Republicans honour Volunteers Patricia Black and Frankie Ryan

“THE COURAGE and determination of IRA Volunteers Patricia Black and Frankie Ryan is something that should inspire us and motivate us as we continue the struggle for the Irish freedom that they died for,” Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey told up to 100 republican activists at a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the Volunteers who died on active service in England on 15 November 1991.

The wreath-laying was organised jointly by the Colin and Lenadoon Commemoration Committees to coincide with the anniversaries of their deaths.

The Volunteers were on active service in England when a bomb they were in charge of exploded prematurely.

Wreaths were laid at the Cú Chulain Monument in the grounds of the Roddy McCorley Society by senior republican Seamus Finucane, the Colin and Lenadoon Commemoration Committees and the Roddy McCorley Society.

“We must never forget the sacrifice of Patricia and Frankie and their families or the many other republicans and their families in the course of the last 35 years,” Alex Maskey said.

“The struggle isn’t over yet and we would never be where we are today except for the sacrifice and dedication of our fallen comrades.

“We owe it to Patricia and Frankie and their families to see this through to achieving freedom and the united Ireland that they fought and died for.

“They are our heroes and our inspiration. They are no longer with us but let us take their vision forward.”