Sir James Stronge, 9th Baronet

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Sir James Matthew Stronge, 9th Baronet
Arms of the Stronge Baronets, of Tynan
Member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
In office 1969 – 1972
Constituency	Mid Armagh
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office 1973 – 1974
Constituency	Mid Armagh
Born	21 June 1932
Died	21 January 1981 Tynan Abbey, County Armagh

Major Sir James Matthew Stronge, 9th Baronet (21 June 1932 – 21 January 1981) was a unionist MP in the Parliament of Northern Ireland, and the later Northern Ireland Assembly. He was the son of Sir Norman Stronge, 8th Baronet. He was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army at his family home, Tynan Abbey.

Contents 1 Life and Career 2 Death 3 Memorial 4 References 5 See also

[edit] Life and Career

Born into an aristocratic family, he was educated at Eton College and Christ Church College, Oxford.

He served as Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid-Armagh for three years until the prorogation of Stormont in 1972 and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly 1973-1974.

Stronge was also a decorated officer in the Grenadier Guards. Having withdrawn from political and military life, his main interests since were confined to merchant banking and service as a RUC Reserve Constable.

Stronge's second cousin succeeded him as the 10th Baronet, namely James who is the son of Maxwell du Pré James Stronge, son of Edward Owen Fortescue Stronge, brother of the 7th Baronet.

[edit] Death

Stronge was killed alongside his elderly father Sir Norman, by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in the library of his home, Tynan Abbey, on the evening of 21st January 1981.^[1].

The Stronge family's home was then burnt to the ground. The bodies of father and son were later recovered from their blazing home. On seeing the explosions at the house (and a flare Sir Norman had lit in an attempt to alert the authorities), policemen and British troops arrived at the scene and established a road-block at the gate lodge. They encountered at least eight fleeing gunmen. There followed a gunfight lasting 20 minutes in which at least 200 shots were fired. There were no casualties among the security forces. ^[2]

Author Tim Pat Coogan stated that Sir Norman Stronge and his son were shot because sectarian assassinations were claiming the lives of Catholics, but did not state that they were involved in these killings.^[3]

As Stronge was shot alongside his father, and it is not known who was shot first, he is presumed to have momentarily succeeded as 9th Baronet under the legal fiction known as the doctrine of survival. [1].

Son and father were buried in Tynan Parish church, at his funeral a telegram sent from the Queen (to one of Sir Norman's daughters) was read, it stated; "I was deeply shocked to learn of the tragic death of your father and brother; Prince Philip joins me in sending you and your sister all our deepest sympathy on your dreadful loss. Sir Norman's loyal and distinguished service will be remembered".^[4]

In 1984, Seamus Shannon was arrested by the Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland and handed over to the RUC on a warrant accusing him of involvement in the killing of the Sir Norman and his son. The Irish Supreme Court considering his extradition to Northern Ireland rejected the defence that these were political offences saying that they were "so brutal, cowardly and callous that it would be a distortion of language if they were to be accorded the status of a political offence". The charges were later dropped against Shannon.^{[5] [6]}

[edit] Memorial

James Stronge is remembered with a tablet in the assembly chamber in the Parliament Buildings at Stormont. ^[7] He is also listed on the National Police Memorial Roll Of Honour. ^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• The Troubles in Tynan

Parliament of Northern Ireland
Preceded by Sir Norman Stronge, Bt	Member of Parliament for Mid-Armagh 1969–1972	Succeeded by House suspended/abolished
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Norman Stronge	Baronet (of Tynan) 1981–1981	Succeeded by James Stronge