1972 and the Ulster Troubles

1972 proved to be by far the bloodiest and most eventful year of the Northern Ireland conflict. The January shootings in Derry precipitated the downfall of the Stormont administration in March. British military reinforcements struggled to cope with the ferocity of the IRA's escalating campaign, the worst manifestations of which were no warning attacks such as those in Claudy and Belfast on Bloody Friday. Yet 1972, regarded by republicans as their 'Year of Victory,' arguably marked both the high …