TROUBLESThe

A CHRONOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONFLICT

MAY - JUNE

19731973MAY - JUNE

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 engagedin conflict with England for centuries.

Therefore, in order to compile a chronological record of the modern Troubles - the term usuallygiven to the most recent conflict, we must mark a defining point of start, which we have takenas partition itself and from which we began in. In turn again, we feel it is equally importantto give you the reader some understanding why events spiralled as they did into a bloody civilwar.

This is not another view of the Troubles, this has been done and redone. This is the historicalrecording of events compiled by people from different parts of Belfast who lived throughthem. Our objective as local historians is to compile what we hope will be as near as possiblea 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 howeveryou feel that we have either left something out or indeed got something wrong we are morethan happy to hear from you. As mentioned above this series of publications is the historicalrecording of the Troubles and all corrections are more than welcome.

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Tel: (028) 9020 2100 • Fax: (028) 9020 2227E-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 anymaterial from them. All that we ask is that the source is acknowledged and a copy of thematerial 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 youclaim credit for something that has appeared in this publication then we will be happy toknow about it so that we can make the appropriate acknowledgements.

BELFAST NEWSLETTERVarious issues for period covered

BELFAST TELEGRAPHVarious issues for period covered

IRISH NEWSVarious issues for period covered

SOURCE MATERIALFor back issues of the singleTroubles Magazine visit the

Glenravel stall every Friday morningat St George's Market. You may

also obtain them at our website atwww.troublesmagazine.com where

sold out issues can also bedownloaded.

E-Mail: info@troublesmagazine.com

MAY 1973

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

Tuesday 1st May 1973UDA member is to be extraditedUDA member, Robert William Taylor from Derry, is to be extradited to Eirewhere he is wanted for questioning in connection with the double murder inCo. Donegal last New Year’s Day.Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Lowry and Mr Justice McGonigal and MrJustice Gibson dismissed Taylor’s appeal against an extradition order grantedby a resident magistrate at Coleraine, and also his application for a writ ofhabeas corpus to show cause why he should not be released.Sir Robert, in a written judgment, said the evidence in the last case was totallyimprecise and lacking in detail. Even the most favourable construction whichit would bear afforded no support for an argument based on any definition ofan offence of a political character.Taylor, an 18-year-old apprentice bricklayer of Shearwater Way, Clooney, iswanted by Garda for questioning in connection with the death of Oliver Boyceand Breige Porter, both of whom were found shot dead at Drumadoony,Burnfoot on January 1st.

Tuesday 1st May 1973Taylor 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 BritishGovernment’s proposals was sentencing Ulster to long-term violence.He had called for a new White Paper which would take more fully into accountthe wishes of the majority of Northern Ireland people.Mr Taylor was one of three anti-White Paper candidates for the AssemblyElections nominated last night by Fermanagh-South Tyrone UnionistAssociation. The Mid Ulster constituency association has also given thethumbs-down sign to the White Paper.And it was revealed that a meeting of Loyalists in West Belfast, includingOfficial Unionists, and members of Vanguard, UDA and LAW, yesterdayadvocated total rejection of the White Paper and agreed to support onlycandidates who will sign an undertaking pledging themselves to the UnitedLoyalist Front. A statement from the group said the White Paper containeddevious methods of obtaining a united Ireland, which could not be acceptedby the loyalist majority.

Tuesday 1st May 1973‘Civvies’ for pupils who pass trouble areasSome boys at a leading Belfast Grammar school who have been running intotrouble on their way to and from school through disturbed areas, are beingtold that they need no longer wear their uniforms.The pupils concerned attend the Royal Belfast Academical Institution andfor some time now have been receiving police protection through parts of thecity. The Headmaster of ‘Inst’, Mr Victor Preskett, said today that this wasnot overall policy with his pupils. He added: "What has happened, as far as Iknow, is that one or two boys asked their housemaster if the rules governingschool uniform could be relaxed because they had to pass through troubledparts of the city. It is up to the housemasters to consider each case".

Tuesday 1st May 1973Army check bomb in post officeA suspect bomb packed into a mail sack was smuggled through tight securityinto 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 thoughtto have been put into a Post Office van somewhere in West Belfast, withoutthe driver knowing. The depot is inside the gated zone around the formerGrand Central Hotel where a unit of the Royal Artillery is billeted.Several fire appliances were standing by as the Army experts moved in toexamine the device.

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

Tuesday 1st May 1973Man remandedA Belfast man, of Oldpark Avenue, was remanded in custody until May 15thcharged 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 LittleDonegall Street on February 3rd.

Tuesday 1st May 1973Women hit by bulletsA 50-year-old Aughnacloy woman was seriously injured when gunmen firedseveral shots into her home just before midnight.The Aughnacloy woman, a Roman Catholic was hit in the thigh and backafter gunmen fired several shots through the window of her house inShanalurg. Police believe two gunmen took part in the attack.

Tuesday 1st May 1973Bar blastsTwo of the bar staff at the Brown Horse public house in Library Street hadlucky escape when an explosion rocketed the building. The two were insidethe building when a bomb went off, but neither was hurt. A number ofcustomers had left the bar just before the explosion.Police believe the device was either placed at the front door of the bar, one ofthe city centre’s best known, or hurled from a passing car.

Earlier another public house was targeted. Two youths placed a gas cylinderwith a burning fuse at the front of McIlhatton’s bar in Durham Street. Theblast 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 1973Tyrone man jailed for eight yearsA 19 year old man from Drumrallagh, Strabane, was jailed for eight yearswhen found guilty at Tyrone County Court in Omagh yesterday on threecharges arising from the possession of a rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition.The charges followed a shooting incident near Strabane on the night ofDecember 27th.The court was told that three soldiers waited in ambush for two men whomthey had earlier seen carrying rifles. The men were challenged to stop andwhen they did not do so the soldiers fired. The 19-year-old man was seriouslywounded and another Strabane man Eugene Martin Devlin, was killed.

Tuesday 1st May 1973IRA man who skipped bail loses £500An IRA man who appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Court was ordered to forfeithis 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 herefused 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 accusedof possessing 200 Post Office Giro cheques and obtaining £300 by usingsimilar cheques.

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

Tuesday 1st May 1973UDR man killed as wife waved to himUDR Colour Sgt. John Ruddy was gunned down in a hail of assassins’ bulletswhile 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 fieldon his way to his job as a storeman at Newry UDR depot. His wife usuallysaw him off and waved to him from the back door of their home. The sergeanthad almost come to the main road when the gunmen struck and he was hit byeight bullets from an M1 carbine.The trial started in Downpatrick yesterday of a 19-year-old chef of SouthEnd Terrace, Newry, who is accused of murdering the 50-year-old part-timesoldier on October 10th last year. Before the hearing started, a capital murdercharge was withdrawn after legal submissions by defence counsel. The mannow faces a non-capital murder charge. Crown Prosecutor Mr LiamMcCollum, QC, said that although the man did not fire the fatal shots, heplayed a vital role in setting up the ambush. "That he knew the nature of thecrime, makes him guilty as an accessory before the fact," said the prosecutor.

Tuesday 1st May 1973Bid to aid bombed-outThe Northern Ireland annual delegate conference of the Irish Congress ofTrade Unions next week will be asked to support a move to enable shopworkers to claim compensation for loss of wage increases where shops havebeen closed because of bombings.

Tuesday 1st May 1973Mother’s expression foiled escapeA self-confessed UVF man was jailed for a year at Down Assizes for tryingto 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 anearlier court on arms charges.Another 19 year-old of Halliday’s Road, Belfast was given a six-monthsentence for helping in the escape bid. The court heard that the 19 year-oldprisoner 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 homenoticed the switch.A prisoner officer became suspicious when he saw the expression on themothers face and took the prisoner back into the jail where a role call revealedthe switch-over. Mr John McKee, Crown prosecutor, told the court that thewoman had signed a bail bond for her son – but the man brought to the prisongates to meet her was an impostor.

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

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

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

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

Tuesday 1st May 1973Falls Road kidnap chargeA man appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s court charged with kidnapping amotorist on the Falls Road.The 22 year-old from Ballymurphy Road, is accused of kidnapping themotorist at the Falls Road-Donegall Road junction yesterday morning.A detective told the court that the motorist had slowed down at the DonegallRoad junction when two men, one armed with a pistol, kidnapped him. Hewas driven in his own car to a shed and questioned about his work for threehours before being released.

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

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

Tuesday 1st May 19732 on triple murder bid chargeA 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 attemptedmurder of three men at Cliftonville Road last September. The 33 year-old ofEnfield Parade was alleged to have told a detective "I am a lieutenant colonelin charge of the UDA on the Shankill and in Co.Armagh, and assassination isnot 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 endangerlife, and having a stolen police pistol.

Tuesday 1st May 1973Youth remanded on explosives chargeA 17 year-old student of Hampstead Park, Derry was returned for trial incustody to Londonderry Assizes next month. The 17 year-old appeared at aspecial court in the city charged with causing an explosion at the car salesand services premises of Joseph Lucas Ltd., Duncreggan Road, on July 12thlast year. The court was told that the damage amounted to about half a millionpounds. He was also charged with possessing a .45 revolver on the sameoccasion. He remained silent throughout the hearing and when asked if hewished to say anything in answer to the charges he shook his head.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973Faulkner refuses to budge on PaperIn a statement today to try to sort out confused Unionists attitudes to AssemblyElections, party leader Mr Brian Faulkner that to oppose every proposal of theWhite Paper and to reject it’s framework entirely completely would beunreasonable, anti-British and anti-Union.He also insisted that the White Paper many of the fundamentals of Unionismand 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 setoff down that dark and dangerous path way from Britain, then the electorate atlarge should be aware of the implications of being totally against the WhitePaper and should know that the term ‘Unionist’ or ‘Loyalist’ could not possiblybe applied to such a crazy course of action".It was Mr Faulkner’s reply to the week-end rejection of the White Paper by theOrange Order which said it contained the seeds of Ulster’s destruction and alsoto the considerable number of Unionist associations that have issued a blanketcondemnation of the British Government’s proposals.

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

Wednesday 2nd May 1973Youth found shot dead in quarryDetectives are trying to establish the identity of a young man found murderednear a disused quarry on the outskirts of Belfast.This latest victim of the assassination squads was found shot twice through thehead and once in the chest in a minor road at Carnmoney.

ABOVE - The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Ramseyviewing the burnt out houses in the Ardoyne area ofNorth Belfast.LEFT - Bomb attack on the Marshall’s Garage inBelfast’s Bedford Street

Wednesday 2nd May 1973Antrim bomb heroAn assistant in an Antrim newsagent’s shop risked his life when he carried anunexploded gas cylinder bomb out of the premises and left it on a nearbyriverbank. The bomb had been thrown through a window in the HorseshoeShop in Dublin Road. It was later defused by an Army expert. The shop ownerMr Lawrence McKenna, said his assistant found the bomb when he opened thepremises at 7.30 am. "He doesn’t want his name disclosed, but it was a verybrave thing to do," he said.

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

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

Wednesday 2nd May 1973Blasts: Ten in London courtMaximum security precautions were in force today at Lambeth Court today asten people were remanded in custody for a week on charges made after theLondon bomb explosions on March 8.Three girls and seven men all with addresses in the North, are accused ofconspiring together with others to cause explosions likely to endanger life orseriously damage property.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973Probe into P.O. bombs riddleInvestigations were going on today into how two bombs were smuggled into thePost Office sorting depot in the centre of Belfast yesterday.The bombs each weighing about 30lbs were discovered in mail sacks by a workersorting mail in the depot in Berry Street at the rear of the main Post Office inRoyal Avenue.The office is behind the Grand Central Hotel where troops are now billeted andsecurity 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 vansomewhere in the city without the driver knowing, and he unwittingly broughtthem in for sorting.Each bomb was in a sack and was well packed around the sides.

Wednesday 2nd May 1973Protestants clash with troops after Derry rallyEight soldiers were hurt as angry Protestants confronted troops in the Watersidearea of Derry last night.The rioting in the Irish Street estate came after a meeting addressed by theReverend Ian Paisley, protesting against the granting of an extradition order inthe Belfast High Court yesterday against an 18 year-old Derry youth wanted inquestioning in Eire about a double murder in Donegal last New Year’s Eve.After the protest meeting, which the Army estimated was attended by about200, a crowd of more than 100 marched to Waterside RUC station where adeputation handed in a petition.

Fire bomb attack on Andrews Car Showroom atSmithfield Square, Belfast

The crowd returned to Irish Street where a section broke away and started bystoning 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 anArmy spokesman, a girl was beating a NCO over the head with a brick and hehad to be rescued by a colleague with the aid of a baton. The crowd then tried toget through to the predominantly Roman Catholic Gobnascale estate nearby butwere held back by troops.Shortly by 11 pm there was a concerted attack on troops, and during this time anArmy spokesman said three thunder flashes were thrown at soldiers.Eight soldiers were injured and two of them were taken to hospital. One wasdetained overnight for observation and one was discharged after treatment. Twoarrests were made.

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

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

Wednesday 2nd May 1973School and pub are targets for bombsBombers struck at a Coleraine School, a Carrickfergus public house and aStrabane café as the violence continued throughout the North last night.And in other incidents rockets were fired at troops in the Claudy area, anOrange Hall on the outskirts of Larne was destroyed by fire and two Protestantmen were found beaten up in West Belfast.

