Before the IRA were engaged in armed conflict, Catholics in Northern Ireland were treated like shit by the British government, police and local authorities. The

Before the IRA were engaged in armed conflict, Catholics in Northern Ireland were treated like shit by the British government, police and local authorities. They were denied jobs and housing, the latter basically denying them a vote (see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_man,_one_vote https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_man,_one_vote). After a civil rights movement emerged, the UVF were formed in 1966 by an ex British soldier (Gusty Spencer) and it's ranks were full of soldiers and police. They petrol bombed Catholic homes, schools and businesses. They shot Catholic civilians dead in the streets. Peaceful protests by Catholics were attacked by gangs which included off-duty police. After one march in Derry the police went on a rampage, attacking Catholic homes. Police beat Catholics to death (Samuel Devenny (42) and two of his daughters were beaten in their homes - he died from his injuries. Frances McCloskey (67) was beaten by police during a protest and died of his injuries). In response, the Bogside area went into lock-down, declaring themselves a no-go area for police. Police and loyalists attacked the residents with CS gas, water cannon and armoured vehicles. The Irish government called for a UN peacekeeping force to intervene. What actually happened was that the British army went in. Initially welcomed by the Catholics, they turned out to be even worse than the police: in a single event 745 People were injured (154 with gunshot wounds) and a 9 year old was killed. Hundreds of homes were demolished or badly damaged. The Irish government set up refugee camps South of the border. All of this before the IRA had started their bombing campaigns. I don't agree with what the IRA did. Never have. But come on. "I don't recall the British bombing blah blah blah". Selective memory.