The Troubles (Ireland)/Timelines

Timeline of The Troubles in Northern Ireland

1962: Due to lack of support, the IRA calls off their campaign of violence 1964: Patricia McCluskey forms the Campaign for Social Justice 1966: A Catholic man is murdered by paramilitaries calling themselves the "Ulster Volunteer Force" (UVF); Gusty Spence is later found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder; the UVF is proscribed by the Northern Ireland government shortly after 1967: The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) is founded 1968 - March: The Derry Housing Action Committee begin a series of protests to against alleged discrimination against Catholics as regards to housing 1968 - October: A demonstration march planned by the Derry Housing Action Committee proceeds, despite a ban by the government; NICRA reluctantly back the march; the march ends in violence with much of it being captured on film and televised; a march of student of mixed religious background takes place in Belfast, leading to the formation of the Peoples' Democracy (PD) 1968 - November: Terence O’Neill introduces a five-point plan aimed at addressing some of the concerns expressed by NICRA; a civil rights march takes place in Armagh at which some 2,000 loyalists turn up to counter-protest; the loyalists are searched by police who uncover two revolvers and many improvised weapons 1968 - December: O’Neill makes his “Ulster stands at the crossroads” speech, in a televised appeal to the people of Northern Ireland; In response, the DCAC, NICRA and the Nationalist Party call off further street protests; William Craig is sacked from his position in government as a result of attacking O’Neill’s speech 1969 - January: Against the advice of NICRA, the PD began a march from Belfast, which culminated in an attack by loyalists at Burntollet Bridge near Londonderry 1969 - February: Ian Paisley stands for election against O'Neill in the Bannside constituency gaining a significant minority, but ultimately losing 1969 - April: Bernadette Devlin of the PD stands for and wins a by-election in Mid-Ulster, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Westminster at the age of 21; 1,500 soldiers are put on duty to guard against attacks on public buildings and utilities; the Northern Ireland government announces the introduction of universal adult suffrage for local government elections; O'Neill resigns as Prime Minister 1969 - May: James Chichester-Clark succeeds O'Neill as Prime Minister; Chichester-Clark announces that he will continue the plans for reform and also a change to local government boundaries, to be drawn up by an independent commission; an amnesty is given to everyone who committed criminal offences in connection with demonstrations, marches and protests since the 5th of October, 1968 1969 - August: Soldiers reinforce an exhausted police force throughout Northern Ireland and are initially well-received in Roman Catholic areas; Gerald McCauley, 15, becomes the first member of the IRA to be killed during the Troubles; the Electoral Law Act (NI) is passed which reduces the age of voting to 18 and introduces universal adult suffrage ("one man, one vote"); the British government issue a policy statement known as the Downing Street Declaration; the Northern Ireland government initiates a tribunal known as the Scarman Report 1969 - September: Chichester-Clark announces the erection in parts of Belfast of the first 'peace-lines'; the report of the Cameron Commission is published 1969 - October: The reserve police force, the B Specials, are announced as being disbanded; Victor Arbuckle becomes the first policeman to be killed as a result of the Troubles 1969 - December: Legislation is installed at Westminster for the creation of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR); The IRA "Provisional Army Council" announce a split, with Sinn Féin openly splitting some days later near the beginning of the following month 1970 - April: Paisley contests Bannside again, and wins; the moderate and cross-religious Alliance Party is formed 1971: Paisley and Desmond Boal announce the formation of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 1971 - August: Loyalist vigilantes consolidate to form the Ulster Defence Association