A re-examination of the use of internment without trial in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s

Abstract

The central premise ofthis thesis is that the use of internment without trial in Northern Ireland from 1971 to 1975 has not been given proper academic investigation. My research provides a more comprehensive account of internment and assesses previously unexplored aspects of its use. In this thesis I demonstrate my argument by examining three main areas. Firstly I consider the high politics and intelligence surrounding the introduction ofinternment; in doing so I challenge accepted narratives regarding the measure. I demonstrate that there was ample intelligence available on both republican and loyalist paramilitaries. Additionally I show that a policy of not interning loyalist paramilitaries was pursued, firstly by Stormont and then Westminster, until 1973. I argue that the introduction of internment was actively supported by both administrations. Furthermore I contend that around this time the British government had adopted a policy which contained a much greater security emphasis. This thesis also highlights long-term and short-term consequences which developed from the internment period. Finally this research examines the evolution ofthe conflict in Northern Ireland between 1970 and 1972 outside of Belfast and Derry. This is a substantial part ofthis thesis which concentrates on four towns: Lurgan, Newry, Dungannon and Enniskillen. I show that the development ofthe dynamics ofthe conflict was certainly more gradual and possibly less inevitable in these areas than in Belfast and to a lesser extent Derry

Date of Award	Jul 2013
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast