blankets before it exploded. The blast caused slight damage and started a small fire, but the woman escaped injury.

Friday 18th May 1973 Shot man dies in hospital A man shot from a passing car outside the Royal Victoria Hospital more than two months ago has died in hospital.

He was Joseph McKenna (24), of Fort Street, who was gunned down outside the hospital’s maternity wing in the early hours of March 11.

Saturday 19th May 1973 Bar fired on Police went to the Everton Bar on the Crumlin Road after the manager reported that a shot had been fired into the building. On examination, the RUC discovered that five shots had been fired at the bar but only one had entered the building. There were no casualties. Earlier, a shot was fired by gunmen at a woman employee as they left a bomb in the premises of G. P. Douglas, an office supply firm at University Road.

Saturday 19th May 1973 Bomb scare drama after car chase Security forces ordered a man they had just detained after a car chase in Belfast to return to the vehicle with hands above his head, and then remove two suspicious barrels. It was first feared that the barrels in the stolen vehicle contained explosives and the McClure Street area was evacuated while they were examined. Eventually a young man was brought to the street, he calmly opened the back door and removed the barrels, which turned out to contain drink. Later a police spokesman said four men were helping them with their enquiries.

Saturday 19th May 1973 Aldergrove boycott bites on a second route Tighter security was introduced at Aldergrove following fresh talks about the Provisional IRA threat to destroy the airport. But the boycott of the airport by some BEA crews has now spreads to a second route.

Four flights to and from Glasgow were cancelled this and two on the Birmingham run were cut. BEA are now virtually manning their aircraft with volunteer crews, and cancellations are expected to continue as pilots and crew refuse to come to Belfast.

Saturday 19th May 1973 Inquest on Omagh victims The Army sergeant hurt in the booby trap blast at Omagh in which four of his colleagues died is still very seriously ill. He is Sgt. Fred Drake (25) of the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. At in inquest in Omagh today open verdicts were returned on the four who were killed.

Saturday 19th May 1973 Youth on murder plot charge An 18 year-old apprentice baker of Norglen Drive, Belfast, appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Court charged with conspiring to murder a soldier who was seriously injured in an explosion in the Turf Lodge area of the city on Thursday.

It is alleged he conspired to kill Private Michael Robertson with person or persons unknown at Norfolk Road.

Saturday 19th May 1973 Teenager shot dead The teenager shot dead by paratroops in the Ardoyne area of Belfast as he took aim on an Army observation post has been named as 17 year-old Joseph McKee of Ladbrook Drive.

Saturday 19th May 1973 Murdered RUC man’s gallantry recognised A young police Constable, David Houston (22), who was gunned down by the IRA in Newry last June as he tried to foil a gang of car-bombers, has been posthumously awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry.

Monday 21st May 1973 Shoots ring out and a young mother dies A 24 year-old married woman is believed to have died of shock this morning when shots were fired at a crowd of men standing on a street corner, injuring two. Mrs. Maria Donaghy was lying in bed in her home in Collinpark Street, Belfast, when a volley of shots was fired shortly after 8 o’clock at the men who were waiting for a lift to work on the Springfield Road.

Her husband on return from night shift found her dead in bed. He alerted the

BELOW LEFT - Amry experts remove explosives from a shoe shop in Belfast’s North Street.

BELOW - IRA bomb attack on the Ulster Bank in Longstone Street, Lisburn.

security forces and a policeman attempted to revive her, but without success. A neighbour described the tragic sight when she went into the house.

"She was lying on the bed, and her two year old son, Patrick, an only child, was on his knees beside her looking at her and crying ‘mammy, mammy’" she said.

Monday 21st May 1973 Dublin ready to reveal its plan for Irish council The Coalition Government in Dublin is about to put forward a plan for a Council of Ireland which Ministers there feel it would make it acceptable to Loyalists in the North and remove suspicions that it is "sell-out" and a stepping stone towards an united Ireland.

Monday 21st May 1973 Two die and toll goes over 800 The latest assassination victim was 39 year-old Edward Coogan, of Dunlewey Street, in the Falls area. He was gunned down as he walked along Adela Street near Carlisle Circus late on Saturday night. A Roman Catholic, Mr. Coogan was a painter.

His death brought the total killed since 1969 to 801, 122 of them this year.

A man shot by an off duty UDR man as he tried to hijack the part-time soldier’s car at Agnes Street, on the Shankill Road last week died in hospital. He is Robert McIntyre (24), a machinist, who lived at Bellevue Street.

Yesterday afternoon a man walking along the Ormeau Road was shot and wounded by car gunmen. He was taken to the Mater Hospital where his condition was described at not serious.

Monday 21st May 1973 Car bomb attack A large bomb in a hijacked car caused widespread damage when it exploded in Downshire Place, off Great Victoria Street, on Saturday night. The size of the bomb was estimated at 150lb.

Monday 21st May 1973 Barracks bombed There were no police on duty at the limited-opening Legahorey RUC station when a bomb blast ripped through the building. Three civilians had to be treated for shock. The blast caused extensive damage to the police station.

Monday 21st May 1973 Shops bombed The staff of 60 and several hundred shoppers were evacuated after an employee spotted a suspicious duffle bag at the entrance to R. Corbett & Sons store in Market Street in Portadown. About an hour later there was an explosion which badly damaged the building and much of the stock in it.

A pipe-bomb placed outside Moore and Smiths in Sperrin Park, Omagh, last night, caused only slight scorching when it exploded.

Monday 21st May 1973 Youth hit by rubber bullet ‘very ill’ A 19 year-old Derry youth is very ill in Altnagelvin Hospital with head injuries alleged to have been caused by a rubber bullet fired at point blank range. He is Thomas Friel, of Creggan Heights and he has been unconscious since being admitted to the hospital on Thursday.

RIGHT - IRA bomb attack on the Great Northern Railway Station, Great Victoria Street.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973 Big blast – second bomb defused A massive car bomb exploded near Belfast’s City Hall and experts defused a second bomb in a shoe shop as the terror campaign continued.

The car bomb made up of 150lbs of explosives, went off at Adelaide Street, wrecking a showroom and shattering windows. The second device in Upper North Street was defused with the help of the Army’s robot.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973 Six Westminster Unionists rebuked The Unionist Party issued a sharp rebuff to its six MPs at Westminster by rejecting their Parliamentary motion to defeat the second reading of the Constitution Bill on Thursday.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973 Ammo find Police and troops found a quantity of ammunition and explosives when they carried out a series of searches in the Coalisland area.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973 I saw man shoot two dead in pub – witness A man who was an eye-witness to a double murder in a Portadown bar on the ‘Twelfth’ night last, crossed the border after the shooting, but was forced by his conscience to return to return and make a statement to police, the Jury was told at Armagh Assizes.

The witness referred to in court as Mr. A. was giving evidence at the trial of a 33 year-old textile worker of Enniskeen, Craigavon who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Portadown publican Mr. Jack McCabe and a customer in his bar, Mr. William James Cochrane.

A witness referred to as Mr. B. alleged that the man in the dock was the masked gunman who entered McCabe’s bar in Portadown just before two people died.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973 Hidden bomb blasts Derry shops A 100lb bomb concealed in a hijacked butchers van was taken into the heart of Derry. The bomb exploded, demolishing one store and badly damaging five others.

Once again the city’s Strand Road area, already pounded by the bombers, was the target. But warnings were given and the security forces managed to clear the area before the blast.

Sergeant Barry Cox

Wednesday May 23rd 1973 Derry death sparks off big walk out Several vehicles were hijacked by armed men in the Creggan and Bogside areas of Derry and used to barricade streets. Earlier about 700 people staged a sit-down outside Derry’s police headquarters in protest against the death of a 21 year-old Creggan man, Thomas Friel, whom they claimed died as a result of being struck by a rubber bullet at point blank range. 500 workers at the city’s Springtown Industrial Estate downed tools and marched through the city in protest against the mans death.

Wednesday May 23rd 1973 Demolition angers residents Angry residents were up in arms as the Army demolished derelict houses in Belfast’s Roden Street area. They arrived with massive military bulldozers and diggers the Army moved into the area last night at 11.30pm without warning and began the task of pulling down Malt Street off the Grosvenor Road.

They continued all night and this morning.

Thursday May 24th 1973 Road opens as troops remove barricades Troops tore down barricades in the republican enclaves of Derry throughout the night. Barricades were removed in the Bogside, Creggan and Shantallow areas of the city. They had been erected during yesterday’s disturbances following the controversial death of 21 year-old Creggan resident Thomas Friel.

Thursday May 24th 1973 Station destroyed The police station at Martinstown in County Antrim was destroyed by fire. It is thought that an explosion set off the blaze. The station, which opens for several hours each day, was unoccupied at the time.

Thursday May 24th 1973 Youth shot A 17 year-old youth with a gunshot wound to the neck was taken by civilian ambulance from Carrigart Avenue, in the Suffolk area of Belfast, to the Royal Victoria Hospital last night. His condition was later described as satisfactory.

Several hours earlier troops claimed a hit after a gunman fired at them as they patrolled open ground near Carrigart Avenue. One soldier spotted a sniper running up Carrigart Avenue after the attack and fired at him. The man was seen to be hit but escaped.

Sergeant Sgeridan Young

Sergeant Derek Reed

Thursday May 24th 1973 Men shot at A group of window cleaners working in Templemore Avenue narrowly escaped death when four men fired a volley of shots at then before making off. One received a graze to his back and one was taken to hospital and treated for shock.

The incident happened near Kenbaan Street.

Friday May 25th 1973 Two soldiers killed - Radio used to trigger booby-trap in house Two soldiers died and another was injured when bombers detonated by radio a bomb they had planted in the South Armagh home of a man serving in one of the Army’s Irish Regiments. The soldiers, both senior NCO’s, died instantly in the blast at Culloville.

Three men were taken to hospital after a bomb exploded without warning outside Killen’s Bar in Perry Street, Dungannon, but none of them was seriously hurt.

Friday May 25th 1973 Rocket attack After a large area around the City Hall was cleared because of bomb scares an RPG7 rocket was fired from the direction of the Grosvenor Road at an unknown target. There were no casualties and later troops carried out a search of the area and found 20 mortar bombs and a quantity of fuses in a derelict house.

Friday May 25th 1973 Gun attacks Troops came under fire in Protestant areas of East and West Belfast but there were no serious casualties.

Friday May 25th 1973 Arms find Crowd trouble in the Shankill area of Belfast flared after security forces searched houses at Matchett Street and found a rifle, five home made guns, more than 300 rounds of ammunition and about seven cwts. of fertiliser. Troops earlier fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of about 40, which, gathered in Matchett Street after the arms find.

In Armagh, a search by soldiers of the Nun’s Cemetery led to the finding of a .22 rifle, a sawn-off 12 bore shotgun and 39 rounds of assorted ammunition. An Army spokesman said the search resulted from a tip-off.

