Diary of the Month - Sept 1982
Sun. 1: In a speech at a rally in Monaghan Sinn Fein vicedent Daithi 0 ConailI warned, in a reference to the London bombbings in which eleven people died on July 20, that "there are far more lessons on the way Jor Mrs. Thatcher". Gardai were examining the speech with a yin'! to prosecution.
Mon. 2: Clifford McKeown, loyaalist "supergrass", refused to sign the lengthy deposition of eviideuce which he had given in court the previous week, claiming he had been pressurised by the RUC into making statements. However, 26 of the 29 loyalists accused on terrorist offences in the case were returned for trial.
Two RUC men were injured and seven people arrested when the RUC clashed with people demonnstrating against a loyalist parade led through Downpatrick by Ian Paisley.
Tues. 3: The National Stadium in Dublin was packed for an antiiabortion rally addressed by Motther Theresa of Calcutta.
An off-duty RUC man was wounnded in a shooting in Downpatrick.
The death occurred of former FF Minister for P & T Michael Hillliard, aged 80.
Wed. 4: The leaders of twelve civil service unions called for "strong action" against government plans to embargo pay increases and conntinue the ban on recruitment.
The "Big Four" banks announced a lowering of lending deposit rates by up to 1 Y2% from tomorrow.
Thurs. 5: In the early hours of the morning a nail bomb explooded outside the house of the
RUC's former head of criminal investigations, William Meharg, MBE,OBE. Mr. Meharg had been in charge of the RUC during the notorious clash with civil rights demonstrators on Oct. 5 1968 in Derry. Twelve houses in the vicinity were damaged, no one was hurt, the INLA claimed responsibility.
It was revealed that recruiting is in progress for additional secreetarial assistance for TDs and Senators, costing an extra £250,000 on top of the £412,000 aIread y allocated.
A 21 year old Belfast man was I shot in the legs at his home in Sunningdalc Green.
Fri. 6: It was confirmed that on July 27, in the same week in which the public sector pay freeze was imposed, the government decided to increase TDs and Senaators' allowances by up to 50%. The increase is backdated to March 9.
A fund was set up, administered by RDS executives, to help deppendents of those who died in the London bombings, and to replace the horses killed.
£6,000 was stolen by three armed youths from a post office in Crumlin.
The Department of the Environnment forecast that building outtput will fall by 5% and employymen t in the industry will fall by 4,000 this year.
Sat. 7: Two petrol bombs, one of which failed to explode, were thrown at the Jewish synagogue in Cork.
Talks are taking place for a posssible take over of Murphy's Brewwery, now in receivership, by the Dutch brewing firm Heineken.
After an anonymous tip, the RUC raided a house in Derry and disscovered an M-60 machine gun, three Arrnalites and a .38 revolver.
Sun -. 8: Four RUC men in plain clothes were attacked by a crowd at a disco in Castle blaney, around midnight. Locals claimed that two of the men produced guns after being chased to their car. The men were taken into cusstody by gardai and released at the border several hours later. Sinn Fein claimed the four were a snatch squad sent to kidnap republicans. The RUC denied this and suspended the men pending an inquiry.
A British soldier was shot in the foot in Creggan , Derry.
The Fine Gael deputy leader, Peter Barry, said in a speech in Cork that the decline of AnglooIrish relations was characterised on both sides by pettiness and spite and was a betrayal of the Irish people.
Kilkenny beat Galway, 2-20 to 2-10 in the All Ireland hurling semi-final in Croke Park.
Mon. 9: The Taoiseach agreed to return from holidays in eight days time for discussions with ICTU leaders on his proposed pay freeze in the public sector.
Figures released by the Central Statistics Office show that unemmployment rose by 5,219 in July, to 156,078. This is 30,334 higher than the figures for July 1981. The number on short-time workking fell by 1,586 to 7,586.
The British Ambassador, Sir Leoonard Figg, expressed regret at the RUC incident in Castleblayney on Sunday when he was called in by the Department of Foreign Afffairs to give an explanation. The Ambassador pointed out that the men were off duty at the time.
Tues. 10: An SDLP leadership meeting in Derry voted by 8-2 to contest the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Occtober. The meeting put off until a fuller meeting on August 24 a final decision on the Assembly, as controversy continues within the party.
Aer Lingus, Aer Rianta, NBU and INO workers made preparations for industrial action against the government's pay freeze.
Gardai intervened in clashes beetween supporters at a match in Dalymount Park. Manchester Uniited beat an Irish International XI by 4-2.
Gardai and troops uncovered an IRA arms cache at Creeslough, Donegal.
The RUC were questioning a loyaalist after discovering ammunition in a house at Glenbryn Gardens.
Ignatius Brian Turley, aged 36, appeared in court in Belfast charged with the murder in Deccember 1972 of Councillor William Johnston, a member of the Police Authority.
Wed. 11: George Colley criticised the manner in which the governnment introduced the freeze on the third phase of the public service pay agreement, but said that the measure was necessary and reeceived his support.
