- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: NEW ULSTER DEFENCE REGIMENT ON PARADE IN BELFAST
- Date: 1st April 1970
- Summary: 1. GV & CU SOME MEMBERS OF REGIMENT LINE UP ON PARADE (3 SHOTS) 0.13 2. MV SERGEANT GIVING COMMAND 0.16 3. MV TROOPS COME TO ATTENTION, MARCH OFF (3 SHOTS) 0.40 Initials KM/VS/AS/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 16th April 1970 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BELFAST UNITED KINGDOM
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom Northern Ireland
- Reuters ID: LVA5UMA4YHVUG566JSIV0S9M7H42
- Story Text: NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEW DEFENCE REGIMENT, FORMED TO REPLACE THE PART-TIME POLICE FORCE KNOWN AS THE B-SPECIALS, APPEARED ON PARADE IN BELFAST ON WEDNESDAY (1 APRIL) FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE B-SPECIALS, WHO WERE HATED AND FEARED BY MANY CATHOLICS, WERE DISBANDED FOLLOWING CRITICISM OF THEIR ACTIONS IN LAST SUMMER'S BLOODY RELIGIOUS RIOTS.
THE NEW REGIMENT WHICH WILL CONTAIN A MAXIMUM OF 6,000 MEN IS MAINLY AN INFANTRY FORCE BUT WILL ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH LAND ROVERS FOR MOBILE PATROL, SUPPORTED BY RADIO-EQUIPPED VEHICLES AND MUNITION-CARRYING TRANSPORT.
ITS CHIEF FUNCTION IS TO GUARD KEY POINTS AND INSTALLATIONS AND TO PATROL THE BORDER, AND MEMBERS WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN RIOT CONTROL OR STREET DUTIES. ITS MEMBERS WILL OPERATE MAINLY IN RURAL AREAS.
THE NEW REGIMENT MADE UP OF BOTH CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS MADE ITS FIRST APPEARANCE AS RENEWED VIOLENCE BROKE OUT IN THE ULSTER CAPITAL DURING THE LONG EASTER WEEKEND.
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