WED. AUGUST 5, 1998: A nationalist family was attacked in Cliftondene Crescent in Belfast, a mixed area when the front door was smashed by a loyalist gang who then daubed 'Taigs Out' on the wall and 'UVF' on a car. William Toner (55) was babysitting his three young grandchildren and a niece when the attack took place. Nobody was injured.
THURS. AUGUST 6, 1998: A gigantic explosion on farmland between Clontygna and Carnamucklagh in south Armagh, a few hundred yards from the Co Louth Border was felt in Carlingford and Omeath and was heard in Warrenpoint and Kilkeel. Causing a crater ten feet by ten feet and six feet deep in land adjacent to a derelict farmhouse. It was reported that a unit of the Provisionals' military wing in south Armagh had destroyed a ton of explosives as a voluntary decommissioning gesture.
FRI. AUGUST 7, 1998: Anthony Creane (49), one of the two Derry brothers targeted in a pro-British death-squad attack on July 27 had his leg amputated. He sustained bullet wounds to the upper leg and groin when up to six death squad gunmen smashed through the door of his home in the predominately loyalist Caw estate blasting both Anthony and his brother, Frankie.
SAT. AUGUST 8, 1998: Nationalist youths clashed with British Crown Forces in Derry as the loyalist Apprentice Boys paraded through the city. The clashes resulted in serious injuries to several Crown Forces members and one armed RUC colonial policeman had to be rescued by the firing of live rounds by his colleagues after he was ambushed by a group of young nationalists.
The LVF British-backed loyalist death squad issued a statement saying that they had called a "complete" ceasefire.
SUN. AUGUST 9, 1998: In Strabanethe RUC were attacked by a crowd of nationalists firing petrol bombs. Plastic bullets were fired by the colonial police and an RUC officer and a local woman were hospitalised.
MON. AUGUST 10, 1998: The British prison service in the Occupied Six Counties confirmed that the last remaining member of the Shankill Butcher's loyalist murder gang, William Moore, who had been sentenced to 14 life sentences in 1979, had been released in July.
SAT. AUGUST 15, 1998: A 500lb bomb exploded in Omagh, Co Tyrone, killing 28 people and injuring over 200. Incendiary devices were found in shops in Coleraine and Belfast.
TUES. AUGUST 18, 1998: Dissidents from the Provisionals' military wing claimed responsibility for the bomb at Omagh which caused the death of 28 people on August 15.
In a second statement released some hours later, the dissidents said they had "suspended all military operations".
WED. AUGUST 19, 1998: The Dublin administration announced that it would introduce new draconian amendments to the Offences Against the State Act in response to the Omagh bombing.
SAT. AUGUST 22, 1998: The INLA announced a "complete ceasefire".
MON. AUGUST 24, 1998: Forty-eight incendiary devices were found near Cox's Demesne estate in Dundalk, Co Louth. They are believed to have been dumped there by dissidents from the Provisionals. Over 200 loyalists who staged a protest at Drumcree parish church were prevented from going down the nationalist Garvaghy Road.
TUES. AUGUST 25, 1998: British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that his government will introduce "draconian" legislation, mirroring that already announced by the Dublin administration.
WED. AUGUST 26, 1998: Around 500 members of the Orange Order took part in a rally in Antrim town in support of the picket at Drumcree. Speakers at the rally launched an 'Orange ribbon' campaign.
Figures released by the British colonial police (RUC) show that there have been 86 so-called punishment attacks since the Stormont Agreement was signed on April 10; 29 of which were shooting incidents and 57 beatings.
The City Factory, the oldest shirt factory in Derry, is to close with the loss of 197 jobs.
FRI. AUGUST 28, 1998: A group of lawyers from the Six-County area and from England, criticised the draconian legislation proposed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The grand lodge of the Orange Order has asked all members to show support for Portadown Orangemen who are maintaining a 24-hour picket – now in its 22nd day — at Drumcree until they are allowed to march down the nationalist Garvaghy Road.
SAT. AUGUST 29, 1998: Shoppers in a shopping centre in High Street, Portadown, Co Armagh were attacked by members of a 200-strong gang of loyalists who stormed the centre, shouting "Fenians get out – this is Ulster", after blocking traffic in the centre of the town. Amongst those in the shopping centre at the time were relatives of Robert Hamill, a 25-year-old nationalist who was murdered by loyalists and the gang shouted his name as they rained down blows on one of them and verbally abused the other.
SUN. AUGUST 30, 1998:
Around 250 members of the Orange Order, led by district master Harold Gracey attempted to march down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh. They were prevented from doing so and are continuing their ongoing 24-hour picket on the nationalist area.
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