The War of Independence:‘four glorious years’ or squalid sectarian conflict?

March 30

• 1922 The second Craig–Collins agreement was signed. Craig agreed to recruit Catholics into the Ulster Special Constabulary, whilst Collins agreed to quell IRA activity in Northern Ireland. Neither side delivered on their undertakings.
• 1931 Garda Superintendent Seán Curtin was shot dead near his home in Tipperary by the IRA after he had taken action to prevent illegal drilling in the area.
• 1969 An explosion destroyed an electricity substation in East Belfast, marking the beginning of a month-long series of attacks on electrical installations and water supplies by the UVF. At the time the IRA was blamed.
• 1979 Airey Neave (63), Conservative Party spokesman on Northern Ireland, was killed by a car bomb planted by the INLA in the House of Commons underground car park.
• 1603 The Treaty of Mellifont was signed, bringing to an end the Nine Years’ War (1594–1603) between Hugh O’Neill, earl of Tyrone, and the English Crown.
• 1973 William Craig formed the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP).