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Norma Spence, 25yrs, civilian searcher, was shot by the IRA together with a soldier, Trooper James Nowasad, 21yrs, in what were to become known as the "Rag Day Killings".
They were operating the security checkpoint close to St Anne's Cathedral, in Lower Donegall Street close to Belfast city centre. Four IRA gunmen wearing costumes, mingled with students throwing flour as they approached the checkpoint. Norma Spence, unarmed, tried to run after the gunmen shot Trooper Nowasad, but an IRA gunman shot her 3 times in the back. The gunmen escaped in a blue Mazda car as other soldiers returned fire.
Norma Spence's brother was due to marry the following day and following a shortened ceremony, the wedding reception and honeymoon were cancelled as the groom left to arrange his sister's funeral. When the funeral took place 2,000 students from Queen's University marched to Belfast City Hall in a silent protest against the killings.
Trooper James Nowasad, from Stirling, Scotland, was attached to the 4th Battalion, Royal Tank Regt. His wife of 18 months flew from Germany for his funeral at Leven in Fifeshire.
In May 1979 a male was convicted of both murders and given two life sentences.
We Will Remember Them
They were operating the security checkpoint close to St Anne's Cathedral, in Lower Donegall Street close to Belfast city centre. Four IRA gunmen wearing costumes, mingled with students throwing flour as they approached the checkpoint. Norma Spence, unarmed, tried to run after the gunmen shot Trooper Nowasad, but an IRA gunman shot her 3 times in the back. The gunmen escaped in a blue Mazda car as other soldiers returned fire.
Norma Spence's brother was due to marry the following day and following a shortened ceremony, the wedding reception and honeymoon were cancelled as the groom left to arrange his sister's funeral. When the funeral took place 2,000 students from Queen's University marched to Belfast City Hall in a silent protest against the killings.
Trooper James Nowasad, from Stirling, Scotland, was attached to the 4th Battalion, Royal Tank Regt. His wife of 18 months flew from Germany for his funeral at Leven in Fifeshire.
In May 1979 a male was convicted of both murders and given two life sentences.
We Will Remember Them
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