Edward O'Brien (Irish republican)

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Edward O'Brien
18 September 1974 - 18 February 1996
Nickname	The Quiet Man
Place of birth	Gorey, County Wexford
Place of death	London, England
Allegiance	Provisional Irish Republican Army
Years of service	1992 - 1996
Rank	Volunteer
Unit	Wexford Brigade

Edward O'Brien was a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteer from Gorey in Co Wexford, Ireland.

O'Brien was born on 18 September 1974. He lived at the home of his parents Miley and Margo, along with sister Lorraine and brother Gary in Gorey. As a child he attended the local national and secondary schools. He was a member of St Enda's Gaelic Football and Hurling club and also Gorey Rangers Soccer Club. He also was regarded as a talented boxer, and worked in a bakery.

He joined the IRA in 1992.^[1]. Soon after he went to England on active service.

He died on the 18 February 1996, when an improvised explosive device he was carrying detonated prematurely on a number 171 bus in Aldwych, in central London. The device detonated as he stood near the door of the bus. One other passenger and three bystanders were also injured in the explosion.^[2] The explosion occurred nine days after the London Docklands Bombing in which two people died. O’Brien was the first IRA volunteer to lose his life in the aftermath of the Docklands bombing, that signalled the end of the "cessation of military operations" ordered by the IRA leadership in 1994.^[3] During a police search of his London address 15kg of semtex, 20 timers, 4 detonators and ammunition for a 9mm Walther revolver were discovered, along with an incendiary device. The Walther pistol was discovered on him after his death.^[4]

O'Brien is buried in St Michael's Cemetery in Gorey, County Wexford.

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