“Sean [aka John] Downes, age 22, murdered at this location by the RUC on the 12/8/84. Victim of state violence.” Downes was hit at close range by a plastic bullet outside Connolly House on the Andersonstown Road, Belfast during an attempt by police to arrest NORAID‘s Martin Galvin. Reserve Constable Nigel Hegarty was charged with manslaughter but was cleared.
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01946
“It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can endure the most shall win [who will conquer].” (Terence MacSwiney). Those “from the Ardoyne, Bone, and Ligoniel who died because of Ireland’s troubles” are commemorated on the Celtic cross (which dates back to 1976). The plaque (dating at least to 1993) reads “Oft from prison bars, oft from battle flashes/Oft from heroes’ lip, oftenest from their ashes.” and includes names of deceased IRA and Sınn Féın members killed up to 1972, and civilian locals.
Berwick Avenue, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
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IRA volunteer Patsy Duffy was shot by undercover British Army soldiers at an arms cache in Maureen Avenue, Derry, near the spot of this plaque in his memory.
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01777 [M02166]
Pat Hughes was a former British Army soldier who later joined the IRA and was killed in an accidental explosion (in 1972). He is remembered along with Edward Grant (1973), Michael Hughes (1974), Brendan Watters (1984), Colm Marks (1991). Together the five are known as the “Derrybeg Martyrs”.
Main Avenue, Newry
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01734
IRA volunteer Dennis (or Denis, according to Sutton, and thence lots of others) Heaney was kill on June 10th, 1978 by an undercover British Army member whilst attempting to hijack a car, near the spot of this plaque to his memory in Harvey Street, Derry.
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01731
“In proud and loving memory of all those republican from the west Tyrone area who suffered, fought or died in the cause of Irish freedom – ní dhéanfar dearmad ar bhur níobaırtí choíche”.
Ballycolman Avenue, Strabane
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01711
Volunteer Charles English was a member of the IRA’s Derry Brigade (1st battalion). He died on August 6th, 1985, at age 21, when a grenade launcher exploded. His brother, Gary, had been killed four years earlier when an Army land rover hit and then reversed over him (Derry Journal). Images from the funeral are collected in this video.
Abbey Street, Derry
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01703
“In memory of the fifteen innocent civilians murdered by a pro-British loyalist gang in a no-warning bomb attack on McGurk’s Bar, Dec. 4th, 1971.” “In memory of those who tragically lost their lives and all those who were injured as a result of the explosion.” These are two memorials at North Queen Street and St George’s Street, Belfast, the site of the former bar, now a Westlink underpass. The “pro-British loyalist group” is thought to be the UVF, though at the time, it was claimed by a little-known group the “Empire Loyalists” (WP).
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
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Kieran Nugent, Pat McGeown, and Clonard blanket man Alex Comerford are the lead names on this plaque in Beechmount Grove, joined by the deceased 1981 hunger strikers as well as Gaughan and Stagg.
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
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IRA volunteer (and marksman in the Irish Army) John Starrs was killed in a gun battle with the British Army in William Street, near his plaque in Chamberlain Street, Derry
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01668