Strabane: An Army expert worked for several hours to defuse a 10 lb bombfound in the kitchen of the Piccolo Café in Abercorn Square. The bomb, thefifth 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 butsecurity forces said there were no reports of casualties or damage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

LEFT - Sgt-Major Ronnie Vines on his wedding daywho died in an IRA bomb attack.RIGHT - Bomb attack on Expandite on Belfast’sAntrim Road

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

Wednesday 2nd May 1973Re-trial orderedThe trial of a Newry man accused of murdering a UDR sergeant ended abruptlylast 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 are-trial of Thomas Anthony O’Hanlon start next week.O’Hanlon (19), a chef, of South End Terrace, has denied the murder of UDRColour Sergeant John Ruddy (50), on October 10 last year.

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

Thursday 3rd May 1973Stop Faulkner Election-CallSouth Down Unionists began an attempt today to block the nomination of partyleader Mr Brian Faulkner as a candidate in the Assembly elections.In a statement, the central committee of South Down Imperial UnionistAssociation urged that each divisional association in the constituency shouldhave an undertaking from it’s candidate that he or she will be committed torenegotiating the White Paper.The central committee has expressed its "complete rejection of the WhitePaper".

Thursday 3rd May 1973Soldier shot in Derry diesA solider who was shot in the Brandywell area of Derry yesterday afternoondied 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 inthe head by two bullets while on foot patrol at the junction of Foyle Road andBishop Street. A married man, with two young children, he came from Pontypriddin Glamorganshire.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Murdered man was kidnappedThe man found murdered yesterday morning was kidnapped as he left his girl-friends 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 adisused quarry on the Ballyduff Road early yesterday.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Murder attempt: two not guiltyTwo men charged with attempted murder of three Roman Catholics at CliftonvilleRoad last September were cleared on all charges by a jury at Belfast CityCommission today. But on walking from the dock, the two accused – one ofthem claiming to be a lieut. in the UDA – were re-arrested by detectives underthe Special Powers Act.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Four injured in Ulster gun attacksThree soldiers and a young man were shot and wounded and a Randalstowngarage was wrecked by a bomb during IRA violence throughout the North lastnight.The first Army casualty was at St. Katherine’s Road in the Falls area. A patrolof the Second Light Infantry was moving along an alleyway when a burst ofshots hit one soldier in the arm and leg. Fire was not returned. The injuredman’s condition was later said to be not serious.This shooting was followed by several sniper attacks on Army observation postsin the Oldpark area of the city. The first attack was on the Louisa Street-GlenparkStreet 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 postOldpark Road-Roseapenna Drive. On each occasion soldiers returned fire butno hits were claimed and there were no Army casualties.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Children flee as rocket goes astray.At 8.49 children playing in the Highfield estate had a narrow escape when anRPG 7 rocket fired from Ballymurphy went through the roof of a house at HighGreen. The rocket was fired at the Army post at Blackmountain school but missedits target.At the same time 15 high velocity shots were fired at the Army post at SpringhillAvenue. No one was injured in either incident.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Sniper fired on.Sniper attacks on the Army continued throughout the city extending to the TurfLodge area where a soldier spotted a gunman in St. Patrick’s Training Schoolgrounds. The soldier fired at the man but did not hit him and the gunman re-turned one round.

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

Thursday 3rd May 1973Man injuredA 46-year-old man suffering from lacerations was treated in the Royal VictoriaHospital after an explosion and gunfire were heard in the Thistle Street area. Apolice spokesman said the explosion was apparently caused by a blast bomb.The man was later released from hospital.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Troops open fire on carA car being driven down the Mountpottinger Road turned when it saw a patrolof soldiers at Vulcan Street. Three shots were fired from the car at civilians andthe soldiers returned the fire hitting the car twice but the gunmen made off. Asecond Army casualty came when a sniper fired six shots at an Army vehiclecheckpoint at Glenveagh Drive, Glen Road. One soldier was shot in the arm buthis injury was not serious

At 10.30 gunmen claimed their third Army casualty when a sniper opened firefrom the roof of a building in Dungannon on a mobile patrol. The condition ofthe injured soldier was later said to be satisfactory. His colleagues did notreturn fire. In Lisburn, shortly after midnight a UDR mobile patrol was fired onat Mooresbridge on the Hillsborough Road. Fortunately none of the patrol wasinjured and fire was not returned.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Loyalist prisoners in rooftop protestA number of loyalist prisoners protested last night on the roof of Crumlin Roadjail 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 sprayedwith water in an attempt to bring them down. The demonstration started at 5.30and lasted several hours. Six of the men were returned to their cells by policeand prison warders after an hour, but others joined the three remaining and theystayed on the roof until dusk, singing loyalist songs as a crowd collected outsidethe jail waving Union Jacks. The men finally returned to their cells.The protest was made against the High Court dismissal of an appeal against anextradition order on Robert William Taylor (18), who is wanted for questioningin Eire about the murder of a youth and a girl in Donegal on January 1st.

Thursday 3rd May 1973Official IRA will wage civil war – UDAThe Official IRA is preparing for a civil war and will prove the greatest dangerto Ulster, the UDA vice-chairman, Mr. Tommy Herron, warned a loyalistmeeting in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, last night.Mr. Herron said that the Officials were training in the midlands of SouthernIreland, around Mullingar, with weapons such as grenade-launchers, mortarsand mines, which were designed for use against civilians.He said’ "Loyalists will find that the Official IRA will be our most formidable

LEFT - Booby trap bomb attack on a police mans carin Belfast’s Eglantine Avenue.ABOVE - Bomb attack on the depot of Nestle, Crosse& Blackwell on Belfast’s Limestone Road

foe. They are shrewder, sharper and they plan things better. "They are traininglike 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 thatthe Army had orders not to interfere with them. He claimed that an Official IRAmember recently dropped a gun from his coat by accident as an Army patrolwas 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 havenobody. "The Protestant politicians don’t shout loudly enough for us. Unlessthe VUPP succeeds, and they put people in who will help us, the fight that isgoing to come will be one sided against us."

Friday 4th May 1973I will not resign, says FaulknerMr. Brian Faulkner made it clear to Unionist delegates today that he will notgive up the party leadership voluntarily. He told 200 delegates to the standingcommittee: "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 fighthis corner.

Friday 4th May 1973Garage man is hero on double blast dayA garage employee carried a large bomb into the street a short time before itexploded in the centre of Belfast today. Minutes later a second bomb, placed onpetrol tanks at another garage nearby, went off, badly damaging the showroom.No one was injured in either of the explosions, which happened in the BedfordStreet area, close to the City Hall.

Friday 4th May 1973Digger is bombedA mechanical digger being used for excavation work by the Ministry ofAgriculture at Duemenny outside Strabane was damaged by a bomb.An Army expert destroyed more explosives where they were left in a seconddigger and failed to go off because of a faulty timing device. A can of petrol wasleft beside it.

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

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

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

Friday 4th May 1973700 attend Loyalist rallyAccording to RUC reports, about 700 people attended a rally in Portadown lastnight, called as a protest against the proposed extradition of an 18 year-old Derryyouth the Garda want to questioning connection with a double murder in Donegal.

Friday 4th May 1973Slight damage caused by explosionA bomb which went off without warning outside the telephone exchange atClogher early today caused slight damage to the fire station next door. Policesaid no one was hurt when the bomb went off around 2am and that only a fewwindows in the station were smashed.

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

Friday 4th May 1973Eye for an Eye, warns Herron on extraditionAn eye-for-an-eye warning was given by the vice-chairman of the UDA lastnight over the extradition of an 18 year-old Derry man to Eire.Speaking in Portadown, Mr. Tommy Herron said that those people responsiblefor the extradition of Robert Taylor for questioning in connection with a double

murder in Co. Donegal last year would be punished in accordance with theBiblical text "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."In the audience at the Brownstown estate where 1000 member of the UDA inpara-military uniform and their supporters. There was also a warning for theEire police from Mr. Herron who said that if one of them stepped across theborder into North then "we will take care of him."He pointed out that North had not meddled in the affairs of the Republic butfrom now on "we will start meddling in the affairs of Eire." There wascondemnation from Mr. Herron of the leadership of Mr. Brian Faulkner, and ofthe White Paper which was described as being "anti-British."The parade of men who came from a number of centres in the North was watchedby several thousand people lining Portadown’s main streets. Strong securitymeasures were in operation and there were no incidents. Four bandsaccompanied the parade.

Friday 4th May 1973Police murder second man chargedA second man has been charged with the murder of the ‘Santa Claus’ policemanwho was gunned down while delivering Christmas presents in Lurgan lastDecember.A 22 year-old man of Kilwilkie Road, Lurgan, appeared at Belfast Magistrate’sCourt today, charged with murdering Constable George Chambers at the Kilwilkieestate on December 15th. When charged at Glenravel Street police station theaccused replied he had nothing to do with it.The other man, who faces the same charge, is an 18 year-old unemployed labourerof Cinderford, Gloucester. Both men were remanded in custody for a week.

Friday 4th May 1973Woman’s head was blown off – inquestBelfast Coroners Court was told yesterday that the head and shoulders of awoman was blown a hundred yards in the air when a bomb exploded killingeight people in the Short Strand area of the city last May. Two women and fourmen were blown to pieces when a 70lb bomb exploded without warning inAnderson 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 JohnJoseph McIlhone (17), Clyde Street.A police inspector who arrived at the scene minutes after the blast said – "Thenarrow street was in complete devastation". The inspector said at least 50 homeswere badly damaged when the blast ripped up the street in the early hours of themorning. Number 29 Anderson Street, in which Mrs Clarke lived with her threeyoung children was demolished.A forensic expert, Mr. Robert Hall, said a bomb had exploded beside a car andall those killed must have been close when it exploded.Mr. Hall said the bomb was partly made of nitro benzene and swabs taken fromthe hands of McDonnell and Crawford showed traces of explosives. ConstableGeorge Shirlow, who attended the identification of the bodies, said only fivewere positively identified and the other three were identified by death noticeswhich appeared in a Belfast morning newspaper.The names which appeared were those of Geraldine McMahon, McIlhone andFitzsimmons.A policeman told a court that a revolver and ammunition was found at the sceneof the blast.Verdicts of misadventure were returned on McDonnell, Crawford, Nugent, MrsClarke, Engelen and McIlhone. Open verdicts were returned on the twoteenagers killed in the blast – Geraldine McMahon and Joseph Fitzsimmons.

Saturday 5th May 1973Blasts kill three soldiersThree soldiers died and several others were injured in two separate land-mineexplosions near Crossmaglen in South Armagh today.Two of the soldiers died in the second blast as they were searching the area forbombers who planted a massive land-mine which killed a paratroops sergeant-major three hours earlier.Company Sergeant-Major William Ronnie Vines (36) of the 2nd Paras, was incharge of foot patrol investigating a suspicious mound on the road at Moybaneabout 500 yards from the border when bombers detonated a huge land-mineclose by, killing him almost instantly. Several others were hurt.Extra troops were quickly rushed into the district to hunt for the bombers. Anarmy 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 nearthe scene of the first explosion. They apparently triggered off a booby-trapdevice and two died instantly.An army spokesman said later that both these soldiers were Roman Catholicsand both had several children.Even more troops moved into the area after the double-killing and an Armyspokesman said the hunt for the killers was continuing.As the Provisional IRA later claimed responsibility for the deaths, an Armyofficer commented: "These blasts would appear to have been part of a deviousbooby-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 weremembers of 17/21st Lancers, based at Gosford Castle, near Markethill. Theirnames 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 oruse 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, inthe last 24 hours.South Armagh Provisional IRA today claimed responsibility for a land-mineattack on an Army patrol near Forkhill, Co. Armagh yesterday.This afternoon the Loyalists Association of workers condemned the murdersand called on Mr. Heath, Mr. Whitelaw and the Government to allow thesecurity forces to "concentrate their all-out efforts on the immediate and finaldefeat of the IRA, who are daily causing havoc, death and destruction in ourbeloved province".

Saturday 5th May 1973Camera Robot in bomb dramaArmy explosives experts, using a robot equipped with a miniature televisioncamera, defused a 20lb bomb in an Antrim Road laundry in Belfast.An explosives expert looked at the bombs time-clock on a small television setand then rushed to the laundry with five minutes to go before the bombexploded.The bomb had been planted at 10 o’clock by two armed men and a girl who heldup 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 aftergiving a 40 minute warning.The woman, in a state of shock, ran to an adjacent laundrette and warned staffand customers to get out. Civilians evacuated the area before soldiers arrived.After an hour a tank like robot equipped with a miniature television camera wasdirected into the laundry. Pictures of the bomb were relayed to a monitor in anarmoured personnel carrier 50 yards away. As the bomb steadily ticked awaythe robot was withdrawn and minutes later sent in again with the camera perched

TOP LEFT - Police officers at the body of Mr Caddoo.LEFT - The lane where Mr Caddoo was killed.ABOVE - Mr Caddoo

further along a steel extension on the robot.On a second viewing the explosives expert noticed that a time clock on the 20lbbomb showed five minutes were left before the device would explode. Heimmediately ran to the laundry and defused the bomb.This is the first time the Army had been seen using this equipment whichminimises the risks to their men.

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

Saturday 5th May 1973IRA escaper weds in EireSean McStiofain was among the guests at the wedding in Dundalk today ofProvisional IRA man Francis McGuigan (25), who escaped from Long Keshlast year disguised as a priest.McQuigans 20 year-old bride, a former Dundalk Festival Queen, wasn’t happyat the extra police and special branch activity in the town because of thewedding, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. "Don’t make me be rude," she told areporter. "I think it is very unfair that people should be stopped and searchedgoing to a wedding."McQuigan who escaped from Long Kesh in February last year snapped: "It isbloody ridiculous. It is only a wedding, not a protest march. People are onlyhere to enjoy themselves." Police and Special Branch men mounted checks onall roads into Dundalk and cars were being searched. The extra security wasdue to rumours that some wanted Provisional leaders – including DavidO’Connell – would be among the guests.McGuigan comes from Jamaica Street, Ardoyne. The acting president ofProvisional Sinn Fein, Mrs. Marie Drumm, attended the ceremony.

