Following Bloody Sunday the cities that were divided, Derry and Belfast, became even
more divided. The battle lines between the protestants and the catholics became even
more visible. Bloody Sunday was a horrible episode but in Northern Ireland it was not
enough because next came Bloody Friday, this was the same year as Bloody Sunday.
This consisted of 22 bombs being exploded. Nine people were killed and nearly 150
were injured ("Chartres" 35). The five year period from 1973-1978 was very violent. It
was a period in which many political solutions were sought, but none were found
("Chartres" 61). It was also a period in which many people lost their lives.
From 1978 up to 1986 may be recognized as one in which acceptable levels of
violence was at least achieved, and accepted. The British regular army was able to
reduce it's force levels, making more use of semi-permanently based units which are on
two and a half year terms accompanied by families ("Chartres" 81).
In 1982 Britain adopted the Northern Ireland bill trying to reinstate local control but it
was dissolved again in 1986 because of disagreements between protestants and catholics
("Northern" World Book 526). Catholics and protestants are now getting to the point
where everyone is fed up with the violence going on in their communities and constant
presence and interference of the british troops..
Question: Where does Northern Ireland go from here ?
So the citizens of both catholic and protestant communities are looking for ways
toward a compromise ("Stacks" 51). Evidence of the IRA's change of attitude from
armed combat to negotiation is that Sinn Fein has been going to pubs to explain to
citizens the need for working out some sort of peace agreement ("Stacks" 50).