Justice For Tommy McAuley

Proprietor of the Mill Diner on the Crumlin Road Tommy McAuley was shot by the UVF in 1987 in retaliation for the Enniskillen bombing. His case was examined by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) who reported (in 2011) that the police did not question suspects identified by witnesses and the family lobbied the ombudsman to reopen the case (U.tv). The flowers and poster are on the front of the closed diner.

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Protestants And Members Of The Security Forces

“This memorial is dedicated to the glory of God and in memory of all those Protestants and members of the security forces who lost their lives in the greater Shankill area as a result of conflict. We will remember them. Erected by the Orangemen of north and west Belfast.”

Bray Close, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Brian Robinson

Brian Robinson was shot by the British Army in 1989 immediately after he had shot and killed a Catholic (Paddy McKenna) walking along Crumlin Road. This is the fifth version of the Brian Robinson mural in Disraeli Street, Belfast.

The stone reads “UVF 1st Batt B Coy Vol Brian Robinson killed in action 2nd Sept 1989. For his country and his people he took up the gun, a volunteer to the end and a true Ulster son. Robbed of his life’s blood in Sept ’89 but the name Brian Robinson will live for all time.

The plaque includes “Also his loving mother Margaret Robinson died 3rd September 1989”

The image of the launch is from April 6th.

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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The Balmoral Review

“100 years – 1912-20212 – the Balmoral Review”. Debate on the third Home Rule bill long preceded its formal introduction on April 11th. Winston Churchill and others travelled to Belfast in February to speak in its favour (see RIC At Celtic Park) and on April 9th (Easter Tuesday) 100,000 unionists rallied in Balmoral show grounds for review by Bonar Law, the head of the Conservative party – here is a postcard of the Wicklow contingent. (For more photographs, see Balmoral Review Review.) The 2012 commemoration drew about 10,000 people to Ormeau Park (Slugger).

The hoarding is in Lawnbrook Avenue, the small boards are in Conway Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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You Are Now Entering Loyalist Sandy Row

This is the UFF mural at the bottom of Sandy Row just a few months before it was whitewashed and replaced with a King Billy mural.

“Heartland of South Belfast Ulster Freedom Fighters” “Quis separabit”

Linfield Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Vol. Sam Rockett

“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Samuel Rockett, ‘B’ Coy 1st Belfast battalion, Young Citizen Volunteers. Murdered by cowards 23rd August 2000. ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.’ ‘Here lies a soldier'”

The “cowards” in this case are the members of the UDA who killed Rockett (born June 21st, 1979) in front of his girlfriend and 18 month old child in an attack on her house in the lower Oldpark, during the feud between the UVF and UDA, sparked by Johnny Adair’s “loyalist day of culture” and removal of the UVF from the lower Shankill. In response to the purge (and attacks on the Rex bar), the UVF killed Bobby Mahood and Mr Jackie Coulter. Rockett was killed by the UDA in retaliation for their deaths; 1,000 people attended Rockett’s funeral (Irish Times). After Rockett died, the UVF killed David Greer, and the UDA then killed PUP member Bertie Rice in Tiger’s Bay on October 31st.

Disraeli Street, Woodvale, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Martin “Rook” O’Prey

Martin “Rook” O’Prey was the Belfast brigade commander of the IPLO [Irish People’s Liberation Organisation], a breakaway INLA group responsible for killing George Seawright and attacking the Orange Cross social club (WP).

All sources say that he was shot by the UVF in his Ardmoulin Terrace home; the plaque is above a doorway in Lesson Street (where his coffin was given a (momentary) honour guard – youtube).

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Free Tony Taylor Now

This is the first dedicated mention of Tony Taylor (he is listed alongside other republican prisoners in RNU Supports The POWs), perhaps singled out because of his status as RNU spokesperson. Taylor was released under the conditions of the Good Friday agreement but jailed for three years in 2011 for possession of a rifle (BBC).

Nailors Row, Derry

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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