Saturday 5th May 1973Police Stations under attackSurgeons were today fighting to save the life of a policeman shot in the headduring an ambush on Coalisland police station last night.The constable, who has not been named, is a married man in his early 30s. Hewas guarding the front gate of the station while a mobile patrol was returningfrom duty when a sniper fired several single shots. It is believed, that theconstable was struck by an Armalite bullet.A burst of automatic fire from a Thompson sub-machinegun followed as thepolicemen in the Land Rover dived for cover. An Army sentry at the stationreturned fire but didn’t claim any hits.It wasn’t until after the attack that police discovered a bomb, which was thrownat the rear of the station during the attack and failed to explode.The injured policeman was flown by helicopter to the Royal Victoria Hospitalin Belfast. His parents live in Foxhole Road, Paignton, Devon.Another attack on a police station at Magherafelt last night failed. A rocketfired from private ground about 300 yards from the station missed its target andcaused no damage. An Army sentry fired several shots at the attackers, butclaimed no hits.

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

ABOVE - Bomb attack on Hobson’s Electrical Shopon Belfast’s Great Victoria Street.RIGHT - Bomb attack on the Ministry of Health andSocial Services in Alfred Street, Belfast

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

Saturday 5th May 1973Sniper attacksThe Army reported several sniper attacks on posts on the Ballymurphy area ofBelfast and on each occasion fire was returned, no casualties were suffered andno hits were claimed.Several bursts of automatic fire were heard in the Rathcoole area of Belfast, andshots were fired at a mobile Army patrol in Church Road but no one wasinjured.

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

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

Saturday 5th May 1973Bail - but man still heldAn Ardoyne man re-arrested under the Special Powers Act last week after beinggranted 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 con-sorting with others in having a pistol in Ardoyne on April 17th.An earlier court heard that paratroopers hiding in a derelict house saw a groupof men in Brompton Park passing a rifle and pistol among each other. Thetroops opened fire on the gunmen, killing one, later the 29 year-old Ardoyneman was identified as the man carrying the pistol. The prisoner was remandedon continuing bail of £5000 for a week, but is still in custody under a detentionorder at Long Kesh.

Monday 7th May 1973Eire tightens the net in big anti-IRA operationSixteen road blocks still ringed Dundalk as hundreds of Irish troops and Gardaicontinued unprecedented swoops for IRA suspects in the border counties.As ten men arrested during the huge weekend police operations were appearingtoday at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, the massive clamp-down ontraffic 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 rumoursthat Provisional IRA men had fled north across the boarder to Co. Armagh.

Monday 7th May 1973Just two weeks of happinessThe Belfast born widow of one of the soldiers killed in the Crossmaglen blastson Saturday disclosed today that she and her husband were married only nineweeks ago.And for all but a two week honeymoon, Company Sergeant Major Ronnie Vinesand his wife Hazel were kept apart by the Troubles, with Mrs. Vines remainingin married quarters in Aldershot, England.

Monday 7th May 1973IRA unit broken up before it startedThe joint police - Army task force has broken up a new Provisional IRAcompany in Derry before it could go on the offensive.This was revealed after the Secretary of State, Mr. Whitelaw, met Army andpolice 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 beenarrested and their weapons seized before they had the opportunity to go on theoffensive.

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

LEFT - A soldier at the scene of the bomb at a disusedmatch factory on the Donegall Road in which twoBritish soldiers died.RIGHT - The soldiers who died. Thomas Taylor and(FAR RIGHT) John Gaskell

The jury was also told by Mr. Robert Babington, QC, Crown prosecutor, thatthe policeman’s colleague was forced to lay face downwards in the toilet of thesame bar. A 27 year-old of Mayo Street and 24 year-old of Cumbria Street wereoriginally charged with the attempted murder of Constable Malcolm McConaghieon November 22 last year.But when the trial resumed this afternoon the asked to be rearranged and pleadedguilty to assaulting Sergeant Trevor Gray and Constable Malcolm McConaghieon November 22nd last and imprisoning them against their will for approxi-mately two hours.

Monday 7th May 1973Garda ask for three more menEire police are seeking the extradition of three other men from the North as wellas Derry man Robert Taylor, for questioning in connection with the double murderof a young man and his fiancé on New Years Day in Co. Donegal.The RUC have received extradition applications from the Garda naming threeother men they believe can help with their inquiries. The three wanted men areat present in custody in the North facing charges relating to offences in theNorth. It is unlikely, on past practice, that they would be handed over to thepolice in the South until they have been dealt with by courts here and haveserved any sentences which might be imposed.

Monday 7th May 1973Half of our post offices bombed – reportMore than half of the North’s main post offices and many of the smaller officeshave been damaged by bomb attacks since 1969, according by a joint statementissued by the Post Office Users’ Council and the Post Office.In addition 20 telephone exchanges have been destroyed and 27 others exten-sively damaged. At least 10 of these have not been put back into action.

Monday 7th May 1973This man couldn’t have killed – LairdMr. John Laird, the Unionist MP who opposes extradition of Derry man RobertTaylor to Eire, claimed there was evidence that Taylor could not havecommitted the double murder in Co. Donegal."I have statements from people covering the movements of Taylor on the nightof the murder except for about between 25 or 30 minutes, during which time itwould 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 thatArmy witnesses now on duty outside Ulster could also be produced to back theclaim, and efforts were being made to contact them.Mr. Laird said that his fear was that if the Northern authorities response to thenew evidence was that witnesses could give evidence at an Eire trial, thenTaylor had no hope of a fair hearing before a Donegal court.

Monday 7th May 1973Soldier and policeman escape gun attackA gun attack was launched on an RUC man and a soldier as they walked alongRossnareen Avenue in Andersonstown about 6.30 pm last night.Four automatic shots believed to be from a Thompson submachine gun, werefired at them. Police said the two men were then surrounded by a hostile crowdwho stoned them and forced them to withdraw from the area.

Monday 7th May 1973Ardoyne gun attackGunmen fired two shots at a man and his wife walking along Berwick Road inthe Ardoyne to Mass but neither was hit. Three men had followed them alongStratford Gardens and one produced a revolver. Seeing this the man dived tothe 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 AvenueArmy post but did not stop. Two shots were fired at them by the soldiers as theymade off into the Glenbryn area.

Monday 7th May 1973Bomb blastIn Derry several shops in the city centre were wrecked by a bomb in a hijackedmilk float. The float was hijacked in Sloan’s terrace and the driver held captivewhile the bombers planted a 100lb charge in the vehicle and left it in FerryquayStreet opposite Woolworth's. Half an hour warning was given before the largeblast which hurled debris over a huge area and sent a huge pall of smoke highover the city centre.

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

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

Tuesday 8th May 1973Bombers strike in Belfast and CookstownBombs exploded in Cookstown and Belfast last night damaging a newspaperoffice, a large food depot and builders’ supplies premises.Expandite at Halliday’s Road in the New Lodge area was the first target. At 5o’clock three youths, one armed with a revolver, entered the rear of the buildingwhich houses supplies for builders and left a 20lb bomb. They gave a five-minute warning and escaped. The bomb exploded about twelve minutes latercausing extensive damage. Several hours later police and soldiers rushed to alarge food depot on the Limestone Road, several hundred yards form theExpandite building. They discovered a wicker basket with an explosive deviceattached 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 robotwas directed towards the bomb. As it was approaching, the 40lbs of explosivesin 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 11pm. A 10lb bomb in a duffle bag was left in the doorway of the offices, whichare in the town’s main street.

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

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

Wednesday 9th May 1973Young boy shot in ambushA seven year-old boy was seriously wounded in an ambush and a solider wasshot in the back in the same incident. The boy was playing near his home inJuniper Rise in the Twinbrook estate, Dunmurry, yesterday when a sniper fireda burst of shots at soldiers alighting from a Land Rover.The soldier and child fell to the ground as shots rang out from the StewartstownRoad direction. Fire was not returned and the injured were taken to the MusgravePark Hospital. The bullet which struck the boy went into his back and throughhis stomach. Several hours later at Belfast’s Antrim Road another seven year-old boy was injured when gunmen fired an RPG 7 rocket at an Armyobservation post. Shortly before 5 pm the rocket was fired at the post from theChurchill Street junction with Antrim Road. The missile missed the post and hit

ABOVE - An elderly man being carried fromMcLoughlin’s Bar, Smithfield, after a no warning bombattack on it.LEFT - Bomb attack on Desmond Motors, StrandRoad, Derry.

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

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

Wednesday 9th May 1973RPG attackAttacks continued on police stations throughout the North with an RPG 7 rocketassault in Belcoo. The missile was fired from a field struck the wall of thebuilding causing slight damage. No one was injured.A mobile police patrol came under fire from two gunmen in the village of Coaghin Co. Tyrone. About 20 rounds were fired by the gunmen. No one was injured.

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

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

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

Wednesday 9th May 1973UVF man jailed for having gunsA 23 year-old merchant seaman of Silverstream Avenue, Belfast was fined atBelfast City Commission after pleading guilty to remaining a member of theUlster Volunteer Force last year. The Judge, Mr. Justice Gibson, imposed thefine after hearing a plea from the defence counsel, Mr. John Curran, that theaccused involvement with the UVF was a temporary one.But Mr. Gibson jailed the man for 15 months for having a shotgun, a rifle andshotgun cartridges under suspicious circumstances and without firearmcertificates at his home on October 27th last year.

Thursday 10th May 1973Grim death of UDR CorporalAn off-duty UDR Corporal was shot dead as he left a milk churn at his TyroneDairy 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 18month-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 gateon the main Benburb-Auchnacloy Road when the gunmen struck just beforenine o’clock.The gunmen pulled the corporal off his tractor and shot him twice in the headfrom 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 runfor 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. Latertroops and police found the burned-out car on Ballagh Bridge, a few yards onthe 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 deadman’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 gun-men so far this year. In addition, 32 soldiers, five RUC men and one RUCReserve constable have been killed.

Thursday 10th May 1973Body reportedSecurity forces were investigating a report that a body had been spotted in woodencountry on the Fermanagh border at Mullnahinch, Roslea.The initial report came from an Army helicopter pilot, and Eire police are be-

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

Thursday 10th May 1973IRA units sealed off a town, says CraigMr. William Craig has claimed that the Provisional IRA, in a training exercise,moved between 200 and 300 men from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, sealedoff the town of Ballygawley, and then moved them back again.And he said that "loyalists intelligence" knew of at least five sizeable arms dumpson the other side of the border, as well as being aware of regular rocket practicecarried out by the IRA. "If we know about it, it’s rather strange that the Dublinauthorities can’t know about it." Mr. Craig said in a speech to Larne VUPPbranch. He said that anyone who believed the IRA was going to fold up it’stents and go away because of the White Paper was "absolutely mad."

Thursday 10th May 1973Shops blasted in DerryMembers of the security forces have been issued with descriptions of four youthswho 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 upa 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 searchfor the other bombs. At 5.55 am they found and defused 30lb. of explosives inthe Derry Sentinel’s offices, and at 7.30 the fourth bomb, made up of 20lb ofexplosives, was found in the Dolphin Restaurant, also in Strand Road, and de-fused. There were no injuries in either of the blasts, but people living near thearea were kept awake throughout the night.

Thursday 10th May 1973Lurgan riotsFierce rioting broke out between opposition factions in Lurgan last night andseven people were treated for shock when a blast bomb was thrown. The troubleerupted between residents of the Roman Catholic Shankhill and ProtestantWakehurst estates. As police moved in to quell the disturbance, a blast bombwas thrown from the Shankhill estate into a vacant house in Dill Avenue in theWakehurst housing complex.A woman and her four young children were rushed to hospital suffering fromshock after the blast shattered the windows of their home. An elderly womanliving nearby and a police constable on duty were also taken to Craigavonhospital suffering from shock.

Thursday 10th May 1973Gun attacksAt 9.30 a burst of sub-machine gun fire was directed at a house at TobergillStreet in the Shankill Road area of Belfast, from a passing car.Before midnight, several shots were fired through the windscreen of a car parkedoutside the Ulster Arms Bar on the Newtownards Road, Belfast. There was noone in the vehicle at the time.

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

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

Friday 11th May 1973RUC man in agony after booby trap blastA policeman was seriously injured today when a booby trap bomb exploded ashe 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 wasfound screaming in agony on the roadway. A girl who was sitting in the passen-gers’ seat got her leg broken in the blast. And a woman passing by on thefootpath was also taken to hospital suffering from severe shock.Surgeons at the City Hospital were later fighting to save the injured policeman’sleg. An RUC spokesman said he was undergoing an emergency operation. Theinjured constable is thought to be stationed at Andersonstown.

Friday 11th May 1973Cork Provo killed in FermanaghThe teenager killed last night in a premature bomb blast on the Fermanagh bor-der at Rosslea has been named by the police. He was Tony Ahearne, an appren-tice gardener, of St. Joseph’s Park, Mayfield, Cork. The Provisional IRA in astatement last night claimed him as one of their members who was on activeservice duty.Parts of the badly mutilated body were found hours after the Rosslea area hadbeen rocked by an explosion at teatime. Troops and police who went to thescene after parts of the body had been spotted from a helicopter delayed morethan five hours before approaching it for fear of booby-traps. It is thought thebomb which killed Ahearne had been intended for an unapproved road crateredsome time ago by the Army.The security forces reported last night that they had found two claymore minedevices in the area.

