Consequences of Conflict on N. Ireland

Peaceful Protest Marches vs Violence

Civil Rights movements started in 1960s :

- demanded equal rights

- protested against unfair treatment of the Catholics

- made peaceful demands for basic rights such as

housing, jobs, education and voting

- Civil Rights Movement in 1968 was a beginning of the period called the ‘Troubles’

How did the Protestants react to these marches?

- Protestants reacted with hostility and violence

- Saw the movement as an attempt to weaken the government

In 1969,

- the British Army was sent to Northern Ireland to help keep peace

- Catholics welcomed their protectors (thought that the British Army was neutral)

In 1971,

- N. Ireland government introduced the ‘internment laws’

- These laws gave the British Army the power to arrest, interrogate and detain without trial, anyone suspected of being involved in any acts to weaken the government

- Catholics soon lost faith in the British Army when the army started to search their homes and made arrests

In 1972,

- A peaceful civil rights march was shot at by the British soldiers

- 13 civilians were shot dead and many more were wounded

- This incident is called the ‘Bloody Sunday’ incident

- It marked the beginning of violent conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants

The Catholics suffered at two fronts :

1. The Protestant Mob

• Catholic homes were petrol-bombed by Protestant mobs forcing families to flee

• Their homes were looted

• Catholic businesses and pubs were burnt and destroyed

2. Security Forces: The Police and British Army

• The police did help to ease the tense situation

• The British Army attacked Catholic homes and damaged their property.

Involvement of Irish Republican Army (IRA)

- IRA was an illegal organisation formed by the Northern Irish Catholics

- Its mission was to use violence to rid Northern Ireland of the British Army and the representatives of the British government

- Within 2 decades of the conflict , many people were killed

- IRA was said to be responsible for 2/3 of the deaths and even the killing of innocent Protestants

Effects of Protestants–Catholic Conflict

The conflict resulted in :

• Political Impact

• Economic Impact

• Social Impact

Political Impact

- The Civil Rights did put pressure on N.Ireland government to change the discriminatory laws

- Political Reform (political improvement) occurred

- N. Ireland government agreed to abolish unfair voting system and review schemes for allocating government-owned houses

Economic Impact

- The conflicts created an unstable situation in N. Ireland

- Foreign-owned factories closed down as operating costs increased (had to pay for damages etc)

- Also, discouraged more domestic and foreign investments coming into the country (why would you invest in an unstable economy?)

- Revenue earned as a country decreased

Social Impact- Education system and prevailing beliefs of

one another has created an atmosphere of tension

- Catholics and Protestants have been socially segregated and do not mix with one another

- This increases the lack of understanding they have of one another

- Makes the chance of resolution of the conflict harder and increases the rift between the 2 groups

Hope for Peace in N.I.?Attempts at resolutions- Attempts by the British government made to

bring about peace (1970s – 1990s)- IRA & members of British govt met, but no

resolution could be agreed upon- Late 1990s, 4 groups came together to one

again, talk about peace in N. Ireland

- British govt

- Irish Republic of Ireland

- IRA

- Northern Ireland community leaders

- The Good Friday Peace Agreement was reached in 1998

Some terms:- A united Ireland could not be brought

about without the consent of the people living in N. Ireland

- A council involving both ministers from N. Ireland and Republic of Ireland to discuss issues of mutual interests (tourism and fisheries)

- N. Ireland govt to work on decommissioning of IRA weapons (putting weapons out of use)

Is peace possible?

Does the Good Friday agreement mean that the conflict is over?

- Does show some progress in attempting to stop the immediate violence

- However, embedded prejudice and discrimination will take longer to change

Are the people of N. Ireland ready to make changes towards peace?