Sunnigndale Agreement Signed 09.December.1973

On this day in 1973 the Sunnigndale Agreement was signed. Following the inability of the Northern Ireland government under Brian Faulkner to stop paramilitary violence and the reaction of the Catholic population to internment led the British government to suspend the Northern Ireland government and impose direct rule from Westminister in March 1972.

William Whitelaw, the first secretary of State for Northern Ireland published a ‘White Paper’ in the hope that this would lead to a power-sharing arrangement between Nationalist and Unionist politicians. While some Unionists and Nationalists, including the SDLP, supported the Agreement, many were opposed to it. Among the proposals put forward during the negotiations was the establishment of a Council of Ireland that would involve Southern politicians and would have control over a number of areas including policing. The election to the new assembly resulted in almost two-thirds of the electorate supporting candidates in favour of a power-sharing arrangement. However, a majority of the Unionists elected, led by Ian Paisley's DUP and William Craig's Vanguard Party, were opposed to the proposals. Despite outright opposition by the more extreme Unionists the Sunningdale Agreement was signed and the power-sharing arrangement was due to be established on 1 January 1974. The Council of Ireland was to be a major focus of opposition by Unionists opposed to the agreement. They regarded it as a step towards a united Ireland. As a result, the Orange Order, the DUP, the Vanguard Party came together and form the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) to resist power-sharing and the Council of Ireland. On 15 May the Ulster Workers Council called a general strike in an effort to bring down the power-sharing executive and the council of Ireland . Loyalist paramilitaries forced many workers to stay at home. Road blocks were established by Loyalist paramilitaries in many parts of the North. The power-sharing executive collapsed and direct rule from Westminster was re-imposed.

Download: Irish Press 1931-1995, Monday, December 10, 1973 Page 1, 4 - 5 below:

                                             Source: www.irishnewsarchives.com Irish Press 1931-1995, Monday, December 10, 1973