Bloody Friday Research Paper

Throughout the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s, paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland had become very powerful due to the strive for equality between the Catholics and Protestants. The Republican paramilitaries, such as the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army, had the aim of using force to achieve a united Ireland, with equal rights and no connection to Britain. Whilst the Loyalist paramilitaries, such as the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Organisation, had the aim of protecting and acting upon the violence that had been placed upon the Protestant civilians. Both paramilitary organisations participated in numerous acts of terrorism throughout the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s, which contributed to the growing

The Aldershot bombing is known as the IRA’s retaliation to ‘Bloody Sunday’ and was a terrorism campaign that occurred on the British mainland of Aldershot. The IRA planted a bomb that targeted the headquarters of the British Army’s Brigade and saw seven civilians killed.

Another act of terrorism that the IRA took part in was ‘Bloody Friday.’ ‘Bloody Friday’ occurred in Belfast on the 21st of July 1972 and saw the death of nine people and injured a hundred and thirty others. This was because the British Army did not withdraw from Northern Ireland and therefore the IRA planted and exploded 22 bombs, setting into motion their intention of disrupting everyday life in Northern

The INLA was formed in 1974 and their aim was to see the reunification of Ireland and the creation of a revolutionary socialist republic. In total, it is believed to have killed more than 120 people during ‘the Troubles’ period. The organisation first rose to prominence with the assassination of Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman Airey Neave at the House of Commons in 1979, and through the Droppin Well Bombing. The Droppin Well bombing occurred on the 6th of December 1982, and was where a time bomb at a disco in Ballykelly was exploded. Ballykelly was targeted as it was a place that was frequently visited by British Army soldiers. The bomb killed 11 soldiers and 6