Carol talks about the lives her parents and her father being interned three times, 1940s, 1950s and 1970s.
She has memories of RUC raids and her father being interned in the 1950s.
She recalls her father being active in the community and being involved in the civil rights campaign.
She describes the morning of August 09th 1971 when her father was taken away by the British army and interned.
Audio Transcript
00:00:00.1 00:01:48.2 Intro. Father’s 1st internment on the Al Rawdah. Parents didn’t speak much about their experiences from that time.
00:01:48.2 00:03:55.0 Father became a fluent Irish speaker and taught Irish while in prison and among community groups when outside. A proud owner of the Gold Fáinne.
00:03:55.0 00:10:12.9 Describing visits to Al Rawdah. Mother and friend being put off bus and refused visit. Hostile attitude of bus supervisors and prison guards.
00:10:12.9 00:12:05.9 Describing conditions on ship. Men died, food wasn’t good and poor medical facilities. Ship closed and internees moved to Crumlin Road Jail.
00:12:05.9 00:15:02.9 In Crumlin Road Prison when Tom Williams was executed. In Mater Hospital when Carrick Hill was bombed by Luftwafe.
00:15:02.9 00:16:48.2 Father and mother married in the 1930s while he was on the run.
00:16:48.2 00:22:17.1 Relating her mother’s stories of the harassment and arrests they experienced before his internment in 1938.
00:22:17.1 00:24:05.6 Memories of RUC raids and father’s internment in 1956. Visits to Crumlin Road Gaol as a child.
00:24:05.6 00:24:58.9 Visits stopped due to escape attempt.
00:24:58.9 00:28:11.4 Families of internees protesting at the Crumlin Road Prison when visits stopped.
00:28:11.4 00:30:03.9 Seeing injuries on father. Prisoners beaten after escape attempt.
00:30:03.9 00:34:12.5 Impact on family. Friendships and links with other families.
00:34:12.5 00:39:14.6 Long family history in republicanism. Story of the day her father was released in early 1960s.
00:39:14.6 00:41:39.5 Father involvement in community politics. Emergence of civil rights campaign.
00:41:39.5 00:46:19.6 Father got a job installing gas for Belfast Corporation. Employed for 2 years then got a letter of dismissal because of his background.
00:46:19.6 00:51:33.5 Tenants association working for families in North Belfast. Intimidation and threats to family throughout the 1960s.
00:51:33.5 00:54:02.6 Father’s involvement in civil rights campaign.
00:54:02.6 00:57:15.1 Father taken away August 09th 1971 aged 69. Recalling the sights and sounds of the morning. British paratroopers breaking in the door.
Audio 2
Carol describes the events of August 09th when the British soldiers raided the their home and took her father away.
She talks about the treatment those taken away that morning got in Girdwood Barracks and the families desperate attempts to find out where the men had been taken.
She recalls the events in the area over the next two days that became known as the Ballymurphy Massacre.
Audio Transcript 2
00:00:00.2 00:08:37.8 Describing situation with British soldiers in the house. Neighbours gathering on the street.
00:08:37.8 00:12:56.8 British soldiers threats to neighbours. Father taken from home and put into saracen.
00:12:56.8 00:15:21.1 Families gathered at Henry Taggert barracks but no idea where the men were taken. Recalls constant activity from helicopters, saracens and British troops.
00:15:21.1 00:17:29.0 Ballymurphy massacre occurred over the next two days. There was no information on the internees whereabouts for at least a week.
00:17:29.0 00:19:29.9 Internees kept in Girdwood Barracks for a number of days, beaten with batons, bitten by dogs and made to stand for hours.
00:19:29.9 00:21:13.1 Brought to Crumlin Road Gaol then moved by helicopter to Long Kesh. Family didn’t see him until 3 weeks after he was taken from home.
00:21:13.1 00:23:23.7 Tactic of throwing men from helicopter. Attacks by dogs.
00:23:23.7 00:27:59.0 Interned for 11 months. British army riot squad attacking with CS gas and batons.
00:27:59.0 00:28:48.9 Mother fund raising for Green Cross. Father travels to Australia to highlight issue of internment
00:28:48.9 00:31:48.5 After his release targeted by unionist death squads. for safety stayed away from home.
00:31:48.5 00:35:00.4 Later in life links with Fr Des Wilson community projects, tenants association. Lived to 94 years, very well respected by community.
