7 January 2013
Long Kesh ex-prisoner Paul Toal RIP
EX-POW Paul Toal (Armagh City) was escorted by and carried to his final resting place at the weekend by his comrades, including many former POWs who were in Long Kesh in the 1970s with Paul.
Paul, who died from cancer, was in Long Kesh when it was burned in 1974 and the British Army saturated the camp with CR nerve gas during the subsequent hand-to-hand fighting between the prisoners and their jailers.
Giving the graveside oration, former POW Pat Thomson said that “at least 300 POWs have died from various forms of cancer seemingly related to that gas”.
Pat paid tribute to Paul’s bravery and commitment as a republican and in his personal battle with ill-health:
“Paul was a steadfast and dedicated republican who remained committed to the Peace Process and the political process. He bore his illness with courage and determination.”
Paul was buried jointly with his loving mother, Mary, who sadly passed away a few hours after Paul’s death.
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