1999

January 1999

8 January 1999
Adam Ingram, then Victims' Minister, The educational bursary scheme for those directly affected by the Troubles and whose education suffered as a result is launched by Mr Ingram.  The amount of £250,000 is invested into the scheme, part of measures announced in August 1998.  Awards up to £2,500 can be made available for any purpose directly associated with the individual’s educational needs.  It is also stated that if demands are greater than the £250,000 allocated then more money from the original £5 million allocated to victims will be used. (B.H.)

Wednesday 13 January 1999
Sinn Féin (SF) called for a public inquiry into killings carried out by the security forces.

22 January 1999
Mr Ingram, as Victims Minister, says that comments made in the last 24 hours show that there are strong feelings about the victims issue and given the 30 years of violence this is understandable.  He also comments that talking is the best way to resolve problems.  [Need to clarify what the above remarks are in relation to] (B.H.)

26 January 1999
It is also reported that a dispute has broken out between victim's groups who relatives were killed by the IRA and the Minister of Victims, Adam Ingram. The dispute began when Mr Ingram announced that he would be meeting the family members of the eight IRA men shot dead by the SAS during a paramilitary attack on an RUC station in Loughgall 12 years ago. Unionists and the victim's group, Families Acting for Innocent Relatives ( FAIR ) reacted angrily to the decision. (B.H.)

February 1999

8 February 1999
Mr Ingram pledges to keep the pressure up to get the necessary information needed to locate the bodies of those who disappeared during the Troubles. He says that government will use every opportunity to maintain the pressure on people in positions of influence to influence the release of information on the whereabouts of the bodies, and adds this issue is not for the government alone but all parties who signed up to a democratic future in Northern Ireland. (B.H.)

Thursday 11 February 1999
A new report on the death of Patrick Finucane, a Belfast solicitor who had represented a number of Republicans, claimed that there was collusion between Loyalist paramilitaries and British security forces in his death on 12 February 1989. More than 1,100 lawyers signed a petition calling for a independent judicial inquiry into the killing. The appeal for the inquiry was also supported by Amnesty International.

12 February 1999
The tenth anniversary of the murder of Belfast solicitor Patrick Finucane, sees a confidential report compiled by the British Irish Rights Watch delivered a to the British and Irish governments and to the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.  The report, some 64 pages long, details all that is known about murder the murder of Patrick Finucane and about the operations of the Force Research Unit, a unit within British army intelligence that assisted loyalists to target people for murder.  See related dates 12 February 1999 ;19 March 1999 ;24 February 2000 ;28 May 2001 ;1 August 2001 . (B.H.)

16 February 1999
The Irish Times reports that six months after the Omagh bombing hundreds are still struggling to come to terms with what happened on the day. The Sperrin Lakeland Trust's trauma team treating those affected says that have already dealt with 350 referrals, nearly a third children. An estimate of £6.5 million is put on the cost of treating the injured and traumatised over the next four years. (B.H.)

Friday 19 February 1999
The Northern Ireland Bar Council stated that it supported a United Nations call for a judicial inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane on 12 February 1989.

21 February 1999
The Northern Ireland Office criticizes reports that families of the Omagh bomb only received £7,500 each in compensation.  In a press statement it is clarified that the £7,500 was the first of three payments and a Standard Bereavement Award.  The second payment will be for the reimbursement of Reasonable Funeral Costs and the final payment, to be determined by the Compensation Agency , will be for pecuniary loss.  It is stressed that the “Government recognises that no amount of money can compensate for the loss of human life…The [Compensation] Agency can only make payments as a gesture to the bereaved family”.  (B.H.)

Tuesday 23 February 1999
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), was confronted by the family of a victim of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) as he continued his eight-day visit to Australia. Roy Melrose, the father of Stephen Melrose, a Brisbane lawyer who was mistaken by gunmen for an off-duty British soldier in the Netherlands on 27 May 1990, criticised the way Adams was being feted at a civic champagne reception.

23 February 1999
Mo Mowlam, as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, opens the Family Trauma Centre for Victims of the Troubles in Belfast (1 Wellington Park).  She says “we must not forget the damage the past 30 years has inflicted on people, damage that is not just physical but psychological…the professional, multi-disciplinary approach of the Centre will provide the opportunity for people to come to terms with their trauma.  This work is not easy but is essential". (B.H.)