Paul Crummy

Friday May 25th 1973 Murder case man passed documents When a prison officer searched a man leaving Crumlin Road Jail last October after visiting the man accused of the Twelfth night murder in Portadown, he discovered several documents in a jacket pocket. Evidence of interviewing the visitor about the documents was given by Detective Sergeant McMahon, who said he told the accused, "Your visitor has made a statement admitting that you asked him to establish a false alibi for him". The sergeant replied that the accused replied, "I have nothing to say at this stage". The accused, an ex-policeman, was then shown the documents and asked if he wished to read them, he replied, "No, but I want a copy of them."

Friday May 25th 1973 Tip off about IRA plan Security police at the atomic weapons research establishment at Aldermaston have been armed following a tip off that the IRA could be planning a prestige attack. The tip-off received by the Special Branch, has brought about a general tightening up of security at all similar establishments throughout the country.

Joseph Matthews

Margaret Hyrkiewicz

Saturday May 26th 1973 Beaten body of man found at Giant’s Ring Detectives have still not identified the man found beaten up and shot through the chest near the Giant’s Ring beauty spot on the outskirts of Belfast. A man on his way home from work found the body lying in a pool of blood, it seems likely that the man, though to be 30-35 years old, was killed elsewhere and then dumped at the side of the road.

Saturday May 26th 1973 Dungannon bombing Security forces hurriedly evacuated dozens of shops in the Scotch Street area of Dungannon after a newspaper received a telephone call saying that a 600lb car bomb had been left there. 20 minutes later a bomb, estimated at 100lb exploded badly damaging several nearby premises. A number of people were treated for shock and minor cuts.

Saturday May 26th 1973 Car bomb attack A car bomb exploded near Carlisle Circus in the Belfast area last night, but no one was hurt. Police said the Mini containing the bomb was left outside the Roman Catholic Down and Connor education offices at Adela Street-Fleetwood Street. The building’s caretaker was there at the time but was not injured.

Saturday May 26th 1973 Rifle recovered An Army patrol who fired at a gunman near the Blessed Oliver Plunkett School at Glen Road later found an Armalite rifle, apparently dropped by the fleeing gunman near the scene.

Saturday May 26th 1973 Double murder case jury disagree After a five day trial the all-male jury at Armagh Assizes were unable to reach a verdict last night in the case of 33 year-old ex-policeman accused of the double murder in Portadown on the Twelfth night. The father of two, a textile worker of Enniskeen, Craigavon, now faces a trial at the Autumn Assizes in October.

Monday May 28th 1973 Boy (4) shot dead by IRA ambushers Gunmen killed a four-year-old Andersonstown boy when they tried to ambush soldiers on foot patrol in the area on Saturday.

Four year-old Paul Crummey was playing in the garden of his home at Finaghy Road North, Belfast, when gunmen opened up on troops nearby and fired the shot which killed him. One of the first bursts hit Paul in the head - he was playing five yards from one of the soldiers. The soldiers returned the fire and were met with a second burst of shots but none of them was hurt. The boy was rushed to hospital and died in the Royal Victoria less than an hour after the incident.

Monday May 28th 1973 No warning bomb Five children were treated for shock after a 12lb bomb exploded without warning outside their home in the Woodvale Road area of Belfast.

Monday May 28th 1973 Petrol bomb attack A family’s pet dog died in a blaze started by a petrol bomb at a Roman Catholic occupied house in Delhi Street, off the Ormeau Road in Belfast. None of the family was at home when the bomb was tossed through a downstairs window, starting the blaze.

A pipe bomb tossed into a Protestants house at Tobergill Street in the Shankill area of Belfast failed to go off and was later dealt with by an Army expert.

Monday May 28th 1973 1,000 attend shot child’s funeral Over 1,000 people including scores of women and children, attended the funeral of the four-year-old Andersonstown boy who was shot dead by gunmen in his garden on Saturday

Monday May 28th 1973 Gun attack Five shots were fired from the New Lodge area of Belfast at two RUC men patrolling Duncairn Gardens on foot but neither was hurt.

Monday May 28th 1973 Belfast bar bombed A bomb planted by three armed men in a toilet at Murphy’s Bar in Great Patrick Street, Belfast, caused extensive damage.

Monday May 28th 1973 Men shot A 49 year-old man was shot as he gave chase to a youth he had seen planting a blast bomb outside the Elbow Room bar in Dublin Road, Belfast.

A taxi driver was hit in the hand when gunmen opened fire on him after planting a cylinder bomb outside Lynch’s Bar at the Antrim Road-New Lodge junction.

Monday May 28th 1973 Coalisland shooting A 46 year-old man was seriously wounded in the town square in Coalisland after what police called a random shooting. A hijacked car sped into the square late on Saturday night and a number of shots were fired from it, hitting the man in the chest. His condition was later described as very seriously ill.

Monday May 28th 1973 Bomb removed A policeman carried a bomb 200 yards from the Cottage Cafe in High Street, Portadown. The café was evacuated after staff became suspicious of a parcel.

LEFT - Bomb attack on offices in Adelaide Street.

BELOW - Bomb attack at the Lisnaskea UDR Base TOP RIGHT - Car bomb attack in Dungannon’s Scotch Street.

BOTTOM RIGHT - Protestors blocking a road in Derry

Monday May 28th 1973 Derry bombs One of two bombs, in the City of Derry at the weekend was successfully defused by Army experts. The RUC and a local newspaper received telephone calls at 9.12 pm that two bombs were in John Street and were due to go off at 9.30 pm. The first exploded at 9.26 pm at a motor accessory shop in John Street, causing structural damage. Key holders in the Foyle Street and John Street areas were called out so that security forces could make a search for the second bomb. This one, of 15lbs, was eventually found in scaffolding near the motor accessory shop. It was defused.

Monday May 28th 1973 Bomb at UDR headquarters A bomb, which exploded in Lisnaskea, Co.Fermanagh, badly damaged the almost completed new headquarters for C Company of the UDR. Tuesday May 29th 1973 Rocket hits Army post near school Bombers fired a Russian rocket at an Army post near a Belfast school packed with over 200 children. The Vere Foster School in Ballymurphy shook as the RPG7 rocket slammed into the screen nearby. The attack was followed up by

firing from an Armalite rifle. The troops fired back at two gunmen and they think they hit one of them. A blood trail was found at the scene.

Tuesday May 29th 1973 UDA mans death A 27 year-old UDA Lieutenant Colonel, murdered last December was shot through the left eye at close range with a 12-bore shotgun, a Belfast inquest was told, and a friend who was with him when they were kidnapped last December at Millfield, told the coroner he had no doubt that the IRA had picked them up.

An open verdict was returned on the victim who was one of the leaders of the Woodvale Defence Association.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 Two lunchtime blasts rock city centre A soldier and a civilian were slightly hurt when two bombs exploded close to Belfast city centre badly damaging a wholesale newsagents and a Woolworth’s store. Despite widespread damage there were no casualties.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 Double murder bid charge: man for trial A young Coalisland man was returned for trial charged with the attempted murder of two policemen at Brackaville, Coalisland, on March 23rd when he appeared at a special court in Dungannon.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 Bomb destroys club Six families from the Ardoyne area of Belfast are staying with friends and relatives after a bomb blast damaged their homes. The bomb, inside a beer-keg, was left in an entry beside the Highfield Social Club in Etna Drive.

Thursday May 31st 1973 No warning blast injures 10 Ten people were hurt, none seriously, when a 10-15lb bomb exploded. Six of the people injured in the blast at the Anchor Bar in Coporation Street were released from hospital after treatment, but another four were retained for observation.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 RUC men met death during a tea break Open verdicts were returned at an inquest on two Derry policemen who died when a constable’s booby-trapped car exploded at the Harbour square car park in the city last January 14. The policemen were Sergeant David Dorsett (37), Rossdowney Road and Constable Mervyn Wilson (23), Lincoln’s Court.

Thursday May 31st 1973 Taxi bomb in city centre A bomb in a taxi exploded in a street in the city centre of Belfast. Three ambulances rushed to the scene but it was not immediately known if anyone was hurt. The suspicious vehicle was spotted outside Sawyer’s shop, several shops and offices had their windows blown in by the force of the blast.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 Three UDR men hurt in mine blast Three UDR soldiers were hurt when bombers detonated a Claymore mine in front of their Land Rover near Toome, Co.Antrim.

Thursday May 31st 1973 Portadown bomb A bomb estimated at between 20 and 30lbs caused extensive damage to shops in High Street, Portadown. No one was injured.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 Boys shot A 15 year-old boy and his 16 year-old friend were shot in the leg in the Ligoniel area. The boys told police they were walking across waste ground at Glenside Park when shots rang out from behind a hedge.

Thursday May 31st 1973 Families forced out Two Protestant families moved out of their homes in Hillman Street in the New Lodge area of Belfast last night following rumours of threats against them. The fleeing families were helped to move their belongings by a crowd from Tigers Bay, once they had moved out their houses were set on fire. Around 11.30 a third Protestant family in Hillman Street was forced by a mob to leave their home. The crowd set fire to the house once they had left. A riot situation developed with rival crowds stoning each other.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 Bus struck by bullet Passengers on a Belfast bus had a narrow escape when gunmen fired on troops.

One bullet lodged in the bus, which was close to the Albertbridge RoadWoodstock Road junction.

Wednesday May 30th 1973 Lurgan shop bombed A bomb planted by two armed men demolished the Super-Fry chip shop in William Street, Lurgan, late last night.

BELOW LEFT - Car bomb attack on the Tavern Bar in the Unity Flats complex.

BELOW - Bomb attack on Simon Murphy’s Bar, Great Patrick Street.

JUNE 1973 Friday June 1st 1973 Visitors in bomb panic Two English men parked their van in one of Belfast’s "bomb alleys" and went off to get a few things. The result of this was a massive security operation which sealed off practically the entire centre of the city.

Friday June 1st 1973 Three pubs bombed: Two killed, 20 hurt in new attacks Two men died and more than 20 people including two off-duty soldiers were injured when bombers launched attacks on three public houses in Belfast. No warnings were given by the bombers who planted devices at Muldoon’s Bar in Corporation Square, McGlade’s in Upper Donegall Street and the Four in Hand on the Lisburn Road.

Friday June 1st 1973 Grenade attack Two hand grenades were thrown into a house at Cullen Bridge Park, Armagh at about midnight. A 15 year-old youth, the only person at home was not hurt although explosions badly damaged part of the house and killed his dog.

An RPG7 rocket was fired at the police station in Pomeroy followed by four shots, no one was hurt.

Friday June 1st 1973 Gunman hit Troops claimed to have hit a gunman who opened fire at them in a public park in Lurgan, but no body was found.

Saturday June 2nd 1973 City centre bomb alert A wide area of Belfast was sealed off after a telephone warning that there was a massive bomb in Franklin Street. Police and troops rushed to the scene and found a stolen Ford Transit van. They mounted a full-scale evacuation which stretched from the City Hall almost to Shaftesbury Square.

BELOW - Fire fighters hosing down the wreckage after a car bomb explosion in Curtis Place.

BELOW RIGHT - Bomb attack on the Woolwoth store in Upper North Street

Monday June 4th 1973 Pilots confer on security after rocket attack at Aldergrove Talks were going on between BALPA, the pilot’s union, and airport officials following last night’s rocket attack by the IRA. The Russian RPG7 rocket hit a wire screen round a fuel tank and exploded – but the fuel didn’t ignite.

