Many commentators regard the Falls Road Curfew as a watershed in the relationship between the security forces and the nationalist community.¹ As McLoughlin outlines, From the burning of Bombay Street in August 1969, through to the draconian Falls Road Curfew of July 1970, militant republicans had established a significant foothold within the minority community, a position from which they were able to promote their interpretation of the emerging political conflict, and so attempt to set the agenda for nationalist politics.² Perhaps unsurprisingly, this analysis is also favoured by many Belfast republicans.³ Admittedly, this version of the curfew has been contested.