A series of 13 programmes Written and presented by Robert Kee
12: Six Counties
From its foundation in 1921, the new Protestant state of Northern Ireland proclaimed its loyalty to the United Kingdom, protected by the armed Royal Ulster Constabulary and ' B' Special Reserves against internal and external threats. The minority Catholic and Nationalist population suffered widespread discrimination for nearly 50 years. In the late 1960s, the frustration of Catholics boiled over. Civil rights marchers were batoned and stoned by Unionist mobs. The British Armv was sent in to protect Catholics but killed 13 Catholics in Derry on Bloody Sunday. (The IRA had already seized the opportunity to exploit the situation.) After more terror and bloodshed, direct rule from Westminster was imposed on Northern Ireland. A Protestant general strike defeated an attempt at sharing power between the two communities.
Film research victoria WEGG-PROSSER Film editor ROY SHARMAN Associate producers
JOHN RANEI. AGH. GORDON WATKIXS Producer JEREMY ISAACS
Extracts from this programme will appear in THE LISTENER dated 19 February