Monday June 4th 1973 Gunmen kill two in raid on house A man and a woman sipping coffee in a friend’s house after all three had enjoyed an evening out were brutally mown down in one of Belfast’s worst motiveless murders. Detectives are waiting at the hospital bed of the woman who survived the outrage to see whether she can provide some clues to help police trace the cold-blooded killers. 41 year-old Mrs Sadie McComb of Ballymena Street and Mr. Alfred Atchinson (48) of Ewart’s Row both died almost instantly.

Monday June 4th 1973 Soldier dies A fifth soldier has died in hospital from injuries received in a booby trap blast a fortnight ago in the car park of the Knock-na-moe Hotel. He was Sergeant Frederick William Drake (25), a member of the Fifth Inniskilling Dragoon Guards.

Monday June 4th 1973 Band hall bombed An explosion badly damaged premises occupied by the James Connolly band club on the Upper Falls but no one was injured.

Monday June 4th 1973 UDA men arrested Police said a total of 83 people were detained after raids by security forces on two UDA clubs in West Belfast late on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. All were released after screening, a police spokesman said.

Monday June 4th 1973 Ardoyne women to be tried Two young Ardoyne women were returned for trial in custody to Belfast’s Recorder’s Court on explosives charges. A 20-year-old unemployed shop assistant and 19-year-old unemployed stitcher both from Velsheda Park are accused of having explosives at Ardoyne on March 29 last. They were not legally represented.

Tuesday June 5th 1973 Joint border operation to get body Police and troops on both sides of the border joined forces to recover the body of a youth who was shot and dumped on an unapproved road just inside Co. Tyrone. The youth aged between 16 and 18 had been blindfolded and shot through the head.

Tuesday June 5th 1973 Murdered police constable named The 22 year-old RUC constable killed by gunmen as he walked the beat in Enniskillen has been named as David Purvis, a single man from Maghera.

Tuesday June 5th 1973 Provos set up checkpoint Twenty armed and masked Provisional IRA men operated a checkpoint for over an hour on the Crossmaglen-Dundalk Road. The occupants’ of cars were questioned about their identity and their movements and their vehicles were searched.

Tuesday June 5th 1973 Bomb planted at EBNI offices Police received a warning that a bomb was planted on the footpath outside the EBNI offices in Thomas Street, Dungannon. Army experts were called and they defused a 15lb charge wrapped in a coat.

An electricity transformer at Cloughmore, Rosslea, was damaged by an explosion. Security forces waited until daylight to make a detailed examination.

Tuesday June 5th 1973 Shots fired Two shots were fired at the rear of the RUC station in Maghera, no one was hurt and fire was not returned.

Wednesday 6th June 1973 3 soldiers are injured Three soldiers were injured, one very seriously, when a booby trap bomb exploded as they were searching a derelict house in the Brandywell area of Derry. The explosion happened when members of a patrol were searching a derelict house at the corner of Foyle Road and Brooke Street.

TOP LEFT - Bomb attack on McGlade’s Bar, Donegall Street.

BOTTOM LEFT - IRA car bomb attack in Belfast’s Castle Street.

BELOW - Constable David Purvis who was killed in Enniskillen

Wednesday 6th June 1973 Landmine attack A land mine was detonated about 200 metres from an Army mobile patrol north of Donaghmore. None of the soldiers was hurt but the luckiest escape was that of a civilian motorist, who, according to Army reports, was only a few yards away when the explosion occurred.

Wednesday 6th June 1973 Blast bomb attacks Three blast bombs were thrown in the Sandy Row area of Belfast. The first exploded at the junction of Albion Street and Great Victoria Street, the second slightly damaged the front of a shop in Sandy Row itself and the third blast was not located.

Thursday 7th June 1973 Radar shield goes around Aldergrove Radar is to be used to protect Aldergrove airport following the recent attack by the Provisional IRA and the threat that action would continue.

Thursday 7th June 1973 Patrol attacked IRA gunmen put the lives of children playing in the street at risk when they tried to ambush an Army patrol in the Andersonstown area of Belfast – not far from where a four-year-old was killed by gunmen less than a fortnight ago. The incident happened at South Green-Bernagh Drive just before 9 pm.

Thursday 7th June 1973 Police attacked Members of the joint police-Army task force came under attack in the Sandy Row area late last night. Two blast bombs were tossed and shots were fired but there were no casualties.

Thursday 7th June 1973 Controlled explosion An Army expert carried out a controlled explosion on a bomb in a hijacked van left at a Maxol petrol station on the Antrim Road in Belfast, no one was hurt.

Thursday 7th June 1973 Bombs defused Just before 11 pm, a yellow Ford Escort pulled up outside a confectionery shop on the Cliftonville Road in Belfast, a man got out and calmly left a 20lb bomb

BELOW - Car bomb attack in Belfast’s Franklin Street.

BELOW RIGHT - A car bomb explodes Donegall Place

outside the shop but the alarm was raised before it could go off and an Army expert managed to defuse the device.

A 40lb bomb found in a derelict house on a farm near Camlough was neutralised by an Army expert.

Friday 8th June 1973 Mystery of UDA top men grows UDA headquarters in Belfast confirmed that one of the organisation’s leaders was being held "captive" following reports that militants in the paramilitary body were trying to snatch control. Confirmation that Thomas "Tucker" Lyttle, a UDA leader in the Shankill area, was being held came after an ITN television interview screened at lunchtime.

Earlier a UDA spokesman had firmly discounted mounting reports of a take over bid as ‘nonsense’ rumours that some of the organisations present leaders were being held prisoner. However, a different spokesman of the UDA’s Newtownards Road headquarters admitted that Mr. Lyttle was a prisoner.

Friday 8th June 1973 All clear – then bomb is found A sharp eyed policeman saved scores of shoppers in busy down town Belfast when he found a bomb – minutes after the all clear had been given in a street were there was a bomb scare around Donegall Place and Fountain Lane. People who were evacuated were allowed to return and minutes later the policeman found the bomb hidden under oranges in a fruit barrow.

For a second time shoppers were ushered to safety when the 60lb bomb exploded, wrecking Saxone shoe shop and blowing in windows in virtually every building in Donegall Place.

Friday 8th June 1973 Inquest told of McCann’s last words Paratroops shot down Official IRA leader Joe McCann after he had dodged arrest by a Special Branch officer in Belfast’s Markets area, an inquest heard.

When the troops bent over his body on the street, he told them just before he died: "You’ve got me cold. I’ve got no weapon". An open verdict was returned.

Friday 8th June 1973 Warehouse and city factory hit by bombs Three people in a car, at least one armed, planted a 10-15lb bomb at the Star Clothing Company’s building in Nubia Street, off the Donegall Road, Belfast.

The blast caused extensive damage to the building but there were no casualties.

Fire followed a bomb blast at Millar Stewart and Son’s wholesale premises at Baltic Avenue, Antrim Road in Belfast. There were no casualties.

Friday 8th June 1973 Shots fired Between 10 and 18 shots were fired by two gunmen at an Army patrol in the Creagan area of Derry about midnight. It happened in the Central Drive-Fanad Drive area. There were no casualties.

Four or five gunmen fired 40 shots from concealed positions in the Stewartstown Road area of Coalisland at an Army foot patrol last night but there were no casualties.

Friday 8th June 1973 Lurgan explosion A 10 – 15lb bomb exploded in a laneway at Derrytrasna, Lurgan. It is not known whether the charge was meant for the car or bombers were using the vehicle to transport explosives.

Friday 8th June 1973 Bakers murder was foul and bloody An open verdict was returned at a Belfast inquest on a Roman Catholic exprisoner-of-war who was shot dead in his car after finishing the nightshift at an East Belfast Bakery last December. The Coroner, Mr. James Elliott, described the death of Hugh Martin (55), of Eskdale Gardens, Ardoyne, as "a foul and bloody murder", for which there seemed to be no motive other than his religion.

Saturday 9th June 1973 Bomb horror in a city centre pub One man thought to have been killed and several others were injured when a bomb exploded in a crowded Belfast pub. The Avenue Bar was packed with customers, when the bomb, with a short fuse, and in a brown bag, was hurled

BELOW - A woman is led away after the explosion at Donegall Place.

through a window. One man who lifted the bomb and tried to throw it clear had his hand blown off and suffered serious head injuries. In all, about six people were taken away in ambulances after the mid afternoon blast. Two of them were seriously hurt.

Minutes after the blast a group calling itself the Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility.

Saturday 9th June 1973 Canteen at factory blasted Workers in the canteen at Mackie’s foundry in West Belfast had a narrow escape when a huge bomb exploded without warning outside the building. Three workers were treated for shock and minor cuts after the 100-200lb blast, many others in the canteen were fortunate to escape injury.

Saturday 9th June 1973 East Belfast pubs close Pubs and some bookmakers closed down in East Belfast without explanation.

AT UDA headquarters in the area a spokesman said they closed "under order", but he denied that the order had come from them.

Saturday 9th June 1973 Police attacked Just after 1am gunmen opened up on an RUC patrol vehicle making its way along the Shankill Road. Sporadic firing continued at RUC Land Rovers from the direction of Crimea Street and Northumberland Street, but there were no police casualties.

Saturday 9th June 1973 Three chums’ terror Doctors at Belfast’s City Hospital were fighting to save part of the hand of an eight-year-old boy who was injured in a pipe bomb blast near his home in the Ormeau Road area of Belfast. Victor Gargan of Hatfield Street, lost two fingers and a thumb, when the bomb, which was found by his brother in a hedge in nearby Farnham Street, blew up. Three of his playmates, including his sixyear-old brother, David, were also injured in the blast. They received cuts to the arms, legs and face. The other boys, Pat Molloy (6) and Paul Sykes (7) both live in Hatfield Street.

Saturday 9th June 1973 Court told how gunman killed bus passenger A Belfast inquest was told how a gunman boarded a Corporation bus and sprayed the top deck with bullets, fatally injuring one man. Joseph Henry Kelly (45) of Monagh Parade, Turf Lodge, was killed on his journey home from work late in the afternoon of November 8 last.

Saturday 9th June 1973 Encore as bomb hero does it again Police Hero Sergeant James Hazlett, who helped to evacuate a large part of Belfast’s city centre after he found a bomb hidden in a box of oranges, was first on the scene again after bombers planted a device in a cabaret club.

For the second time, in less than 24 hours, Sergeant Hazlett, awarded the BEM for a previous act of bravery, shepherded dozens of civilians to safety before the bomb went off.

The blast badly damaged the Mummy’s Tomb discotheque in Victoria Street, Belfast and the nearby InterContinental cabaret and blew in dozens of windows in nearby buildings, but there were no casualties.

Sadie McComb

Saturday 9th June 1973 University bombed A bomb believed to be packed into a fire extinguisher, caused considerable blast damage to the Celtic studies building of Queen’s University at College Park East, Belfast. No one was hurt.

Monday 11th June 1973 Bus Driver killed in East End gun battle Protestant gunmen shot dead a bus driver when they opened fire on troops in East Belfast in what the Army described as a concerted attack.