Friday 11th May 1973Army claim a hit on a gunman in LurganBefore midnight an Army patrol heard several shots in the Parkview-Sloan Streetarea of Lurgan. The fire was not directed at the soldiers who minutes laterspotted 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 LurganRoad 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 at10 pm, near Coalisland.

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

Friday 11th May 1973Two accused of trying to murder soldierA 17 year old youth and a juvenile were charged at Belfast Magistrate’s Courtyesterday 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 himrefused to recognise the court.

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

Friday 11th May 1973Tarred girl’s fiancé is shot deadElizabeth Hyland, the sixteen year old girl tarred and feathered by the IRA ex-actly a year ago, has been told that her soldier boy friend has been shot dead bya sniper in Derry. Elizabeth now lives in London and was to announce herengagement 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.

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

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

Saturday 12th May 1973Fitt doubts murder bid phone claimsSDLP leader Mr. Gerry Fitt cast doubts on the authenticity of telephone calls tonewspapers claiming Protestants were responsible for the shooting of a socialsecurity officer in the Falls area of Belfast yesterday.The victim, 34 year-old Mr. John McCormick, from Portadown, is critically illand as surgeons were fighting to save the mans life, it was learned that he shouldhave been among the 350 delegates at the Civil Service Alliance’s weekendconference in Portrush. He was shot five times in the head and arm while work-ing in the Raglan Street area late yesterday afternoon. Minutes after the shoot-ing the BBC and several newspapers received calls claiming a Protestantorganisation had shot a "Republican sympathiser in retaliation for the murder ofUDR Corporal, Frank Caddoo."

Saturday 12th May 1973Belfast 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 explodedunder a policeman’s car in Belfast yesterday. Miss McAliskey escaped seriousinjury when the explosion wrecked the constable’s car outside a guest-house inEglantine Avenue. The policeman had parked his car outside the house over-night. Miss McAliskey, a 22 year-old bank clerk from Co. Tyrone, was taking alift 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 1973Car bomb wrecks Derry garageA massive car bomb – estimated to be in the region of 100lbs. – ripped througha Derry garage this afternoon, wrecking the building and sending a huge pall ofsmoke into the air. The bombers gave a 20 minute warning after parking the carat the garage, belonging to Desmond Motors, in Strand Road shortly before 2o’clock.

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

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

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

Saturday 12th May 1973Bomb findsTroops found a 20lb bomb near the boarder village of Jonesboro. It is believedthe bombers intended to detonate the device form the Eire side. Police found a40lb bomb, in the boot of a stolen car when they searched a lock up garage inSwatragh.

Saturday 12th May 1973Soldier shot in Belfast can’t go homeA young Welsh soldier who is paralysed from the waist down after he was hit bysniper fire at Ardoyne in Belfast last year, cannot leave hospital – because hishome has not been converted for his wheelchair.Sapper, Ken Bridegman (22), who has also lost a kidney, was hit three times bya sniper as he unloaded sandbags from a lorry while serving with the RoyalRegiment 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 conver-sion of his family home at Llanrumney, Cardiff.

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

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

Saturday 12th May 1973Eire Provo’s body taken back to CorkAs 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 notpolitically minded and do not want a Provo style funeral.The Provisionals claim he was the first volunteer from the South to die in thepresent 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 un-approved road, cratered some time ago by the Army. Parts of the badly muti-lated body were found hours after the Rosslea area had been rocked by an ex-plosion at teatime on Thursday.

Saturday 12th May 1973Shot man in entry was our agent – ArmyThe Army confirmed the identity of the young man in civilian clothes foundshot 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 saidit was "substantially correct" that he had been discovered by the IRA whileacting 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 that20 year-old Louis Hammond was shot by the Provos.Ranger Hammond, a Roman Catholic from Andersonstown, joined the Army asa boy soldier, but deserted early last year. The Army source did not discount thatwhat happened was that the Army last May arrested Hammond as a deserter inthe Andersonstown area, at which time he was working for the Provisionals, asan intelligence officer. He agreed to continue within IRA ranks, feeding backinformation to the Military Reaction Force.

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

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

Monday 14th May 1973Dead man namedPolice named the driver of a van who was found dead with gunshot woundsafter an incident at a UDR checkpoint near Coagh.He was 21 year old Kevin Gerald Kilpatrick, of Annaghaboe, Coalisland. Ac-cording to the Army the van he was driving went through a UDR checkpointwithout stopping. It halted a short distance up the road and a flare was firedfrom the vehicle. Then, said the Army, four or five shots were fired towards theUDR men. There were no casualties and the soldiers returned the fire. Onsearching the area later, they found Kilpatrick’s body in the van.

Monday 14th May 1973Dead soldier namedThe Army named the soldier who died in hospital following the land mine blastat 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 threesoldiers 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 thesoldiers made their way through the old match factory at St. James Crescent.

Monday 14th May 1973Priest tells how he helped dying soldierThe Roman Catholic Priest who was first on the scene of the explosion at adisused match factory in which one soldier was killed and three seriouslywounded 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 DonegallRoad, Belfast, when the explosion occurred."It was approximately 8pm as I was driving my mother home from Mass," hesaid. "When I got inside there was still a lot of smoke and dust about, but justinside I saw a young soldier lying on the ground"."He looked to be very badly injured. He had a wound to his head which wasbleeding 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 feetaway on their faces. They were all conscious. I gave the Last Rites to thesoldier near the door and then went to the others."By now a number of men from nearby houses had rushed to the scene. "Theywere 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 getback in case there was another bomb there. Some of them brought blankets andput them on the soldiers."

Tuesday 15th May 1973Whitelaw warns on booby trapsFollowing the explosion near Portadown in which a man died, the Secretary ofState, Mr. Whitelaw, warned civilians to watch out for booby-trapped devices.And Mr. Whitelaw particularly stressed the danger to children playing in emptyhouses and buildings and called on parents to make them aware of the greatrisks. "These frightful attempts to murder members of the security forces havealready had the most appalling consequences", said Mr. Whitelaw, whoemphasised that anyone seeing anything suspicious should inform the securityforces at once and should keep well away from any objects they found. TheSecretary of State was fully briefed on the incident in which a 33 year oldPortadown died last night in a booby-trap blast. Police are now almost certainthat 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 anonymouscall about a bomb. "There’s a bomb in the second house in Moy", the malecaller 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, whichis on the Moy Road just outside Portadown and triggered off the bomb, whichkilled him.

Tuesday 15th May 1973Man shot by UDR was ProvoA Coalisland man shot dead by UDR men after an incident at a Tyrone check-point was claimed today in newspaper death notices as a Provisional IRAcompany commander.

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

Tuesday 15th May 1973New fight to stop extradition is lostA Co. Derry man’s fight against extradition to Eire where he is wanted forquestioning in a Co. Donegal double murder last New Year’s Day failed for asecond time in the High Court.A Divisional Court composed of the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Lowry, andMr. Justice McGonical refused Robert William Taylor permission for leave toappeal to the House of Lords against the order, originally granted by a residentMagistrate at Coleraine and upheld by the High Court on May 1st.

Tuesday 15th May 1973Youth shotA 17 year old youth is in hospital with gunshot wounds after a murder attempt inthe 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 struckin the left arm and was taken to hospital where his condition was later describedas not serious.Meanwhile, a 23 year old Roman Catholic shot in the head as he tried to fleefrom gunmen at a Nursery School in the Donegall Road area of Belfast, wasreported to be ill but no serious in hospital. The man dived through a window totry to escape from the gunmen who singled him out at the Utility Street nursery.

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

Wednesday 16th May 1973Derry blastsTwo explosions wrecked a paint shop and pub in Derry. The first target for thebombers was a paint store at Park Avenue. The bomb wrecked the front of theshop but no one was injured. In the second explosion, a short time later, a pub atAbercorn 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 1973Offices close for victim’s funeralStaff at Belfast Social Security Offices stayed away from work as a tribute totheir colleague, Mr. John Francis McCormick, the victim of last Friday’s shoot-ing incident in the Lower Falls, as his funeral took place in Portadown.

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

Wednesday 16th May 1973Shankill arms haul – biggest find of ammo yet say the ArmySecurity forces found a large haul of weapons and ammunition when they car-ried out a search in the Shankill Road area of Belfast.Thirteen guns and more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition – described by anArmy spokesman as the biggest single haul of bullets – were found when policeand troops searched premises in Wilton Street and Crimea Street.

BELOW - The Knock-no-Moe Castle Hotel, Omagh, wherefour soldiers were killed in an explosionRIGHT - car bomb attack in Belfast’s York Street

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

Thursday 17th May 1973Woman hit in Belfast shootingA young woman is seriously ill in hospital after a shooting incident on the Spring-field Road near Turf Lodge. An Army mobile patrol making its way down theSpringfield Road was ambushed by three gunmen who fired eight to ten shots.The woman was wounded in the upper left arm.

Thursday 17th May 1973Rumour riotsTrouble flared in the Creggan area of Derry when youths hijacked four vehiclesand one unconfirmed report said that one of them was set on fire. The trouble isbelieved to have started following a rumour that a local man who had beentaken to Crumlin Road Prison had died. But a police spokesman said this wasuntrue.

Thursday 17th May 1973Letter bomb injures RMDerry Resident Magistrate, Mr. Patrick Maxwell, was slightly injured when aletter bomb exploded in his hand. He was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital fortreatment but he was not seriously hurt.

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

Thursday 17th May 1973Bomb at AirportBombers failed in a bid to blow up one of the main runways at AldergroveAirport. First signs of an attack came at 2.30 am when an explosion was heardbut it was not until daylight when Army explosives experts searched the run-ways that the damage was discovered.

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

Thursday 17th May 1973Belfast gun attacksThroughout the evening there were numerous sniping attacks on Armyobservation posts throughout the city. One soldier was injured by a ricochetbullet when a patrol was fired on at Corrigan Park, Whiterock Road. Abouteight o’clock fierce rioting broke out in the New Lodge Road between gangs ofyouths and Royal Marines. The rioting continued for several hours and at least30 shots were fired at soldiers.

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

Thursday 17th May 1973Factory bombedA 15 to 20 lb bomb left outside the door of Little’s shirt factory at Spencer Roadin the Waterside area of Derry caused minor damage and blew in windows insurrounding premises. Earlier four shots were heard in the Brandywell area buttroops were not involved.A bomb exploded near the perimeter fence of the telephone exchange atBallyronan, Moneymore, it caused superficial damage to the building. It wasestimated at 20 lb.

Friday 18th May 1973Airport threat – crisis talksAs top BEA officials flew into Aldergrove to inspect security after theProvisional IRA threat to destroy the airport, the Government said everythingpossible was being done to protect airline staff and passengers. Some BEApilots refused to fly in to Belfast. Three flights on the Aldergrove-Glasgow hadbeen cancelled by early afternoon and more cancellations on the route wereexpected. Other flights were reported to be normal.

Friday 18th May 1973‘Drastic Action’ call after night of 7 deathsA soldier was very seriously ill in hospital after Northern Ireland’s worst nightof violence for several months claimed the lives of seven people, including fourof his colleagues and a fourteen year-old girl.He is Sergeant Frederick Drake (25), 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, abachelor from Munford, Thetford, Norfolk. He and the other four were victimsof a booby- trapped car at Knock-na-moe hotel near Omagh.

Friday 18th May 1973Girl was killed by a bullet from ArmaliteA fourteen-year-old schoolgirl who died today, after being shot last night, wasone of three civilians hit by IRA snipers in the Ballymurphy – Turf Lodge areaof Belfast during the past 24 hours.Eileen Mackin was playing in the Springhill estate, two hundred yards from herhome when gunmen opened fire on an armoured personnel carrier. She was hitin the stomach, and died in hospital seven hours later, after undergoing an op-eration.One of her friends, playing beside her, 14-year-old Lucy Kelly, from the Springhillarea, 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 whensnipers ambushed an Army patrol at the Springfield Road junction with theestate. Two soldiers were slightly injured in the same incident.

Friday 18th May 1973Rail blasts rock cityExplosions ripped through two Belfast railway stations in the IRA’s renewedbombing campaign. The first bomb blasted the County Down Station at Queen’sQuay. Minutes later the city centre shook again when a suitcase bomb explodedin the busy Great Victoria Street Station. Both bombs were planted in lavato-ries. No one was injured.

Friday 18th May 1973UDR man badly wounds hijackerA UDR shot and seriously wounded one of two men who tried to hijack his carin 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 attackersin the neck. The other man ran off. A man was later rushed to hospital withgunshot wounds. His condition was described as serious.

Friday 18th May 1973Two charged with killing soldiersAn apprentice plumber and a fifteen-year-old boy appeared at Belfast Magistrate’sCourt charged with the murder of the two soldiers who were killed in thelandmine 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 1973Cottage blast victim buriedThe Portadown man who was killed in a booby trap blast at a cottage onMonday was buried yesterday. Roy Rutherford of Derrycoy, Portadown, wasmarried with three young children.

Friday 18th May 1973Extradition attackedCounty Antrim Republican Clubs described moves to extradite a thirty year oldBelfast housewife from Eire in connection with the deaths of three soldiers inBelfast as collaboration between the British and the Government in the South.The statement said their national organisation would resist any attempt toextradite people from either side for political offences.

