Jim Lynagh
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Jim Lynagh (Irish: Séamus Ó Laighneach; 13 April 1956 – 8 May 1987) from Monaghan Town, County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, was a member (volunteer) in the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).[1]
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[edit] Background
Lynagh was born and raised in County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. He joined the IRA in the early 1970s. In December 1973 he was badly injured in a premature bomb explosion, arrested, and spent five years in Long Kesh prison.[2] While in jail he studied and became a great admirer of Mao Zedong. After his release from prison in 1979 Lynagh was elected as a Sinn Féin councillor for Monaghan, and held this position when he was killed.[2][3]
[edit] East Tyrone Brigade
After his release from prison Lynagh became active in the IRA again, serving with the Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade. He quickly became a unit commander and gradually built up his ruthless reputation. After a series of Loyalist attacks against Nationalist politicians in late 1980 and early 1981 Lynagh was suspected of involvement with an attack on the Stronge estate near Middletown. The IRA killed the retired Ulster Unionist Stormont speaker, Sir Norman Stronge, and his son James, before burning down their mansion, Tynan Abbey, and shooting their way through a police cordon.[2][4]
Lynagh was known as “The Executioner” by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).[5] He was picked up and interrogated many times by the Gardaí in Monaghan but was never charged. During this time he devised a Maoist military strategy adapted to Irish conditions aimed at escalating the war against British forces. The plan envisaged the destruction of police and British Army bases in parts of Northern Ireland in order to create liberated areas under IRA control. In 1984 he started cooperating with Pádraig McKearney who shared his views. The strategy began materializing with the destruction of RUC police stations in Ballygawley in December 1985 (where two RUC officers were killed), and in The Birches in August 1986.
[edit] Death
Lynagh was killed in an ambush by the Special Air Service on 8 May 1987 during an IRA attack on Loughgall RUC police station, his third attack on isolated rural police stations. Lynagh's men detonated a 200lb bomb and engaged in a fire-fight with the security services. Lynagh and the seven other members of the IRA team, who were killed became known as the "Loughgall Martyrs" to Irish Republicans.[3]
Lynagh was buried in Monaghan Town following an incident where GardaSpecial Branch officers attacked a crowd of mourners.[6][7]
[edit] References
- ^ CAIN Web Service
- ^ a b c Urban, Mark (1993). Big Boys' Rules: SAS and the Secret Struggle Against the IRA. Faber and Faber, p. 223. ISBN 0-571-16809-4.
- ^ a b Henry McDonald (29 September 2002). True tale of IRA 'martyrs' revealed. The Guardian. Retrieved on March 5, 2007.
- ^ Donaldson 'killed to avenge SAS killing'. BreakingNews.ie (9 April 2006). Retrieved on March 5, 2007.
- ^ Sean Rayment (5 November 2005). SAS prevented an outrage but now fears prosecution. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on March 5, 2007.
- ^ Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.291
- ^ Dáil Éireann - Volume 372 - 13 May, 1987 Statements. - Incident at Emyvale, County Monaghan Dáil Éireann Debates