About a dozen passengers on the Ulsterbus had a narrow escape, as the driver hit in the head, lost control and the vehicle hurtled into an Army checkpoint.

The driver was named as Mr. Samuel Alexander Rush, from Windsor Avenue, Newtownards

Alfred Acheson

Samuel Rush

Monday 11th June 1973 Schoolboys shot Four 15-year-old schoolboys were hurt when gunmen in a car sprayed them as they stood outside the Cherrytree Café on the Antrim Road last night. Three of the boys were hit in the legs and the fourth injured in the arm but none was reported to have been seriously hurt.

Monday 11th June 1973 Man shot dead A 35 year-old Roman Catholic man, who left his wife to go to a wake, died in hospital after being found shot in the garden of a house at Deerpark Gardens in North Belfast. He was Mr. Daniel O’Neill of Arizona Street, Andersonstown.

Monday 11th June 1973 Gun attacks A 25-year-old Protestant man shot from a passing car in the Antrim Road area on Saturday was still very seriously ill in hospital. He was hit by shots from a Ford Corsair at Atlantic Avenue-Pacific Avenue. Shots were also fired at a man standing at his doorway but he was not hurt.

Monday 11th June 1973 UDR man shot A UDR man was injured when a gunman opened fire on a mobile patrol. The vehicle was travelling along the Charles Street area of Portadown, the soldier received a flesh wound and was taken to hospital. Two children escaped injury when a single shot passed through their bedroom in Westland Road, not far from where the UDR man was shot.

BELOW - Car bomb attack on the Dunk of York Pub in Belfast’s Commercial Court

Monday 11th June 1973 Shots fired Two high velocity shots were fired at an Army patrol in the Derrybeg estate, Newry. There were no casualties.

Tuesday 12th June 1973 Slaughter in Ulster Town Six people died in Coleraine this when two cars with bombs in them exploded inside five minutes of each other. The car bombs exploded in Railway Road and Hanover Place without any warning. Coleraine, one of the quietest towns in the North was thrown into absolute chaos after the horror just after 3 pm.

One eyewitness said one of the bombs exploded in the forecourt of a garage, "There are always plenty of people about this part of the town", he said.

Firemen, police and ambulance men worked flat out to get the injured to hospital. When they arrived on the scene there was utter confusion, with many people wandering around in a state of severe shock.

Tuesday 12th June 1973 Troops fired on in two Protestant areas Six gunmen are believed to have been hit by soldiers during gun battles in two Protestant areas of Belfast. Most of the trouble was confined to the Shankill district where troops said that more than 100 shots were fired at them.

Troops claimed to have hit one of the three gunmen who fired on them from Pandora Street in the Protestant area of Donegall Road just after midnight.

RIGHT - Dense smoke pours from a wine shop on Railway Road, Coleraine, after a bomb blast in which six people were killed (also below)

Tuesday 12th June 1973 Soldiers hurt Two soldiers were slightly hurt when a small land mine was detonated in front of a foot patrol in Whiterock Gardens in the Ballymurphy area.

Tuesday 12th June 1973 Station fired on Eight shots were fired at Hastings Street police station from the direction of the Divis flats complex.

Tuesday 12th June 1973 Landmine discovered A booby trap bomb was found in a culvert on the main Belcoo to Garrison Road in Fermanagh only a few yards form the Fermanagh-Leitrim border. The wires were found leading to the culvert by a patrol from the Royal Tank Regiment.

LEFT - Clearing up after the Coleraine Bomb BELOW - The funeral of Francis Campbell and his wife Dinah, victims of the Coleraine bomb, leaving Richview Presbyterian Church, Donegall Road

Elizabeth Palmer

Albert Scott

Nan Davis

Tuesday 12th June 1973 Sniper attack Three shots were fired at a mobile patrol, which was leaving the Creggan Camp at Derry last night. There were no casualties and fire was not returned.

Tuesday 12th June 1973 Rifle discovered Security forces carried out a follow up operation after a UDR man was shot and wounded in the town over the weekend. They found a rifle with telescopic sights and 15 rounds of soft-nosed ammunition hidden in a hedge.

Tuesday 12th June 1973 I thought soldier was gunman and shot him – marine A young marine told Belfast Coroner’s Court he shot another soldier because in the dark he thought he was a gunman. An accidental verdict was returned on 18-year-old Gunner Robert Stephen Cutting who was shot dead on September 3 last year, when a Commando patrol mistakenly opened fire on a marine patrol in the New Lodge area.

Wednesday 13th June 1973 Coleraine: the full horror revealed As the names of the six people killed in bomb blast in Coleraine were released, it was revealed that three of those injured have lost limbs. One of them is the daughter of an elderly Belfast couple who died in the blast and a third member of their family. One man who is yet to be named lost an arm and a leg and was said to be in a critical condition.

The police was firmly pinning the blame on the Provisional IRA’s active service unit in South Derry, from where the two cars used in the attack were stolen. The Belfast family caught in the slaughter had been holidaying at Ballycastle and were shopping in Coleraine when the killer bomb exploded at Railway Road.

They were Mr. Francis Campbell (70), of Benburb Street, his 72 year-old Wife, Dinah, and his 76 year-old sister-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Craigmile of Primrose Street, Ormeau Road. The Campbell’s 30 year-old daughter, Hilary, is under intensive care, having lost at least one limb.

The other’s who died were Mrs. Nan Davis (60), a widow from Linden Avenue, Coleraine. Mr. Robert Scott (72) retired, of Portstewart Road, Coleraine, and Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer (60), Whitehall Chambers, Coleraine.

BELOW - Detectives examine the scene where the body of Joseph Kelly was found.

TOP RIGHT - The spot where the body of Daniel Rouse was found at Dunmurry.

BOTTOM RIGHT - Smyth’s Record Shop Belfast’s Fountain Street which was wrecked by a bomb.

Wednesday 13th June 1973 Explosion at the docks Several women workers, most of them suffering from shock, were taken to hospital after a bomb exploded at a Docker’s pay office at Dufferin Road in Belfast Harbour Estate.

Wednesday 13th June 1973 Girls on murder bid charge Two teenage girls appeared at court in Belfast charged with the attempted murder of a soldier on May 15. A 17 year-old of Peveril Street and a juvenile had been on bail but were remanded in custody. The latest charge relates to the attempted murder of a soldier in the Ormeau Road area.

Wednesday 13th June 1973 Man is shot dead at Army post An Army sentry shot dead a man who jumped over a security barrier outside Belfast’s Springfield Road police station which had been attacked several times in the past and began threatening soldiers. After several shouted warnings to the man, a sentry fired a single shot, and despite on-the-spot treatment from an Army medical officer, he was dead on admission to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

He was named as 38 year-old Anthony Mitchell, a married man from Springfield Road.

Wednesday 13th June 1973 Bombs defused According to Army reports a 140lb bomb was left outside the College Arms public house at Edward Street, close to St. Anne’s Cathedral last night. An Army bomb expert worked for two hours before he succeeded in defusing the huge charge.

A 50lb bomb in a satchel was left outside O.D Cars on the Antrim Road in Belfast, an Army expert managed to defuse the bomb.

A third bomb was found in a stolen car at Braymount Park, Belfast. An Army expert found that it contained a 10lb bomb, which he managed to defuse.

Wednesday 13th June 1973 Grocery shop bombed A bomb in a plastic bag destroyed a temporary grocery shop at Culmore Road in Derry when it exploded two hours after it was planted.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Taylor handed over to Eire The 18 year-old Derry UDA man, Robert Taylor, wanted in connection with a double murder on New Year’s Day in Co.Donegal, was handed over by the RUC to Eire police, and is due to appear at a special court in Letterkenny. The hand over came soon after rejection of leave to appeal to the House of Lords.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Man remanded A 20 year-old man of Belgrave Street, Belfast was remanded in custody on an attempted murder charge following the shooting of four schoolboys on the Antrim Road, Belfast, on Sunday night.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Funeral will hit bus runs Bus services in the Ards Peninsula will be severely effected by a 24 hour strike by bus crews in the area to attend the funeral of driver Mr. Samuel Rush shot dead at the wheel of his vehicle by gunmen in East Belfast.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Boy and girl wounded in gun attacks A 16 year-old youth was found wounded in Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. He was found to have been shot in the chest. Detectives investigating a murder attempt think that the boy was shot from a passing car. His condition is said to be comfortable.

A seven year-old girl was hit in the knee when a bullet was fired into Calvin Street in East Belfast. Police say she was struck when a bullet ricocheted off a wall.

BELOW - The funeral of UDA member Michael Wilson who was shot dead at the home of his brother in law Tommy Herron, himself a leading UDA figure.

BELOW RIGHT - The Rev. Ian Paisley at the UDA funeral.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Hostel bombed Aquinas Hall, a hostel for Roman Catholic girl students on the Malone Road, Belfast was bombed last night. No warning was given and the explosion occurred while the girls were enjoying a disco and a party. Some of them were treated for shock, but no one was seriously hurt.

Thursday 14th June 1973 City centre blast A bomb in a stolen car exploded in Exchange Street, Belfast, after a warning had been given to police. The 20-50lb charge damaged some of the buildings but no one was hurt.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Border gun battle An Army patrol near the border about two miles from Crossmaglen came under fire from a group of gunmen on the other side of the border. The troops replied and the exchange of fire lasted eight minutes. However, there were no Army casualties and they didn’t claim a hit.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Factory bombed Dunmurry police were told that a warning was given of two bombs in the Derriaghy based Wandleside-Warren Wire Company’s factory. They warned the night shift workers who were evacuated before a massive bomb of between 100 and 200lbs, exploded.

Thursday 14th June 1973 Hotel bombed Bombers left a device at the Lough Neagh Hotel at Maghery outside Dungannon and fired at the building before making off. The owner went outside after hearing the shots and discovered the bomb with its fuse burning. He cleared the premises before the blast.

Quick work by the fire service prevented serious damage at Lyttle’s electrical shop in Strabane after a bomb had exploded at the rear of the building.

Friday 15th June 1973 Man is shot dead at Herron’s home Gunmen shot dead Tommy Herron’s brother-in-law at the Loyalist leader’s house in Belfast’s Braniel estate. Two gunmen forced their way into the Ravenswood Crescent house past Mrs. Hilary Herron and ran upstairs and shot Michael

Wilson through the head as he lay in bed. Some of the Heron’s five young children were in the house at the time with their mother. The dead man had been home only a few days after being released from hospital following an attack on him and another man in Short Strand area less than a week ago.

Friday 15th June 1973 Derry gun attacks The Collon Bar on Buncrana Road, Derry was raked by automatic fire from a passing car but no one was hurt. Earlier a single shot was fired at the Gas Works Army post in the Bogside, but again no one was hurt.

Friday 15th June 1973 Bombers hit four more targets The bombing campaign continued with four more blasts – a Tax Office in Ormeau Avenue, a shop in Fountain Street, a creamery near Newtownhamilton and a school at Enniskillen.

The first Belfast bomb was at the Corporation Motor Tax Office in Apsley Street off Ormeau Avenue. It was spotted by a pensioner as she made her way down the street to do her shopping.

