Area Affiliation

Rooney – McCabe

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The Troubles in Belfast started in August 1969 with sustained rioting around Divis flats. On the night of August 14-15, nine year-old Patrick Rooney was hit in his home in the Divis flats by a bullet from an RUC machine-gun; he was the first child killed in the Troubles. A little later, 20 year-old Hugh McCabe, a (Catholic) British soldier on leave, was hit while dragging an injured person to safety on the roof of another flat (WP).

Divis Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M02005

Ban Plastic Bullets

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The long wall on Divis Street, Belfast, was originally largely covered by a to-scale stencil, called ‘Ban Plastic Bullets‘, detailing the distances at which the victims of plastic bullets were shot. The addition of Spot The Difference and West Belfast Taxis Tours in 2003 meant that only about half of it remained. These two are the right-hand side of the remaining mural.

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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M02003 M02004

West Belfast Taxis Tours

Extramural Activity2 Comments

Although visitors have been touring the murals for years, this Divis Street, Belfast, this board advertising black taxi tours is an early indicator of what is sometimes called “troubles tourism”, five years after the ratification of the Good Friday Agreement. Pickup is in Castle Junction/Gabhal An Chaısleaın.

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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M02002

PSNI – Patten Still Not Implemented

Extramural Activity1 Comment

The commission into policing led by Conservative MP Chris Patten produced its report in September 1999 and various of its recommendations were enacted into law. (The full report or the summary of recommendations are available at CAIN.) The board above alleges that the only  change was the name – the name originally suggested was “Northern Ireland Police Service”, but “PSNI” was thought a better initialism – while both forces continue to use plastic bullets. The officer on the right has six digits on his right hand.

Divis Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M02001

Expose Collusion

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This anti-collusion board above the Sinn Féin office on the Falls Road sources the problem to 10 Downing Street, home of the UK Prime Minister. The same “State Sponsored Murder” board appeared in Andersonstown. The partially obscured plaques are of Pat McGeown (middle) and Loughran-McBride-O’Dwyer (right).

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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01998

Palestine Day

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August 6th, 2003, was “Palestine day/Lá na bPalíneach” on the Falls Road in Belfast, involving “a panel of Irish and Palestinian women; a live video link-up with Palestinian women in Bethlehem; showing of the films “Caoımhe”, “The Return”; and “Jenin”; a photo exhibit entitled “55 Years of Endurance”; and a television show “West Belfast Talks Back””. (UNISPAL)

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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01996