The Falls Road Curfew 1970: The British Army raid which turned west Belfast against it
Posted by Jim on July 1, 2024
The army were searching for IRA weaponsA large number of guns, mostly belonging to the Official IRAThe killing of civilians, the use of CS gas and widescale destruction turned the population against the army
Today at 02:18
On the 3rd of July 1970, a Friday, the British Army seals off the lower Falls area of west Belfast.
A ‘curfew’ is announced, although without a legal basis.
Troops go in, searching from house to house, looking for IRA weapons.
But the use of CS gas, houses being wrecked, looted even, turns the population against them.
Hundreds, maybe thousands of rounds were fired – four people died – all victims of the army.
The Official IRA decided since they couldn’t get their guns out – they should fight the army in what they called ‘The Battle of the Falls.
In the end the army did seize a considerable number of weapons though many were smuggled out.
However, the standing of the British Army in west Belfast had been completely changed.
To hear the story of the Falls Curfew and its impact, Ciarán Dunbar is joined by historian Brian Hanley, and by Belfast Telegraph columnist and author Malachi O’Doherty.
The Falls Road Curfew: The raid on the Official IRA which turned west Belfast against British Army