March 1999

8 March 1999
the Victims Minister, Adam Ingram, pays tribute to the victims of the Omagh bombing and all those helping to reconstruct the community in its aftermath.  Mr Ingram visits a number of groups and programmes on the day, including the Community Trauma and Recovery Team and the Omagh Inter-Agency Co-ordination Group, and shows specific interest in a study on the wider impact of the bombing carried out by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust.  He also makes mention of the importance of compensation and highlights the ongoing compensation review of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. (B.H.)

Monday 15 March 1999
Rosemary Nelson Killed
Rosemary Nelson, a Lurgan solicitor, was killed by a booby trap car bomb in Lurgan, County Armagh. Nelson had been driving away from her home in her BMW car at lunchtime when the explosion happened. The Red Hand Defenders (RHD) claimed responsibility for the murder. [The fact that commercial explosives had been used in the bomb led some commentators to speculate that one of the mainstream Loyalist groups was involved in the killing. In the following years it became clear that the name RHD was being used as a cover name by both the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). Nelson, who had represented Nationalist clients in several high-profile cases had complained of Loyalist paramilitary and RUC threats against her. Nationalists called for an independent international inquiry into the events surround the killing. Paul Murphy, then Secretary of State, announced a public Inquiry into the killing on 16 November 2004. The Inquiry opened on 19 April 2005.]

15 March 1999
A booby trap car bomb kills Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson, Co Armagh. The Red Hand Defenders claim responsibility (See link to Rosemary Nelson Campaign Website and related dates of 15 March 1999 ;20 February 2001 ;28 May 2001 ;1 August 2001). (B.H.)

Tuesday 16 March 1999
Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), announced that David Phillips, then Chief Constable of Kent, had been asked to oversee the investigation into the murder of Rosemary Nelson. He also invited the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist. [Both these moves were viewed as an attempt to try to counter calls by Nationalists for an independent international inquiry into the events surrounding the death of Nelson. Although the FBI initially became involved in the case it later withdrew.]

Friday 19 March 1999
Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), asked John Stevens, then Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner, to examine a report written by British-Irish Rights Watch, a human rights group based in London, on the 1989 killing of Pat Finucane. The report claimed to contain new evidence about the killing.

19 March 1999
RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan to refer the recent British Irish Rights Watch report into the murder of Pat Finucane to the Deputy Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, Mr John Stevens, for investigation.  The Derry based Pat Finucane Centre criticises the decision saying that nothing short of a full inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane shall suffice and that they have no confidence in Mr Stevens as his previous investigations into allegations of collusion by have yet to be published.  See related dates 12 February 1999 ;19 March 1999 ;24 February 2000 ;28 May 2001 ;1 August 2001. (B.H.)

Tuesday 23 March 1999
The husband of Rosemary Nelson called for an inquiry into her death, but one that was independent of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). This call followed a report by the Independent Commission on Police Complaints (ICPC), which had been investigating allegations of death threats against Rosemary Nelson made by members of the RUC. Although the report was not then published it was reported that the inquiry had run into various difficulties, including some from the chief inspector who, "appeared to have difficulties in co-operating productively" with the barrister in charge of the inquiry. [Later Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), said that he would publish as much as was possible of the report. The report had been prepared by Niall Mulvihill, then Commander of the Metropolitan Police in London, and had been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. A 'review' based on the report was issued on 30 March 1999.]

Thursday 25 March 1999
The judge hearing the case against a man charged with murdering Robert Hamill in Portadown, County Armagh on 27 April 1997, described some of the actions of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers on that night as "unfortunate". The man was cleared of murder but sentenced to 4 years for causing an affray.
The Solicitor's Criminal Bar Association (SCBA) called for the RUC to be removed from the investigation into the murder of Rosemary Nelson who was the solicitor for the Hamill family. Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the RUC, rejected these and other similar calls.

Monday 29 March 1999
The IRA announced it had identified the location of the bodies of nine people killed by the organisation between 1972 and 1981 and buried in secret. The British and Irish governments said they were willing to facilitate the exhumation of the remains of the ‘missing’ by ensuring that any new evidence uncovered would not be used in subsequent criminal proceedings.