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

FACING PAGE - Four youths are detained by troopsin McClure Street.BELOW - The demolished house on Moy Road,Portadown, where Mr Roy Rutherford (right) was killedby an IRA booby-trap bomb.

Friday 18th May 1973Mounting trail of destruction and injuryA soldier was injured when bombers detonated a Claymore mine in theAndersonstown area of Belfast last night. The landmine was hidden in a drain-pipe and was detonated in Norglen Gardens as a foot patrol made its way upNorfolk Gardens. In Crossmaglen a barman in the Rio Grande Hotel raised thealarm after he spotted two suspicious suitcases lying in the cellar of thebuilding. He quickly cleared the building and 15 minutes later there was anexplosion which badly damaged part of the hotel.

Friday 18th May 1973UDR man injuredA UDR man was shot and injured by another member of the part-time regimentin an incident on the Ballynahinch-Lisburn road. The incident happened whenone UDR man was driving his private car along the road, another car overtookhim forcing him to brake. The occupant of the other car started walking to-wards him and, thinking the other man had drawn a gun he opened fire. Theother man thinking that he too was under attack opened fire. One UDR manwas injured and when the other discovered his identity, he drove him to LaganValley Hospital in Lisburn, where his condition was later described as notserious.

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

Friday 18th May 1973Bomb defusedIn Lisburn an Army expert successfully defused a 50lb bomb in the railwaystation. Passengers on board a Belfast bound train were hurriedly ordered outas police found a blue plastic bag in the ladies’ toilets. After four hours it wassafely defused.

Friday 18th May 1973Open verdict on mans deathAn open verdict was recorded at Belfast Coroner’s Court on a 40 year-old vandriver and a part-time bar man who was found shot dead in a children’s play-ground at Penrith Street. A statement was read from a man identified only aswitness 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 sofrequent victims. They seem to be singled out again and again. This is anappalling murder. It is a nightmare."

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

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

BELOW LEFT - Amry experts remove explosives froma shoe shop in Belfast’s North Street.BELOW - IRA bomb attack on the Ulster Bank inLongstone Street, Lisburn.

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

Friday 18th May 1973Shot man dies in hospitalA man shot from a passing car outside the Royal Victoria Hospital more thantwo months ago has died in hospital.He was Joseph McKenna (24), of Fort Street, who was gunned down outside thehospital’s maternity wing in the early hours of March 11.

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

Saturday 19th May 1973Aldergrove boycott bites on a second routeTighter security was introduced at Aldergrove following fresh talks about theProvisional IRA threat to destroy the airport. But the boycott of the airport bysome BEA crews has now spreads to a second route.Four flights to and from Glasgow were cancelled this and two on the Birming-ham run were cut. BEA are now virtually manning their aircraft with volunteercrews, and cancellations are expected to continue as pilots and crew refuse tocome to Belfast.

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

Saturday 19th May 1973Youth on murder plot chargeAn 18 year-old apprentice baker of Norglen Drive, Belfast, appeared at BelfastMagistrate’s Court charged with conspiring to murder a soldier who wasseriously 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 orpersons unknown at Norfolk Road.

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

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

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

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

Monday 21st May 1973Shoots ring out and a young mother diesA 24 year-old married woman is believed to have died of shock this morningwhen shots were fired at a crowd of men standing on a street corner, injuringtwo. 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 whowere 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

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

security forces and a policeman attempted to revive her, but without success. Aneighbour 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, wason his knees beside her looking at her and crying ‘mammy, mammy’" she said.

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

Monday 21st May 1973Two die and toll goes over 800The latest assassination victim was 39 year-old Edward Coogan, of DunleweyStreet, in the Falls area. He was gunned down as he walked along Adela Streetnear Carlisle Circus late on Saturday night. A Roman Catholic, Mr. Cooganwas 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’scar at Agnes Street, on the Shankill Road last week died in hospital. He isRobert McIntyre (24), a machinist, who lived at Bellevue Street.Yesterday afternoon a man walking along the Ormeau Road was shot andwounded by car gunmen. He was taken to the Mater Hospital where hiscondition was described at not serious.

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

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

Monday 21st May 1973Shops bombedThe staff of 60 and several hundred shoppers were evacuated after an employeespotted a suspicious duffle bag at the entrance to R. Corbett & Sons store inMarket Street in Portadown. About an hour later there was an explosion whichbadly damaged the building and much of the stock in it.A pipe-bomb placed outside Moore and Smiths in Sperrin Park, Omagh, lastnight, caused only slight scorching when it exploded.

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

Sergeant Barry Cox Sergeant Sgeridan Young Sergeant Derek Reed

Tuesday 22nd May 1973Big blast – second bomb defusedA massive car bomb exploded near Belfast’s City Hall and experts defused asecond 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 UpperNorth Street was defused with the help of the Army’s robot.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973Six Westminster Unionists rebukedThe Unionist Party issued a sharp rebuff to its six MPs at Westminster byrejecting their Parliamentary motion to defeat the second reading of the Consti-tution Bill on Thursday.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973Ammo findPolice and troops found a quantity of ammunition and explosives when theycarried out a series of searches in the Coalisland area.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973I saw man shoot two dead in pub – witnessA 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 hisconscience to return to return and make a statement to police, the Jury was toldat Armagh Assizes.The witness referred to in court as Mr. A. was giving evidence at the trial of a 33year-old textile worker of Enniskeen, Craigavon who pleaded not guilty to themurder 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 maskedgunman who entered McCabe’s bar in Portadown just before two people died.

Tuesday 22nd May 1973Hidden bomb blasts Derry shopsA 100lb bomb concealed in a hijacked butchers van was taken into the heart ofDerry. The bomb exploded, demolishing one store and badly damaging fiveothers.Once again the city’s Strand Road area, already pounded by the bombers, wasthe target. But warnings were given and the security forces managed to clearthe area before the blast.

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

Wednesday May 23rd 1973Demolition angers residentsAngry residents were up in arms as the Army demolished derelict houses inBelfast’s Roden Street area. They arrived with massive military bulldozersand diggers the Army moved into the area last night at 11.30pm withoutwarning and began the task of pulling down Malt Street off the Grosvenor Road.They continued all night and this morning.

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

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

Thursday May 24th 1973Youth shotA 17 year-old youth with a gunshot wound to the neck was taken by civilianambulance from Carrigart Avenue, in the Suffolk area of Belfast, to the RoyalVictoria Hospital last night. His condition was later described as satisfactory.Several hours earlier troops claimed a hit after a gunman fired at them as theypatrolled open ground near Carrigart Avenue. One soldier spotted a sniperrunning up Carrigart Avenue after the attack and fired at him. The man wasseen to be hit but escaped.

Margaret HyrkiewiczJoseph MatthewsPaul Crummy

Thursday May 24th 1973Men shot atA group of window cleaners working in Templemore Avenue narrowly escapeddeath when four men fired a volley of shots at then before making off. Onereceived a graze to his back and one was taken to hospital and treated for shock.The incident happened near Kenbaan Street.

Friday May 25th 1973Two soldiers killed - Radio used to trigger booby-trap in houseTwo soldiers died and another was injured when bombers detonated by radio abomb they had planted in the South Armagh home of a man serving in one of theArmy’s Irish Regiments. The soldiers, both senior NCO’s, died instantly in theblast at Culloville.Three men were taken to hospital after a bomb exploded without warningoutside Killen’s Bar in Perry Street, Dungannon, but none of them wasseriously hurt.

Friday May 25th 1973Rocket attackAfter a large area around the City Hall was cleared because of bomb scares anRPG7 rocket was fired from the direction of the Grosvenor Road at an unknowntarget. There were no casualties and later troops carried out a search of the areaand found 20 mortar bombs and a quantity of fuses in a derelict house.

Friday May 25th 1973Gun attacksTroops came under fire in Protestant areas of East and West Belfast but therewere no serious casualties.

Friday May 25th 1973Arms findCrowd trouble in the Shankill area of Belfast flared after security forces searchedhouses at Matchett Street and found a rifle, five home made guns, more than300 rounds of ammunition and about seven cwts. of fertiliser. Troops earlierfired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of about 40, which, gathered in MatchettStreet after the arms find.In Armagh, a search by soldiers of the Nun’s Cemetery led to the finding of a .22rifle, a sawn-off 12 bore shotgun and 39 rounds of assorted ammunition. AnArmy spokesman said the search resulted from a tip-off.

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

Friday May 25th 1973Tip off about IRA planSecurity police at the atomic weapons research establishment at Aldermastonhave been armed following a tip off that the IRA could be planning a prestigeattack. The tip-off received by the Special Branch, has brought about a generaltightening up of security at all similar establishments throughout the country.

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

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

Saturday May 26th 1973Car bomb attackA car bomb exploded near Carlisle Circus in the Belfast area last night, but noone was hurt. Police said the Mini containing the bomb was left outside theRoman Catholic Down and Connor education offices at Adela Street-FleetwoodStreet. The building’s caretaker was there at the time but was not injured.

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

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

Monday May 28th 1973Boy (4) shot dead by IRA ambushersGunmen killed a four-year-old Andersonstown boy when they tried to ambushsoldiers on foot patrol in the area on Saturday.Four year-old Paul Crummey was playing in the garden of his home at FinaghyRoad North, Belfast, when gunmen opened up on troops nearby and fired theshot which killed him. One of the first bursts hit Paul in the head - he wasplaying five yards from one of the soldiers. The soldiers returned the fire andwere met with a second burst of shots but none of them was hurt. The boy wasrushed to hospital and died in the Royal Victoria less than an hour after theincident.

Monday May 28th 1973No warning bombFive children were treated for shock after a 12lb bomb exploded withoutwarning outside their home in the Woodvale Road area of Belfast.

Monday May 28th 1973Petrol bomb attackA family’s pet dog died in a blaze started by a petrol bomb at a Roman Catholicoccupied house in Delhi Street, off the Ormeau Road in Belfast. None of thefamily 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 Shankillarea of Belfast failed to go off and was later dealt with by an Army expert.

LEFT - Bomb attack on offices in Adelaide Street.BELOW - Bomb attack at the Lisnaskea UDR BaseTOP RIGHT - Car bomb attack in Dungannon’s Scotch Street.BOTTOM RIGHT - Protestors blocking a road in Derry

Monday May 28th 19731,000 attend shot child’s funeralOver 1,000 people including scores of women and children, attended the fu-neral of the four-year-old Andersonstown boy who was shot dead by gunmen inhis garden on Saturday

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

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

Monday May 28th 1973Men shotA 49 year-old man was shot as he gave chase to a youth he had seen planting ablast 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 plantinga cylinder bomb outside Lynch’s Bar at the Antrim Road-New Lodge junction.

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

Monday May 28th 1973Bomb removedA 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.

Monday May 28th 1973Derry bombsOne of two bombs, in the City of Derry at the weekend was successfully de-fused by Army experts. The RUC and a local newspaper received telephonecalls at 9.12 pm that two bombs were in John Street and were due to go off at9.30 pm. The first exploded at 9.26 pm at a motor accessory shop in JohnStreet, causing structural damage. Key holders in the Foyle Street and JohnStreet areas were called out so that security forces could make a search for thesecond bomb. This one, of 15lbs, was eventually found in scaffolding near themotor accessory shop. It was defused.

Monday May 28th 1973Bomb at UDR headquartersA bomb, which exploded in Lisnaskea, Co.Fermanagh, badly damaged thealmost completed new headquarters for C Company of the UDR.

Tuesday May 29th 1973Rocket hits Army post near schoolBombers fired a Russian rocket at an Army post near a Belfast school packedwith over 200 children. The Vere Foster School in Ballymurphy shook as theRPG7 rocket slammed into the screen nearby. The attack was followed up by

BELOW LEFT - Car bomb attack on the Tavern Barin the Unity Flats complex.BELOW - Bomb attack on Simon Murphy’s Bar, GreatPatrick Street.

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

Tuesday May 29th 1973UDA mans deathA 27 year-old UDA Lieutenant Colonel, murdered last December was shotthrough the left eye at close range with a 12-bore shotgun, a Belfast inquest wastold, and a friend who was with him when they were kidnapped last Decemberat 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 theWoodvale Defence Association.

Wednesday May 30th 1973Bomb destroys clubSix families from the Ardoyne area of Belfast are staying with friends andrelatives 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.

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

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

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

Wednesday May 30th 1973Bus struck by bulletPassengers 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 Road-Woodstock Road junction.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday May 31st 1973Families forced outTwo Protestant families moved out of their homes in Hillman Street in the NewLodge area of Belfast last night following rumours of threats against them. Thefleeing families were helped to move their belongings by a crowd from TigersBay, once they had moved out their houses were set on fire. Around 11.30 athird Protestant family in Hillman Street was forced by a mob to leave theirhome. The crowd set fire to the house once they had left. A riot situationdeveloped with rival crowds stoning each other.

BELOW - Fire fighters hosing down the wreckageafter a car bomb explosion in Curtis Place.BELOW RIGHT - Bomb attack on the Woolwoth storein Upper North Street

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

Friday June 1st 1973Three pubs bombed: Two killed, 20 hurt in new attacksTwo men died and more than 20 people including two off-duty soldiers wereinjured when bombers launched attacks on three public houses in Belfast. Nowarnings were given by the bombers who planted devices at Muldoon’s Bar inCorporation Square, McGlade’s in Upper Donegall Street and the Four in Handon the Lisburn Road.

Friday June 1st 1973Grenade attackTwo hand grenades were thrown into a house at Cullen Bridge Park, Armagh atabout midnight. A 15 year-old youth, the only person at home was not hurtalthough explosions badly damaged part of the house and killed his dog.An RPG7 rocket was fired at the police station in Pomeroy followed by fourshots, no one was hurt.

