British Army

Compiled: Martin Melaugh ... Additional Material: Brendan Lynn and Fionnuala McKenna Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change 'B-Specials' synonyms: Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) (See: Ulster Special Constabulary ; USC.) Between A group set up in the Republic of Ireland in 1971 with the aim of promoting better relations between the communities in Northern Ireland. The association has branches in Belfast and Derry. 'Bloody Sunday' Justice Campaign (BSJC) A campaigning group who were pressing for a new inquiry into the events of 'Bloody Sunday'. The group is made up of relatives of those killed on 30 January 1972, and supporters. Bogside Residents Association (BRA) A residents group formed in 1994 (?) to protest at those Loyal Institution parades and marches which passed close to the Bogside area of Derry. The Bogside Residents Association consists of eight members who were elected at a public meeting. The two people who normally speak for the group are Robin Percival and Donnacha McNellis (?). Between 1969 and 1994 the Walls of Derry were closed to pedestrians for security reasons. Following the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire of 1994 the Apprentice Boys of Derry applied for permission to take their annual parade along the walls. Permission was given and, in spite of opposition from residents in the Bogside, the march passed along a section of the walls overlooking the Bogside. In 1996 further protests by the Bogside Residents Association resulted in the Walls of Derry being closed and the August parade halted. Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland (BCNI) "The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland is an independent and impartial public body, which reviews all UK Parliament constituency boundaries in Northern Ireland according to rules established by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (as amended). There are separate Commissions to review UK Parliament constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales." (from the Boundary Commission Web site) On 24 February 2016 the Boundary Commission began the 2018 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies. The review is likely to see the number of parliamentary constituences in Northern Ireland reduced from 18 to 17, with many changes to existing boundaries. See also: List of publications by the Boundary Commission [Web site ] British Army (BA) The United Kingdom's (UK) standing army. The British Army has had a presence in the region prior to and following the partioning of Ireland and the establishment of a regional assembly in Northern Ireland. However, the army was only deployed on the streets of the region on 14 August 1969. This marked the beginning of 'Operation Banner'. For much of the conflict the British Army played the leading security role in the region. However, following the policy of 'Ulsterisation' the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was given the lead role and the British Army played a supporting role. Approximately 501 members of the British Army were killed in incidents related to the conflict. The British Army killed 316 people during the conflict of whom 166 were civilians and the majority of these were Catholics. 'Operation Banner' came to an end in 2007. Approximately 5,000 British soldiers remain in bases in Northern Ireland. Brtish Army technical support is still provided for dealing with suspected explosive devices. [Main Entry] [Web Site ] British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Television and radio broadcasting company providing a service in the United Kingdom. BBC Northern Ireland has been reporting 'the Troubles' since they began. The organisation has found itself under intense pressure from opposing sides on a number of disputes. The major political interference in the operation of the broadcast media occurred with the introduction of the broadcasting ban on 19 October 1988. [Main Entry] [Web Site ] British Irish Association (BIA) An independent organisation which was founded in 1972 with the a