In Fountain Street two parcels were left at Smyth’s Record Shop and an explosion occurred just shortly after 2pm causing extensive damage to the shop and shattering dozens of windows in the area.

Considerable damage was caused by a bomb at the Fane Valley Co-operative Creamery at Altnamakin, Newtownhamilton shortly after one o’clock this afternoon. The damage was mainly confined to a store.

A small explosion heard in the east end of Enniskillen was traced later today to St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School at Chanter Hill Road. The caretaker found a small metal canister, which had exploded outside the building.

The blast shattered five windows in a nearby corridor but there was no other damage.

Friday 15th June 1973 RUC man did not stop for us – Army A young RUC detective constable, who failed to stop his car at an Army checkpoint, in the centre of Belfast last October, was shot dead, an inquest was told yesterday. Constable Robert Stuart Nicholl (22) of Garnerville, Belfast, who was accompanied by an Army staff sergeant, failed to stop when signalled by a soldier in Castle Street on October 13th. A verdict of misadventure was returned by the jury.

Friday 15th June 1973 Three injured as ‘Duke’s’ is hit by bombers One of Belfast’s best known pubs, the Duke of York in Commercial Court was the latest target for the bar bombers. A 150lb car bomb wrecked the building and three people were taken to hospital after the explosion. A 53 year-old man suffering from facial lacerations and a 34 year-old woman with superficial injuries were two of the three people taken to hospital after the huge blast.

Friday 15th June 1973 Man shot A man was shot and seriously injured by a gunman who opened fire on him as he sat in a car in Farnham Street off Belfast’s Ormeau Road.

BELOW - Military barriers designed to close off areas on short notice which have been erected around the New Lodge area in North Belfast

Friday 15th June 1973 Eire murders: UDA man charged Robert William Taylor, the 18 year-old Derry UDA man, who was extradited to the Republic, has been charged with the murder of a young Donegal couple at Burnfoot on New Year’s Day. He was remanded in custody until next Thursday when he will again appear at Letterkenny Court.

Friday 15th June 1973 Coleraine bomb victims are buried The six elderly victims of the Coleraine bomb outrage – including three members of a Belfast family – were buried. Services were held in Belfast Churches for Mr. Francis Campbell (70), his wife Dinah (72), and his 76-year-old sisterin-law Mrs. Elizabeth Craigmile. Crowds of mourners turned out in Coleraine for the funerals of 60-year-old Mrs. Nan Davis of Linden Avenue and Mr. Robert Scott (72) of Portstewart Road. In Portrush the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer (60), of Whitehall Chambers, Coleraine, left her sister’s home for burial near Desertmartin.

Saturday June 16th 1973 The Wilson killing – RUC doubt Provo link Security chiefs still seemed convinced that Michael Wilson, brother-in-law of former UDA boss Tommy Herron was shot by members of an extreme Protestant organisation. There appears to little doubt also that the gunmen who killed 18 year-old Wilson were in fact looking for Herron. Detectives probing the killing doubt that the Provisional IRA would have risked entering the Braniel Estate, let alone the Herron house, to carry out a murder.

Top ranking members of the UDA have pinned the blame for the murder on the

IRA, they say the Provo’s regarded Herron as a stumbling block for ceasefire talks between the UDA and IRA. RUC investigations into the murder are likely to go on for some time.

Saturday June 16th 1973 Missing Belfast man maybe murdered A missing person report to the police turned into a possible full-scale murder hunt after a man claiming to be a member of the Ulster Freedom Fighters telephoned the Belfast Telegraph. The anonymous caller said that one of his ‘comrades’ had kidnapped and killed a youth, whom he named, from the Andersonstown district of Belfast. Shortly after the brief conversation the RUC confirmed that the kidnapped man had in fact been reported missing by his family. The caller said the kidnapped man was driven away and later shot twice in the back of the head. "He is dead", the caller added. The Freedom Fighters said the man from the Riverdale area of Andersonstown was killed in retaliation for the murder of Michael Wilson, the brother-in-law of former UDA boss Tommy Herron.

Saturday June 16th 1973 Troops burn up car bomb Army experts dealt with a 60lb car bomb planted in the centre of Cappagh Village near Dungannon. The bomb had been left outside a draper’s shop. Army experts succeeded in burning off the explosives and there was no blast.

Later, security forces were standing by after a stolen car was spotted in a car park close to the Altmore Hotel. It was not immediately known if the vehicle contained explosives.

LEFT - A British soldier with one of the guns which they are asking shopkeepers to stop selling.

BELOW - McCausland’s Car Hire showroom in Belfast’s York Street after an IRA bomb attack.

Saturday June 16th 1973 Crossmaglen explosions Two bombs exploded near Crossmaglen in South Armagh but there were no reports of casualties. The first blast wrecked a car on the road between Crossmaglen and the border town land of Moybane. Police said the car was stolen in Eire. Security forces believe it may have been an IRA bomb waiting to be collected when it went off prematurely.

Police and troops were still trying to trace the location of the second blast but were cautiously waiting in case the explosion was meant to lure security forces into an ambush in the area between Crossmaglen and Newry.

Saturday June 16th 1973 Open mind on bombing Security chiefs at the moment are keeping an open mind as to which group was responsible for the car-bomb blast at Toomebridge in which six young children standing at a bus stop had a narrow escape. An 11 year-old boy was slightly injured when the car bomb exploded without warning outside the O’Neill Arms in Toome. One line of enquiry, which detectives are investigating, is that the bombing was carried out in reprisal for this week’s Coleraine bomb outrage in which six people died.

Saturday June 16th 1973 Millionaire’s last words A Newtownabbey inquest heard that one of Ulster’s best-known businessmen, Mr. Larry McMahon, died instantly when a bomb exploded in his face at his Jordanstown home last March. The Coroner’s jury returned an open verdict on the death of the 45-year-old millionaire and bookmaker. A statement by Mr. McMahon’s 34 year-old wife, Marie, described how she and her husband had been sitting in the living room of their Circular Road home at around 9.30 pm on the night of the explosion. Their four children had been sleeping upstairs.

BELOW - Funeral of UDA man Michael Wilson who was shot dead in the home of UDA leader Tommy Herron.

"We heard a heavy thud somewhere in the house and thought it came from the hallway. Larry walked to the front door and as he opened it said, "Phone the police. Oh my God the children". I turned to the phone and there was a tremendous blast."

A doctor who lived near the McMahon’s was first on the scene. He told the court that the front entrance to their home was in a shambles and one of Mr. McMahon’s children was running around the drive in a confused state. He helped Mrs. McMahon bring the other three children from upstairs and then found Mr. McMahon’s badly lacerated body partially buried under the collapsed stairs.

A constable from the RUC scenes of crime branch said that the asset of the explosion was underneath a window three feet from the McMahon’s front door.

The cause of death was shock and haemorrhage due to multiple injuries.

Saturday June 16th 1973 UDR mans inquest An inquest jury in Armagh heard how a Roman Catholic father of nine, who was a full-time member of the UDR, died in a hail of bullets as he turned to wave goodbye to his wife on his way to the UDR centre in Newry last October.

An open verdict was returned on Mr. John Ruddy (50), of Drumalane Park, Newry, who died from gunshot wounds to the head, chest and abdomen within sight of his wife. His wife Elizabeth told the jury that she was standing at the back door of her home when she heard shots and saw her husband fall. "He had just turned round to wave to me as was his usual practice", she said.

Monday June 18th 1973 New Protestant terror group admits killings A Larne labourer and a Belfast teenager were abducted and shot over the weekend by a new Protestant terror group calling themselves the Ulster Freedom Fighters, who claimed responsibility for their deaths and in one case stated where one body was to be found. Security forces found the body of 17 year-old Daniel Rouse, from Riverdale Park South, in a lonely lovers’ lane at Dunmurry after a man who said he was speaking on behalf of the Ulster Freedom Fighters telephoned the Belfast Telegraph.

The other assassination victim, 25 year-old James Joseph Kelly, a labourer from Ferris Park, Larne, was found lying beside the main Belfast to Larne Road yesterday morning. A few hours later the UFF phoned a Belfast morning newspaper office and told them, "We have assassinated an IRA man on the way to Larne. We gave him two in the back and one in the head. He is dead".

After both killings the UFF said they had been carried out to revenge the shooting of Tommy Herron’s brother-in-law, Michael Wilson.

Security forces were piecing together all available information about the Ulster Freedom Fighters, the latest deadly splinter group to emerge from militant Protestant ranks.

Already the UFF have claimed responsibility for the two weekend assassinations of Roman Catholics and some recent bombings in Belfast so security chiefs are not taking their threat of more violence as an idle boast. On Saturday when a UFF man phoned the Belfast Telegraph and said they had shot Andersonstown teenager Daniel Rouse, he warned, "There will be plenty more of this". Intelligence officers were concentrating on finding out all they can about the new militant group thought to be composed of disillusioned members of other paramilitary organisations.

Monday June 18th 1973 Mine and gun attack In Swatragh two soldiers were badly shocked and slightly hurt after a mine exploded under their Land Rover and gunmen lying in wait opened fire on the two-vehicle patrol. Other troops returned the fire but did not claim any hits.

Monday June 18th 1973 GAA club bombed A 15lb bomb in a gas cylinder extensively damaged a GAA club on the Ballymena Road at Carnlough, but the building was empty at the time and no one was hurt.

The bomb had been left outside the wooden building and there was no warning before the blast.

Monday June 18th 1973 Barracks bombed A bomb estimated at 50 to 100lb, which exploded outside RUC headquarters at Victoria Barracks, Derry, was the worst bombing incident of the weekend. A white television maintenance van had been hijacked in Waterloo Street, where security forces believe the bomb was loaded on to it. The driver’s helper was held hostage while the driver was instructed to drive the van to Victoria Barracks. The driver did so and when he arrived a small group of demonstrators were outside the barracks. He warned the police and the demonstrators where eventually removed from the area.

When the bomb exploded the main damage was caused to a large clothing store close to the barracks. Windows of other premises in the area were also shattered Monday June 18th 1973 Election office bombed The driver of an invalid car had a lucky escape when his vehicle was caught in a car-bomb blast at the junction of Joy Street – Ormeau Avenue in Belfast.

Although his car was badly damaged the man, who comes from Monkstown was not badly hurt. His condition was reported to be comfortable. Police said there was superficial damage to buildings in the area when the bomb went off without warning, but it was not clear if it was meant for any specific target. The Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for this blast and a car bomb, which extensively damaged the election headquarters of the Republican Clubs at Panton Street on the Falls Road.

Monday June 18th 1973 Enniskillen bomb A 40lb bomb, which exploded at a cash and carry warehouse on the Irvinestown Road, Enniskillen, just before midnight on Saturday, badly damaged the building and some nearby houses. Houses within a 150-yard radius, including that of the Unionist Party organiser for Fermanagh were affected by the blast Monday June 18th 1973 Murder count against Shankill man dropped A murder charge was withdrawn against a 19 year-old Shankill labourer from Derry Street. He was charged with the murder of Bernard Moane (46), a Roman Catholic drinks traveller, from Ailesbury Drive off the Ormeau Road.

