Patrick Joseph Kelly
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- For other people named Patrick Kelly, see Patrick Kelly.
Patrick Joseph Kelly (Irish: Pádraic Ó Ceallaigh; born 19 March 1957 – 8 May 1987) born Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was the head of the Tyrone Brigade and the Commander of the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army during the mid 1980s until his death in a Special Air Service ambush at Loughgall, County Armagh in May 1987.[1][2]
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[edit] Background
The oldest child in a family of five, Kelly was born in the largely protestant town of Carrickfergus, however he was raised and lived in Dungannon, a rural market town County Tyrone in a family with a long tradition of Irish republicanism.
[edit] Paramilitary career
Kelly became a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army at the beginning of the 1970s and gradually became one of the most experienced members (volunteers) in Tyrone.
[edit] McGurk supergrass trial
He was arrested in February 1982 on the word of a supergrass called Patrick McGurk but was released in October 1983 due to lack of evidence after a trial that last fifteen minutes.[3]
[edit] Brigade commader
In 1985, Kelly was appointed brigade commander in East Tyrone and began developing tactics for attacking secluded Royal Ulster Constabulary bases in his area. Under his leadership the East Tyrone Brigade became the most active IRA unit in Northern Ireland.[4][5][6]
[edit] IRA Army Convention
In 1986, Kelly attended the IRA Army Convention. At the convention the main topic of discussion was the principal of absentionism. Gerry Adams and others argued the the absentionist rule should be dropped and the Provisional movement should become invloved in constitutional politics. Kelly voted against dropping the rule and a rift with the majority of the army council ensued.[7]
[edit] Loughall
Patrick Kelly was killed in an ambush by the SAS on the 8 May 1987 during an attack on Loughgall RUC barracks which also claimed the lives of seven of his comrades: Pádraig McKearney, Declan Arthurs, Seamus Donnelly, Tony Gormley, Eugene Kelly, Jim Lynagh, and Gerard O'Callaghan. Kelly's funeral in Dungannon was one of the largest in Tyrone during The Troubles.[8][9][10]
[edit] Burial
Kelly was buried in Edendork cemetery, two miles from his home in Dungannon.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.290] p.290
- ^ CAIN Web Service
- ^ Dáil Éireann Parlimentary Debates - Volume 354 - 04 December, 1984, Private Members' Business. - Northern Ireland Supergrass Trials
- ^ The I.R.A., Tim Pat Coogan, 1995. 9PB) ISBN 0-00-638401-3 p.575
- ^ A Secret History of the IRA, Ed Moloney, 2002. 9PB) ISBN 0-393-32502-4 (HB) ISBN 0-71-399665-X p.307
- ^ Henry McDonald. " True tale of IRA 'martyrs' revealed", The Guardian, 2002-09-29. Retrieved on 2007-02-08
- ^ A Secret History of the IRA, Ed Moloney, 2002. 9PB) ISBN 0-393-32502-4 (HB) ISBN 0-71-399665-X p.307
- ^ IRA deaths: The four shootings
- ^ IRA deaths: Full judgement
- ^ Judgments in the cases of Hugh Jordan, McKerr, Kelly and Others
