Unveiling to mark Drumnakilly ambush - Three Volunteers died in SAS shoot-to-kill ambush

THIS Monday will mark the 16th anniversary of the deaths of IRA Volunteers Gerard and Martin Harte, killed in action by the SAS at Drumnakilly on Tuesday 30 August 1988 with their comrade, Volunteer Brian Mullin.

To mark the occasion, republicans in Loughmacrory have organised the unveiling of a plaque to mark the family home where brothers, Gerard and Martin were raised. Gerard was born on 7 April 1959 and lived in the family home until he married in 1986, exactly two years before his death. Gerard had one young son, Colm. Martin was born on 3 October 1966 and lived in the family home until he married Brian Mullin's sister, Briege on 16 May 1987, eight days after eight of Martin's comrades were killed in action by British forces at Loughgall. Martin also had a young son, Declan.

News of the shooting at Drumnakilly spread like a shockwave around the closely-knit rural community of Mid Tyrone. Many people to this day can remember where they were and what they were doing when the tragic news came through. People also remember the disgraceful scenes of RUC and British Army saturation and intimidation of mourners attending the wakes and funerals. They remember the Chinooks landing during the funeral proceedings to ferry away the unwanted foreign gunmen and their RUC sidekicks. They also remember the resilience of the community in standing by the Harte and Mullin families, as demonstrated by the thousands of people from all over the country who turned out for the funerals and wakes.

Gerard, Martin and Brian were popular figures in the Mid-Tyrone area. At the time of his death, Martin was captain of Loughmacrory Saint Teresa's Gaelic Football team and was holder of the club's player of the year award - a title he inherited from the previous year's holder, his brother Gerard.

Gerard was also well respected within his local community of Loughmacrory and occupied many key roles both as player and manager with St Teresa's GFC. One of Gerard's greatest achievements was winning a Tyrone junior championship medal while playing corner forward with the Loughmacrory side in 1980. Gerard also spearheaded a successful youth programme and managed many underage teams to success during the 1980s.

It is perhaps fitting that St Teresa's GFC will host the annual Under-12 Gerard and Martin Harte Memorial Football tournament this weekend. This will get underway at Pairc an Locha on Saturday at 11am.

Brian lived on the family farm in Foremass near Sixmilecross and the family are known locally as the 'Bard' Mullins, because their grandfather was a poet. Brian was a hardworking bricklayer who was big in stature and someone who really enjoyed life and had a great future ahead of him with his girlfriend, Eileen. Unfortunately, this young life was cut short at the age of 26 by British gunmen.

West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty will address the proceedings on Monday evening. Speaking ahead of the event, the West Tyrone MP said: "The Drumnakilly ambush was an example of the British shoot-to-kill policy in Ireland and gave lie to the British Government's claim that there was not a war going on here. Republicans throughout Ireland hold in high esteem the three Volunteers killed at Drumnakilly and their families, and any initiatives taken to honour their memory has my support."

The proceedings will begin at 8pm on Monday with a special anniversary Mass in St Mary's Chapel, Loughmacrory, followed by the unveiling at the family home in the townland of Striffe, two miles from the village.