Norma Spence

Died

:

3 March 1978

Age

:

25

Rank

:

Civilian Search Officer

Force

:

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Cause

:

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

:

Civilian

Roll of Honour Citation

Shot dead by terrorists while operating the security checkpoint near St. Anne's Cathedral, in Lower Donegall Street, close to Belfast city centre.

Shot dead by terrorists, alongside a soldier, in what was to become known as the “Rag Day Killings”. They were operating the security checkpoint near St. Anne’s Cathedral, in Lower Donegall Street, close to Belfast city centre, when four terrorist gunmen wearing costumes and mingling with students throwing flour, approached the checkpoint and shot the trooper. Norma, who was unarmed, tried to run but one of the gunmen shot her three times in the back. The gunmen escaped in a blue Mazda car as other soldiers returned fire.