Tom Williams (republican)
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Tom Williams (1924–2 September 1942) was a Volunteer within the Irish Republican Army who was hanged for his part in the killing of a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary during the Northern Campaign (IRA).
At Easter 1942 the government of Northern Ireland had banned all parades to commemmorate the anniversary of the Easter Rising. An IRA unit of six men and two women staged a diversionary action against the RUC to allow three parades to take place in west Belfast, but in this clash an RUC officer was killed and the six IRA men were captured. The RUC officer, Constable Patrick Murphy from the Falls Road, was one of the small number of Catholics serving in the RUC. [1]
There has been some debate over the years about who actually fired the fatal shot. The six IRA members were convicted and sentenced to death for murder under the law of common purpose. Five had their sentences commuted (one of who was Joe Cahill, who went on to become a senior figure in the IRA). Williams, who acknowledged that he was the leader of the IRA unit involved, and took full responsibility for the actions of his men, was not.
He was hanged in Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast, and his body was interred in unhallowed ground in an unmarked grave within the grounds of the prison. His remains were only released in January 2000 after the closure of the prison in 1996 and a lengthy campaign by the Belfast National Graves Association.
His funeral held on 19th January 2000 was attended by thousands. Family, friends, and comrades, young and old attended. Contemporaries of Tom Williams, who were now in their 60s and 70s, a poignant reminder of the passage of time between Tom's execution and the funeral mass. Joe Cahill, Tom's cell mate and John Oliver, sentenced to death with Tom but later reprieved. Madge McConville, who had been arrested with Tom, Greta McGlone, Billy McKee, Eddie Keenan and perhaps least known, Nell Morgan, Tom's girlfriend at the time of his death. Six senior Sinn Fein members including Gerry Adams were also present in St Pauls Church on the Lower Falls Road for the mass.
He is remembered in a ballad Tom Williams. Various recordings have been made, most notably by the Flying Column, and by Éire Óg who preamble their version with the story of the campaign to release his body so that he could finally achieve peace in death. The Volunteer Tom Williams Republican Flute Band from Glasgow, Scotland is named after him.
Tom Williams (Lyrics)
- Time goes by as years roll onwards
- But in my memory fresh I'll keep
- Of a night in Belfast Prison
- Unshamefully I saw men weep
- For the time was fast approaching
- A lad lay sentenced for to die
- And on the second of September
- He goes to meet his god on high
- Now he's walking to the scaffold
- Head erect he shows no fear
- For on his proud and gallant shoulders
- Ireland's cross he holds so dear
- Now the cruel blow has fallen
- For Ireland he has fought and died
- And we the countrymen who bore him
- Will love and honour him with pride
- Brave Tom Williams we salute you
- And we never will forget
- Those who planned your cruel murder
- We vow to make them all regret
- So come all you Irish rebels
- If from the path you chance to stray
- Bear in memory of the morn, when Irelands cross was proudly borne
- By a lad who lay within these prison walls.
