THE TROUBLES
JANUARY 1973
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Monday 1 January 1973 Man shot in New Lodge Monday 1st January 1973 A 21-year-old man has been found in the New Lodge Road Man and woman killed in Donegal area suffering from gunshot wounds. His name has not In what has been described as the first assassinations in the been released but it is thought that he was shot in the shoulSouth, the bodies of an engaged couple have been discov- der in the Spamount Street area. ered on a lonely Donegal Road. The dead have been identified as Oliver Boyce, aged 25, a carpenter, of main Street Monday 1st January 1973 Clonmany and Breige Porter, aged 21, a factory worker, of Ardoyne shootings Matherinure, Buncrana. It is believed that the couple, who According to the Army about 150 rounds were fired in the were both shot a number of times, had set out for a New Ardoyne area during the night. Fire was returned on a Year Eve party. They are reported to have been seen walk- number of occasions and a man was reported to have been ing along the road after their car broke down. Their bodies shot in Gracehill Street. were found in a ditch at Birdstown, a small townland between Muff and Bridgend. A local farmer has reported that Monday 1st January 1973 he heard a scream and 15 shots at around 2.00 am. Mr Shots fired in Falls Boyce’s car was found three miles a way from the scene at Around 25 shots have been directed at soldiers who were Muff occupying an observation post in the bus depot. It is believed that the gunmen were operating from the direction Monday 1st January 1973 of Milltown cemetery. No one was injured in the attack. Incendiary removed from bar A passer-by has removed an incendiary device from the Monday 1st January 1973 front of a Dungannon public house shortly before it ex- Army post attacked ploded. An Army spokesman has said that the device was Shots have been fired at an Army post in the Ardoyne are thrown into the gutter where it exploded. No one was in- of Belfast. In Brompton Park also in Ardoyne, occasional jured. shots were directed at troops. No injuries were reported Monday 1st January 1973 Gun attack A man and a woman passenger have been detained in hospital after gunmen opened fire on a Corporation bus in West Belfast. The shots are reported to have been from the Protestant Highfield estate as the bus halted at a stop on the Springfield Road. The bus was struck 18 times but no one was seriously hurt.
Monday 1st January 1973 Weekend shootings There were a number of unsuccessful assassination attempts in Belfast over the weekend and more than 250 shots were fired in Republican areas. Many of the shots were at unknown targets. Soldiers have also claimed to have shot a man in the Ardoyne area of Belfast. British troops moving in to set up a check point near the border at Clones
Monday 1st January 1973 Soldiers open fire in Ballymurphy Soldiers have opened fire on two men who were believed to be carrying guns at Springfield Park. The soldiers fired from Moyard Park in Ballymurphy. No hits were claimed