Harold talks about his experience as a Methodist minister on the Shankill Road in the late 1960s to early 1970s.
Recalling the general view in the area when internment was introduced.
Talking about homes being burnt and people losing everything.
Reflects on what internment meant for society.
Impact of IRA actions on Shankill community.
Audio Transcript
00:00:00.0 00:04:04.2 Retired former President of the Methodist Church. Was a minister on the Shankill Road in 1969 -70 when rumours began that people from Falls Road were coming to burn the homes. Frightening period so they decided to leave church open as a place of refuge.
00:04:04.2 00:06:18.4 August 09th 1971. General view on Shankill that it would bring things to an end. Internment had opposite effect. Things continued to spiral to point where loyalists were also interned.
00:06:18.4 00:08:50.8 Speaking publicly in support of civil rights marchers. There was broad support for civil rights movement but others saw it as a threat and danger.
00:08:50.8 00:12:50.2 August 1971 Farringdon Gardens burnt. A large number of people displaced, differing versions about who was responsible. Meeting old lady who lost everything, but held no animosity.
00:12:50.2 00:16:49.4 Ministers on Shankill trying to prevent people getting involved in trouble. Neighbours trying to persuade a Catholic family to stay. When people became too frightened to stay they helped them move.
00:16:49.4 00:17:48.5 Recalling conversation with young men on the street and meeting the same men again at a later time in Crumlin Road Gaol
00:17:48.5 00:20:52.8 Working with Fr Des Wilson and Fr Padraig Murphy. Involvement of people on the Shankill and Falls. Creating communications to deal with rumours and reduce fears.
00:20:52.8 00:26:27.1 Recalling being in Bristol meeting other clerics when news of Bloody Sunday came through. Reflecting on his immediate reaction and seeing the anger of a Derry born priest. Many years later the truth came out.
00:26:27.1 00:28:49.0 Reflections on what internment meant for society. Impact on families and children. A huge mistake by those in power misreading the situation.
00:28:49.0 00:31:49.5 Reaction of Protestant community to IRA atrocities. Recalling bomb on Shankill and visiting the hospital to see the mother of a child who was killed along with another child she was minding. Young man who immediately joined the UDA and ended up in prison.
00:31:49.5 00:32:58.8 Reflections should be instead of ‘what if?’ it should be ‘what now?’. Doesn’t know anyone who wants to go back to the ‘dark days’.
Harold talks about the contribution from his congregation to help families burnt out of Bombay Street.
Recalls how the British army was viewed on the Shankill and some of their actions.
Audio Transcript
00:00:00.0 00:04:25.3 Visiting the displaced families in Bombay Street in 1969. They had lost everything so he asked his church congregation if they could help them. A lot of money and essentials were donated.
00:04:25.3 00:09:09.4 How the British army was viewed. Loyalists expected the British army to deal with the ‘others’ but in 1970 they killed three men on the Shankill. Period of ‘fear and confusion’.