Troubles in the North and medics on the streets

With Brexit brinkmanship in the news and the issue of the Irish border never far away, it’s worth looking back at the front page on this day 50 years ago — a report on violence flaring in Belfast, running battles on the streets and a British prime minister “reluctant” to call in troops.

The Troubles were escalating, with vehicles set on fire and police deploying water cannons to try and restore order. This newspaper reported that the Northern premier, Major James Chichester-Clark, was holding back from imposing a curfew to curb the disturbances. The same man was quoted as being “very reluctant” to ban all marches and parades.