His body was found at Knockagh War memorial, a beauty spot near Greenisland, Co. Antrim in May last year.

Three other men, a 19 year-old labourer of Argyle Street, a 25 year-old

TOP LEFT - Scout Halls in Downpatrick destroyed by fire.

BOTTOM LEFT - Car bomb attack in Belfast’s Little Patrick Street.

unemployed driver of Ainsworth Street and a 38 year-old unemployed man of Montrose Street pleaded not guilty when arraigned at the court when charged with murdering Mr. Moane.

Monday June 18th 1973 Bomb blasts sign factory Gunmen fired a shot into the air as they made their getaway after planting a bomb in a sign-making factory in West Belfast. Police said two men and a girl left a duffle bag at the premises of J & A Kay in Ainsworth Avenue, between the Springfield and Shankill Road. As they made their getaway, the raiders, for no apparent reason, fired a shot into the air. Shortly after they fled an anonymous caller phoned a 10-minute warning to the Irish News. The 15-20lb bomb caused only slight damage when it exploded about 40 minutes later.

Monday June 18th 1973 Biggest bomb yet A sharp-eyed Paratrooper found the biggest home made bomb yet planted by the IRA. The soldier, on routine with his squad, was walking down a country road at Drumlougher, near Cullyhanna, in South Armagh, when he noticed that several milk churns had been placed by the roadside. An Army bomb disposal man who rushed to the scene confirmed the soldier’s suspicions. The milk churns, two gas cylinders and an acetylene bottle had been packed with 800lb of home made explosives. The Army explosive expert detonated the device on the spot.

When it exploded a crater 45 feet across by 10 feet deep was blown in the roadway.

Monday June 18th 1973 Five back White Paper A poll of 210 Assembly election candidates has resulted in only five of them declaring acceptance without qualification of the principles contained in the White Paper.

Tuesday June 19th 1973 New terror gang bombs Belfast Bar The Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for last nights bomb attack on the Meeting of the Water’s bar in Manor Street in the Oldpark area of Belfast, in which one man received hand injuries and had to be treated at the Mater Hospital. A bomb was thrown from a passing car and the blast blew in the pub’s front door and smashed windows in it and nearby houses but damage was not extensive. Soon after the explosion a man purporting to be a representative of the Ulster Freedom Fighters telephoned the Irish News offices and claimed the UFF had carried out the explosion because the bar was a "known haunt of Catholics and Republicans".

Tuesday June 19th 1973 Unusual protest An Official IRA group forced their way into Ross’s Mill at Odessa Street and staged an unusual protest over what they alleged were poor working conditions and inadequate security precautions. Three armed and hooded men locked the gatekeeper and two other men in the gate lodge leaving a leaflet, which called for better working conditions. The raiders made their way to the executive car park where they planted a blast bomb and device under the manager’s car. The blast bomb did not explode but the incendiary device ignited and destroyed the vehicle.

Tuesday June 19th 1973 Funerals halted by death threat Five Protestant funerals at Belfast City Cemetery had to be cancelled after gravediggers were threatened they would be shot if they stayed at work.

Corporation workmen at the Falls Road cemetery said they stopped work after their foreman was warned by phone: "If you dig those graves you will be dead".

SDLP man MP Mr. Paddy Devlin and members at the Raymond O’Hagan Republican Club volunteered to go to the cemetery while burials were taking place to ensure that no one was attacked.

Mr. Devlin described the warning as a "malicious call" and added: "I’ve been talking to people round the area and there has been no question of anyone wanting to harm these workers. I am quite prepared to go up and stand beside them while they work. There is nobody going to touch them".

According to some reports, at least one of the funerals was turned back when it reached the cemetery gates. The Reverend Ian Paisley sent an urgent telegram to the Prime Minister, Mr. Heath, complaining about the forced closure of the cemetery. Stormont Castle said that Mr. Peter Mills, one of Mr. Whitelaw’s Ministers, had called for a full report.

Tuesday June 19th 1973 Troops fire on gunmen Shots were fired by troops at two gunmen in Rosslea, Fermanagh but the men escaped in thick undergrowth. The troops were alerted by a barking dog and when they went to investigate, a man was seen running across a lane carrying a gun. A second gunman ran across and also did not stop when ordered to do so.

Two shots were fired but the men escaped.

Tuesday June 19th 1973 Van blast boy better A 13 year-old boy who received abdominal injuries in Saturday’s van bomb in Derry city centre was said to be "fairly comfortable" in Altnagelvin Hospital.

Thomas Melaugh, of High Park, was crossing Waterloo Street to return home with his Mother when he was caught by the blast.

Tuesday June 19th 1973 Gun attacks The crew of a Newtownhamilton police Land Rover had a narrow escape when they were ambushed at Sheridan’s Cross between Cullyhanna and Newtownhamilton in South Armagh. Three or four shots hit the vehicle after hidden gunmen opened fire. There were no casualties.

Three shots were fired at the Creggan Army Camp from the direction of Circular Road. Two of them struck the camp wall but there were no casualties and fire was not returned.

Wednesday June 20th 1973 Bomb thrown into bar – then terror gang opens fire Customers in a Derry public house had a narrow escape after a blast bomb was thrown into a bar in Great James Street and then shots fired into it.

Three youths were involved in the incident and one of them fired the pistol shots into the bar before they made their getaway. Fortunately no one was hurt and everyone had cleared the building when the bomb went off a few minutes later blowing a hole in the floor and damaging the pub interior.

Wednesday June 20th 1973 Major ditches death van with seconds to spare An Army Major defied death in Derry and drove a hi-jacked mail van with a huge bomb in it into the River Foyle, jumping clear only seconds before it exploded.

But his heroic act sparked off a sit-down protest by about 70 postal workers who claimed it was "bloody stupid" and called off the city’s second mail delivery.

Wednesday June 20th 1973 RUC stop a van and find bomb Two sharp-eyed policemen intercepted a hi-jacked laundry van near the centre of Belfast and found a 70lb bomb inside it. As the policemen moved in, one of the two youths produced a pistol, but the RUC men overpowered them without a struggle. Army bomb experts were called to remove the explosives packed in laundry baskets and police using a loud hailer quickly evacuated the area around Carlisle Circus where the yellow Ford Transit was stopped.

Police said the van had been hi-jacked earlier in the New Lodge area and the driver held captive. He was later released unharmed.

Wednesday June 20th 1973 ‘Houdini’ Bryson is let out of jail James Emerson Bryson, the man who twice escaped from custody in Belfast, was granted bail in the High Court in Dublin. Bryson had been in custody in Mountjoy jail since an extradition order was granted in Dundalk district court on June 13, directing that he be handed over to the RUC to face a charge of possessing firearms. Bryson escaped from the prison ship and after his recapture from Crumlin Road Prison.

Wednesday June 20th 1973 Gunmen hit three soldiers Three soldiers were shot by gunmen in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast this .

But they were not seriously injured.

Thursday June 21st 1973 Blast at house kills a soldier In a night of incidents in Derry one soldier was killed and one seriously injured.

The soldier was killed in an explosion in premises in Lecky Road and three others were injured, one seriously.

The Army bomb disposal officer was named as 29 year-old Captain Barry Gritten who was married with three small children and was a member of the Royal Army Ordinance Corps. He had two boys aged four and one and a two year-old daughter. Three other soldiers were injured when the explosion wrecked the derelict house in the Brandywell district, one has lost the sight of one eye and surgeons are fighting to save the other.

There was no damage caused to the bridge itself, but a gas main burst and ignited. Windows in surrounding buildings, including the Europa Hotel had some windows broken. No one was injured and traffic was back to normal shortly after the explosion.

Thursday June 21st 1973 Exchange bombing A suitcase bomb wrecked the labour exchange in the border town of Strabane.

Two hooded and armed men left the 30lb device on the counter. Staff ran to safety and police sealed off the area before the bomb went off 40 minutes later.

The blast wrecked the interior of the exchange and damaged nearby buildings.

The exchange has been damaged by bombs, four times since 1968.

Thursday June 21st 1973 UDA man Taylor appears in Eire court Robert William Taylor, the extradited Derry UDA man, appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with the murder of the young Donegal couple at Burnfoot on New Year’s Day. Taylor (18) of Shearwater Way, Waterside, is charged with the murder of Oliver Boyce and his fiancé, Brid Porter. He was extradited from Northern Ireland last week after long legal battles. It was Taylor’s second court appearance and he was remanded in custody for a fortnight until July 5. The hearing lasted only a few minutes.

Thursday June 21st 1973 Milkman is shot from a passing car A milkman on his rounds in East Belfast was wounded by shots fired at him from a passing car. The man aged about 30 was shot twice in the shoulder and was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. The would-be assassins used a speeding car to launch their attack in Ravenhill Gardens. A police spokesman said the wounded man was not too serious.

Thursday June 21st 1973 Civilian loses part of leg A civilian was seriously injured at an empty house in Rinmore Drive in the Creggan Estate in Derry. The civilian, said by an Army spokesman to be a member of the Catholic Ex-Servicemen’s Association, lost the lower part of one leg in the explosion. An Army spokesman said they understood the ExServicemen’s Association had a "watch-keeping interest" in the empty premises.

Friday June 22nd 1973 Coleraine: Two accused of six murders There were shouts of "murderers" and "burn them" by a crowd of about 150 people outside Coleraine courthouse as a young man and woman were rushed away by police after being charged with the murder of six people who died in one of two car bomb explosions in the town on June 12th.

The accused are a 19 year-old male of Tamlaghtduff, Bellaghy, and a 22 yearold female of Broagh Road, Castledawson.

They made a 15 minute appearance at a special court charged that together with other persons they murdered Mrs. Annie Davis, Robert Scott, Francis Campbell, Mrs. Dinah May Campbell, Mrs. Elizabeth Craigmile and Miss Elizabeth Palmer.

They were both remanded in custody to appear again at Coleraine in 14 days time, and both nodded their heads when asked if they agreed to this demand.

Thursday June 21st 1973 Car bomb goes off on the Boyne Bridge Hundreds of workers in Murray’s Tobacco Factory, at the Boyne Bridge in Belfast, were evacuated shortly before a 100lb car bomb exploded. The bridge spans the main railway line out of Belfast, and trains were stopped for a time. A warning was telephoned to a local newspaper that the bomb was 400lb, but the caller gave no time for the explosion. Damage to the factory was slight but debris from the car was scattered for hundreds of yards around and parts of the vehicle was blown onto the railway lines.

Friday June 22nd 1973 Night of bomb and bullet Troops said they hit a gunman in the Bogside area of Derry after another night of violence with two bombs, and a rocket attack in the city.

About 20 jeering youths in the Bogside followed an armoured vehicle through the area when a youth tried to grab a rifle from a soldier riding guard in the rear.

Simultaneously, a second man holding a pistol appeared from behind a car.

Troops opened fire and claimed a hit. Later a youth was admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital with serious gunshot wounds.

Friday June 22nd 1973 Customer carries bomb from pub A few minutes before 6 pm a bomb was placed in McDaids bar in Great James’ Street, Derry, the second attack on the bar this week. Two youths, one with a pistol came in with the bomb, but a customer calmly carried the bomb out into the street where it exploded almost immediately damaging the front of the building. There were no casualties.

