Internment without trial, was introduced in Northern Ireland by the Stormont Unionist government in the early hours of August 9th, 1971. The operation involved mass arrests of more than 340 people from Catholic and nationalist backgrounds by the British army. Internees were held at camps and prisons including Long Kesh near Lisburn, outside Belfast. Almost 2,000 people were interned up until its ending in December 1975.

My father was lifted from his bed in the early hours of 9th August 1971 and interned without trial for 1 full year. He was taken from the house which he still lives in, and I grew up in. This is something I discovered myself, and we never spoke about until recent years.