29 March 1999
Dr Majorie Mowlam, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announces the Government's intention to consider amending the law to ensure that any evidence which emerges in locating the remains of the victims of such violence would not be used in criminal proceedings. She effectively offers an amnesty when she notes, “If there is further progress, we would need to discuss the details.  But if it would facilitate the process, I would be willing to consider changing the law to ensure that any evidence which emerges in locating the remains will not be used in subsequent criminal proceedings.  I understand that this is the position of the Irish Government also”. (B.H.)

Tuesday 30 March 1999
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) together with the Independent Commission on Police Complaints (ICPC) issued a 'review' of a report based on an inquiry into the killing of Rosemary Nelson on 15 March 1999 and the allegations of death threats against Nelson made by members of the RUC. The report had been prepared by Niall Mulvihill, then Commander of the Metropolitan Police in London, and had been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Nationalists criticised the 'review' and claimed it was an "exercise in damage limitation".

April 1999

1 April 1999
The Hillsborough Declaration was agreed by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern setting out a framework for progress towards establishing the Executive.  (B.H.)

2 April 1999
It is announced that over 300 people will be receiving support from the educational bursary scheme set up in response to the “We Will Remember Them” report announced in August 1998 and launched in January 1999.  Those directly affected by the Troubles (e.g. who have lost a parent or immediate partner), who have suffered physical or psychological effect and where the individual’s education has been clearly affected are eligible to apply for the bursaries.  The news of the bursaries is welcomed by Mr Ingram, Victims Minister, and he says the government is determined to continue to give the issue of victims high priority.  (B.H.)

Monday 12 April 1999
UN Report on RUC
Param Cumaraswamy, then United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur, published a report that criticised Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), over the alleged harassment of defence solicitors. Cumaraswamy also called for an independent inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane because there was evidence of collusion between members of the security forces and Loyalist paramilitaries. Flanagan rejected an accusation of indifference over the matter. Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said she would have talks with Cumaraswamy, about his report.

12 April 1999
It is reported that a half-size replica of the Vietnam Wall Memorial will go on tour around Ireland during the week. The 250-foot replica will have the names of the more than 58,000 service personnel who died in the Vietnam War, including 14 Irish-born citizens. (B.H.)

Monday 19 April 1999
A campaign for an independent international investigation and a judicial inquiry into the killing of the Rosemary Nelson was opened in Belfast.

26 April 1999
Mr Ingram addresses the Down High School Current Affairs Committee and says that there is more to the Agreement than decommissioning and the formation of an Executive.  He says that the Agreement is also about recognising the suffering of victims of violence. (B.H.)

27 April 1999
Mo Mowlam announces that under agreement of the British and Irish governments legislation will be passed to help locate the graves of the disappeared.  The legislation will set up a Commission in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and information or evidence given to the Commission will not be used in criminal proceedings. (B.H.)

Wednesday 28 April 1999
The Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Bill was presented to the House of Commons at Westminster. [The Bill became law in late May 1999. The first body was recovered on 28 May 1999.]

May 1999

Tuesday 4 May 1999
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), called for an inquiry into the shooting dead of five people on 9 July 1972 by the security forces.

Wednesday 5 May 1999
Relatives of Pat Finucane, a Belfast solicitor killed on 12 February 1989, held a meeting at Stormont with Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. They pressed their case for a public inquiry into his death rather than the police investigation favoured by the British government.

Friday 7 May 1999
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry ruled that British Army soldier who had fired their weapons on 30 January 1972 would not be allowed to remain anonymous. [The soldiers later managed to have the decision reversed in the Court of Appeal.]

Monday 10 May 1999
John Hermon (Sir), former Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), was quoted in The Daily Telegraph (a London based newspaper) as saying that Pat Finucane, a Belfast solicitor killed on 12 February 1989, was "associated with the IRA". [Hermon's remarks were criticised by Nationalists and human rights groups.]

Tuesday 11 May 1999
At a special meeting of the Law Society members voted to overturn an earlier decision of its ruling council and instead supported a call for independent inquiries into the killings of Pat Finucane, a Belfast solicitor killed on 12 February 1989, and Rosemary Nelson, a Lurgan solicitor killed on 15 March 1999.

13 May 1999
The Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Bill , which will make provision connected with Northern Ireland about locating the remains of persons killed before 10th April 1998, is introduced in the House of Lords. (B.H.)

