The final report of the new Ireland Forum is published
1984
Three options are offered for Northern Ireland: a unitary state; a federal arrangement; and a joint authority solution. The report also rejects the use of violence to achieve political change in Northern Ireland.
The Grand Hotel in Brighton bombed
1984
A bomb planted by the Provisional IRA in the Grand Hotel explodes on the last day of the Conservative Party Conference. Five people are killed and many others wounded.
Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald meets Margaret Thatcher
1984
The meeting takes place at Chequers to discuss the potential consequences for constitutional politics in the event of the rise in support for Sinn Fein. At a press conference later that day, Margaret Thatcher rejects the proposals of the New Ireland Forum in her famous R
Nine RUC officers killed in a mortar attack on Newry police station
1985
Rioting in Portadown as Orange marches are re-routed
1985
The Anglo-Irish Agreement signed
1985
The agreement is signed by Garret Fitzgerald and Margaret Thatcher at Hillsborough Castle. The Agreement introduces an Intergovernmental Conference headed by the Secretary of State and the Irish Foreign Minister, which will meet regularly to promote cross-border cooperation
An Air India plane crashes into the sea 80 miles off the Irish coast
1985
A bomb exploded on board. All 329 passengers and crew are killed.
The first in a number of meetings take place between John Hume, leader of the SDLP and Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein. This is considered by some to be the beginning of the Peace Process.
IRA members killed in Gibraltar by SAS
1988
Three unarmed IRA members are killed by undercover members of the SAS.
Michael Stone kills mourners at Milltown Cemetery
1988
During the funerals of the three members of the IRA killed in Gibraltar, Michael Stone, a loyalist gunman, launches a gun and grenade attack on mourners. Three are killed and 50 injured.
Two soldiers killed by mourners
1988
During the funeral of one of those killed in the Milltown Cemetery attack, two soldiers in plainclothes are attacked and killed by mourners.
IRA bomb kills 6 off-duty soldiers in Lisburn
1988
Eight soldiers killed in an IRA bomb in Ballygawley, Co Tyrone
1988
Broadcasting Ban announced
1988
The British government announces a broadcasting ban on direct statements by members of proscribed organisations, including Sinn Fein and the Ulster Defense Association.
Pat Finucane, a solicitor who had represented a number of Republicans, is hot in his home by members of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). Rumours of collusion between Loyalists and security forces follow.
IRA bomb Deal army barracks in Kent
1989
Ten members of the Royal Marines band are killed in an attack on the Deal army barracks.
The Guilford Four are released by the Court of Appeal
1989
The Guilford Four are released on appeal having spent 14 years in prison wrongly convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings