Bloody Sunday (1921)

Belfast's Bloody Sunday
Part of the Irish War of Independence and The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1920–1922)
Date10 July 1921
Location
MethodsRioting, gun battles, grenade attacks, house burnings
Resulted in161–200 houses destroyed,
curfews imposed
Casualties and losses
17+ killed
100+ injured

Bloody Sunday or Belfast's Bloody Sunday was a day of violence in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 10 July 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. The violence erupted one day before a truce began, which ended the war in most of Ireland. With the truce nearing, police launched a raid against republicans, but were ambushed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and an officer was killed. In retaliation, Protestant loyalists attacked Catholic enclaves in west Belfast, burning homes and businesses. This sparked rioting and gun battles between Protestants and Catholics, including paramilitaries. There were also gun battles between republicans/nationalists and the police, and some police patrols fired indiscriminately at Catholic civilians. Seventeen people were killed or fatally wounded on 10 July, and a further three were killed or fatally wounded before the truce began at noon on 11 July. At least 100 people were wounded. About 200 houses were destroyed or badly damaged, most of them Catholic homes, leaving 1,000 people homeless.[1] See: The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1920–1922).

  1. ^ Parkinson, Alan F. Belfast's Unholy War. Four Courts Press, Dublin 2004; ISBN 1-85182-792-7, p. 154.