14 October 2004 Edition

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Notices

I nDíl Chuimhne

Oct. 16th 1976: Vol Frank Fitzsimmons, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion; Oct. 16th 1976: Vol Joseph Surgenor, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion; Oct. 16th 1976: Vol Paul Marlowe, Belfast Brigade, 2nd Battalion; Oct. 16th 1992: Sheena Campbell, Sinn Féin; Oct, 16th 1972: Vol Hugh Heron, Tyrone Brigade; Oct, 16th 1972: Vol John Patrick Mullan, Tyrone Brigade. "After all there are in Ireland two: those who stand for the English connection and those who stand against it." - Pádraig Pearse. Remembered with love and pride by their many friends and comrades in the Republican Movement.

GREW, Dessie; McCAUGHEY, Martin (14th Ann). In proud and loving memory of Volunteers Dessie Grew and Martin McCaughey, Tyrone Brigade, Oglaigh na hÉireann, who were killed by British terrorists on 9 October 1990. Remembered always by West Tyrone Ogra SF.

Comhbhrón

GALLAGHER. Deepest sympathy is extended to Brian and the Gallagher family circle on the death of Margaret Gallagher who passed away on 7 October. From Bail, Angela and family also from Eamon and Angela.

McCABE. Sincere sympathy to the McCabe family on the death of Mary. From Cabra SF; From Nicky Kehoe; From Tony O'Flaherty; From Lorraine and Ed O'Reilly; From Noel Hughes.

McGUIGAN. Sincere sympathy is extended to Thomas on the death of his brother Charlie. From all the staff at An Phoblacht, Belfast and Dublin.

O'BRIEN. Deepest sympathy to Linda, Ronnie and all the O'Brien family on the death of Sarah. From Cabra SF; From Nicky Kehoe; From Tony O'Flaherty and Ita; From Lorraine and Ed; From mick Finnegan and family; From the Downey family, Listowel, County Kerry; From Willy Linsdey; From Lizzy Ronan and family.

O'CONNOR. Deepest sympathy is extended to Rose Emmetts and her family on the death of her mother Rosaleen. Our thoughts are with you at this time. From the Hazlett family, Robbie Donnelly, Mary Lou and Martin and all in Blanchardstown SF.

QUINN. Deepest sympathy is extended to Paul Quinn on the death of his father Alexander. From Derek Dalton; From Berard Carney; Peadar Clohessy; From Seán and Daniella; From the lad in the Lamplighter; From Noeleen Reilly; From Dave Glackin; Clive Mulally; From Dave Campbell and family; From your friends and comrades Daithí Doolan & Bridget Kildee.

QUINN. Deepest sympathy is extended to Paul Quinn on his recent bereavement. From the staff Coiste na nIarchimi, Dublin; From Jackie Griffith/ Mairéad Farrell Cumann Southeast Inner City.

SMALL, Joan. Our thoughts are with you Gerry at this time of your sad loss. Troops Out Movement.

Beannachtaí

CONGRATULATION TO Steve and liz Kellelher on the birth of their baby girl Hannah. From Mick Nugent and Kieran Kiely, Castlerea Prison.

KIND. Birthday greetings to Seán Kind, republican prisoner, Castlerea. From Michael Hennessy and Cork SF.

Michael Doherty

Fourteen years after the murder of James Connolly by a British Army firing squad, a disciple of Connolly was born. Michael Doherty, born in January 1930, grew up in Belfast and fell in love with his wife to be, Patricia. They married and bore a family of seven: Elizabeth, Agnes-Maire, Michael Og, Eamonn, Cathy, Martin and baby Gerard, who sadly succumbed to leukemia at a very early age.

Micheal was a chef in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and for 42 years was a NUPE trade union member and leader. Such were his organisational skills that he had over 800 members in his branch. Management respected Michael because of his tenacious skills in arguing the workers' cause.

During the '60s, Michael would take his children who were old enough to walk to the civil rights marches. He explained the civil rights struggle in America and told them that the racism and sectarianism suffered by Irish people was the result of British colonialism in Ireland.

Until Michael's stroke, neither he nor Pat had missed a Bodenstown or Bloody Sunday Commemoration. He was the passion and driving force behind the RVH Workers against H-Block and Armagh. He organised and attended the one-hour white line pickets outside the Royal every day of the 1981 Hunger Strike.

In the 1970s, when a British soldier discharged a live round in the main corridor of the hospital, Michael immediately took all the union workers out on strike. The Royal management disciplined him and his union reprimanded him for calling an unofficial strike, however as a result of his action the British soldiers were moved from the main corridors.