Sunday 16 May 1999
Members of Justice for the Forgotten, the campaign group representing families of those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings on 17 May 1974, held a wreath-laying ceremony in Dublin. The group called for a full public inquiry into the bombings.

17 May 1999
On the same day The Northern Ireland Memorial Fund says that it will grant £4000 pounds to each of the families of the nine individuals whose graves have been identified by the IRA.  The Memorial Fund says the money is not compensation but a humanitarian gesture to assist families to make arrangements for the burial of their loved ones – the offer will only be extended to the families at such time as the whereabouts of their loved ones’ remains are identified. (B.H.)

Sunday 23 May 1999
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concluded its involvement in the inquiry into the death of Rosemary Nelson, a Lurgan solicitor killed on 15 March 1999, but announced it would continue to be available to assist the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

26 May 1999
The Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999 receives Royal Assent. The Act is designed to facilitate the provision of information about the whereabouts of the remains of those 'disappeared' in Northern Ireland to an international Commission, established by Treaty between the British and Irish Governments. (B.H.)

Thursday 27 May 1999
Legislation was passed at Westminster and the Oireachtas which guaranteed immunity from prosecution for anyone providing information on the location of the bodies of the ‘disappeared’.

riday 28 May 1999
Body of One of the 'Disappeared' Recovered
The body of Eamon Molloy, one of the 'disappeared' who had been missing since 1975, was found above ground in a new coffin in a cemetery in County Louth, Republic of Ireland. Garda Síochána (the Irish police) went to the site following information given by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR). The IRA passed on information about the location of nine bodies at six sites in four counties in the Republic of Ireland. The ICLVR was established jointly by Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Mr O'Donoghue, then Minister for Justice in the Republic of Ireland. The discovery marked the beginning of digging at a number of locations in Counties Louth, Monaghan, Meath, and Wicklow (all in the Republic of Ireland).

Saturday 29 May 1999
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) was informed that the body of Jean McConville, who had been abducted from her home in Belfast in 1972 by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), was buried under a car park at Templetown beach, five miles from Carlingford, County Louth. [After several extensive excavations over a number of weeks nothing was found. McConville’s body was discovered by accident in 2004.]
There was further controversy at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry into the killings on 30 January 1972 when it became clear that George Robertson, then British Secretary for Defence, was supporting 17 members of the Parachute Regiment who were claiming anonymity on the grounds that they would be in danger if their names were revealed.

June 1999

Tuesday 1 June 1999
Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), appealed for further information on where the Irish Republican Army (IRA) had placed the bodies of the ‘disappeared’. Ahern hoped any information would be passed to the Garda Síochána (the Irish police) and members of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR). He was replying to Mr Quinn, then Labour Party leader, who referred to the "extraordinary agony" which the families were going through.

4 June 1999
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains says that it has met with an intermediary and the names of six individuals and possible locations of victims’ remains have been made known.  All the possible locations are in the Republic of Ireland.  The Commission says that people should not become disheartened, but warns that it does not want to raise false hopes. (B.H.)

Wednesday 9 June 1999
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry admitted that during the autumn of 1998, 73 sets of documents presented to the original Widgery Inquiry had been released to interested parties' solicitors which included statements by five ex-Paratroopers who were involved in the events but did not open fire. The statements contained the soldiers' names, ranks, and army serial numbers.

Thursday 17 June 1999
The High Court in London passed a ruling (by 2 to 1) that the 17 former soldiers giving evidence to the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday could remain anonymous. The ruling was criticised by relatives of the victims.

Friday 25 June 1999
Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, rejected demands for an Inquiry into the killing of Billy Wright inside the Maze Prison on 27 December 1997.

Tuesday 29 June 1999
After 30 days of searching, Garda Síochána (the Irish police) uncovered the remains of two of the ‘disappeared’ believed to be those of John McClory (17) and Brian McKinney (22) in a bog in County Monaghan. Both of the men had been abducted on 25 May 1978 and were shot some time later by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) for allegedly stealing weapons.