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

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

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

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

Monday June 4th 1973Soldier diesA fifth soldier has died in hospital from injuries received in a booby trap blast afortnight ago in the car park of the Knock-na-moe Hotel. He was SergeantFrederick William Drake (25), a member of the Fifth Inniskilling DragoonGuards.

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

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

Monday June 4th 1973Ardoyne women to be triedTwo young Ardoyne women were returned for trial in custody to Belfast’sRecorder’s Court on explosives charges. A 20-year-old unemployed shopassistant and 19-year-old unemployed stitcher both from Velsheda Park areaccused of having explosives at Ardoyne on March 29 last. They were notlegally represented.

TOP LEFT - Bomb attack on McGlade’s Bar, DonegallStreet.BOTTOM LEFT - IRA car bomb attack in Belfast’sCastle Street.BELOW - Constable David Purvis who was killed inEnniskillen

Tuesday June 5th 1973Joint border operation to get bodyPolice and troops on both sides of the border joined forces to recover the bodyof 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 shotthrough the head.

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

Tuesday June 5th 1973Provos set up checkpointTwenty armed and masked Provisional IRA men operated a checkpoint for overan hour on the Crossmaglen-Dundalk Road. The occupants’ of cars werequestioned about their identity and their movements and their vehicles weresearched.

Tuesday June 5th 1973Bomb planted at EBNI officesPolice received a warning that a bomb was planted on the footpath outside theEBNI offices in Thomas Street, Dungannon. Army experts were called andthey defused a 15lb charge wrapped in a coat.An electricity transformer at Cloughmore, Rosslea, was damaged by anexplosion. Security forces waited until daylight to make a detailedexamination.

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

Wednesday 6th June 19733 soldiers are injuredThree soldiers were injured, one very seriously, when a booby trap bombexploded as they were searching a derelict house in the Brandywell area ofDerry. The explosion happened when members of a patrol were searching aderelict house at the corner of Foyle Road and Brooke Street.

BELOW - Car bomb attack in Belfast’s Franklin Street.BELOW RIGHT - A car bomb explodes Donegall Place

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

Wednesday 6th June 1973Blast bomb attacksThree blast bombs were thrown in the Sandy Row area of Belfast. The firstexploded at the junction of Albion Street and Great Victoria Street, the secondslightly damaged the front of a shop in Sandy Row itself and the third blast wasnot located.

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

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

Thursday 7th June 1973Police attackedMembers of the joint police-Army task force came under attack in the SandyRow area late last night. Two blast bombs were tossed and shots were fired butthere were no casualties.

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

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

outside the shop but the alarm was raised before it could go off and an Armyexpert managed to defuse the device.A 40lb bomb found in a derelict house on a farm near Camlough was neutralisedby an Army expert.

Friday 8th June 1973Mystery of UDA top men growsUDA headquarters in Belfast confirmed that one of the organisation’s leaderswas being held "captive" following reports that militants in the paramilitarybody were trying to snatch control. Confirmation that Thomas "Tucker" Lyttle,a UDA leader in the Shankill area, was being held came after an ITN televisioninterview screened at lunchtime.Earlier a UDA spokesman had firmly discounted mounting reports of a takeover bid as ‘nonsense’ rumours that some of the organisations present leaderswere being held prisoner. However, a different spokesman of the UDA’sNewtownards Road headquarters admitted that Mr. Lyttle was a prisoner.

Friday 8th June 1973All clear – then bomb is foundA sharp eyed policeman saved scores of shoppers in busy down town Belfastwhen he found a bomb – minutes after the all clear had been given in a streetwere there was a bomb scare around Donegall Place and Fountain Lane. Peoplewho were evacuated were allowed to return and minutes later the policemanfound the bomb hidden under oranges in a fruit barrow.For a second time shoppers were ushered to safety when the 60lb bomb ex-ploded, wrecking Saxone shoe shop and blowing in windows in virtually everybuilding in Donegall Place.

Friday 8th June 1973Inquest told of McCann’s last wordsParatroops shot down Official IRA leader Joe McCann after he had dodgedarrest 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 hedied: "You’ve got me cold. I’ve got no weapon". An open verdict was re-turned.

Friday 8th June 1973Warehouse and city factory hit by bombsThree people in a car, at least one armed, planted a 10-15lb bomb at the StarClothing 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 atBaltic Avenue, Antrim Road in Belfast. There were no casualties.

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

Friday 8th June 1973Shots firedBetween 10 and 18 shots were fired by two gunmen at an Army patrol in theCreagan area of Derry about midnight. It happened in the Central Drive-FanadDrive area. There were no casualties.Four or five gunmen fired 40 shots from concealed positions in the StewartstownRoad area of Coalisland at an Army foot patrol last night but there were nocasualties.

Friday 8th June 1973Lurgan explosionA 10 – 15lb bomb exploded in a laneway at Derrytrasna, Lurgan. It is not knownwhether the charge was meant for the car or bombers were using the vehicle totransport explosives.

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

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

Samuel RushAlfred AchesonSadie McComb

through a window. One man who lifted the bomb and tried to throw it clear hadhis hand blown off and suffered serious head injuries. In all, about six peoplewere taken away in ambulances after the mid afternoon blast. Two of themwere seriously hurt.Minutes after the blast a group calling itself the Ulster Freedom Fighters claimedresponsibility.

Saturday 9th June 1973East Belfast pubs closePubs 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 1973Three chums’ terrorDoctors at Belfast’s City Hospital were fighting to save part of the hand of aneight-year-old boy who was injured in a pipe bomb blast near his home in theOrmeau Road area of Belfast. Victor Gargan of Hatfield Street, lost two fingersand a thumb, when the bomb, which was found by his brother in a hedge innearby Farnham Street, blew up. Three of his playmates, including his six-year-old brother, David, were also injured in the blast. They received cuts to thearms, legs and face. The other boys, Pat Molloy (6) and Paul Sykes (7) both livein Hatfield Street.

Saturday 9th June 1973Encore as bomb hero does it againPolice Hero Sergeant James Hazlett, who helped to evacuate a large part ofBelfast’s city centre after he found a bomb hidden in a box of oranges, was firston 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 BEMfor a previous act of bravery, shepherded dozens of civilians to safety before thebomb 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 windowsin nearby buildings, but there were no casualties.

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

Saturday 9th June 1973Police attackedJust after 1am gunmen opened up on an RUC patrol vehicle making its wayalong the Shankill Road. Sporadic firing continued at RUC Land Rovers fromthe direction of Crimea Street and Northumberland Street, but there were nopolice casualties.

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

Saturday 9th June 1973University bombedA bomb believed to be packed into a fire extinguisher, caused considerable blastdamage to the Celtic studies building of Queen’s University at College ParkEast, Belfast. No one was hurt.

Monday 11th June 1973Bus Driver killed in East End gun battleProtestant gunmen shot dead a bus driver when they opened fire on troops inEast Belfast in what the Army described as a concerted attack.About a dozen passengers on the Ulsterbus had a narrow escape, as the driverhit 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

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

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

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

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

Monday 11th June 1973UDR man shotA UDR man was injured when a gunman opened fire on a mobile patrol. Thevehicle was travelling along the Charles Street area of Portadown, the soldierreceived a flesh wound and was taken to hospital. Two children escaped injurywhen a single shot passed through their bedroom in Westland Road, not farfrom where the UDR man was shot.

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

Tuesday 12th June 1973Slaughter in Ulster TownSix people died in Coleraine this when two cars with bombs in them explodedinside five minutes of each other. The car bombs exploded in Railway Roadand Hanover Place without any warning. Coleraine, one of the quietest townsin 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 hospi-tal. When they arrived on the scene there was utter confusion, with many peoplewandering around in a state of severe shock.

Tuesday 12th June 1973Troops fired on in two Protestant areasSix gunmen are believed to have been hit by soldiers during gun battles in twoProtestant areas of Belfast. Most of the trouble was confined to the Shankilldistrict 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 fromPandora Street in the Protestant area of Donegall Road just after midnight.

RIGHT - Dense smoke pours from a wine shop onRailway Road, Coleraine, after a bomb blast in whichsix people were killed (also below)

Elizabeth Palmer Nan DavisAlbert Scott

LEFT - Clearing up after the Coleraine BombBELOW - The funeral of Francis Campbell and hiswife Dinah, victims of the Coleraine bomb, leavingRichview Presbyterian Church, Donegall Road

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

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

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

BELOW - Detectives examine the scene where the bodyof Joseph Kelly was found.TOP RIGHT - The spot where the body of Daniel Rousewas found at Dunmurry.BOTTOM RIGHT - Smyth’s Record Shop Belfast’sFountain Street which was wrecked by a bomb.

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

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

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

Wednesday 13th June 1973Coleraine: the full horror revealedAs 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 thedaughter of an elderly Belfast couple who died in the blast and a third memberof their family. One man who is yet to be named lost an arm and a leg and wassaid to be in a critical condition.The police was firmly pinning the blame on the Provisional IRA’s active serviceunit in South Derry, from where the two cars used in the attack were stolen. TheBelfast family caught in the slaughter had been holidaying at Ballycastle andwere 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 PrimroseStreet, Ormeau Road. The Campbell’s 30 year-old daughter, Hilary, is underintensive 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, andMrs. Elizabeth Palmer (60), Whitehall Chambers, Coleraine.

Wednesday 13th June 1973Explosion at the docksSeveral women workers, most of them suffering from shock, were taken tohospital after a bomb exploded at a Docker’s pay office at Dufferin Road inBelfast Harbour Estate.

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

Wednesday 13th June 1973Man is shot dead at Army postAn Army sentry shot dead a man who jumped over a security barrier outsideBelfast’s Springfield Road police station which had been attacked several timesin the past and began threatening soldiers. After several shouted warnings tothe man, a sentry fired a single shot, and despite on-the-spot treatment from anArmy 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 Spring-field Road.

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

A 50lb bomb in a satchel was left outside O.D Cars on the Antrim Road inBelfast, an Army expert managed to defuse the bomb.A third bomb was found in a stolen car at Braymount Park, Belfast. An Armyexpert found that it contained a 10lb bomb, which he managed to defuse.

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

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

Thursday 14th June 1973Man remandedA 20 year-old man of Belgrave Street, Belfast was remanded in custody on anattempted murder charge following the shooting of four schoolboys on the AntrimRoad, Belfast, on Sunday night.

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

Thursday 14th June 1973Boy and girl wounded in gun attacksA 16 year-old youth was found wounded in Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, andwas rushed to hospital by ambulance. He was found to have been shot in thechest. Detectives investigating a murder attempt think that the boy was shotfrom 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 CalvinStreet in East Belfast. Police say she was struck when a bullet ricocheted off awall.

BELOW - The funeral of UDA member MichaelWilson who was shot dead at the home of his brotherin law Tommy Herron, himself a leading UDA figure.BELOW RIGHT - The Rev. Ian Paisley at the UDAfuneral.

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

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

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

Thursday 14th June 1973Factory bombedDunmurry police were told that a warning was given of two bombs in theDerriaghy based Wandleside-Warren Wire Company’s factory. They warnedthe night shift workers who were evacuated before a massive bomb of between100 and 200lbs, exploded.

Thursday 14th June 1973Hotel bombedBombers left a device at the Lough Neagh Hotel at Maghery outside Dungannonand fired at the building before making off. The owner went outside afterhearing the shots and discovered the bomb with its fuse burning. He cleared thepremises before the blast.Quick work by the fire service prevented serious damage at Lyttle’s electricalshop in Strabane after a bomb had exploded at the rear of the building.

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

BELOW - Military barriers designed to close offareas on short notice which have been erected aroundthe New Lodge area in North Belfast

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

Friday 15th June 1973Bombers hit four more targetsThe bombing campaign continued with four more blasts – a Tax Office in OrmeauAvenue, a shop in Fountain Street, a creamery near Newtownhamilton and aschool at Enniskillen.The first Belfast bomb was at the Corporation Motor Tax Office in Apsley Streetoff Ormeau Avenue. It was spotted by a pensioner as she made her way downthe street to do her shopping.In Fountain Street two parcels were left at Smyth’s Record Shop and an explo-sion occurred just shortly after 2pm causing extensive damage to the shop andshattering dozens of windows in the area.Considerable damage was caused by a bomb at the Fane Valley Co-operativeCreamery at Altnamakin, Newtownhamilton shortly after one o’clock this after-noon. The damage was mainly confined to a store.A small explosion heard in the east end of Enniskillen was traced later today toSt. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School at Chanter Hill Road. The care-taker found a small metal canister, which had exploded outside the building.The blast shattered five windows in a nearby corridor but there was no otherdamage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday June 16th 1973The Wilson killing – RUC doubt Provo linkSecurity chiefs still seemed convinced that Michael Wilson, brother-in-law offormer UDA boss Tommy Herron was shot by members of an extremeProtestant organisation. There appears to little doubt also that the gunmen whokilled 18 year-old Wilson were in fact looking for Herron. Detectives probingthe killing doubt that the Provisional IRA would have risked entering the BranielEstate, 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 ceasefiretalks between the UDA and IRA. RUC investigations into the murder are likelyto go on for some time.

