The Role of the Army in Northern Ireland

Abstract

It would seem that both the government of Northern Ireland and the Westminster government were taken by surprise in 1969 by the extent of civil disorder and the inability of the RUC to cope with it. Although it was the Unionist government that requested Westminster to authorise the army to deal with the rioting, it is apparent that central government had a hand in initiating that request. The situation was a difficult one from a political viewpoint: Westminster had to retain its control of the army and thus of the security situation in Northern Ireland, since it would have been unlawful to allow the troops to be under the control of the Unionist government which was viewed with suspicion, if not outright hostility, by many of the minority Catholic community. The causes of the rioting were seen to be largely a result of the neglect of the Unionists over the previous fifty years. The Northern Ireland government was under the impression that the troops could go in and restore order with a short, sharp and effective action and then withdraw. However, it was apparent to the Prime Minister, James Callaghan, and the Minister of Defence, Denis Healey, that once the army had been committed it would have to remain in the Province for at least two years.