Declan Arthurs

Declan Arthurs ( _ga. Deaglan Mac Airt)Fact|date=February 2008 (born 28 October 1965 – 8 May 1987) was a member (volunteer) of the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army from Galbally near Cappagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. [ [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1987.html CAIN Web Service] ]

Background

Declan Arthurs was the fourth of six children born to Patrick and Amelia Arthurs in Galbally, a rural village in County Tyrone.

Arthurs became radicalised in the early 1980s after attending torch light vigils for the 1981 hungers strikers and after attending the funeral of Martin Hurson, who died during the hunger strike and was also from the Galbally area. ["Tírghrá", National Commemoration Centre, 2002. (PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2, p. 286]

Arthurs' brother, Brian Arthurs, also became a volunteer and he was released from the Maze Prison under the terms on the Good Friday Agreement where he had been serving a 25-years for handling explosives. Brian Arthurs was also arrested and released without charge in relation to the Northern Bank robbery. [Genevieve Roberts. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20051104/ai_n15809317 "Northern Bank heist suspect charged"] , "The Independent", 2005-04-11. Retrieved on 2007-02-08] [Derick Henderson. [http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2005/11/05/story724452931.asp "Republican to lodge complaint"] , "Irish Examiner", 2005-05-11. Retrieved on 2007-02-08]

Paramilitary career

During Christmas 1986, Arthurs was interned in Gough Barracks for seven days without charge and once released was again detained two days later for a further seven days. In January 1987, Arthurs spent all but seven days in Gough Barracks with no charges being brought. [Peter Taylor. [http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/arts2001/pt-5-05-1.htm "Loughgall - Playing It Rough"] , "Daily Mail", 2001-05-08. Retrieved on 2007-02-08]

Loughall ambush

Arthurs was killed along with seven other IRA volunteers and a Catholic civilian, Anthony Hughes, in a pre-planned Special Air Service ambush as he attacked a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) station in Loughgall, County Armagh.

The aim of the IRA operation was to destroy the barracks in order to drive the RUC from such areas in Tyrone as Ballygawley, Carrickmore and Castlederg. At 7.20 pm on 8 May 1987,shortly after the barracks would have usually been vacated, two vehicles, a JCB which was carrying explosives and a van approached the RUC barracks at Loughall. The explosives were detonated at the perimeter fence and the force of the explosion ripped the roof off the RUC station and demolished the nearby telephone exchange. [The I.R.A.", Tim Pat Coogan, 1995. (PB) ISBN 0-00-638401-3 p. 575]

A squad of 24 soldiers from the SAS regiment who split into six groups then ambushed the ASU. Eight guns and a quantity of ammunition were recovered from the bodies. The guns included six automatic rifles, one shotgun and one pistol. Forensic evidence has linked these weapons to the killing of four members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and three civilians over the previous three years. [A Secret History of the IRA", Ed Moloney, 2002. (PB) ISBN 0-393-32502-4; (HB) ISBN 0-71-399665-X] [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,801151,00.html "True tale of IRA 'martyrs' revealed"] , Henry McDonald, "The Guardian", 2002-09-29. Retrieved on 2007-02-08]

ee also

*Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
*Provisional Irish Republican Army
*The Troubles in Loughgall

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqIEIPIDSU4 News coverage from the scene after the shooting at Loughall]
* [http://shannon-irishmusic.com/Songs/Loughall%20Ambush.doc Words to the song "Loughall Ambush" which was written about the events of the day]

References