The last major outbreak of violence before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, marking the Provisional IRA's final large-scale military action of its 27-year campaign.
Key Facts
- Duration
- 6–11 July 1997
- Plastic bullets fired
- More than 2,500
- Civilians injured
- More than 100
- Security personnel injured
- 65
- IRA ceasefire declared
- 19 July 1997
- Trigger location
- Portadown, nationalist neighbourhood
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A longstanding dispute over the Orange Order's insistence on marching its traditional route through a Catholic and nationalist neighbourhood of Portadown came to a head when authorities permitted the march to proceed. Irish nationalists were outraged both by the decision and by what they viewed as aggressive RUC handling of protesters, igniting deep-seated tensions between unionist and nationalist communities.
From 6 to 11 July 1997, widespread rioting, gun battles, and mass protests erupted across nationalist districts of Northern Ireland. RUC and British Army patrols were attacked hundreds of times with stones, petrol bombs, rifles, and grenades. Security forces fired over 2,500 plastic bullets and were forced to withdraw entirely from some Belfast areas. Hundreds of vehicles were hijacked and set ablaze in Belfast, Newry, Armagh, and Dungannon.
The violence proved to be the last major episode of the Troubles before the Good Friday Agreement was signed in April 1998. The Provisional IRA's participation marked its final significant military operation of its 27-year campaign, and the organization declared a ceasefire on 19 July 1997, opening the path toward a political settlement.
Political Outcome
The unrest was suppressed but prompted political pressure that contributed to the IRA ceasefire of 19 July 1997 and ultimately the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998.