From the Archive (March 31, 1972) | Under British Rule Premium

Northern Ireland formally came under direct British rule to-day. The Government-sponsored Bill, suspending the locally-elected, Protestant-dominated Northern Ireland Government and imposing direct rule from London, sped through its final stages at mid-day. The House of Commons gave its final reading to the Bill and passed it 191 votes to 1$ shortly before noon. The House had spent about 19 hours, in continuous, all-night debate on it. The measure then went to the House of Lords, which gave it an unopposed final reading, at mid-day. Within 12 minutes thereafter the measure was at Buckingham Palace and had been given the royal assent by Queen Elizabeth.