30 May 1972. Official IRA Announce Ceasefire

[Jock2413]

The official wing of the IRA in Northern Ireland has announced a ceasefire, reserving the right of self-defence against attacks by the British Army and sectarian groups.
However the Provisional IRA dismissed the truce as having "little effect" on the situation.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, William Whitelaw, welcomed the move and a spokesperson said it was "a step in the right direction".


A statement was read out from Dublin after last night's meeting of the executive of the Northern Republican Clubs, a political movement allied to the IRA.
It said: "The overwhelming desire of the great majority of all the people of the north is for an end to military actions by all sides."

It went on to say that a suspension of activities would be a chance to prevent all-out civil war in Ulster.

The group insisted it would continue a campaign of civil disobedience and the political struggle until its demands were met - namely:

• the release of all internees,
• an amnesty for political prisoners in British and Irish jails,
• the withdrawal of British troops from the streets of Northern Ireland,
• the abolition of the Special Powers Act
• and a declaration of freedom of political expression.

The RUC and British Army will be the first to benefit from such a ceasefire as they have been the main targets of the IRA.
Residents of Belfast in particular have been worn down by the four-year campaign of violence and this news will be very welcome there.
And Father Hugh O'Neill who leads a Londonderry peace movement said: "Please God, everyone will now sit down and begin to talk."

In memory of S/SGT Mick Banks RE (16 Fld Sqn), who was murdered 10 minutes before the "farce ceasefire" in Mountpottinger.
RIP never forgotten

[Jock2413]

Sapper mate, just for the sake of accuracy, not that it in any way reduces our loss, it was the Provisional IRA that called a ceasefire on 26June 1972. On that day, we also lost Rifleman James Meredith of the RGJ who was shot at a checkpoint in the Abercorn Road in Londonderry. The terrorists maintained their attacks right up to the last minute.
It later came out that the government had agreed to talks with them and a delegation was transported to London which included McGuinness, O'Connell, MacStiofain, Twomey, Bell and Adams who had been released from the Kesh to attend. The talks ended in farce and the "ceasefire" ended with a gun battle in the Lenadoon area of Belfast brought about by the provies trying to forcefully rehouse some Catholic families in houses that had previously been occupied by Protestants.

To both of those comrades.

R.I.P.

We Will Remember Them

[Lancedal]

The ceasefire didn't much help my husband Spr Tom Tweedy of the RE, who was shot through the neck and paralysed on the 10th August 1972 whilst putting up barricardes at Casement Park! He said there had also been sniper fire the day before.

We remember all of them