UVF Bloody Massacre in Dublin & Monaghan, as 'The Troubles' spilled outside Northern Ireland.
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- Опубликовано: 24 апр 2024
- I travel to Dublin to make a film about one such event, but you might ask why travel from Belfast to Dublin to make a 'Troubles' related film? Surely all that nonsense happened in the north of the country? And yes, that’s largely true. But sometimes, what’s not widely appreciated is how the trouble spilled over outside the confines of Northern Ireland. One of the worst examples of this was what was believed to be the IRA’s Birmingham Pub bombings in 1974, for example, which not only saw 21 innocent people killed, but 6 Irish people wrongly incarcerated for the crime, in what was one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British Legal history.
My trip to Dublin today looks at another such atrocity that took place in Dublin and simultaneously in Monaghan in the same year of 1974. It was carried out this time by the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force), an organisation that the British Government had only just removed from its list of prescribed organisations one month before. Mind you it was a further 19 years before the UVF admitted to the attack, although no one has been charged with the murders.
The attack was committed during the Ulster Workers Council Strike. Which was a general strike by loyalists and Unionists in opposition to the Sunningdale Agreement, which proposed the sharing of power with Nationalists and allowed the Republic a role in N. Ireland’s Governance. Not unlike the anglo-Irish agreement we have today.
We visit a monument to the innocent people that were killed. It stands at the end of Talbot Street where the worst of the 4 explosions that day happened. Three bombs exploded without warning and almost simultaneously in Parnell Street, South Leinster Street and in Talbot Street
The Monahan Bomb happened about 90 mins later so that in total 33 people died, and nearly 300 were injured, making this one of the worst atrocities of the troubles. Most of those killed were young women and an unborn 9 month old baby was also killed with its mother.
We walk down the street to the site of the attack.
What is most disturbing about this particular act of terrorism was the British Government’s indirect, or direct connection with it. Much has still to be revealed, as the British Government refuse to release documents that could shine light on the event for the victim’s families. The Irish police’s investigation stopped in its tracks and was criticised for doing so, although they claim to have been hampered by the British Government‘s failure to provide access to this classified information.
What has come to light is that all four UVF perpetrators where also members of the British Army’s Ulster Defence Regiment. Intelligence of the time also suggested that the bombs were highly sophisticated and unlikely to have been the work of the UVF without help from other parties.
One perverse quotation from a leading loyalist at the time, Sammy Smyth, then press officer of both the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Ulster Workers' Council Strike Committee, said,
"I am very happy about the bombings in Dublin. There is a war with the Free State and now we are laughing at them."
Hard as it may be to comprehend the slaughter of these innocent people, its unfathomable that anyone could feel this way in the event’s aftermath. This attitude was by no means unique during the days of the conflict on both sides, but this statement I think is particularly chilling.
In 1993 Yorkshire Television exposed a story about the bombings and claimed that all four of these UDR/UVF men were agents for the British Intelligence Corps and the RUC Special Branch.
So, why would elements within British Security Forces want to implicate themselves or aid and abet in a mass murderous act against innocent civilians. I’m sure you’re as mystified as I am.
The 'Hidden Hand' documentary called 'The forgotten Massacre' suggested that a significant element within the British Security Forces were opposed to the labour Government of the time’s political attempts to find solutions to the Northern Ireland Crisis (i.e. Sunningdale). The collusion with loyalist paramilitaries and the bombings were designed to wreck the Sunningdale Agreement and favoured instead a British military solution to problem in NI. (see a link to this documentary below so that you can watch it and assess for yourself the quality of the journalism),
• Hidden Hand the Forgot...
It’s hard to end a film like this with my usual cheerful signoff, so I’ll simply say how amazing it is that we now life in more peaceful times. It would be great if other conflicts around the world could find similar political solutions to their differences, rather than mindless military ones that target civilians.
Peace.
Erratum: At 2.21, obviously I meant to say Good Friday Agreement rather than Anglo-Irish.
Some Troubles-related stuff did happen in ROI, such as the blowing up of Nelson's column, Mountbatten's assassination, Dublin and Monaghan, some gardaí were assassinated, several kidnappings like Herrema, Niedermayer, the assassination of British Ambassador Ewart-Biggs, the burning down of the British Embassy after Bloody Sunday, the assassination of Dominic McGlinchey, several of the disappeared were buried south of the border, the arms trial etc. etc.
All small beer compared to what happened up north, of course.
That’s a good synopsis. Yes, it’s a small part of the overall picture, but still as traumatic for those that suffered.
@@nakedireland Indeed.
I forgot to mention Frank Stagg, the man that was buried three times up in Ballina, appropriate seeing as you're up there at the mo.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Stagg_(Irish_republican)
@@TheLastAngryMan01
This is really interesting - I certainly have heard of this guy, but a fascinating story. Sorry about the delay in responding - comments on this video inexplicably got inactivated for a while!
@@nakedireland No hassle, big man, you don't owe me or anyone else an instant reply, or indeed any reply, really. I remembered his name as I was recently in Derry and saw his name on one of the murals up there.