Friday June 22nd 1973 Supermarket bombed A supermarket at Greenhaw Road in the Shantallow area of Derry was bombed at around 10 pm when two youths drove up in a car and left it outside the premises. A 20-minute warning was given and the area cleared before the bomb exploded. A small fire followed, which, was quickly dealt with by firemen who had been standing by.

Friday June 22nd 1973 Murdered man found in a sack A Belfast doctor told an inquest that he discovered that a sack at the rear of his home contained the body of an assassination victim. An open verdict was returned on Patrick Vincent Devanny (27), a Roman Catholic, of Balfour Avenue, who was found murdered at Rugby Road near Queen’s University on the morning of August 31 last. Devanny had served in the British Army from 1965 to 1968 but was discharged because of ill health. The coroner said this was another assassination victim who had been killed in traditional style of one bullet through the back of the head and one through the forehead.

Open verdicts were also returned on two other Catholics who were murdered in a Tate’s Avenue off-licence in Belfast, where they worked on October 13th last year. They were John Duffy (35) of London Street and Thomas Marron (58) of Gransha Avenue.

A detective told the court that on the night they were killed, two young men wearing balaclava helmets and combat jackets entered the off-licence and made the two employees and a young man lie on the floor. The killers then shot their victims at close range with .38 and .45 Webley revolvers. The detective said the third person was a Roman Catholic student who later recovered from his wounds and was now living in Dublin. Duffy died shortly after the shooting and Marron several days later in hospital. The court was told one of the guns used in the double killing was found recently in the possession of a youth and police enquiries were continuing.

Friday June 22nd 1973 Youth who helped hotel evacuation is praised A Belfast coroner has commended a youth who helped to evacuate the Imperial Hotel, Belfast, before a bomb exploded outside it without warning, killing two innocent civilians.

Open verdicts were returned on Mrs. Anne Murray (54), of Cliftonpark Avenue, and Mr. Andrew McKibben (28), of Sunningdale Gardens. Both had received multiple injuries in the bomb blast. Seamus Perry (19) was leaving the hotel at 11 o’clock when he noticed a Ford Anglia Estate parked against a wall of the building. He became alarmed when he saw smoke coming from it and he ran back into the hotel and warned the occupants. He was on the top floor helping to evacuate the building when the bomb exploded demolishing part of it.

Saturday June 23rd 1973 40lb bomb wrecks Army post in Derry A booby-trap bomb hidden under an old jumper wrecked an Army post beside one of Derry’s city centre security gates. A soldier on duty spotted the 40lb parcel bomb, which was wired to explode when a door to the post was opened.

An Army expert was using a robot device when it went off. Two soldiers were slightly injured in the blast, which demolished the post and the large security gates beside it at Butcher Gate leading to the Bogside.

Not much to be posted in this East Belfast street

Saturday June 23rd 1973 Husband and wife hit by gunman A husband and wife, both Protestants, were shot in the legs by a passing car in Fife Street off York Road. Both were taken to hospital where they were described as comfortable. The woman received a wound to her right leg and the man was shot in both legs.

Monday June 25th 1973 Falls crowd tried to rescue Shankill men A Roman Catholic crowd went to the rescue of two Shankill Road men being arrested by the Army at Falls Road, Belfast. One of the men who was alleged to have tried to force a bread man at Falls Road into their car at gunpoint, escaped with the help of the crowd, but was arrested later at his home.

Saturday June 23rd 1973 Derry bomb A bomb of about 5lbs caused slight damage to a garage in Brooke Terrace, Derry. The bomb was placed outside the building and police received a warning at 11.15pm. The area was cleared and the bomb exploded half an hour later.

Monday June 25th 1973 Rocket misses target Rockets were fired at the Belcoo and Rosslea police stations in Fermanagh, but no one was hurt and damage was slight. At Belcoo, two Russian made RPG7’s were fired at the station from a point just inside the border. One missed completely and the other glanced off the perimeter security fence.

One of the rockets exploded among a group of council houses nearby, smashing almost all of their windows and pock marking the walls with shrapnel. Luckily none of the families inside, who were all asleep at the time, was hurt.

At the Rosslea police post in Fermanagh, scene of many vicious attacks during the last IRA campaign, a rocket was fired it hit the perimeter fence and caused only minor damage to the station. Shots were also fired at the station but there were no casualties.

Saturday June 23rd 1973 Boy injured by rubber bullet In the Shantallow area of Derry a group of around 20 youths attacked an Army patrol and a young rioter was seen hurling a metal stake in javelin style at the soldiers. One of the rubber bullets fired by troops to disperse the crowd struck an 11 year-old boy, who was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital with head injuries.

Saturday June 23rd 1973 Strabane store bombed In Strabane five masked men were seen by a civilian trying to enter a shop in Main Street, but they failed to get in and left a suitcase bomb at the door before driving off. Police and troops cleared the area and the bomb, containing about 25lbs of explosives, went off shortly afterwards, causing severe damage to Shiels Furniture Store.

Saturday June 23rd 1973 Church bombed Several pews at the Roman Catholic Church in Minorca Place, Carrickfergus, were slightly scorched went an incendiary device went off. Most of the 2lb of material placed on a window sill, blew out harmlessly on to grass, but some fell inside the building and the stained glass windows were slightly damaged Saturday June 23rd 1973 House bombed A blast bomb was thrown at the front door of a house in Clandeboye Place, Bangor. There was only minor damage to the building, which is owned by a Roman Catholic. None of the occupants were injured.

Saturday June 23rd 1973 Nine hundred and ninty nine cases of terrorism in six weeks In the six weeks from the beginning of May to the middle of this month, 999 incidents connected with terrorism were reported to the RUC. These included shootings, explosions, murders, armed robberies, hi-jacking, arms thefts, rocket and mortar attacks and arson.

Monday June 25th 1973 Knock at door brought death A gunman shot dead a 36 year-old Protestant as he opened the front door of his house in Oldpark area of Belfast. Ulster’s latest assassination victim, the 51st this year, was Mr. Joseph Cunningham, a driver who lived at the house in Nore Street with friends.

The killer fired five shots at Mr. Cunningham as he answered a knock on the door. His victim was hit on the chest, neck and kidney. Mr. Cunningham was rushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival. He was the 152nd person to be killed this year and the 831st to die in the present troubles.

Monday June 25th 1973 Landmine defused In Keady an Army bomb expert defused a 150lb landmine packed in three milk churns under a bridge on the Keady-Markethill Road at Tassagh. Security forces were alerted by children who spotted it when they were playing around the bridge. "We are very fortunate the children took the action they did," an Army spokesman said.

Monday June 25th 1973 Controlled explosion Civilians who saw three masked men leave a sack in the doorway of a hardware shop at Ferguson Crescent, Castlederg, alerted a UDR sentry at the police station and raised the alarm. No warning was given about the 10-15lb bomb packed in a meal-bag but an Army expert blew it up with a controlled explosion.

Monday June 25th 1973 Bank bombed The Munster and Lienster Bank in Main Street, Strabane was extensively damaged by a bomb. A 45-minute warning had been given and the area cleared.

No one was hurt. It was the fifth bomb attack in Strabane in nine days and the third to go off in the Main Street in the same period.

Monday June 25th 1973 Hotel targeted Knock-na-moe Castle Hotel, where five soldiers died after a booby-trap bomb exploded in their car, was the scene of another car bomb drama.

A 100-150lb bomb was left in a car abandoned at the front door of the hotel. It was packed in a creamery can and had a clock and battery attached.

Monday June 25th 1973 Man shot A 21 year-old Protestant was hit in the left leg when a gunman shot at him near the M2. Police said the man’s car had broken down near the Greencastle interchange and had gone for assistance when he was shot at. Fortunately he was not seriously hurt.

Monday June 25th 1973 Legion hall bombed The British Legion hall in Ballycastle, used every month as a temporary courthouse, was burned to the ground following an explosion inside the building Monday June 25th 1973 Man denies killing Moane A Shankill man denied murdering a Roman Catholic drinks traveller when the trial entered its seventh day. The 39 year-old unemployed man from Montreal Street said he did not kill Mr. Moane (46), of Ailesbury Drive, at Knockagh War Memorial on May 17 last year.

Two other Shankill men, a 20 year-old labourer of Argyle Street and an unemployed 25 year-old driver of Ainsworth Street have also pleaded not guilty to the murder.

Tuesday June 26th 1973 Dance girl dies with Paddy Wilson Senator Paddy Wilson, Belfast city councillor and leading SDLP member, and a woman he was giving a lift home to were brutally stabbed to death at a lonely quarry on the city’s outskirts. Police and soldiers found the bodies at the quarry on the Hightown Road following an anonymous tip off to the News Letter offices by a man claiming to represent the Ulster Freedom Fighters. Mr Wilson and Miss Irene Andrews (29), a Protestant, one of Belfast’s well known ballroom dancers, where lying on each side of his BMC Mini at the entrance to the quarry at Ballyveson. It is understood that Mr. Wilson had been stabbed five times in the head, throat and chest. Miss Andrews is thought to have had three stab wounds. The Senator is one of the few politicians who never carried a gun for his own protection and this was widely known. He made no secret of it.

Tuesday June 26th 1973 Man shot dead in Derry A Pakistani man was shot dead in the Lone Moore Road area of Derry. First reports were that the man, a civilian employed at the Bligh’s Lane Army post was shot dead in a van ambushed as it drove along Lone Moore Road. Army headquarters in the city said that the security forces were not involved.

Tuesday June 26th 1973 Bomb in Derry café A bomb left in a plastic bag extensively damaged a Ferryquay Street café in Derry. A 15-minute warning was given to police who cleared the area. Some people were treated for shock, but there were no reports of serious injury.

Irene Andrews

Tuesday June 26th 1973 Letter bomb A letter bomb delivered by post to a policeman’s home in Derry, was detected by the officer, before he opened the envelope. He called in an explosives expert to deal with the bomb.

Tuesday June 26th 1973 Benburb store bombed A Protestant owned Supermarket at Benburb, Dungannon, has been blown up.

Two men entered the store, planted the bomb and shouted a five-minute warning. The raiders fled in a hi-jacked car, which was later found abandoned on the outskirts of the village. A fire, which followed the blast, extensively damaged the store but the area had been cleared and no one was hurt.

Tuesday June 26th 1973 Bar bombed Two masked raiders, one armed with a sub-machinegun, planted a bomb inside a bar at Ballyronan near Coagh and gave a three-minute warning before making their getaway. The bomb went off three minutes later badly damaging the building.

Tuesday June 26th 1973 Car bomb attack Security forces said a car burst into flames as it was passing the Halfway House in Whiteabbey. Four youths in the car jumped clear and ran off seconds before a 5-10lb bomb in the vehicle, now out of control, exploded. The bar and nearby buildings suffered slight blast damage.

Tuesday June 26th 1973 IRA men killed The three IRA men who died when a bomb exploded in a stolen BMC 1100 car on the Gortin Road at Mountjoy East, outside Omagh, have been named in death notices. In the Irish News the three were named as Sean Loughran (37), Joseph Carty (26), both from Dungannon and a Cork man Dermott Crowley.

