However, the council’s lawyer explained that the council was empowered to impose any rent that it considered necessary, and which had to be paid by those who resided in council houses. While the council had power to put the rent increase on the rates, they had decided not to do that.

Mr Keogh M.P. stated that the tenants had to decide whether to go ahead with the agitation, be taken to court and evicted. He and Mr O’Hanlon had been given an undertaking that the tenants would behave in a responsible manner. This would entail adopting counsel opinion and start paying the increases.

But back to the controversial civil rights march of January, 1969. It was organised by Newry Peoples’ Democracy, whose leaders included two young South Armagh teachers, Tommy Keane from Lislea, later vice-principal of the Abbey Grammar School, and Paddy O’Hanlon of Mullabawn, who defeated Eddie Richardson to become M.P. for South Armagh, later Assemblyman, author and barrister.

Demands of the marchers were not revolutionary, - local employment, a points system for the allocation of council houses, and a protest against the treatment of civil rights marchers from Belfast to Derry, a week earlier. Students were ambushed and attacked by loyalists at Burntollet, with accusations that the `B` Specials had also been involved.

What also gained the Newry march widespread attention was that the planned route via Sugar Island, described as a `Protestant` area, had been banned. Appeals by the town’s traders, councillors and MP’s had failed to sway the Minster for Home Affairs, Mr Porter.

However, it was in a mood of anticipation that the demonstrators headed down Monaghan Street, with nationalist and civil rights leaders in the front row, along with Unionist councillor Aubrey Wylie. A crowd had already gathered at the Savoy Cinema junction, the route towards Sugar Island sealed off by large grey police vans, fronted by a steel barrier, behind which was the helmeted R.U.C. Riot Squad.

When the leading section of the demonstration arrived, there was an air of confusion. The main speakers, including John Hume, Gerry Fitt, Turlough (later Lord Justice) O’Donnell and Michael Farrell addressed the crowd. Amid the confusion that followed, a militant element began to vent their frustration and hostility at the police. From a vantage point with my camera on top of a police van, I could witness the chaos below as stewards, some of them veteran republicans, strove to keep the crowd from attacking the barricade, - a task which they did not relish!

Eventually, the police retreated back along Merchants Quay, in the direction of Edward Street R.U.C. Station, abandoning their vans. This was the signal for a seizure of the police vehicles, which were set on fire and pushed into the nearby canal. The mob then headed for the town centre, occupying the Post Office and causing destruction to property, leading to police baton-charges.

Recriminations were not long in coming, led by local Protestant clergy, including Rev Arlow, Rector of St Patrick’s Church. They stated: “Had there been a more noticeable effort to preserve the peace and harmony of our community, on the part of our fellow Roman Catholic clergy, the situation might have been different. Civil rights have received a serious blow.”

But Max Keogh M.P. responded that the statement “would be resented throughout the town, especially by the Catholic community, as not in the best interests of improved relationships between the various sections of our community. While it is to be deplored that a certain amount of property has been destroyed in Newry, it would be regrettable if that relationship should be undermined by the burning of a few police vans, or some broken windows.”

A post-mortem was held in Newry Town Hall, which saw most of the P.D. committee fail to be re-elected, though Tommy Keane was re-installed as chairman. It was decided to become part of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. Six months later, another civil rights march was planned, along the previously banned route.

DUP leader, Rev Ian Paisley warned: “We will take up the gauntlet thrown down. I am calling on every loyalist to stand up for the province, and to converge on the town of Newry. We will then see what the government will do.”

But council chairman Pat McMahon responded: “Protestants and Catholics are living in peace and harmony. I don’t want Mr Paisley to come here, but if he comes in a peaceful manner, he should be welcome. No one is going to be allowed to take over Newry, without us putting up a fight.” The Minister for Home Affairs banned any counter-demonstration, so the civil rights march took place without incident, along the originally prohibited route.

However, following the arson attacks by loyalists and `B` Specials at Bombay Street in Belfast that month, fears grew that Catholic housing estates in Newry could also become targets. A Citizens Defence Committee was formed, with the Catholic Ex-Servicemen’s Association, led by Billy Rodgers and Joe Henry, providing expertise. Manned barricades became a feature, from Derrybeg to Church Street.

That December, the new CRA chairman Sam Dowling announced, after street-protests had developed into full-scale riots, that “the honeymoon is over; it is a return to the streets. 1970 might be a more interesting year than 1969.” Indeed, the next 25 years would be also be very `interesting.’

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