29 June 1999
Mr Ingram, Victims Minister, welcomes the allocation of £200 000 to aid victims’ groups working with the Troubles.  The allocation as part of £5 million set aside for assisting victims of the Troubles.  It is noted that the Community Relations Council will administer the grant and grants of up to £10 000 will be made to groups who can demonstrate that there is an unmet need which cannot be filled by an existing group or service. On the same day, the remains of John McClory and Brian McKinney, who were adducted by the IRA in May 1978 accused of stealing arms from the organisation, were found buried in remote bogland near the border in Co. Monaghan after a 30-day excavation. (B.H.)

July 1999

2 July 1999
The Way Forward document is published by the British and Irish governments outlining a way to set up the Executive and to decommission arms.  On the same day the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning Report is issued; and the Review of Criminal Injuries Compensation also issue its report.  Sir Kenneth Bloomfield states that the report suggests “a number of changes to improve the fitness of purpose of the law and arrangements for compensating future victims of terrorism and other violence crimes in Northern Ireland”.  Recommendations, amongst others, include a hybrid mixture of a tariff and common law approach to compensation, widening the scope for a greater number of people with “psychiatric injury” to be compensated and the potential to reopen cases where there has been a material change in the victim’s medical condition. (B.H.)

3 July 1999
The Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, thanks Sir Kenneth Bloomfield for the work done on the Compensation Review and highlights the fact that 64 recommendations are made in the report and will need consideration. (B.H.)

Tuesday 6 July 1999
Lawyers acting on behalf of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry began an appeal to the High Court in London over the decision to grant anonymity to members of the Parachute Regiment. Derek Wilford, who had commanded Paratroops on Bloody Sunday, was interviewed on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 during which he described the relatives of those killed as "representing the republican organisation". Families of the dead reacted angrily to the remarks.

Tuesday 20 July 1999
There was an announcement that the start of the main hearings of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry would be delayed by six months from 27 September 1999 to 27 March 2000. The delay was blamed on impending court cases.

Wednesday 28 July 1999
Relatives of the 14 men shot dead and 13 people wounded by British soldiers in Derry on 30 January 1972 expressed disappointment at an Appeal Court ruling that the soldiers who opened fire would not be named during the proceedings of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

August 1999

3 August 1999
On the same day, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield announces that a consultation exercise on the recommendations of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Report will ensue. (B.H.)

Thursday 5 August 1999
A report of the Victims' Commission, established by the Irish government, into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings recommended the appointment of a former Supreme Court judge to inquire privately into events surrounding the bombings which killed 33 people and injured over 400. Although it was intended that the findings would eventually be made public, the families of the victims wanted the immediate establishment of a public tribunal of Inquiry. Other recommendations of the report were that a similar Inquiry be established into the killing of Seamus Ludlow on 2 May 1976, and that the Irish government should make a £10,000 payment to the 150 families affected by the bombings.

5 August 1999
The Report of the Republic of Ireland's Victim's Commission, chaired by the former Tanaiste, Mr John Wilson is published. The report, entitled A Place And A Name, calls for an annual North-South Day of Remembrance, as well as greater compensation, counselling and advice for victims of the conflict in and about Northern Ireland. In addition, and amongst other recommendations, the report recommends erecting a memorial building in the Border area as a tribute to all those from the Republic of Ireland who died or suffered because of the Troubles. (B.H.)

Saturday 7 August 1999
'Justice For The Forgotten', a group which campaigned on behalf of the victims of bombings in the Republic of Ireland, issued a press release.

9 August 1999
Relatives and victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings welcome the recommendation of the Wilson commission that people suffering from chronic post-traumatic stress as a result of the attacks 25 years ago should receive financial support and compensation. (B.H.)

Sunday 15 August 1999
Thousands gathered in Omagh and Buncrana to mark the first anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Silent vigils were kept at 3.10pm throughout the country to commemorate the 29 people killed and 300 injured in the attack which caused the biggest loss of life of any incident in the North.

Thursday 26 August 1999
Human rights campaigners said they were concerned at the news that John Stephens was being promoted to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. Stevens was leading the inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane, a Belfast solicitor killed on 12 February 1989. However, Stevens said that much of the work of the inquiry would be completed before he took up his new position.

Tuesday 31 August 1999
The victims’ group FAIR (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives) called for the collapse of the Good Friday Agreement. The call was made at a conference in Portadown, County Armagh, which was attended by anti-Agreement MPs.

