A glossary of Terms Related to the Conflict
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K'Kangaroo Court' The term 'kangaroo court' is used to describe the process by which people who have fallen foul of paramilitary groups are brought before them to face a 'trial'. Kincora In the late 1970s allegations emerged concerning sexual abuse at the Kincora Boys' Home in East Belfast. It was later claimed that those involved included senior figures within the British and Northern Ireland establishment. 'King Rat' The nickname given to Billy Wright, a prominent Loyalist paramilitary from the Mid Ulster and the alleged leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). On 27 December 1997 he was shot dead in the Maze Prison by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) whilst serving an eight year jail sentence. Kingsmills On 5 January 1976 ten Protestant civilians were shot dead by the Republican Action Force (RAF) when their minibus was stopped at a bogus security checkpoint at Kingsmills, near Bessbrook, County Armagh. The RAF was believed to be a covername used by some members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) from south Armagh. 'Kneecapping' One form of 'punishment' favoured by paramilitary groups. Initially it involved shooting the victim in one or both kneecaps. However later on people who were punished in this way could be shot in the knees, or ankles, or thighs, or elbows, or wrists, or any combination of locations. Often guns were not used and instead victims limbs were broken by sticks or iron bars. LThe Labour Party / British Labour Party One of the two main political parties in Britain. The Labour Party currently forms the government of the United Kingdom (UK). See: Abstracts of Organisations entry. La Mon On 17 February 1978 and incendiary device exploded at the La Mon Hotel, Gransha, near Belfast. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) later claimed responsibility for the attack in which twelve people, all Protestant civilians, were killed and 23 badly injured. Legally-Held Gun(s) / Legally-Held Weapon(s) Legally-held guns are those for which a fire arms certificate has been issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) (and formally by the Royal Ulster Constabulary; RUC). In 1995 there were over 130,000 legally-held weapons covered by firearms certificates. 85,000 of these weapons were shotguns. In 2010 it was revealed by the Chief Constable of the PSNI that the number of firearms certificate holders had dropped from 80,809 in 2001 to 61,266 in 2010. Nationalists in the region have often claimed that the great majority of legally-held weapons are owned by Protestants. In the period after their 'ceasefires' Loyalist paramilitaries used shotguns in a number of attacks because there is no bullet that can be forensically traced to a particular gun. In a wider context the term was used by Republicans to include those weapons held by the British security forces. At the time of the debate on the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons, particularly those belonging to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Republicans argued that the issue of weapons held by the security forces in Northern Ireland, together with those for which a fire arms certificate has been issued, also needed to be addressed. 'Legitimate Target(s)' When justifying an attack on an individual or a particular property paramilitary groups often claim that it was carried out on a 'legitimate target'. For Loyalists this was judged to be anyone or anything seen as a threat to Northern Ireland's constitutional position within the United Kingdom. Whilst for Republicans the term was taken to cover those assisting the British presence in Ireland. 'Log Jam' Within the context of Northern Ireland the phrase 'log jam' is used when political talks or the political process as a whole becomes stalled. Londonderry Londonderry, or Derry, is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and is situated in the west of the region close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The original name of the city was Doire which in the Irish language means oak-grove or place of the oak. The present city was built on the site of an abbey founded by Saint Columba in 546AD. Following the Elizabethan conquest of Ulster and the beginnings of the Jacobean plantation of the region, the name of the city was changed to Londonderry on 29 March 1613. Nationalists have always referred to the city as Derry. Before the beginning of 'the Troubles' most Unionists also referred to the city as Derry. Since the onset of the present conflict the name of the city has been a source of contention with Unionists using the official name. The official name of the city remains Londonderry and can only be changed by royal charter. The name of the city council was changed by a vote in council in 1984 to 'Derry City Council'. Some commentators have adopted a procedure of making a first reference to the city by its official name and each subsequent reference by the name Derry. 
Loughall On 8 May 1987 eight members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) were killed by the Special Air Service (SAS) as they were about to launch an attack on the police station in the small village of Loughall, County Armagh. A passing civilian was also shot dead by the SAS in the same incident. Loughinisland On 18 June 1994 six people were shot dead and five others injured in a gun attack on the Height's Bar in the village of Loughinisland, County Down. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) later claimed responsibility. Lower Donegall Street On 20 March 1972 a PIRA bomb exploded in the Lower Donegall Street area of Belfast killing six people and injuring over 100. Lower Ormeau Road A mainly Catholic area in south Belfast which has become the focus of attention because of disputes over parades by the Apprentice Boys of Derry and the Orange Order. Catholic residents have objected to the parades going through the area and a number of parades have been rerouted by the Parades Commission. Loyal Order(s) There are three main 'loyal institutions' or 'loyal orders': the Apprentice Boys of Derry, the Loyal Orange Institution (or Orange Order) and the Royal Black Institution. See: Abstracts of Organisations entries Loyalist Strictly the term Loyalist refers to one who is loyal to the British Crown. The term in Northern Ireland context is used by many commentators to imply that the person gives tacit or actual support the use of force by paramilitary groups to 'defend the union' with Britain. Loyalist Paramilitary Group(s) Those paramilitary groups which are prepared to use physical violence in an attempt to ensure the continuation of the union between Northern Ireland and Britain. The main Loyalist paramilitary groups still in existence are: the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and its associated group the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF); the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and its associated group the Red Hand Commando (RHC); and the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). 'Lundy' During the 'Siege of Derry' in 1689 the then military governor of the city, Lieutenant - Colonel Robert Lundy, was viewed by his fellow citizens as a traitor for seeking to surrender to the forces of the Catholic king, James II. Thus the phrase 'Lundy' is commonly used by Protestants as a term of abuse to describe someone from within their own community who they judged to be a traitor to the Loyalist or Unionist cause. Directory: academic academic -> Annual InStructional unit plan academic -> Annual InStructional unit plan academic -> Unit: Automotive and Auto Body academic -> The Devil in the Deep Blue Sea academic -> Hurricanes and Global Warming An Alternative Point of View by academic -> Davis case study paper: to nourish or not to nourish our florida beaches? academic -> 1Compiled by John Dunne-Brady academic -> Table of Contents Economic Policy Causes and Consequences of the Subprime Crisis Brendan Dowling 11 academic -> United states history and geography academic -> Annotated Bibliography Grades 1-41 Download 299.07 Kb. Share with your friends:
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