physical force

The Balmoral Review

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“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

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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

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“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

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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

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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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Murdered For Their Faith

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The simple Celtic cross that served as a memorial below the plaque of the to the five killed in a UDA attack on a Sean Graham shop on the Ormeau Road on February 5th, 1992, has been upgraded with a large plaque bearing portraits of the five victims – James Kennedy, Willie McManus, Jack Duffin, Peter Magee, Christy Doherty.

“This memorial serves as a reminder of the suffering that was caused, the collusion that lay behind it and our determination that truth and justice will ultimately prevail.”

“Erected on the 20th anniversary in loving memory of those that were murdered for their faith. 1992-2012”

Hatfield Street, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Town And Country

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“This ceramic panel is a memorial to the staff of Ulsterbus and Citybus who were killed in the course of their duties during the troubles. The names of the twelve who died are shown on the buses enclosing the lower section of the design. The upper half of the panel representing Belfast includes the old Oxford Street Bus Station, whilst the lower half represents town and country services throughout the province. Dividing the two sections is a river representing the journey from one life to another. Designed and crafted by Diane McCormick, the panel was formally unveiled by Neville Whitehead, Chairman of Citybus, Northern Ireland Railways and Ulsterbus, on the occasion of the opening of Laganside Buscentre on 1 May 1996.”

Princes Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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