from the car, but were caught by the security forces. It was discovered there was a bomb in the car and police and troops evacuated the surrounding area. At one house in the street, only 20 yards from the bomb laden car, three people, including a bed-ridden old lady, refused point blank to leave and took refuge at the back of their home. Twenty minutes later the car exploded damaging houses in Bruce Street and Little Victoria Street scattering debris over a wide area. Nobody was hurt in the blast and the three people who stayed in their house were reported to be only slightly shocked. A police spokesman said later that three people, a girl and two men, were helping with enquiries. He added that a pistol had been seized.
Tuesday 7th August 1973 Surprise ‘Yes’ from Paisley The Reverend Ian Paisley announced his surprise acceptance of an invitation to serve on the standing orders committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly. This follows the refusal of the other joint chairman of the Loyalist Coalition, Mr. William Craig, to join the committee on the invitation of the Assembly’s presiding officer, Mr. Nat Minford. Mr. Paisley said he appreciated Mr. Craig’s reasons for refusing but he, with the full backing of his party, would take a very active part in the work of the committee. This was in order to get standing orders, which would help the loyalist members of the Assembly defeat, enforced power sharing with republicans, a council of Ireland and a united Ireland. Mr. Paisley claimed that it was a united Ireland, which was the long-term aim of the White Paper and the Constitution Act.
Tuesday 7th August 1973 Heath may act in spying row There were further dramatic developments in the Littlejohn case with mounting speculation that the Prime Minister, Mr. Edward Heath, will leave the Commonwealth Ministers’ Conference in Ottowa a day early to deal with the Opposition’s call for an independent enquiry into the affair. Also the Eire Government said that it had contacted the British authorities, through diplomatic channels, about the matter. It is understood that the Dublin Government sought assurances that Britain was not financing subversive activities in Eire. And Eire has asked Britain for ‘further details’ of its admission of involvement with the Littlejohn brothers. Mr. Johnson Smith’s meeting with Kenneth Littlejohn was authorised by Defence Secretary Lord Carrington, who, it was revealed, did not tell Mr. Heath about the clandestine meeting. The Prime Minister’s permission was not sought but he was told later that a meeting had taken place. It is thought Mr. Heath and Mr. Wilson will have a private talk on the Prime Minister’s return from Ottowa, which is the usual procedure when matters of high security are involved. Tuesday 7th August 1973 Firebombs in office block The latest incendiary attacks on business premises in the city started two minor fires in a printing firm’s office block in Corporation Street, Belfast. The flames were quickly dealt with and an Army expert was brought in to deal with a suspicious suitcase found lying nearby. But it contained nothing more than a suspicious bundle of clothes.
Tuesday 7th August 1973 High velocity shots Tuesday 7th August 1973 Hugh velocity shots were heard in the Ballymurphy and Firebomb attack foiled Glencairn areas of West Belfast but security forces were An Army bomb disposal expert dismantled an not involved and there were no known targets. incendiary device found in a Belfast knitwear shop after a policeman carried it out of the building on a shovel. The owner of the Scotch Knitwear shop at Tuesday 7th August 1973 Upper North Street, Mr. Jamal Deane, found the device 45 shots fired at Army patrol under a pile of children’s anoraks. Afterwards he said, Troops claimed to have hit a gunman after about 45 "There were too many people in and out of the shop so shots were fired at an Army patrol carrying out a I did a check. I check the shop regularly but I do not screening operation at the Telstar Bar in the Creggan know whether or not it was left there last night." area of Derry. The fire raiser was found only hours after two An Army spokesman said the gunmen opened fire from incendiary devices went off in an office block in the area of Rinmore Drive, St. Mary’s Church, Iniscarn Corporation Street, but only slight damage was caused Road and Bligh’s Lane. No soldiers were hurt. Four to the building. men detained during the screening were later released.