1971 Newry killings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
1971 Newry killings

Part of the Troubles
A photograph of Newry taken in March 2010
Date	23 October 1971
Location	Newry, Northern Ireland
Participants	Sean Ruddy (19) Robert Anderson (25) Thomas McLoughlin (27) 4 undercover British Army soldiers
Outcome	Riots by the Catholic community
Deaths	3 (Ruddy, Anderson, McLoughlin)

The 1971 Newry killings happened during a difficult time called the Troubles in Newry, Northern Ireland. On October 23, 1971, three young men were shot and killed by British Army soldiers who were working undercover. The events leading to the shootings were not clear, and people had different ideas about what happened. After the killings, there were protests and riots in Newry.

Understanding the Troubles

The Troubles was a long period of conflict in Northern Ireland. It lasted for about 30 years, from the late 1960s until 1998. This conflict was mainly between two groups: Irish Catholics and Ulster Protestants. They had different ideas about whether Northern Ireland should be part of the United Kingdom or join the Republic of Ireland.

After some big protests and riots in 1969, the British Army was sent to Northern Ireland. This was part of a plan called Operation Banner. At first, many Irish Catholics hoped the army would help keep peace. But soon, some people felt the army was taking sides. This made things worse and led to more violence. Groups like the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) became more active. By the early 1970s, the situation in Northern Ireland was very tense and dangerous.

What Happened in Newry

On the night of October 23, 1971, four British Army soldiers were on a special mission in Newry. They were dressed in regular clothes, so no one knew they were soldiers. They were hiding on the roof of the Woolworths store. The army had received a secret message that a bank across the street, the Provincial Bank, might be robbed by the IRA.

During the night, the soldiers saw three men walking towards the bank. Their names were Sean Ruddy, Robert Anderson, and Thomas McLoughlin. When the three men got close to the bank, they had a disagreement with two other people who were trying to put money into the bank. One of the soldiers on the roof saw this happening. He shouted for the three men to stop.

The three men immediately started running away. The soldier shouted again, warning them that he was ready to shoot if they did not stop. When the men kept running, all four soldiers on the roof fired their weapons. Sean Ruddy, Robert Anderson, and Thomas McLoughlin were all killed. Later, it was found that none of the three men had any weapons on them.

After the Shootings

After the shootings, the soldiers involved had to go to court. A group of regular citizens, called a jury, listened to all the information. The jury decided that the soldiers were not guilty of murder. They believed the soldiers thought the men might be trying to plant a bomb at the bank. The jury also thought that Ruddy, Anderson, and McLoughlin were trying to rob the two people outside the bank.

When people in Newry heard about the killings, they became very angry. For several days, large groups of people protested in the streets. They threw stones and homemade firebombs at the British security forces. During the funerals for the three men, most shops in Newry closed to show respect. However, the Provincial Bank and the Royal Mail post office stayed open. Protesters threw stones at their windows, breaking them. The security forces eventually used tear gas and rubber bullets to stop the protests and bring the town back to normal.

See also

• Bloody Sunday
• Falls Curfew
• List of massacres in Ireland
• Operation Demetrius
• Springhill massacre