Saturday June 16th 1973Missing Belfast man maybe murderedA missing person report to the police turned into a possible full-scale murderhunt after a man claiming to be a member of the Ulster Freedom Fighterstelephoned the Belfast Telegraph. The anonymous caller said that one of his‘comrades’ had kidnapped and killed a youth, whom he named, from theAndersonstown district of Belfast. Shortly after the brief conversation the RUCconfirmed that the kidnapped man had in fact been reported missing by hisfamily. The caller said the kidnapped man was driven away and later shot twicein the back of the head. "He is dead", the caller added. The Freedom Fighterssaid the man from the Riverdale area of Andersonstown was killed in retaliationfor the murder of Michael Wilson, the brother-in-law of former UDA boss TommyHerron.

Saturday June 16th 1973Troops burn up car bombArmy experts dealt with a 60lb car bomb planted in the centre of Cappagh Vil-lage near Dungannon. The bomb had been left outside a draper’s shop. Armyexperts 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 carpark close to the Altmore Hotel. It was not immediately known if the vehiclecontained explosives.

LEFT - A British soldier with one of the guns whichthey are asking shopkeepers to stop selling.BELOW - McCausland’s Car Hire showroom inBelfast’s York Street after an IRA bomb attack.

Saturday June 16th 1973Crossmaglen explosionsTwo bombs exploded near Crossmaglen in South Armagh but there were noreports of casualties. The first blast wrecked a car on the road betweenCrossmaglen and the border town land of Moybane. Police said the car wasstolen in Eire. Security forces believe it may have been an IRA bomb waiting tobe collected when it went off prematurely.Police and troops were still trying to trace the location of the second blast butwere cautiously waiting in case the explosion was meant to lure security forcesinto an ambush in the area between Crossmaglen and Newry.

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

Saturday June 16th 1973Millionaire’s last wordsA Newtownabbey inquest heard that one of Ulster’s best-known businessmen,Mr. Larry McMahon, died instantly when a bomb exploded in his face at hisJordanstown home last March. The Coroner’s jury returned an open verdict onthe 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 hadbeen sitting in the living room of their Circular Road home at around 9.30 pmon the night of the explosion. Their four children had been sleeping upstairs.

"We heard a heavy thud somewhere in the house and thought it came from thehallway. Larry walked to the front door and as he opened it said, "Phone thepolice. Oh my God the children". I turned to the phone and there was a tremen-dous blast."A doctor who lived near the McMahon’s was first on the scene. He told thecourt 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. Hehelped Mrs. McMahon bring the other three children from upstairs and thenfound Mr. McMahon’s badly lacerated body partially buried under the collapsedstairs.A constable from the RUC scenes of crime branch said that the asset of theexplosion 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 1973UDR mans inquestAn inquest jury in Armagh heard how a Roman Catholic father of nine, whowas a full-time member of the UDR, died in a hail of bullets as he turned towave 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 withinsight of his wife. His wife Elizabeth told the jury that she was standing at theback door of her home when she heard shots and saw her husband fall. "He hadjust turned round to wave to me as was his usual practice", she said.

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

BELOW - Funeral of UDA man Michael Wilson whowas shot dead in the home of UDA leader TommyHerron.

TOP LEFT - Scout Halls in Downpatrick destroyed by fire.BOTTOM LEFT - Car bomb attack in Belfast’s LittlePatrick Street.

The other assassination victim, 25 year-old James Joseph Kelly, a labourer fromFerris Park, Larne, was found lying beside the main Belfast to Larne Roadyesterday morning. A few hours later the UFF phoned a Belfast morning news-paper office and told them, "We have assassinated an IRA man on the way toLarne. 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 shoot-ing of Tommy Herron’s brother-in-law, Michael Wilson.

Security forces were piecing together all available information about the UlsterFreedom Fighters, the latest deadly splinter group to emerge from militantProtestant ranks.Already the UFF have claimed responsibility for the two weekendassassinations of Roman Catholics and some recent bombings in Belfast sosecurity chiefs are not taking their threat of more violence as an idle boast. OnSaturday when a UFF man phoned the Belfast Telegraph and said they had shotAndersonstown teenager Daniel Rouse, he warned, "There will be plenty moreof this". Intelligence officers were concentrating on finding out all they canabout the new militant group thought to be composed of disillusioned membersof other paramilitary organisations.

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

Monday June 18th 1973GAA club bombedA 15lb bomb in a gas cylinder extensively damaged a GAA club on the BallymenaRoad 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 warningbefore the blast.

Monday June 18th 1973Barracks bombedA bomb estimated at 50 to 100lb, which exploded outside RUC headquarters atVictoria Barracks, Derry, was the worst bombing incident of the weekend. Awhite television maintenance van had been hijacked in Waterloo Street, wheresecurity forces believe the bomb was loaded on to it. The driver’s helper washeld hostage while the driver was instructed to drive the van to VictoriaBarracks. The driver did so and when he arrived a small group of demonstratorswere outside the barracks. He warned the police and the demonstrators whereeventually removed from the area.When the bomb exploded the main damage was caused to a large clothing storeclose to the barracks. Windows of other premises in the area were also shattered

Monday June 18th 1973Election office bombedThe driver of an invalid car had a lucky escape when his vehicle was caught ina car-bomb blast at the junction of Joy Street – Ormeau Avenue in Belfast.Although his car was badly damaged the man, who comes from Monkstownwas not badly hurt. His condition was reported to be comfortable. Police saidthere was superficial damage to buildings in the area when the bomb went offwithout warning, but it was not clear if it was meant for any specific target. TheUlster Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for this blast and a car bomb,which extensively damaged the election headquarters of the Republican Clubsat Panton Street on the Falls Road.

Monday June 18th 1973Enniskillen bombA 40lb bomb, which exploded at a cash and carry warehouse on the IrvinestownRoad, Enniskillen, just before midnight on Saturday, badly damaged the buildingand some nearby houses. Houses within a 150-yard radius, including that of theUnionist Party organiser for Fermanagh were affected by the blast

Monday June 18th 1973Murder count against Shankill man droppedA murder charge was withdrawn against a 19 year-old Shankill labourer fromDerry Street. He was charged with the murder of Bernard Moane (46), a RomanCatholic 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

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

Monday June 18th 1973Bomb blasts sign factoryGunmen fired a shot into the air as they made their getaway after planting abomb in a sign-making factory in West Belfast. Police said two men and a girlleft a duffle bag at the premises of J & A Kay in Ainsworth Avenue, between theSpringfield and Shankill Road. As they made their getaway, the raiders, for noapparent reason, fired a shot into the air. Shortly after they fled an anonymouscaller phoned a 10-minute warning to the Irish News. The 15-20lb bomb causedonly slight damage when it exploded about 40 minutes later.

Monday June 18th 1973Biggest bomb yetA sharp-eyed Paratrooper found the biggest home made bomb yet planted bythe IRA. The soldier, on routine with his squad, was walking down a countryroad at Drumlougher, near Cullyhanna, in South Armagh, when he noticed thatseveral milk churns had been placed by the roadside. An Army bomb disposalman 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 homemade 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 theroadway.

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

Tuesday June 19th 1973New terror gang bombs Belfast BarThe Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for last nights bomb attackon 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 MaterHospital. A bomb was thrown from a passing car and the blast blew in the pub’sfront door and smashed windows in it and nearby houses but damage was notextensive. Soon after the explosion a man purporting to be a representative ofthe Ulster Freedom Fighters telephoned the Irish News offices and claimed theUFF had carried out the explosion because the bar was a "known haunt of Catho-lics and Republicans".

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

Tuesday June 19th 1973Funerals halted by death threatFive Protestant funerals at Belfast City Cemetery had to be cancelled aftergravediggers were threatened they would be shot if they stayed at work.Corporation workmen at the Falls Road cemetery said they stopped work aftertheir 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’HaganRepublican Club volunteered to go to the cemetery while burials were takingplace to ensure that no one was attacked.Mr. Devlin described the warning as a "malicious call" and added: "I’ve beentalking to people round the area and there has been no question of anyonewanting to harm these workers. I am quite prepared to go up and stand besidethem while they work. There is nobody going to touch them".According to some reports, at least one of the funerals was turned back when itreached the cemetery gates. The Reverend Ian Paisley sent an urgent telegramto the Prime Minister, Mr. Heath, complaining about the forced closure of thecemetery. Stormont Castle said that Mr. Peter Mills, one of Mr. Whitelaw’sMinisters, had called for a full report.

Tuesday June 19th 1973Troops fire on gunmenShots were fired by troops at two gunmen in Rosslea, Fermanagh but the menescaped in thick undergrowth. The troops were alerted by a barking dog andwhen they went to investigate, a man was seen running across a lane carrying agun. 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 1973Van blast boy betterA 13 year-old boy who received abdominal injuries in Saturday’s van bomb inDerry city centre was said to be "fairly comfortable" in Altnagelvin Hospital.Thomas Melaugh, of High Park, was crossing Waterloo Street to return homewith his Mother when he was caught by the blast.

Tuesday June 19th 1973Gun attacksThe crew of a Newtownhamilton police Land Rover had a narrow escape whenthey were ambushed at Sheridan’s Cross between Cullyhanna andNewtownhamilton in South Armagh. Three or four shots hit the vehicle afterhidden gunmen opened fire. There were no casualties.Three shots were fired at the Creggan Army Camp from the direction ofCircular Road. Two of them struck the camp wall but there were no casualtiesand fire was not returned.

Wednesday June 20th 1973Bomb thrown into bar – then terror gang opens fireCustomers in a Derry public house had a narrow escape after a blast bomb wasthrown 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 pistolshots into the bar before they made their getaway. Fortunately no one was hurtand everyone had cleared the building when the bomb went off a few minuteslater blowing a hole in the floor and damaging the pub interior.

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

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

Wednesday June 20th 1973RUC stop a van and find bombTwo sharp-eyed policemen intercepted a hi-jacked laundry van near the centreof Belfast and found a 70lb bomb inside it. As the policemen moved in, one ofthe two youths produced a pistol, but the RUC men overpowered them withouta struggle. Army bomb experts were called to remove the explosives packed inlaundry baskets and police using a loud hailer quickly evacuated the area aroundCarlisle Circus where the yellow Ford Transit was stopped.Police said the van had been hi-jacked earlier in the New Lodge area and thedriver held captive. He was later released unharmed.

Wednesday June 20th 1973‘Houdini’ Bryson is let out of jailJames 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 inMountjoy jail since an extradition order was granted in Dundalk district courton June 13, directing that he be handed over to the RUC to face a charge ofpossessing firearms. Bryson escaped from the prison ship and after his recap-ture from Crumlin Road Prison.

Wednesday June 20th 1973Gunmen hit three soldiersThree soldiers were shot by gunmen in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast this .But they were not seriously injured.

Thursday June 21st 1973Blast at house kills a soldierIn 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 threeothers were injured, one seriously.The Army bomb disposal officer was named as 29 year-old Captain Barry Grittenwho was married with three small children and was a member of the RoyalArmy Ordinance Corps. He had two boys aged four and one and a two year-olddaughter. Three other soldiers were injured when the explosion wrecked thederelict house in the Brandywell district, one has lost the sight of one eye andsurgeons are fighting to save the other.

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

Thursday June 21st 1973Car bomb goes off on the Boyne BridgeHundreds 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 themain railway line out of Belfast, and trains were stopped for a time. A warningwas telephoned to a local newspaper that the bomb was 400lb, but the callergave no time for the explosion. Damage to the factory was slight but debrisfrom the car was scattered for hundreds of yards around and parts of the vehiclewas blown onto the railway lines.

There was no damage caused to the bridge itself, but a gas main burst and ig-nited. Windows in surrounding buildings, including the Europa Hotel had somewindows broken. No one was injured and traffic was back to normal shortlyafter the explosion.

Thursday June 21st 1973Exchange bombingA 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 tosafety 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 1973UDA man Taylor appears in Eire courtRobert William Taylor, the extradited Derry UDA man, appeared at LetterkennyDistrict Court charged with the murder of the young Donegal couple at Burnfooton New Year’s Day.Taylor (18) of Shearwater Way, Waterside, is charged with the murder of OliverBoyce and his fiancé, Brid Porter. He was extradited from Northern Ireland lastweek after long legal battles. It was Taylor’s second court appearance and hewas remanded in custody for a fortnight until July 5. The hearing lasted only afew minutes.

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

Friday June 22nd 1973Coleraine: Two accused of six murdersThere were shouts of "murderers" and "burn them" by a crowd of about 150people outside Coleraine courthouse as a young man and woman were rushedaway by police after being charged with the murder of six people who died inone 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 year-old female of Broagh Road, Castledawson.They made a 15 minute appearance at a special court charged that together withother 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 daystime, and both nodded their heads when asked if they agreed to this demand.

Friday June 22nd 1973Night of bomb and bulletTroops said they hit a gunman in the Bogside area of Derry after another nightof violence with two bombs, and a rocket attack in the city.About 20 jeering youths in the Bogside followed an armoured vehicle throughthe 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 AltnagelvinHospital with serious gunshot wounds.

Friday June 22nd 1973Customer carries bomb from pubA 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 apistol came in with the bomb, but a customer calmly carried the bomb out intothe street where it exploded almost immediately damaging the front of the build-ing. There were no casualties.

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

Friday June 22nd 1973Murdered man found in a sackA Belfast doctor told an inquest that he discovered that a sack at the rear of hishome contained the body of an assassination victim. An open verdict wasreturned on Patrick Vincent Devanny (27), a Roman Catholic, of BalfourAvenue, who was found murdered at Rugby Road near Queen’s University onthe morning of August 31 last. Devanny had served in the British Army from1965 to 1968 but was discharged because of ill health. The coroner said thiswas another assassination victim who had been killed in traditional style of onebullet through the back of the head and one through the forehead.Open verdicts were also returned on two other Catholics who were murdered ina Tate’s Avenue off-licence in Belfast, where they worked on October 13th lastyear. They were John Duffy (35) of London Street and Thomas Marron (58) ofGransha Avenue.

