A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE NORTHERN IRELAND PROBLEM IS PRESENTED IN THE CONTEXT OF AN ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE INITIAL PHASE OF RELATIVELY PEACEFUL CIVIL RIGHTS AGITATION. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF TERRORISM AND OF MILITARY AND SECTARIAN VIOLENCE FROM 1969 ONWARDS. SUBSEQUENT CHAPTERS DEAL WITH THE SYSTEM FOR ARREST AND INTERROGATION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS, THE SYSTEM OF INTERNMENT WITHOUT TRIAL, AND THE OPERATIONS OF COURTS IN WHICH FORMAL CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS WERE INSTITUTED. PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF PUBLIC STATEMENTS MADE BY COMMENTATORS AND PRESSURE GROUPS AS WELL AS THE RESULTS OF AN ATTITUDE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN THE SUMMER OF 1974. THE STRAINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND IRELAND FOR THE PAST TWO TO THREE HUNDRED YEARS IS THEN EXAMINED TO PUT THE RESULTING PICTURE OF THE OPERATION OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S LEGAL SYSTEM IN TIMES OF ACUTE INTERNAL DISORDER INTO THE PROPER HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)