They were members of the Provos 1st Tyrone Battalion and the notices say they were killed ‘on active service’. Security forces believe the bomb in the car stolen earlier from the Pomeroy area was intended for a target in the Omagh area.

Paddy Wilson

Sean Armstrong

Wednesday June 27th 1973 Letter bomb blows up in Derry lawyer’s hands A Derry Solicitor was injured when a letter bomb delivered through the mail blew up in his hand. The 43 year-old Solicitor, Mr. Scott Carter, is in Altnagelvin Hospital with injuries to his hand and abdomen but a hospital spokesman said he was not seriously hurt.

Mr. Carter is a partner in the firm of Babington and Croasdaile, whose offices in Limavady Road are opposite Ebrington Barracks, headquarters of 8 Infantry Brigade.

The bomb was one of three delivered in the post in Derry the other two were addressed to a policeman and a Private in the Ulster Defence Regiment, but both were suspicious and did not open the envelopes, they were dealt with by an Army bomb disposal expert.

Wednesday June 27th 1973 Paddy Wilson: New riddle over the UFF Detectives hunting the killers of Senator Paddy Wilson and Miss Irene Andrews are still keeping an open mind on the identity of the Ulster Freedom Fighters, who claimed responsibility for the brutal slayings.

For they point to the fact that out of five recent murders the UFF carried out, the victims were not from one religious group. Three were Roman Catholics and two were Protestants. Post-mortem examinations revealed the way in which Mr. Wilson and Miss Andrews were killed after being abducted to the Hightown Road quarry after leaving a city centre bar. Mr. Wilson had been stabbed 30 times and Miss Andrews 20. The assassins had also cut the Senator’s throat.

Mr. Wilson was buried after Mass in the Little Flower Oratory on the Somerton Road and Miss Andrews was buried from Wilton’s funeral parlour, on the Crumlin Road, in Roselawn Cemetery.

Wednesday June 27th 1973 Three Moane killers get life Three killers gave clenched fist salutes and shouted "No surrender", as they were taken from the dock of a Belfast courtroom to begin terms of life imprisonment for murder. The men had been found guilty of the murder of Mr. Bernard Moane.

Wednesday June 27th 1973 Derry patrol ambushed A policeman and a 14 year-old girl were both shot in the legs when a police patrol vehicle was ambushed in Derry.

At least one gunman opened up from across the road when the RUC Land Rover slowed down after a group of children had stoned it in the Carnhill Estate. About 15 shots were fired at the vehicle. One of the bullets that missed the Land Rover hit the girl, who was playing with friends in an old car nearby. She crawled to safety in a nearby house and was taken to hospital. Neither she, or the RUC man, was seriously hurt.

Wednesday June 27th 1973 Man shot dead A 22 year-old Derry man died in Altnagelvin Hospital from gunshot wounds he received. He was Robert McGuinness, of Brandywell Avenue. He was admitted to hospital a short time after a soldier claimed a hit on a man seen with a pistol.

Wednesday June 27th 1973 Man named Police named the Pakistani man shot dead in the Loan Moore Road as Mr. Noor Bazkhan, a businessman who operated a tea service for troops. He was aged about 45 and a native of West Pakistan.

Wednesday June 27th 1973 Newry bomb attack Four men, one with a rifle and another with a revolver, planted a bomb at Rowland and Harris’s garage in Railway Avenue, Newry, but the 60–70lb charge was dealt with by an Army expert. He carried out a controlled explosion, which caused only minimum damage to the building, bombed once before during the troubles.

Thursday June 28th 1973 provos admit shooting The Provisional IRA claimed responsibility for the killing of a Pakistani canteen worker who was shot in the head while driving through the Bogside. The Provisionals claim the man was working for Army intelligence, that he lived in

BELOW LEFT - Car bomb attack at Aldergrove Airport.

BELOW - Troops at the scene of a motar attack at a west Belfast polling station

an Army camp and used his position as a mobile canteen operator as cover. An Army spokesman said the man was a victim of a ‘cold blooded killing by criminals’.

Thursday June 28th 1973 Letter bomb intercepted on way to Legion HQ A letter bomb addressed to the Royal British Legion headquarters was intercepted in the Post Office in Belfast. It had been designed to explode when opened in the Belfast offices in Waring Street. During checks in the sorting office it was detected and an Army expert called in.

Thursday June 28th 1973 Rocket attack A rocket was fired at the Bligh’s Lane Army post from nearby Beechwood Avenue in Derry. Three shots were also fired in the attack but there were no casualties.

Thursday June 28th 1973 RUC man shot at In the Lack-Irvinestown Road at Drumharvey, Irvinestown, two alert members of the RUC traffic branch surprised three men who were transferring a bomb from their mini car to one they had hi-jacked near the town. As the policeman walked back to investigate a gunman opened fire on him. The policeman dived for cover and returned fire on him with his Sterling sub-machinegun as the men jumped into their car and made off.

Thursday June 28th 1973 Bar bombed A masked and armed man walked into the Elk Bar at Aughrin, Castledawson, left a bomb and gave everyone a 15-minute warning. The area was cleared but the bomb did not go off until after midnight.

Friday June 29th 1973 Eight hurt in blast at Aldergrove Eight people were taken to hospital when a car bomb exploded without warning outside the BEA freight depot at Aldergrove Airport. The car bomb was parked beside the canteen and the BEA shed. Seven were treated for shock and one was detained. RUC Headquarters said a telephone warning came 11 minutes after the blast. A fleet of ambulances were rushed from Belfast to Aldergrove after the blast but casualties were not as high as was first feared.

Many BEA staff working in the cargo shed had a narrow escape when the bomb exploded without warning.

Friday June 29th 1973 100lb car bomb wrecks car hire firm’s depot A 100lb car bomb wrecked a car hire firm’s building and damaged scores of others in Belfast city centre. An anonymous tip off sent police and troops rushing to Clarke’s Lane off York Street. They found a hi-jacked Anglia Van containing two oil drums packed with explosives. Frantic efforts were made to clear a large area of York Street and Corporation Street as Army explosives experts prepared a controlled explosion. The blast wrecked McCausland’s Car Hire building, blowing off the roofing and tearing down the steel structure at the rear. A bystander was cut by flying glass and rushed to hospital as hundreds of windows were shattered.

Friday June 29th 1973 Mortar attack on polling station IRA bombers launched a mortar attack on a polling station in West Belfast. A young soldier who shouted a warning to people in the playground of Kelvin Secondary School seconds before a mortar bomb exploded, saved them from injury and possibly death. Security forces said three explosions were heard near the school, which is in the Roden Street area of Belfast and one mortar exploded in front of the building as about 20 people were going to vote at the polling station inside. The projectile thought to have been fired from the Leeson Street area, caused only minor damage and the polls stayed open.

"This is one of the worst cases of intimidation we have ever seen at an election", an RUC spokesman said. "The only objective was to stop people from voting".

Friday June 29th 1973 Derry polling station attacked Voters entering St. Patrick’s School in the Shantallow area of Derry had to dive for cover when a gunman fired seven shots at the building from the direction of Carnhill Estate. Some of the school windows were broken and a bullet struck a wall inches above the heads of a policeman and a civilian standing outside.

Luckily no one was hurt.

Friday June 29th 1973 Bomb attacks An Army robot was sent in to deal with a hi-jacked car in Monaghan Street, Newry. The car, a white BMC 1800 had been hi-jacked at Ballyholland, about three miles from the town and there were anonymous phone calls to police that it was booby-trapped. An Army spokesman said the bomb was believed to contain 40-50lbs. A 20lb duffle bag bomb extensively damaged a petrol station on the Castledawson Road last night but no one was hurt.

A 10-20lb bomb in a suitcase outside Carlin’s Record Shop in Hill Street, Newry was dealt with by a controlled explosion.

Friday June 29th 1973 Eire police warning to Provos on funeral A senior Garda officer warned Provisional republican supporters that action will be taken against them if they attempted to carry firearms or fire shots during the funeral of Dermot Crowley, who is one of three men killed when their car blew up near Omagh. Chief Superintendent Patrick Power approached the colour party accompanying the hearse at last night’s removal of the remains to a Roman Catholic Church in Mayfield, Cork, and delivered the warning.

A large force of uniformed and special branch Gardai was on duty but there were no incidents.

Saturday June 30th 1973 Victim of killer was man of peace A voluntary worker, Mr. Sean Armstrong, who arranged holidays away from the troubles for hundreds of Ulster children, became the latest victim of the violence he so much wanted to see end.

For 31 year-old Mr. Armstrong, the Northern Ireland Field Officer of International Voluntary Service died in hospital soon after he was shot six times by a gunman who burst into his flat in the city’s University area.

Married only a week ago the former PTQ editor of the Queen’s University student rag magazine – had just returned to the Eglantine Avenue flat with his American born wife, Moira, after their honeymoon. A lone gunman walked into the three-storey terraced house and asked a woman in a downstairs flat where Sean Armstrong lived. Then he coolly walked upstairs, knocked on the door, and, when the social worker answered, shot him six times. The killer then made off in the Malone Road direction.

Saturday June 30th 1973 Teenager seriously injured by gunman Car gunmen seriously injured a Roman Catholic teenager in an assassination attempt on Belfast’s Antrim Road. Seventeen year-old Sean Keenan was the latest victim of the gun squads operating in North Belfast. He was hit in the chest and seriously wounded when gunmen in a car opened fire on him near Annadale Street. An Army doctor was quickly on the scene and was able to give the youth a blood transfusion before an ambulance arrived.

"The doctor was able to keep the boy alive because he was carrying all the equipment he needed to meet the emergency," an Army spokesman said.

Saturday June 30th 1973 Shadow falls over the new assembly The election of a powerful lock of Anti-White Paper candidates cast fresh doubts on whether the new Northern Ireland Assembly will work. Late this afternoon with just 12 of the 78 Assembly seats still to be filled, the Paisley-Craig Loyalist Coalition and Anti-White Paper Unionists had claimed 24 successes.

Saturday June 30th 1973 Assassination attempt What might have been another assassination attempt happened in Castle Street, Belfast, when two men entered the Hercules Bar, went over to a customer and

tried to force him outside. The man managed to break free and ran towards two RUC men manning a security point nearby at Queen Street. The gunmen fired two shots after him. One hit the man in the thigh and a UDR man was hit in the arm but none was seriously hurt.

Saturday June 30th 1973 Bar attacked Customers in a Public House at Darragh Cross, Crossgar, had a narrow escape when a pipe bomb was thrown into the bar. The bomb landed in the snug bouncing off a man’s arm, the man grabbed his wife and made for the door. The bomb went off before they reached safety and the woman received minor leg injuries.

Some other people in the bar were treated for minor cuts and shock.

Saturday June 30th 1973 Controlled explosion An Army bomb expert carried out two controlled explosions at Monaghan Street, Newry. The first charge blew open the doors of a hi-jacked Post Office van which had been abandoned and a second was to split up a large bomb in the vehicle. Slight damage was caused to adjoining property by the blasts.