The rebuilding of houses in Bombay Street, Belfast has begun, but are the former residents willing to return?
In August 1969 three days of violent conflict in Belfast saw the destruction of houses on Bombay Street by loyalists. As a result of the destruction, 44 families, mainly nationalists, lost their homes and were moved to new or temporary accommodation.
Rebuilding homes in Bombay Street has begun, but are the former residents willing to return?
Although one former resident was happy living on Bombay Street, she is not prepared to move back as doing so might put her children at risk.
An older woman will never go back to Bombay Street.
I’d always have that fear, for every noise I would hear, and I couldn’t rest at all.
Another woman would move back. She thinks the August attack was unexpected, and the Bombay Street residents were caught out,
But they will be prepared the next time they’ll come, they’ll never get that chance again.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 January 1970.
