Stormont was abolished and Direct Rule from Westminster was introduced in March 1972, just six weeks after Bloody Sunday, when the Unionist government refused to hand over responsibility for law and order to Westminster. In its 50-year history, only one piece of legislation was passed that was introduced by a Nationalist member, the Wild Birds Protection Act. In October 1971, as the Troubles worsened, Gerard Newe had been appointed as a junior minister at Stormont, in an attempt to improve community relations. Fifty years after it came into existence, Newe was the first Catholic to serve in a Northern Ireland government, but because he was neither an MP nor a Senator, his appointment could last only six months.
Stormont was abolished and Direct Rule from Westminster was introduced in March 1972 just six weeks after Bloody Sunday when the Unionist government refused to hand over responsibility for law and order to Westminster In its 50-year history only one piece of legislation was passed that was introduced by a Nationalist member the Wild Birds Protection Act In October 1971 as the Troubles worsened Gerard Newe had been appointed as a junior minister at Stormont in an attempt to improve community relations Fifty years after it came into existence Newe was the first Catholic to serve in a Northern Ireland government but because he was neither an MP nor a Senator his appointment could last only six months