A man travelling in a car was shot in Carrera Street, off the Crumlin Road, by the RUC, who claimed to have been firing at a gunman. Locals claimed that the man, whose condition is not serious, was shot without provocation.
Leaders of the Garda Represeritaative Association voted by 14 to 4 to accept a new shift system which is overwhelmingly opposed by the rank and file as it would result in loss of overtime. The new sysstem is part of the government cuts in public spending.
Thurs. 12: The Taoiseach flew back from his holiday home on Inishvickillane for several hours of consultation with advisors on the pay freeze. There was a leak to the effect that the government may allow several thousand worrkers in Dublin Corporation, Aer Lingus and RTE be treated 'as "special cases" and so avoid the freeze.
Fine Gael TD Oliver J. Flanagan predicted the collapse of the Dail system within fifteen years and warned that the country is ripe for a military takeover.
Guinness workers voted to accept a rationalisation plan which innvolves 1,200 redundancies.
The Apprentice Boys' march in Derry passed off without serious incident,
Fri. 13: Malcolm MacArthur, aged 36, was arrested at the home of Patrick Connolly, the Attorney General, in Dalkey, and questioned in connection with two murders.
A speech by Official Unionist leader Jim Molyneaux, in which he implied complicity by "certain not-so-loyal Crown servants" in the murder of Robert Bradford MP, was referred to the RUC by Northern Secretary Jim Prior.
Sat. 14: The Attorney General,' Patrick Connolly, flew to London, where he rejected, in a telephone conversation with Charles Haugghey, a suggestion that he return home. Mr. Connolly decided to continue his journey to New York.
Malcolm MacArthur was charged with the murders on July 25 and 26 of Donal Dunne and Bridie Gargan.
200 people took part in a protest, ' chanting and singing hymns, outtside Belfast's first "sex shop".
Sun. 15: 18 year old Canor Camppbell suffered severe head injuries when hit by a plastic bullet fired by the RUC during a riot in Lurrgan.
In a telephone call to New York Charles Haughey requested Pattrick Connolly to return home immediately, following discloosures that Malcolm MacArthur had stayed in the Attorney Geneeral's nat since August 4 and that a gun was found there.
Mon. 16: After flying home, Patrick Connolly resigned as Atttorney General at a midnight meeting in Mr. Haughey's home in Kinsealy. Mr. Haughey annnounced that the new Attorney General is to be John L. Murray SC.
Mr. Haughey received a letter from Malcolm MacArthur claimming that Patrick Connolly was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Tues. 17: In a meeting with ICTU leaders, Mr. Haughey clarified the government's pay freeze propposals and indicated that no conncessions would be made.
At a press conference, Mr. Haugghey explained his role in the Connolly affair and rejected alleegations that he had mishandled matters. An inadvertent remark by Mr. Haughey, which preejudged the outcome of the MaccArthur case, was broadcast by BBC and ITN but was not carried by the Irish media because of sub judice rules.
In a cost cutting move, the Departtment of Health removed 900 items, including aspirin, vitamins and bandages, from the medical card scheme. The move affects 114m. people, including all old age pensioners, who will now have to pay for the items.
Terrorist charges were withdrawn against five men at Belfast Magisstra te's Court after Robert Browne withdrew his evidence against them. Browne's pregnant wife, Fiona, was kidnapped, apparently by the Provisional IRA, last month and is still being held.
Wed. 18: Opposition leader Garret FitzGerald cut short his holiday in France and flew home. At a front bench meeting Fine Gael decided to oppose the govern· ment pay freeze.
The Taoiseach gave an undertakking' that the special investigative unit of the Revenue Commissionners will not be closed down as part of the government cuts, according to The Workers' Party,
Prison officers began a workrule in protest at the government pay freeze.
Thurs. 19: A solicitor for Mallcolm MacArthur announced that proceedings may be taken against Mr. Haughey in connection with the prejudicial remark made at last Tuesday's press conference.
Malcolm MacArthur was attacked by on lookers as he was taken from the court after being reemanded in custody until Septtember 9.
The ICTU announced a one day stoppage on October 26 in prootest at the government pay freeze.
Fine Gael TD John Kelly annnounced his opposition to his party's stance on the pay freeze.
Fri. 20: The Provisional IRA wounded a 16 year old and a 19 year old in the kneecaps in punishhment shootings in west Belfast.
Sat. 21: Eight armed men stole around £ 120,000 from Tallaght post office. Shots were fired and a smoke grenade used to halt interference from gardai.
One hundred shotguns and ammuunition were stolen at Castleisland, Kerry.
Sun .. 22: A 30 year old man, Gerrard Hughes, died at the Royal Victoria Hospital eight days after a mysterious attack in which pettrol was thrown over him by Loyyalists 'and set alight, according to friends.
Offaly defeated Galway 1-12 to I-II in the All Ireland football semi-final.