James McDade

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James Patrick McDade (24 July 1946 – 14 November 1974) was a member (volunteer) in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army who was killed in Coventry, England. ^[1][2][3]

Contents 1 Early life 2 Paramilitary career 3 Birmingham Six 4 References

[edit] Early life

Born in Oakfield Street in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, McDade was educated to primary level at Holy Cross Primary School on Butler Street, Belfast and and to secondary level St. Gabriel's Secondary School on the Crumlin Road. McDade's family of five brothers and two sisters were highly musical family, and he was an accomplished signer. McDade also enjoyed sporting activities was known as a talented Gaelic football player. McDade emigrated to England were he was married and had two childern, Gerard and Anthony.

Gerard McDade, James' brother, was also a Provisional IRA Volunteer (reported to be Quartermaster with A company, 3rd battalion, Belfast Brigade) and was shot in the back by a British Army soldier on 21 December 1971.

[edit] Paramilitary career

McDade became a Volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1972. He was a Lieutenant, on active service in England as part of the "taking the war to England" campaign of 1974-1976. McDade was killed in a premature explosion while planting a bomb at the Coventry telephone exchange.^[4]

At McDade's funeral on 23 November 1974, his coffin was draped with the same tricolor as covered that of Terence MacSwiney and Michael Gaughan.

[edit] Birmingham Six

The Birmingham Six, all of whom were from North Belfast and knew McDade through the Birmingham Irish community, were arrested on their way to his funeral. ^[5][6]

[edit] References

1. ^ 1974: Birmingham pub blasts kill 19
2. ^ I gCuimhne
3. ^ Ex-soldier fights to clear his name
4. ^ [Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.153] p.153
5. ^ Six Innocent Men Framed for the Birmingham Bombings
6. ^ Those were the days

• "James Patrick McDade" in David McKittrick et al, "Lost Lives" (Mainstream Publishing, 1999).