Raymond McCreesh
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| Raymond McCreesh Réamann Mac Raois |
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| Paramilitary organisation | Provisional IRA | |
| Date of birth | 25 February, 1957 | |
| Place of birth | Camlough, County Armagh | |
| Hunger strike started | 22 March, 1981 | |
| Died | 21 May, 1981, aged 24 | |
| Days on strike | 61 | |
Raymond Peter McCreesh (Irish name: Réamann Mac Raois;[1] 25 February 1957 - 21 May 1981) was an Irish Republican hunger striker and a volunteer in the South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).[2][3]
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[edit] Background
McCreesh was born in Camlough in County Armagh. At the age of 17, McCreesh joined the South Armagh Brigade of the IRA. In June 1976, Danny McGuinness, Paddy Quinn, Seamus Quinn and McCreesh were captured during an ambush on a British Army patrol at the Mountain House Inn on the Newry-Newtownhamilton Road.
[edit] IRA career
The unit hijacked a car from a farm in Sturgan, which was to be used in their escape, but were spotted moving into ambush position. They prematurely opened fire on soldiers when they began moving in to investigate and the IRA member in the car drove off. The others tried to hide in a farmhouse but were surrounded. After they failed to shoot their way out and a local Catholic parish priest facilitated their surrender.[4][5]
[edit] Hunger strike
On 2 March 1977, McCreesh and Paddy Quinn were convicted and sentenced to fourteen years in prison for attempted murder, possession of a rifle and ammunition and a further five year for IRA membership.[6][7]
One of the soldiers who captured them, Lance Corporal David Jones was later killed by Francis Hughes.
He joined the blanket protest and took part in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike, dying after 61 days on hunger strike.
[edit] References
- ^ Ag bunadh Gaeltachta. An Phoblacht (3 May 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ (2002) Tírghrá. National Commemoration Centre, p. 264. ISBN 0-9542946-0-2.
- ^ Biography from IRIS, Vol. 1, No. 2, November 1981 (Sinn Féin publication)
- ^ Raymond McCreesh
- ^ McCreesh Biography from IRIS, Vol. 1, No. 2, November 1981
- ^ Two Lives and Two Deaths for Ireland
- ^ Guardian
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