Aftermath 1971 Scottish soldiers' killings

belfast cenotaph, focus of public mourning in belfast

the funerals held in scotland john , joseph mccaig buried in ayr. older brother, serving royal marines in singapore, flown home service. day, 20,000 people attended rallies in belfast , carrickfergus. in belfast, cenotaph @ city hall focus of mourning 10,000 people attending including workers factories in gathering stopped traffic in city centre. many wept openly. reverend ian paisley led mourners in laying dozens of wreaths. crowd observed two-minute silence , sang hymn , national anthem.

the deaths led crisis government of northern ireland calls increased security measures. ian paisley demanded stormont government s resignation, saying can no longer tolerate weakness. must go before whole land deluged blood of innocent men , women. on 12 march, 4,000 shipyard workers took streets of belfast demand internment. northern ireland prime minister james chichester-clark flew london request more troops, , when numbers not wanted, resigned. on 23 march 1971, brian faulkner elected ulster unionist party leader , appointed prime minister same day.

the british army raised minimum age serving in northern ireland 18 in response death of 17-year-old john mccaig.

no 1 has been convicted of killings. daily mirror reported in november 2007 3 provisional ira men responsible deaths: martin meehan (died 2007), patrick mcadorey, , third unnamed man. meehan questioned on killings never charged. mcadorey shot , killed in august 1971 during gun battle in ardoyne area of belfast. suspected of fatal shooting, hours before own death, of private malcolm hatton of green howards. case of 3 soldiers 1 of being re-examined police service of northern ireland s historical enquiries team.