“East Tyrone remembers the “Clonoe Martyrs” – four IRA volunteers who were killed by the SAS after attacking Coalisland RUC station with a machine gun mounted on the back of a lorry on February 16th, 1992 as they were switching from the attack vehicles to getaway cars in Clonoe (WP).
This is a new version of the Derry brigade board in Westland Street – everything remains as before (see 2010) except for a new picture of the dolmen memorial in Lecky Road.
The scroll in the bottom right reads “I gcuımhne dhíl orthu sıud a fuaır bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann – In fond & loving memory of those who died in the cause for Ireland’s freedom”.
“Joe McCann Staff Capt. [Official] IRA. Murdered by British paratroopers 15th April 1972.” Joe McCann was (Official) IRA OC in the Markets area of south Belfast, where he was shot by paratroopers in 1972. The graven image to the left reproduces a famous photograph which shows McCann, with MI, during the occupation of the Inglis bakery in the Markets on August 9th, 1971 – Internment Day (see RN).
“Vol Eamonn Lafferty killed on active service at this spot on the 18th Aug 1971 by Crown forces whilst defending his community. Eamonn was just 19 years old. Fuaır sé bás ar son na hÉıreann. Erected by the Eamonn Lafferty [Sınn Féın] Cumann [Fb]” Lafferty was killed in a gun-battle between the Derry Brigade and British Army forces who were attempting to dismantle barricades in republican “Free Derry”. The mural and plaque shown (and a headstone) are situated — as the mural states — in the location where he was killed, in Creggan’s Kildrum Gardens. (His body is buried in City Cemetery.)
“Frank Aiken born Camloch 1898-1983. Commandant of the 4th Northern Division (IRA) 1921-1923. Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army 1923-1925.” Aiken was also a TD for Louth from 1923 to 1973, initially for Sınn Féın but subsequently for Fıanna Fáıl, of which he was a founding member (WP).
“In loving memory of Vol. Tom Williams “C. Coy” 2nd Battalion Belfast Brigade IRA who lived here [46 Bombay Street, where Williams lived with his grandmother Fay] and was executed in Belfast Gaol [Crumlin Road] 2nd Sept 1942, aged 19 years. Ar dheıs Dé go ra[ı]bh a anam. Erected by National Graves Association, Belfast 1992.”
Williams, the unit’s leader, took sole responsibility for the killing of RUC Constable Patrick Murphy, hoping that it would save the lives of the other seven (including two women) who had taken part in the ambush. The six men were jointly convicted of the killing but only Williams was ultimately hanged, after appeals from Ireland (not yet officially ‘The Republic Of’), the Vatican, and the US State Department (RN).
A second plaque has been added to the mural of Patrick Mulvenna and Jim Bryson and the mural itself has been refreshed: the lark in the apex has been replaced by funeral trappings and the knot-work frame has been painted over.
“In proud and loving memory of Óglach Patrick Mulvenna, shot dead by British crown forces near this spot while an active service, 31st August 1973, and of his comrade Óglach Jim Bryson, also shot and died of his wounds, 22nd September 1973. Belfast Brigade Óglaigh na hÉıreann. I measc laoachra na nGael go raıbh sıad.”
Ballymurphy Road, Belfast
For the other, original, plaque and the original mural, see Bryson-Mulvenna.
“This monument is dedicated to the memory of IRA Volunteers from the local area [1st Battalion, Derry Brigade]. We would appeal the area in and around the monument is respected at all times. This area is now covered by CCTV.”