Following the unrest of 1969, the British Army took over the top two floors (18 and 19) of Divis Tower, for use as an observation post (notice all of the devices on poles in both the painting and reality) and was accessed by helicopter. The post would be dismantled in 2005 (BBC-NI has some images). Divis Street, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M02013 M02012 M02006
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
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
“An Fhírınne [the truth] – collusion is not an illusion! – Ógra Shınn Féın” Conway Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M02000
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
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
“Collusion is state murder”. ‘Wanted’ posters for [RUC chief] Ronnie Flanagan, John Major, [FRU head] Gordon Kerr, Margaret Thatcher. Falls Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01997
Headstones in (roughly) reverse order: the Gibraltar Three (1988); the 1981 Hunger Strikers; Terence O’Neill (July 1, 1980); Gaughan and Stagg (1970s); the Antrim cross; Caffney, Perry, Burns (1940s); Tom Williams; McKelvery and McCartney (1920s); volunteers 1867-1922 (including “Roger Casement, Ballymena”); the United Irishmen of 1798 and 1803.
Milltown Cemetery, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01967 M01972 M01968 M01966 M01956 (dates back to at least 1988) M01970 M01971 M01969 M01964 M01957 M01963 M01959 M01960 M01958 M01960 M01961 M01962 M01965
“Éıre Nua” was the Provisional Sınn Féın and (after the 1986 split) Republican Sınn Féın (RSF) plan (pdf | also a social and economic plan pdf) for a federal Ireland, with a semi-independent Ulster parliament.
The board above combines various iconic images: Divis tower, Cave Hill, Free Derry Corner, the female volunteer in beret, the revolutionary in front of the Tricolour on a pike.
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01994
The plaque to Nora McCabe (previously seen in Nora McCabe – The Truth) below the board commemorating the victims of rubber and plastic bullets is gone. “Since 1972, seventeen people killed – including 8 children”.
Islandbawn Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01991
