Special Powers Act

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The Special Powers Act came into force in 1971 under orders of Northern Ireland Prime Minister Brian Faulkner as a means of controlling spiralling terrorist activity in Northern Ireland. The Act authorised internment of those suspected to be involved in terrorism. This included suspects from both sides; however, of the 1,981 men interned, only 107 were Loyalists.

Internment began in 1971, with the arrest of 342 suspected republican guerrillas and paramilitary members on August 9. They were held at HM Prison Maze. By 1972, 924 men were interned. Serious rioting ensued, and 23 people died in three days.

Internment was ended in 1975, but had resulted in increased support for the IRA and created political tensions which culminated in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike and the death of MP Bobby Sands. Imprisonment under anti-terrorism laws specific to Northern Ireland continued until the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, but these laws required the right to a fair trial be respected.