697. The Troubles: Murder in Belfast (Part 1)
Summary
This episode introduces a series on the Troubles, beginning with a dramatic reading of Ian Paisley’s 1965 sermon to illustrate hardline Protestant fundamentalism. The hosts trace the conflict’s roots from the 1912 Ulster Covenant and 1921 partition to the systemic discrimination against Catholics in Northern Ireland. They detail how gerrymandering, housing bias, and police brutality created a "Protestant state" that marginalized the Catholic minority, setting the stage for the violence of the 1960s.
Topics discussed
Sponsor messages and introduction
Ian Paisley sermon and overview of the Troubles
Historical roots: Partition and demographics
Sectarian tensions and the IRA S-Plan
Discrimination, housing, and the RUC
IRA evolution and British political neglect
Terence O'Neill's modernization efforts
Rise of Ian Paisley and hardline Protestantism
Paramilitary violence and early casualties
Political cynicism and conclusion
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