im looking for info regarding a murder in 1974

[sideshow]

hello Folks-its been a while since I've been on this forum.A friend of mine is doing some research into specific incidents during 'the troubles'.Does anyone here have any info regarding the sectarian murder of Michael McKenzie in Carrickfergus in october 1974 and a group around that time known as the "Carrick 3"?.Was anyone ever convicted of that murder?who were they and when were they released?Who were the Carrick 3 and were they connected to McKenzie's murder?any info would be greatly appreciated-Thanks,Sideshow

[Wasp]

He was 19 when he was shot along with a 20yr old Protestant who was wounded in the attack by the UDA/UFF. It was a lone gunman who carried out the attack, he had been drinking and he also knew both victims. He was sentenced in 1975 and was 20 yrs old. Never heard of the Carrick 3.

[sideshow]

thats very helpful- thanks a million mr Wasp.

[Wasp]

No problem and BTW as far as I can make out it was simply and sadly a sectarian attack carried out in revenge for attacks on Protestants.

[Wasp]

I might also add that the murder man was also friendly with his killer, after killing him he then tried to kill his Protestant friend who received head and hand wounds. The killing at the time was described as motiveless and unpremediatated at the result of too much alcohol.

[sideshow]

jesus that sounds horrific.Is that area still dangerous?I know a few people have told me to avoid the larne /Carrickfergus area if Im wandering around east antrim especially with my strong Kerry accent -but I'm not sure if they are exagerating the danger or not.What do you think yourself.I'll be in Belfast in a couple of weeks and I like to explore Loyalist and Nationalist areas-am I safe or just plain dumb?

[Wasp]

Apr 8, 2010 17:01:24 GMT sideshow said:

jesus that sounds horrific.Is that area still dangerous?I know a few people have told me to avoid the larne /Carrickfergus area if Im wandering around east antrim especially with my strong Kerry accent -but I'm not sure if they are exagerating the danger or not.What do you think yourself.I'll be in Belfast in a couple of weeks and I like to explore Loyalist and Nationalist areas-am I safe or just plain dumb?

TBH I may not be safe in a loyalist area as much as a republican area, its the same for everyone as there are thugs in all areas. Carrick/Larne are places I am very familiar with and you will have as much cance of any bother there as you will anywhere. By that I mean you will be fine as there are many visitors to these areas especially Carrick with the castle etc. If you go to any loyalist/republican area there shouldnt be a problem although I wouldnt recommend walking through any of the estates if you havent a clue where your going. Your accent wont make you safer in one area and more at risk in another, all areas have thugs especially among the youth of today.

Taking a walk up the Shankhill/Falls etc wont be a problem, wandering off into nearby estates could be but saying that the risk is no different from anyother town anywhere. I would print out some google maps before you venture to any area mate.

[sideshow]

Will do ,Ill def go up the shankill road for a dander and see all those places whose names im so familiar with from books ,TV etc but that Ive never been to in person.Cheers for that -I'll report back on my return.

[Wasp]

Enjoy your time up here, if you are driving and you have the time why not drive on up the coast from Larne to Glenarm/carnlough/ballycastle/bushmills/portrush/portstewart and then drive the main road back to Belfast. Lovely scenic coastal route.

[sideshow]

cant this time im afraid cos ive only got 24 hours and ive got to fit the dog show at Kings Hall on sunday into that time frame.

[Jim]

You shouldnt have any trouble with any accent. You wont have troubles in nationalist areas, and little to none in loyalist areas unless you go around draped in a tricolour or something. Carrick has a lot of tourism with the castle as Wasp said and its pretty tame anyway in the main bits these days.

I live right next to the Shankill and have never had bother.

[Wasp]

I was up that way the other day Jim, shankhill, falls etc and it is really really sad to hear the stories from people on bothsides. I went to part of the route of the whiterock parade route (think it was springfield road) and believe it or not it was a catholic from the falls who told me how all the Prods were driven out, he showed me streets that were mainly Protestant but now there are little or none. I could have listened to this man for weeks with his pin point accuracy and vivid memories of the troubles, especially his friendship in the early 70's with a Protestant from the Shankhill. They agreed an unwritten rule that they would never aim stones at eachother.

I thought this man would have been very bias due to where he is from and his political viewpoints but if anything he spoke out more against his own community than that of the loyalist community. IMHO it is people like him that we all need when it comes to showing understanding for the othersides hurt.

[Jim]

New barnsley and further down were mainly protestant in the 60s I was told. I've family up that way.

The Falls is getting worse mate, and I don't mean with sectarianism if anything its got better that way, they call it anti social behaviour, I call it wee hoods that should be shot. Terrorising the community better than any paramilitary did. Its getting to the point they dont give a shit if your home or not when they decide to take your car or your tv. They'll sit ontop of your wall watching you as you watch them.

[Wasp]

You have my sympathies their Jim, funnily I was talking to a cop yesterday who was in the RUC and now PSNI, I was talking about something similar and how the police deal with it and he said dont talk to me, he knows all about it and that the psni are basically useless and uninterested with a few exceptions. They dont want the paperwork, they just want the wage.

He also said while the RUC were not perfect at least they usually used common sense when dealing with this type of thing and kids were far more scared of the police than they are now. Nowadays they wait for the cops to come so they can get a chase, yet not to long ago the very mention of the police would usually have had them running for it.

[Jim]

Apr 19, 2010 12:18:25 GMT Wasp said:

You have my sympathies their Jim, funnily I was talking to a cop yesterday who was in the RUC and now PSNI, I was talking about something similar and how the police deal with it and he said dont talk to me, he knows all about it and that the psni are basically useless and uninterested with a few exceptions. They dont want the paperwork, they just want the wage.

He also said while the RUC were not perfect at least they usually used common sense when dealing with this type of thing and kids were far more scared of the police than they are now. Nowadays they wait for the cops to come so they can get a chase, yet not to long ago the very mention of the police would usually have had them running for it.

It was easier to deal with it back then though, if paramilitaries didn't. While I'm in favour of doing things by the book as far as the police are concerned as I've no love for them, its legislation that needs to be strengthened to get the bastards caught and punished properly.

The police come out and give drive hoods away, sometimes the hoods do circles around the landrovers and the landrovers can't catch up to them. When they do catch the odd one they're on the streets the next day.

Can't say too much because you never know who's reading but seen a funny incident the other day where they crashed into the landrover. Car was wrecked, not a dent on the landrover, took 20 minutes for back up to arrive as about 50 kids gathered around it. Its a sad day when its 10 to 16 year olds doing things like this.