George Harrison (Irish Republican)

George Harrison (1915 – 2004) was a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

Born in Shammer, Kilkelly, County Mayo, Harrison immigrated to the United States to facilitate arms transfers to IRA operatives within Northern Ireland. He, Tom Falvey, Michael Flannery, Paddy Mullens, and Tommy Gormley comprised the North American branch of an arms-running network that is estimated to have provided more than 2,500 weapons and perhaps a million rounds of ammunition to the IRA.

All five were acquitted in a criminal trial held in New York City, which lasted from December 1980 to June 1981. Their acquittal was widely attributed to the unconventional efforts of Harrison's personal attorney, Frank Durkan; the men admitted to their activities, but claimed that they believed the operations had Central Intelligence Agency sanction.

Post-acquittal

Although he had spent much of the previous decade involved in this operation, his acquittal marked the end of his active career as an IRA gun-runner. In the latter part of his life, he would devote his time to various causes, including support for the African National Congress, the Sandinista movement, and the Independista (Puerto Rican nationalist) campaign against Puerto Rico's status as an American Commonwealth.

He also took a number of controversial stances within the broader Irish-American community within New York City, including outspoken support for former Mayor David Dinkins and open defiance of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, when he declared his support for the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization's demand that they be included among the participants in New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

He died in 2004 from natural causes at his home in Brooklyn, New York.

References

External links

* [http://www.phoblacht.net/ghasb12104g.html George Harrison 1915-2004 An Appreciation]
* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3061FFB345F0C758DDDAA0894D8404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fH%2fHarrison%2c%20George Unbowed, and Unashamed of His I.R.A. Role]
* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1263854,00.html Ex-gunrunner fights ban on rebel Sinn Fein]
* [http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2004/10/13/story21881.asp Mayo-born gun runner dies in USA]
* [http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/IRL-MAYO-KILKELLY/2004-10/1097729185 George Harrison of Shammer R.I.P.]