In 1981 , Bobby Sands a native of Greater Belfast , was the first of ten Republican prisoners to die on hunger strike in pursuit of political status . The event provoked major rioting in nationalist areas of the city . During the 1980s , the most notorious series of incidents in the city took place within a week in 1988 . Firstly , a Republican funeral was attacked by loyalist Michael Stone '' ( see Milltown Cemetery attack ) '' , then , the following week at the funerals of Stone 's victims , two off-duty soldiers were lynched in the " corporals killings "
Milltown Cemetery attack
Milltown Cemetery attack
History of Belfast