Image
Bloody Friday
On ‘Bloody Friday’, 21 July 1972, nine people were killed and 130 injured when 26 bombs were detonated across Belfast by the Provisional IRA in just over an hour.
Back to 1970sIn response, the government launched ‘Operation Motorman’ during which the Army used tanks and bulldozers to remove ‘no-go’ areas in Belfast and Derry.
Stephen Parker, a 14 year old boy, was one of those killed in the explosion at Cavehill Road, not far from his home. His father, Rev. Joseph Parker, went on to found Witness for Peace and called for dialogue and reconciliation. Among his campaigns was a hunger strike at Belfast City Hall. He and his family moved to Canada in 1974.
If more effort had been made to try to understand each other, I don't think all of this would have happened in Ireland.
Rev. Joseph Parker