Pop Goes Northern Ireland

1970 - the "honeymoon period" the army enjoyed with the Catholic community begins to sour as sectarian tensions rise

This episode of Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1973. Northern Ireland is suffering unrelenting violence and the UDA becomes increasingly involved in sectarian murder. The UDA is also convulsed by internal feuds which result in the murder of one its most prominent spokesmen, Tommy Herron. Meanwhile, having held a border poll - boycotted by nationalists - the government's White Paper proposes elections to an Assembly, the creation of a power-sharing executive and the establishment of North-South institutions. The Unionist party splits on whether to support the White Paper, but its leader Brain Faulkner, despite eroding support, agrees to a power-sharing executive and to a North-South Council of Ireland at Sunningdale. The year ends with the swearing in of the new power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.

This week Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1976. This is one of the worst years of violence during the Troubles, and the year starts with a litany of sectarian assassinations, most notably the Kingsmill Massacre. In a final effort to seek agreement on a government for Northern Ireland the government recalls the Constitutional Convention, but it fails to reach any agreement. The government moves toward a policy of 'Ulsterisation', putting the RUC and the UDR increasingly in the frontline and reducing the role of the army. In August, one incident involving the killing of the three Maguire children sparks mass protests against violence and the creation of the peace people. However, the initial euphoria that the movement will bring peace to Northern Ireland soon evaporates.

This episode focuses on 1984. The violence continues across Northern Ireland and March sees the attempted murder of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who is shot by the UDA. May brings the publication of the New Ireland Forum report, which advocates a United Ireland but also suggests a federal Ireland, or joint authority, over Northern Ireland by the Irish and British governments. Sean Downes is killed in August by a plastic bullet when the RUC try to arrest Noraid leader Martin Galvin in west Belfast, while September sees the Marita Ann, a boat carrying seven tonnes of arms for the IRA, intercepted by the Irish navy. In October, an IRA bomb at the Grand Hotel, Brighton, kills five people, and the year comes to a close with the prime minister bluntly rejecting all the recommendations of the New Ireland Forum report.

This week Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1987. Unionists continue their campaign against the Anglo-Irish Agreement, launching a petition demanding a NI referendum. A feud breaks out between the INLA and breakaway faction the IPLO, which costs the lives of 13 people. The funerals of IRA men are marked by confrontation between mourners and the RUC, who are trying to prevent paramilitary displays. Lord Justice Gibson is the victim of an IRA bomb attack and eight IRA men are killed by the SAS during an attack on Loughgall RUC station. In November, the French authorities seize 150 tonnes of Libyan weapons bound for the IRA and an IRA bomb explodes at the Cenotaph during the annual Remembrance Day ceremony, killing 11 people. In December, UDA leader John McMichael is killed by an IRA car bomb - it is believed that some members of the UDA assisted the IRA.

This week Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1990. The year starts with secretary of state for NI Peter Brooke calling for all-party talks. The Stevens Inquiry's offices are destroyed by fire and the Stevens team continues with its work uncovering collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. The Supreme Court in Dublin refuses to extradite a number of prominent republicans and the violence continues, with four UDR officers killed in one attack. Ian Gow, a Conservative MP and friend of Margaret Thatcher, is also killed by the IRA. September sees two joyriders shot dead by an army patrol and Private Lee Clegg is charged with murder. Autumn sees a upsurge in violence culminating in the murder of six soldiers and one civilian caused by two IRA "human bombs". Mary Robinson becomes the first woman to be elected president of Ireland and on the same day Peter Broke declares that the government has "no selfish strategic or economic interest" in Northern Ireland and Margaret Thatcher resigns as prime minister, to be replaced by John Major.

This episode focuses on 1992. The year starts badly when an IRA bomb kills seven protestant builders at Teebane crossroads. In the following month an off-duty RUC officer shoots three people dead at a Sinn Fein office before killing himself. Two days later the UDA kill five people at a betting office on the Ormeau Road. In the general election, the Conservatives are re-elected to government, while in the same election Gerry Adams loses his west Belfast seat to the SDLP. An IRA bomb at the Baltic Exchange kills three people and causes massive financial damage to the City of London. In August, the UDA is banned by the government, while the all-party (Brooke-Mayhew) talks end without any breakthrough. December sees the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Sir Patrick Mayhew, state that Sinn Fein could join talks if there was a permanent IRA ceasefire.

This episode focuses on 1995. The IRA and Loyalist ceasefires are still in place but the 'peace process' is stalled over the issue of decommissioning. The government insists that the IRA must begin decommissioning its weapons before Sinn Fein can take part in all-party talks. Meanwhile, Orange parades have become a source of tension and violent confrontation on the Lower Ormeau Road and most spectacularly at Drumcree. July sees a stand-off between the police and Orange Order defused when Nationalist residents agree to allow the march to go down the Garvaghy Road, subject to restrictions. The Irish and British governments agree a policy to progress the peace process, and President Clinton arrives in Belfast to give his support to the deal. The IRA start to shoot alleged drug dealers using the cover name Direct Action Against Drugs, leaving the ceasefire in the balance.