Former Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson remembers Sir Norman Stronge and his son James who were murdered by the Provisional IRA on this date 40 years ago.

Jim Nicholson said:

“I remember Sir Norman Stronge and James very well. They were staunch members of the Ulster Unionist Party. I attended Ulster Unionist meetings across Mid Armagh, from Mullaghlass to Tynan and Markethill to Drumbanagher and Sir Norman and Lady Stronge were at them all. They were lovely people.

“I worked closely with Sir Norman`s son James. I was the secretary of the Mid Armagh Ulster Unionist Association when James was the MP for Mid Armagh in the old Northern Ireland Parliament.

“We travelled the length and breadth of the area attending Ulster Unionist Party meetings. The then Chairman was Captain Michael Armstrong. We all worked together. Every area had its own branch and they were very much part of the community.

“James was genuinely one of the finest gentlemen you could ever have hoped to meet in your lifetime, as was his Father. I remember standing chatting with James after many Ulster Unionist Party meetings. Given the sectarian murder campaign being waged by the Provisional IRA we all recognised that they would stop at no ends to commit murder and anybody could be a target. James knew he had to go back up that long avenue into the Abbey every night. We have many problems in 2021, but people should never forget what people like the Stronge family went through because they were members of the Ulster Unionist Party, stood for the Union and freedom of speech.

“The IRA`s cowardly murders of Sir Norman and James were part of the ongoing ethnic cleansing of unionists in border areas and those that carried them out were the worst of the human race. This was a very well planned, clinical murder of two leading unionists in a border area and it was designed to strike fear and trepidation into the rest of the people living in those areas.

“In the aftermath of Sir Norman`s and James` murders, the community was shocked and horrified at the barbarity of the Provisional IRA. The mood was dark and sombre. You couldn’t believe it had happened. There was also great fear. Many other savage murders had been committed by the IRA and you were wondering who would be next. It was a terrible, horrific time. Nobody was safe in their bed at night, but those who supported and believed in the Ulster Unionist Party were determined to come through it.

“Even after these cowardly murders the Provisional IRA continued with their genocidal murder campaign against protestants in the border area. The barbarity of the Provisional IRA should never be forgotten and neither should they be allowed to forget it.

"We should always remember Sir Norman and James who were two of the finest gentlemen that you could meet. The bravery of Sir Norman - a World War One veteran, who was decorated with the Military Cross for his service at The Somme, and the Belgian Croix de Guerre - is in stark contrast to the cowardly terrorists who murdered an 86-year-old man and his son. 

“James had also been an officer in the Grenadier Guards and was a member of the RUC Reserve.”

“Throughout their lives they served their country and they set an example to others. Forty years on that`s what we should reflect on.”