Clontibret invasion

The Clontibret invasion was an incursion by Ulster loyalists into the small Monaghan village of Clontibret, in the Republic of Ireland, on 7 August 1986. After crossing the border the loyalists proceeded to vandalize many buildings in the village and beat up two police officers before being dispersed by the Garda Síochána. The incident occurred in the context of unionist opposition to the recently signed Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Background

The invasion can be considered part of the campaign by unionists to undo the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The Agreement, signed by the British and Irish governments in November 1985, gave the Irish government an advisory role in Northern Ireland’s government. This provision caused outrage amongst the Unionist community of Northern Ireland. Many felt it was a ‘stepping stone’ towards a united Ireland. They were determined to show their opposition and even reverse the Agreement. All Unionist MPs in the British House of Commons resigned their seats in protest. 400,000 signatures were signed in a petition against the Agreement. A mass rally was held in protest outside Belfast City Hall. On 3 March 1986, a unionist ‘Day of Action’ shut down Northern Ireland’s shops, offices and factories. The homes of police officers were petrol bombed.^[1][2]

Incursion

Clontibret is about one mile from the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in the Republic. The incursion took place on the night of 7 August 1986. The number of loyalists that took part is uncertain. Initial police reports stated that about 150 took part.^[3] This figure was repeated by some news reports on the incident.^[4] One news report stated a figure of about 200, apparently based on estimates made by locals.^[5] The figure of 500 is often stated in secondary sources, based on the estimate that Peter Robinson gave speaking to a radio station from custody.^[4] Robinson, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and a sitting MP, was the most prominent figure involved. The extent of his involvement in planning the raid and leading the mob is unclear, though the incident has become very much associated with him.

Many loyalists took cudgels with them. However, none are believed to have brought firearms. After reaching the village, the mob proceeded to damage property. They damaged cars, broke windows and lights and uprooted small trees. Anti-Agreement graffiti was sprayed throughout the town. Graffiti was sprayed on a wall which, unknown to the invaders, was the perimeter wall of a Protestant church.^[6] The iron gate of a school was ripped out and thrown onto the road. The village’s unoccupied Garda station was attacked, with the Garda sign being stolen.

With many wearing paramilitary uniforms, the loyalists marched up and down the village’s main street in a military fashion. Two unarmed Gardaí arrived at this stage and were attacked by the mob. The Gardaí were beaten up, with both of them later being sent to hospital. Armed Gardaí then arrived. Shots were fired into the air, causing the mob to disperse. All of the invaders made it back over the border except Peter Robinson, who was arrested.^[7] It was suggested in one official report on the incident that Robinson may have deliberately held back in order to get himself arrested.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) had tipped off the Gardaí about a possible incursion in the area after noting a build-up of loyalist cards, an act welcomed by authorities south of the border.^[8]

Other loyalist shows of strength were planned for the same day. However, due to RUC activity, these were limited to the predominantly Catholic village of Swatragh in Northern Ireland, where a group of loyalists marched down the main street and caused property damage.^[9]

Aftermath

Although the incident has gone down in history as being quite farcical,^[10] it was met with strong condemnation at the time. Government ministers from both the United Kingdom and Ireland condemned it. The leaders of the Alliance Party and the Social Democratic and Labour Party also condemned it. Ken Maginnis of the Ulster Unionist Party was also critical of the loyalists involved.^[11] Peter Robinson and the DUP justified the incursion by saying that it was done to highlight the lack of cross-border security, despite reform in this area being promised under the Agreement. They claimed that the takeover of Clontibret proved that no real reforms had taken place, and was thus a propaganda victory for opponents of the Agreement.^[12]

Peter Robinson was charged under the Offences Against the State Act. He was granted bail and appeared in court in Drogheda in August. He pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly, and was fined IR£17,500. The alternative was a prison sentence, which would have resulted in Robinson losing his Westminster seat. He was forced to give up deputy leadership of the DUP but he was later reinstated. The court hearing caused some ‘Belfast-style rioting and petrol-bombing in Dundalk ^[10][13] between local nationalists and police. Cars belonging to Robinson’s supporters were damaged and petrol bombs were thrown. Robinson’s supporters had had any items that could be construed as offensive weapons taken from them when they crossed the border into the Republic. Robinson and DUP leader Ian Paisley made a formal complaint about the ‘totally inadequate protection’ they were given during the hearing.^[9]

Ultimately, the incident had no effect on the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The Agreement went through, despite continuing opposition from loyalists, including the founding of the paramilitary organisation Ulster Resistance.

Speaking in January 2014, Ian Paisley claimed that the incursion had been planned by Robinson, who hoped for ‘a tremendous uprising’.^[14] This renewed speculation that Robinson had really sought to increase his standing within the DUP, and become leader.^[15] Robinson rejected Paisley’s account as a ‘failure of recollection’.^[16] He claimed that Paisley was initially meant to go and that Robinson only stood in for him after Paisley had to go to a funeral in the United States.^[16] DUP sources speaking to the Belfast Telegraph backed Robinson’s account, saying that Paisley was among the organisers.^[16]

External links

• Compilation of news reports on the incident. Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

References