A detective told the court that on the night they were killed, two young menwearing balaclava helmets and combat jackets entered the off-licence and madethe two employees and a young man lie on the floor. The killers then shot theirvictims at close range with .38 and .45 Webley revolvers. The detective said thethird person was a Roman Catholic student who later recovered from his woundsand was now living in Dublin. Duffy died shortly after the shooting and Marronseveral days later in hospital. The court was told one of the guns used in thedouble killing was found recently in the possession of a youth and policeenquiries were continuing.

Friday June 22nd 1973Youth who helped hotel evacuation is praisedA Belfast coroner has commended a youth who helped to evacuate the ImperialHotel, Belfast, before a bomb exploded outside it without warning, killing twoinnocent civilians.Open verdicts were returned on Mrs. Anne Murray (54), of Cliftonpark Avenue,and Mr. Andrew McKibben (28), of Sunningdale Gardens. Both had receivedmultiple injuries in the bomb blast. Seamus Perry (19) was leaving the hotel at11 o’clock when he noticed a Ford Anglia Estate parked against a wall of thebuilding. He became alarmed when he saw smoke coming from it and he ranback into the hotel and warned the occupants. He was on the top floor helping toevacuate the building when the bomb exploded demolishing part of it.

Saturday June 23rd 197340lb bomb wrecks Army post in DerryA booby-trap bomb hidden under an old jumper wrecked an Army post besideone of Derry’s city centre security gates. A soldier on duty spotted the 40lbparcel 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 wereslightly injured in the blast, which demolished the post and the large securitygates beside it at Butcher Gate leading to the Bogside.

Not much to be posted in this East Belfast street

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

Saturday June 23rd 1973Derry bombA 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 warningat 11.15pm. The area was cleared and the bomb exploded half an hour later.

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

Saturday June 23rd 1973Strabane store bombedIn Strabane five masked men were seen by a civilian trying to enter a shop inMain Street, but they failed to get in and left a suitcase bomb at the door beforedriving off. Police and troops cleared the area and the bomb, containing about25lbs of explosives, went off shortly afterwards, causing severe damage to ShielsFurniture Store.

Saturday June 23rd 1973Church bombedSeveral pews at the Roman Catholic Church in Minorca Place, Carrickfergus,were slightly scorched went an incendiary device went off. Most of the 2lb ofmaterial placed on a window sill, blew out harmlessly on to grass, but some fellinside the building and the stained glass windows were slightly damaged

Saturday June 23rd 1973House bombedA 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 aRoman Catholic. None of the occupants were injured.

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

Monday June 25th 1973Knock at door brought deathA gunman shot dead a 36 year-old Protestant as he opened the front door of hishouse in Oldpark area of Belfast. Ulster’s latest assassination victim, the 51stthis year, was Mr. Joseph Cunningham, a driver who lived at the house in NoreStreet with friends.The killer fired five shots at Mr. Cunningham as he answered a knock on thedoor. His victim was hit on the chest, neck and kidney. Mr. Cunningham wasrushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival. He was the 152nd person to bekilled this year and the 831st to die in the present troubles.

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

Monday June 25th 1973Rocket misses targetRockets were fired at the Belcoo and Rosslea police stations in Fermanagh, butno one was hurt and damage was slight. At Belcoo, two Russian made RPG7’swere fired at the station from a point just inside the border. One missedcompletely and the other glanced off the perimeter security fence.One of the rockets exploded among a group of council houses nearby, smashingalmost all of their windows and pock marking the walls with shrapnel. Luckilynone 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 duringthe last IRA campaign, a rocket was fired it hit the perimeter fence and causedonly minor damage to the station. Shots were also fired at the station but therewere no casualties.

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

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

Monday June 25th 1973Bank bombedThe Munster and Lienster Bank in Main Street, Strabane was extensivelydamaged 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 thethird to go off in the Main Street in the same period.

Monday June 25th 1973Hotel targetedKnock-na-moe Castle Hotel, where five soldiers died after a booby-trap bombexploded 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. Itwas packed in a creamery can and had a clock and battery attached.

Monday June 25th 1973Man shotA 21 year-old Protestant was hit in the left leg when a gunman shot at him nearthe M2. Police said the man’s car had broken down near the Greencastle inter-change and had gone for assistance when he was shot at. Fortunately he was notseriously hurt.

Sean ArmstrongPaddy WilsonIrene Andrews

Monday June 25th 1973Legion hall bombedThe British Legion hall in Ballycastle, used every month as a temporary court-house, was burned to the ground following an explosion inside the building

Monday June 25th 1973Man denies killing MoaneA Shankill man denied murdering a Roman Catholic drinks traveller when thetrial entered its seventh day. The 39 year-old unemployed man from MontrealStreet said he did not kill Mr. Moane (46), of Ailesbury Drive, at Knockagh WarMemorial on May 17 last year.Two other Shankill men, a 20 year-old labourer of Argyle Street and anunemployed 25 year-old driver of Ainsworth Street have also pleaded not guiltyto the murder.

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

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

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

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

Tuesday June 26th 1973Benburb store bombedA Protestant owned Supermarket at Benburb, Dungannon, has been blown up.Two men entered the store, planted the bomb and shouted a five-minutewarning. The raiders fled in a hi-jacked car, which was later found abandonedon the outskirts of the village. A fire, which followed the blast, extensivelydamaged the store but the area had been cleared and no one was hurt.

Tuesday June 26th 1973Bar bombedTwo masked raiders, one armed with a sub-machinegun, planted a bomb insidea bar at Ballyronan near Coagh and gave a three-minute warning before makingtheir getaway. The bomb went off three minutes later badly damaging the build-ing.

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

Tuesday June 26th 1973IRA men killedThe three IRA men who died when a bomb exploded in a stolen BMC 1100 caron the Gortin Road at Mountjoy East, outside Omagh, have been named indeath 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 theywere killed ‘on active service’. Security forces believe the bomb in the carstolen earlier from the Pomeroy area was intended for a target in the Omagharea.

Wednesday June 27th 1973Letter bomb blows up in Derry lawyer’s handsA Derry Solicitor was injured when a letter bomb delivered through the mailblew up in his hand. The 43 year-old Solicitor, Mr. Scott Carter, is in AltnagelvinHospital with injuries to his hand and abdomen but a hospital spokesman saidhe was not seriously hurt.Mr. Carter is a partner in the firm of Babington and Croasdaile, whose offices inLimavady Road are opposite Ebrington Barracks, headquarters of 8 InfantryBrigade.The bomb was one of three delivered in the post in Derry the other two wereaddressed to a policeman and a Private in the Ulster Defence Regiment, butboth were suspicious and did not open the envelopes, they were dealt with by anArmy bomb disposal expert.

Wednesday June 27th 1973Paddy Wilson: New riddle over the UFFDetectives hunting the killers of Senator Paddy Wilson and Miss Irene Andrewsare 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, thevictims were not from one religious group. Three were Roman Catholics andtwo were Protestants. Post-mortem examinations revealed the way in whichMr. Wilson and Miss Andrews were killed after being abducted to the HightownRoad quarry after leaving a city centre bar. Mr. Wilson had been stabbed 30times 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 SomertonRoad and Miss Andrews was buried from Wilton’s funeral parlour, on theCrumlin Road, in Roselawn Cemetery.

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

Wednesday June 27th 1973Derry patrol ambushedA policeman and a 14 year-old girl were both shot in the legs when a policepatrol vehicle was ambushed in Derry.At least one gunman opened up from across the road when the RUC Land Roverslowed down after a group of children had stoned it in the Carnhill Estate. About15 shots were fired at the vehicle. One of the bullets that missed the Land Roverhit the girl, who was playing with friends in an old car nearby. She crawled tosafety in a nearby house and was taken to hospital. Neither she, or the RUCman, was seriously hurt.

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

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

Wednesday June 27th 1973Newry bomb attackFour men, one with a rifle and another with a revolver, planted a bomb at Rowlandand Harris’s garage in Railway Avenue, Newry, but the 60–70lb charge wasdealt with by an Army expert. He carried out a controlled explosion, whichcaused only minimum damage to the building, bombed once before during thetroubles.

Thursday June 28th 1973provos admit shootingThe Provisional IRA claimed responsibility for the killing of a Pakistani can-teen worker who was shot in the head while driving through the Bogside. TheProvisionals 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 awest Belfast polling station

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

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

Thursday June 28th 1973Rocket attackA rocket was fired at the Bligh’s Lane Army post from nearby BeechwoodAvenue in Derry. Three shots were also fired in the attack but there were nocasualties.

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

Thursday June 28th 1973Bar bombedA 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 butthe bomb did not go off until after midnight.

Friday June 29th 1973Eight hurt in blast at AldergroveEight people were taken to hospital when a car bomb exploded without warningoutside the BEA freight depot at Aldergrove Airport. The car bomb was parkedbeside the canteen and the BEA shed. Seven were treated for shock and one wasdetained. RUC Headquarters said a telephone warning came 11 minutes afterthe blast. A fleet of ambulances were rushed from Belfast to Aldergrove afterthe 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 bombexploded without warning.

Friday June 29th 1973100lb car bomb wrecks car hire firm’s depotA 100lb car bomb wrecked a car hire firm’s building and damaged scores ofothers in Belfast city centre. An anonymous tip off sent police and troopsrushing to Clarke’s Lane off York Street. They found a hi-jacked Anglia Vancontaining two oil drums packed with explosives. Frantic efforts were made toclear a large area of York Street and Corporation Street as Army explosivesexperts prepared a controlled explosion. The blast wrecked McCausland’s CarHire building, blowing off the roofing and tearing down the steel structure at therear. A bystander was cut by flying glass and rushed to hospital as hundreds ofwindows were shattered.

Friday June 29th 1973Mortar attack on polling stationIRA bombers launched a mortar attack on a polling station in West Belfast. Ayoung soldier who shouted a warning to people in the playground of KelvinSecondary School seconds before a mortar bomb exploded, saved them frominjury and possibly death. Security forces said three explosions were heard nearthe school, which is in the Roden Street area of Belfast and one mortar explodedin front of the building as about 20 people were going to vote at the pollingstation inside. The projectile thought to have been fired from the Leeson Streetarea, 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 1973Derry polling station attackedVoters entering St. Patrick’s School in the Shantallow area of Derry had to divefor cover when a gunman fired seven shots at the building from the direction ofCarnhill Estate. Some of the school windows were broken and a bullet struck awall inches above the heads of a policeman and a civilian standing outside.Luckily no one was hurt.

Friday June 29th 1973Bomb attacksAn 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, aboutthree miles from the town and there were anonymous phone calls to police thatit was booby-trapped. An Army spokesman said the bomb was believed tocontain 40-50lbs. A 20lb duffle bag bomb extensively damaged a petrol stationon 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, Newrywas dealt with by a controlled explosion.

Friday June 29th 1973Eire police warning to Provos on funeralA senior Garda officer warned Provisional republican supporters that actionwill be taken against them if they attempted to carry firearms or fire shotsduring the funeral of Dermot Crowley, who is one of three men killed whentheir car blew up near Omagh. Chief Superintendent Patrick Power approachedthe colour party accompanying the hearse at last night’s removal of the remainsto a Roman Catholic Church in Mayfield, Cork, and delivered the warning.A large force of uniformed and special branch Gardai was on duty but therewere no incidents.

Saturday June 30th 1973Victim of killer was man of peaceA voluntary worker, Mr. Sean Armstrong, who arranged holidays away from thetroubles for hundreds of Ulster children, became the latest victim of theviolence he so much wanted to see end.For 31 year-old Mr. Armstrong, the Northern Ireland Field Officer of Inter-national Voluntary Service died in hospital soon after he was shot six times by agunman who burst into his flat in the city’s University area.Married only a week ago the former PTQ editor of the Queen’s Universitystudent rag magazine – had just returned to the Eglantine Avenue flat with hisAmerican born wife, Moira, after their honeymoon. A lone gunman walked intothe three-storey terraced house and asked a woman in a downstairs flat whereSean Armstrong lived. Then he coolly walked upstairs, knocked on the door,and, when the social worker answered, shot him six times. The killer then madeoff in the Malone Road direction.

Saturday June 30th 1973Teenager seriously injured by gunmanCar gunmen seriously injured a Roman Catholic teenager in an assassinationattempt on Belfast’s Antrim Road. Seventeen year-old Sean Keenan was thelatest victim of the gun squads operating in North Belfast. He was hit in thechest and seriously wounded when gunmen in a car opened fire on him nearAnnadale Street. An Army doctor was quickly on the scene and was able to givethe youth a blood transfusion before an ambulance arrived."The doctor was able to keep the boy alive because he was carrying all theequipment he needed to meet the emergency," an Army spokesman said.

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

Saturday June 30th 1973Assassination attemptWhat 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 twoRUC men manning a security point nearby at Queen Street. The gunmen firedtwo shots after him. One hit the man in the thigh and a UDR man was hit in thearm but none was seriously hurt.

Saturday June 30th 1973Bar attackedCustomers in a Public House at Darragh Cross, Crossgar, had a narrow escapewhen a pipe bomb was thrown into the bar. The bomb landed in the snug bouncingoff a man’s arm, the man grabbed his wife and made for the door. The bombwent 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 1973Controlled explosionAn 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 vanwhich had been abandoned and a second was to split up a large bomb in thevehicle. Slight damage was caused to adjoining property by the blasts.