Ulster: new Executive is sworn in; more violence

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33422, 2 January 1974, Page 13

Ulster: new Executive is sworn in; more violence

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

BELFAST, January 1. Ihe swearing in yesterday of the 11 members of Northern Ireland's new powersharing Executive was one of the most important landmarks in Irish political history.

The formation of the Executive marks the first time since the State of Northern Ireland was formed in 1921 that Roman Catholics have joined Protestants in control of the province, but the new body, which heads an Assembly of 78 members, faces both violent and political opposition from both sides of the political divide.

Gunfire has echoed along the staunchly - Protestant Shankhill Road for the last three nights, leaving two people, one civilian and one policeman, dead. Just before the New Year began, a British soldier died on a Belfast street corner: Ulster’s 250th victim of 1973, he was on patrol in the Beechmount area when he was hit by a single bullet fired by a terrorist sniper, and died almost immediately. A colleague standing nearby was injured by the same bullet, but was nbt seriously hurt. Yesterday, three bombs exploded in Belfast and in the town of Enniskillen, 70 miles west of the capital, demolishing a community centre, a school-bus depot, and a petrol station. Peace call As its first act, the new Executive issued a New Year message calling for peace and

[reconciliation in the North. [“ln the name of this comimunity, which has suffered so much, we call upon those organisations which have been pursuing political ends by violent means to stop the killing,” the message said. The members of the Executive were sworn in by Mr Francis Pym, the British Government’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Britain will retain control over Ulster’s police force, the British Army in the province, and the general security situation, but will turn over the day-to-day running of Northern Ireland to the new Executive.

The former Prime Minister, Mr Brian Faulkner, said: “Today is the most important

date in Irish political history! since 1921, and it presages a period of peace and progress [in the whole of Ireland.” Dublin support In Dublin last night, the Irish Prime Minister (Mr Cosgrave) gave Mr Faulkner a pledge that those who tried to wreck the new Executive would find no refuge in the republic. In an open letter of congratulation on the swearingin, Mr Cosgrave said: “The peace of Northern Ireland, and, indeed, of the Irish Republic, depends on the success of your efforts. -It is, therefore, our duty in this part of Ireland to spare no effort to help you in your task.

"1 wish to assure you and your colleagues that we join with you in defending your democratic institutions 1 against violence, and those who seek to undermine or wreck those institutions by! violence will find no refuge here.” The Belfast police say that 1 they have no clues to the identity of the kidnappers of the West German business-' man and honorary consul, Mr Thomas Niedermayer, who! was abducted from his Bel-[ fast home last Thursday night.