History of 'the Troubles' in Northern Ireland.
1921 - Ireland regains independence after 700 years of English domination.
1922 - the six counties of Ulster choose to remain a part of the United Kingdom.
1968 - the Catholics of Northern Ireland begin their Civil Rights Movement. They protest against discrimination, demand equal rights in employment.
1969 - large Catholic demonstrations turn into violent fights including terrorist attacks on Protestants. British Labour government decides to send 15.000 troops to restore peace. The British soldiers are first welcomed by the Catholics, later they take side of the Protestants.
1971 - Stormont, the Northern Ireland parliament controlled by the Unionists introduce the law of internment. The police can arrest anyone suspected, belonging to, or supporting the IRA without trial.
1972 - the Bloody Sunday. On January 30, British paratroopers open fire to demonstrators in the Catholic part of Londonderry, killing 13 people. The same year Britain suspends Stormont and impose direct rule in Northern Ireland. The Conservative government decides that Stormont is not able to cope with the difficulties on its own any more. Diplock courts set in Northern Ireland, with cases
heard by a single judge, with no jury.
1973 - a coalition government consisting of Catholics and Protestants is formed in Belfast to alleviate the difficult situation.
1974 - a Protestant general strike overthrows the coalition government and British direct rule is resumed again. The same year the British Parliament passes the Prevention of Terrorism Act, allowing the police to hold suspects without charge up to 7 days.
1979 - in one year the IRA kills the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Queen's uncle Earl Mountbatten on a fishing trip off the Irish coast.
1981 - ten members of the IRA starve themselves to death in the Maze, a prison near Belfast.
1984 - an IRA bomb almost kills Margaret Thatcher and members of her Cabinet in Brighton.
1985 - the British and Irish Prime Ministers sign the Anglo-Irish Agreement that allows the Republic of Ireland to participate in the Northern Ireland matters.
1993 - an IRA bomb explodes in the City. The same year the Joint Declaration is signed.
1994 -95 - a short period of cease-fire in Northern Ireland. The British troops are withdrawn.
1995- - the IRA resumes its terrorist activities breaking the peace process.
Apr 10, 1998 - The Good Friday Agreement is reached by the conflicting sides in Northern Ireland. Later the 71 percent majority in both parts of the island decide upon the plan outlined below backed up by Sinn Fein and the UUP:
- creation of the Northern Ireland Assembly (108 members), an elected legislature in the region;
- creation of the North-South Ministerial Council derived from both governments of the island and responsible for transport, agriculture and the environment;
- creation of the British-Irish Council with delegates from all countries of the UK plus the Irish Republic, a body operating by consensus;
- the Republic of Ireland amends its 1937 Constitution provision that lays claim to the entire island. The new article states the Northern Irish must choose their own future.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Paramilitary Terrorist Organizations in Northern Ireland.
the Irish Republican Army - the main Catholic terrorist organization in Northern Ireland. Outlawed both in the UK and Ireland. Founded in 1919 in Ireland with the aim of the unification of Ireland. The current IRA is in fact the Provisional IRA - a breakaway from the Official IRA in 1969, that continues the violent terrorist campaign.
the Ulster Defence Association - the largest Protestant organization. Founded in 1971 to oppose the IRA violence. Its members come mainly from the vigilante working class of Northern Ireland urban areas. Banned in 1992.
the Ulster Volunteer Force - a Protestant organization founded in 1913 aiming first to fight against all those who wanted to reunite Ireland, later fighting against the IRA. Banned in 1975.