Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
19th July
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Sunday 19 July 1981
Those Republican prisoners taking part in the hunger strike rejected attempts by the International Committee of the Red Cross to act a mediators with the British government.
Monday 19 July 1982
James Prior, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, paid a visit to the United States of America (USA) to explain his ‘rolling devolution’ plans.
Friday 19 July 1996
Eight men were remanded in custody after appearing on charges of conspiring to cause explosions. The men were arrested on 15 July 1996.
At a meeting between Hugh Annesley, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), and the Police Authority of Northern Ireland, a motion of no-confidence in Hugh Annesley was dropped.
Saturday 19 July 1997
IRA Statment
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement which announced that there would be a renewal of its 1994 ceasefire as of 12.00pm on 20 July 1997.
Irish Republican Army (IRA) Ceasefire Statement, 19 July 1997
“On August 31, 1994 the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) announced their complete cessation of military operations as our contribution to the search for lasting peace.
After 17 months of cessation in which the British government and the unionists blocked any possibility of real or inclusive negotiations, we reluctantly abandoned the cessation.
The IRA is committed to ending British rule in Ireland. It is the root cause of divisions and conflict in our country. We want a permanent peace and therefore we are prepared to enhance the search for a democratic peace settlement through real and inclusive negotiations.
So having assessed the current political situation, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann are announcing a complete cessation of military operations from 12 midday on Sunday 20 July, 1997.
We have ordered the unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire of August 1994. All IRA units have been instructed accordingly.”
Following the announcement the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) said that the two parties would not be a part of the talks process.
Sunday 19 July 1998
Andrew Kearney (33), a Catholic civilian, died shortly after being shot in the legs by Republican paramilitaries, outside his girlfriends flat in the New Lodge area of Belfast.
[No organisation claimed responsibility but the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) believed that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was responsible for the shooting.]
There was a mortar attack on the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) base in Newry, County Armagh. The “real” Irish Republican Army (rIRA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Monday 19 July 1999
A parcel bomb addressed to a Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) member in Ballymena, County Antrim, was defused by British Army technical officers at a Post Office sorting room in the town.
Dissident Loyalist paramilitaries were thought to have been responsible
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), met with Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), in Dublin for talks on the political developments in Northern Ireland. Adams later said that delays in implementing the Good Friday Agreement meant that it would be not be possible to meet the decommissioning deadline.
Thursday 19 July 2001
There was an arson attack on a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubhouse in Kilkeel, County Down. Loyalist paramilitaries were thought to have been responsible for the attack.
This was the first in a new series of attacks on GAA clubs across Northern Ireland; other attacks on 29 July 2001, 22 August 2001, 23 August 2001.
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Remembering all innocent victims of the Troubles
Today is the anniversary of the death of the following people killed as a results of the conflict in Northern Ireland
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die
– Thomas Campbell
To the innocent on the list – Your memory will live forever
– To the Paramilitaries –
There are many things worth living for, a few things worth dying for, but nothing worth killing for.
9 People lost their lives on the 19th July between 1972 – 1998
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19 July 1972
Henry Gray (71)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot trying to stop bomb attack on Whitehorse Inn, Springfield Road, Belfast.
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19 July 1972
Alan Jack (0)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed in car bomb explosion, Canal Street, off Abercorn Square, Strabane, County Tyrone. Inadequate warning given.
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19 July 1972
Hugh Wright (21)
Protestant
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Loyalist group (LOY)
Found shot in field, off Hightown Road, near Belfast, County Antrim.
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19 July 1978
Mark Carnie (18)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Killed by remote controlled bomb hidden behind wall while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
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19 July 1980
Christopher Watson (20)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Shot while in Village Inn, Rosemount, Derry.
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19 July 1986
Martin Duffy (28)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Protestant Action Force (PAF)
Taxi driver. Shot when lured to bogus pick-up, Chichester Park Central, off Antrim Road, Belfast.
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19 July 1987
Thomas Hewitt (21)
nfNI
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Shot by sniper while on British Army (BA) foot patrol, Belleek, County Fermanagh.
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19 July 1991
Thomas Hughes (32)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot while driving his black taxi, junction of Divis Street and Westlink, Lower Falls, Belfast
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19 July 1998
Andrew Kearney (33)
Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Died shortly after being shot in the legs, outside his girlfriends flat, Fianna House, New Lodge, Belfast
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Belfast Child 