The people of Northern Ireland have voted overwhelmingly to remain within the United Kingdom. In a referendum on the future of the province, 591,280 people or 57% of the electorate voted to retain links with the UK. A boycott by the Roman Catholic population meant only 6,463 voted in favour of a united Ireland.
The turn out was reported to be 59% of the 1,030,084 electorate, although less then 1% of Catholics voted. The Unionist victory has been welcomed by Brian Faulkner, leader of the Unionist Party and by the Unionist MP Reverend Ian Paisley.
The result comes as ten people are being questioned at Ealing police station in west London in connection with a series of bomb attacks in London yesterday.
The eight men and two women are said to have been arrested on their way to Heathrow airport yesterday morning.
The Provisional IRA has admitted it was behind the bomb blasts - but Scotland Yard says it is not completely satisfied the explosions were the work of the IRA.
The Home Secretary, Robert Carr, told MPs there was no evidence to suggest the bombings were connected to the border poll.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, William Whitelaw, said the bombings would make no difference to the publication of a white paper on the future of the province.
Ulster Unionist leader, Brian Faulkner, welcomed the result: "This is the first time ever that the people of Northern Ireland through the ballot box have quite simply and democratically stated their constitutional wishes."
"They have said so clearly today they are determined to stay within the United Kingdom so this removes any argument about our constitutional position from the lips of politicians for good and all, not just for five or ten years."
Gerry Fitt, leader of the opposition SDLP, said the poll result was entirely predictable. He said his party had organised the boycott of the poll because it feared it would lead to an escalation in violence.
He said: "I think on the figures I have just seen, which have just arrived from London, there has been massive impersonation of votes by the unionist party."
Northern Ireland Secretary, William Whitelaw, said everyone had been given the opportunity to vote - it was up to individuals to choose whether they used it or not.
Announcement
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Contact details
Effective today, the contact details for the Northern Ireland Veterans' Association have changed to the following
The Secretary
57 Mortimer Street,
Derby.
DE24 8FX
Email: membership@nivets.org.uk
Web: www.nivets.org.uk
Mob: 07368 293729
NIVA Administration.
The Secretary
57 Mortimer Street,
Derby.
DE24 8FX
Email: membership@nivets.org.uk
Web: www.nivets.org.uk
Mob: 07368 293729
NIVA Administration.
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9th March 1973.
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Latest Articles
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This years’ service will be held at 11.30am on Saturday 14th September 2024 at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
The service will commemorate and remember all those who lost their lives in service of the Crown as a result of the conflict in N. Ireland.
The chapel service will be followed by a parade down to the Ulster Ash Grove for the laying of wreathes.
Following the laying of the wreathes, there will be a 15-minute pause before...-
Channel: The NIVA News
12-03-2024, 03:17 PM -
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Northern Ireland Veterans' Association
Service of Remembrance
National Memorial Arboretum
Saturday 9th September 2023
This years’ service will be held at 11.30am on Saturday 9th September 2023 at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
The service will commemorate and remember all those who lost their lives in service of the Crown as a result of the conflict in N. Ireland.
The chapel...-
Channel: The NIVA News
05-06-2023, 04:25 PM -
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This year's service will be held at the NMA on Saturday 10th September. At present, we won't be aware of restrictions, if any, that the NMA will impose on attendees (pre booking cars, names etc) but as this information is made available to us, we will publish it.
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Channel: The NIVA News
08-02-2022, 09:14 PM -
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NIVA Service Of Remembrance
The 2021 service will be held at 11.30am on Saturday 11th September 2021 at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.The service will commemorate and remember all those who lost their lives in service of the Crown as a result of the conflict in N. Ireland.The chapel service will be followed by a parade down to the Ulster Ash Grove for the laying of wreathes. ...-
Channel: The NIVA News
04-04-2021, 07:45 PM -
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Ten members and wives assembled today at the Ulster Ash Grove to represent all our members for the Act of Remembrance. ...-
Channel: The NIVA News
19-09-2020, 07:26 PM -
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It is our sad duty to inform you that Ken passed away on Thursday 19th March 2020 after a brief struggle with cancer.
A full obituary will be published in the forthcoming Newsletter.
The NIVA Annual Service of Remembrance was booked with the NMA to take place on Saturday 12th September 2020. Since that booking was made, we have been advised that the NMA is closed for the foreseeable future. Alternative arrangements may have to be made. Keep logging in to follow and-
Channel: The NIVA News
25-03-2020, 02:28 PM -