Jim Lynagh

Infobox Person
name = Jim Lynagh


image_size = 150px
caption = Jim Lynagh
birth_date = April 13, 1956
birth_place = County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
death_date = May 8, 1987
death_place = County Armagh, Northern Ireland
other_names = Séamus Ó Laighneach
"The Executioner"
known_for =
occupation =

Jim Lynagh ( _ga. Séamus Ó Laighneach; [http://www.hoganstand.com/general/identity/names.htm] 13 April 1956 – 8 May 1987) from Monaghan Town, County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, was a volunteer in the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). [ [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1987.html CAIN Web Service] ]

Background

One of twelve children, Lynagh was born and raised in County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland.cite book | last = Moloney | first = Ed | authorlink = Ed Moloney | title = A Secret History of the IRA | publisher = Penguin Books | year = 2002 | pages = p. 306 | doi = | isbn = 0-141-01041-X] 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. 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.cite book | last = Urban | first = Mark | authorlink = | title = Big Boys' Rules: SAS and the Secret Struggle Against the IRA | publisher = Faber and Faber | year = 1993 | pages = p. 223 | doi = | isbn = 0-571-16809-4] cite web | title = True tale of IRA 'martyrs' revealed | author = Henry McDonald | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,801151,00.html | publisher = "The Guardian" | date = 29 September, 2002 | accessdate = 2007-03-05]

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. [cite web | title = Donaldson 'killed to avenge SAS killing' | author = | url = http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2006/04/09/story253316.asp | publisher = "BreakingNews.ie" | date = 9 April, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-03-05]

Lynagh was known as “The Executioner” by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). [cite web | title = SAS prevented an outrage but now fears prosecution | author = Sean Rayment | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/06/nsas106.xml | publisher = "The Daily Telegraph" | date = 5 November, 2005 | accessdate = 2007-03-05] 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. Jim Lynagh is believed to have been responsible for 28 killings.cn|date=November 2007 The Irish police and the RUC said he was one of the hardest men they ever interrogated.cn|date=November 2007

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 200 lb 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.

Lynagh was buried in Monaghan Town following an incident where Garda Special Branch officers were attacked by a crowd of mourners. ["Tírghrá", National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.291] [ [http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0372/D.0372.198705130003.html Dáil Éireann - Volume 372 - 13 May, 1987 Statements. - Incident at Emyvale, County Monaghan] Dáil Éireann Debates]

A monument in his honour was erected near Tydavnet in Co. Monaghan by Clogher Republicans. This to commerate his activity in Clogher and the surrounding area throughout the course of his time with the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

References

ee also

*The Troubles in Loughgall