Funnily enough, he was the brother of the late Emmet Stagg, who was on the front bench of the Labour Party for a while and had a fairly colourful life of his own.
An infamous family.
i appreciate that you present videos like a documentary, coming from someone who learns about Ireland from channels like yours, regards
Thanks for your work.
It’s my pleasure Brian, and thanks for watching.
A thought provoking film Greg. The photo of Talbot Street in 1974 is so like pictures we are seeing every day right now about the wars going on. What a species we are who just love to kill each other. Let’s hope the wars we see now can be resolved politically and the troubles serves as an example of what can be achieved.
Thank you Greg. Its taken me a few day's to work up to watching this one. Theres so much I could say. I was 14 when this atrocity took place and living in Andersonstown. They were very dark days and it never leaves you. There is a strange coincidence to this new show as a channel called " Troubled Land" dropped a documentary on my RUclips feed. It ts called "Talking with the Enemy", what shocked me wss that it featured Dermot Finucane. He was my class mate in the Glen Road CBS. It took me aback. You never get over living through a conflict like that.
Thanks Des, yes, not my usual cheerful Irish beauty spot this time. But I felt something that needed an airing. Very hard to deal with these events. I was in two minds about whether to upload this one, but better times ahead I always feel. And a more pleasant film on its way this Thurs, I promise.
If the light not lit on the dark corner's of our history, no justice will come to the victims. To forget , doesn't bring peace. I think it took a lot of courage to bring about this film. Thank you.
The guy /girl walking past at 4:30 was very strange, great research I’ve came across a lot of document’s-held by British in my research for my book
Interesting Paul, what’s your book about and when is it published?
Cheers Des.
Excellent video. I remember watching reports of this on the BBC news and in the papers at the time. Terrible waste of life, just like all the others during the troubles.
Couldn’t agree more.
I enjoy your Videos cos they are Cultural and have an Oblique Perspective on Ireland. I hope touching on the Troubles won't affect your Viewership North or South or your Talent for being Bi Partisan. I know you are a Wiser man than me and thank you for sharing this with your Viewership, it couldn't have been an easy decision for you
The video is simply an account of the facts and focuses on an important and very tragic part of everyone's history, north and south. It acknowledges the atrocity of the Birmingham Pub Bombings right at the outset, and uses these two events as examples of how the violence in N. Ireland 'spilled over' into Rep. of Ireland and England. I think it's perfectly legitimate to discuss these matters. They're all sad events that should never have happened, and perhaps if they're in people's consciousness things like this are less likely to happen again. Beaches, pubs and pretty towns are great things to focus on, but there's a lot of other aspects of Irish life that people want to know about. Some of it's not so pleasant unfortunately.
@@nakedireland Are you veering in to different Territory with this one do you think? Harder part of our shared Heritage to confront always
Not at all, Im back in lovely Ballina for next weeks film. I just like to cover a wide range of things in relation to Ireland. And there are many people who are interested in The Troubles. In fact some of the most watched Naked Ireland films are related to the Troubles. If its about Ireland, and people are interested, then I should cover it I guess.
@@nakedireland Did you have a look at the Refugee Protest there on Saturday?
I didn’t see that. I find it sad to know that Ireland has this very hard line right wing element now - north and south.
Hi
I enjoyed a lot with your video. I went in Dublin two or three times and I would like to visit it again. I like Ireland a lot, I have irish friends. I like that video because I can learn many things about irish history. Thank you so muuch.
Many thanks Patricia, I’m so glad that you enjoy the videos and find them informative. Take care.
Many thanks Patricia, I’m so glad that you enjoy the videos and find them informative. Take care.
It was the british army , uvf took the blame
Of course that’s not proven.
@@nakedirelandit may not be proven in a Court of law, but it is hard to dispel these accusations when the British Government continue to refuse access to the documents that they hold on these attacks.
What we do know is that some of those involved in the Dublin & Monaghan bombings were also involved in the Miami Showband attack in 1975. They were members of the Glenanne Gang. The HET confirmed that Robin Jackson was linked to this attack through fingerprints. Jackson was also named as one of the architects of the Dublin & Monaghan bombings. Documents released to the families in December 2021 stated that “it was probable that Captain Robert Nairac had some level of involvement in this attack”.
Three men were convicted for the Miami Showband murders. At the time of the attack, two of the men were serving members of the UDR and the third was previously a member.
Most of this could be cleared up very quickly by the British Government. But to this day, they have refused all requests to release “unredacted” documents that they possess on the Miami Showband attack and on the Dublin & Monaghan bombings. Some 50 years after these attacks happened, and 26 years since the signing of the GFA, they continue to hide behind “National Security”.
Was Captain Robert Nairac involved in the Dublin & Monaghan attacks and the Miami Showband murders? Possibly. But some believe that it is easier for the British Government to point the finger at a dead “rogue Officer” than to take responsibility for atrocities committed by paid informants of the State.