September 1999

1 September 1999
The south Armagh-based victims' group, Families Acting for Innocent Relatives ( FAIR ) holds its conference entitled Voice of the Forgotten Victims, in Portadown. The event is attended by DUP leader, Ian Paisley, Ulster Unionist MPs, John Taylor, Rev Martin Smith and Mr Willie Ross.
On the same day, the remains of two of the "disappeared", Brian McKinney (22) and John McClory (17), both killed by the IRA in 1978 and only found by Gardia in late June 1999 were collected by their families after forensic tests had been carried out on the bodies in Dublin to confirm their identities. (B.H.)

2 September 1999
A mural which symbolically represents all the children killed in the Troubles is unveiled in the Bogside, Derry. The mural is a painting of Annette McGavigan (14) who was shot dead during rioting close to her home while she was coming home from the local shop after buying an ice cream in September 1971. (B.H.)

Thursday 16 September 1999
There was forensic evidence presented to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry which indicated that Jim Wray, one of those killed on 30 January 1972, had been shot in the back as he lay wounded on the ground.

Wednesday 22 September 1999
David Wright had a meeting with Adam Ingram, then Security Minister at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). Wright discussed concerns over the circumstances of the shooting dead of his son Billy Wright in the Maze prison on 27 December 1997.

Monday 27 September 1999
Interlocutory hearings of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry took place in the Guildhall in Derry. The hearings were chaired by Lord Saville and discussed the issue of anonymity for up to 500 security force witnesses to the shootings on 30 January 1972. [The first of the main hearings began on 27 March 2000.]

27 September 1999
Mr Ingram announces that £4 million will be made available to support the work of victims’ groups.  He announces that the money will split, £3 million for victims groups and £1 million for the Memorial Fund (bringing the Memorial Fund contribution to £2 million in total).  He says: “For the first time in 30 years government recognises the need to specifically address the needs of victims of terrorism”. (B.H.)

October 1999

8 October 1999
The UUP publishes Implementing the Agreement document in which it outlines the extent to which the Agreement has been implemented by its lights. (B.H.)

11 October 1999
Mr Peter Mandelson replaces Mo Mowlam as Secretary of State following a Cabinet Reshuffle. (B.H.)

13 October 1999
A new group calling itself Border Relatives, whose members are relatives of those killed in loyalist paramilitary attacks along the Border in the 1970s, calls on the Irish government to extend the scope of the Wilson enquiry to cover the bombing of the Three Star Inn in Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, in 1976. (B.H.) 

18 October 1999
The State Violence - State of Truth conference, hosted by Relatives for Justice , takes place in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Those attending the conference reitterate their demands for the disclosure of truth about the deaths of their relatives. They affirm that their relatives were killed by the British army, the RUC , or as a result of security force collusion with loyalist gangs. (B.H.)

21 October 1999
The Irish Times reports that relatives of the those killed in the Omagh bombing are preparing to take the British government to the European Court of Human Rights for failing to protect its citizens by lowering security after the Belfast Agreement . (B.H.)

26 October 1999
Mr Ingram officially opens the premises of a victims group known as FACT (Families Against Crime by Terrorism), which is based in Lisburn representing about 25 – 30 families.  (B.H.)

November 1999

Tuesday 23 November 1999
RUC Awarded the George Cross
It was announced that the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was to be awarded the George Cross, Britain's highest civilian award for gallantry. The British government rejected suggestions that the timing of the award was designed to placate Unionists and the RUC at a time when the force was facing major change. Ronnie Flanagan, then Chief Constable of the RUC, said it was a momentous day. Sinn Féin (SF) criticised the award.

23 November 1999
The Royal Ulster Constabulary ( RUC ) is awarded the George Cross, Britain's highest civilian award for gallantry. (B.H.)

30 November 1999
On the same day a small grants scheme is launched for victims in Northern Ireland by the Memorial Fund, allowing for those experiencing financial difficulty to get essential goods and services. (B.H.)

December 1999

2 December 1999
Powers were devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly officially at midnight on 1 December 1999.  (B.H.)

Notes
Information contained within square brackets [   ] may contain commentary or information that only became publicly available at a later date. Any piece of information which is followed by a question mark in parenthesis (?) is a best estimate while awaiting an update.

See also:
The main CAIN chronology of the conflict
The Sutton Index of Deaths 1969-2001