Such was the respect that he was held in by fellow workers that during his 'reign' many diverse political groupings organised alongside him.

He went to the USA to educate trade unions and politicians on the plight of the Irish republican POWs on protest and on hunger strike. He also campaigned for the McBride Principles.

Michael was known for his legendary ballot selling; he raised thousands of pounds for prisoners and many other charities. He also raised money to buy a minibus to bring families to visit the POWs.

Indeed, Pat and Michael's commitment to the prisoners was evidenced by their card sending to the POWs at Easter, Christmas, and on the birthdays of the POWs at home and overseas.

Often Pat and Michael would save for their holidays and go to the Isle of Wight or Leicester, so they could spend their time visiting men and women POWs in England.

The monument raised to the H-Block Hunger Strikers, Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg, was in no small measure down to Michael's driving force.

Both Michael and Pat encouraged their children to empower themselves through education and they all excelled and their roles in the community, in service of the people, a testament to the values that Michael and Pat taught their children.

After the Hunger Strikes and with electoral intervention a tool in the arsenal of struggle, Michael and Pat, in election after election, went door to door supporting Sinn Féin's efforts to increase the Irish republican mandate.

Bobby Sands' reminder that we all have a role to play certainly found energetic example in Michael and Pat.

Our condolences go to Pat and all the family. Michael goes before us... and we know what he is doing now....Organising a trade union behind Heaven's Gates.

Rest in Peace comrade. We loved you in life and we love you in death.

GERRY 'BLUTE' McDONNELL

Gerry Campbell

Gerry Campbell of the National Graves Association died on Sunday 29 September.

We are united in our grief at the passing of a dear man, a dedicated republican all his life, whose loss will be felt dearly not only by Gerry's immediate family but also by the extended republican family that Gerry was part of, worked hard for and contributed to tirelessly throughout his life.

Gerry was born on 26 January 1925 to Edward and Roseanne Campbell. He was raised with his five brothers in Lagan Street in the Markets area of Belfast.

Like all young people of his generation, Gerry left school when he was 14 years of age and took up work as a labourer and later as a butcher. By the age of 16, Gerry was interned on the British Prison ship, Alrawdha, and was later moved to Crumlin Road Jail, where he joined his friends Tom Williams and Joe Cahill.

While Gerry was in the Crum, Volunteer Tom Williams was hanged by the British Government. Gerry attended the Mass for Tom before his execution. That part of his young life and stage in our history were, unknown to Gerry at the time, the start of one of the longest and hardest campaigns ever undertaken by the Republican Movement; the campaign to have the remains of Volunteer Tom Williams reinterred in Milltown Cemetery.

Seven years after his release from prison, Gerry married Kathleen Brownlee from Whiterock Crescent and they went on to have six sons and two daughters. Gerry and Kathleen were a devoted couple; even after 55 years of marriage they did everything together. No matter where you would see or run into Gerry, Kathleen was always at his side. They were also devoted parents, at one stage three of their sons were on the run. Gerry and Kathleen never complained but supported all their children in the paths they chose.

The Campbell family home was always an open and welcome refuge for Volunteers of Óglaigh na hÉireann and many have fond memories of times spent there.

Gerry was an ardent Gael, a fluent Irish speaker who spent most spare time within the circles of the GAA. In his younger years he played for St Malachy's, went on to become a referee and was to develop a longstanding association with St John's GAC, where he became Vice President. Gerry was also assistant secretary of the Antrim Hurling Board for many years.

As a longstanding member of the National Graves Association, Gerry dedicated his time and energy to ensuring that all the graves of our fallen comrades were maintained. Sadly, one of those graves was that of Gerry's dear brother, Teddy Campbell, who died from injuries he received in Long Kesh. Gerry was instrumental in the planning and completion of the renovation of the Republican Plot, where a new monument has been erected recently. He was extremely proud to be part of that project.

In September 1942, Gerry was a young lad when his comrade Volunteer Tom Williams was hanged. As a man he campaigned to have Tom's remains removed from that prison and reinterned in Milltown Cemetery. Gerry was part of a National Graves Association delegation that went into Crumlin Road Jail. He stood at the grave of Tom Williams. It was a very moving and emotional time, mixed emotions, sadness but happiness also that his friend and comrade was finally coming home.

Gerry carried out many duties for the National Graves Association. His last was to recite the rosary at the funeral of his life-long friend and comrade, Joe Cahill, just weeks ago.

We buried Gerry on the 62nd anniversary of Volunteer Tom Williams' death. In 1942 a bond was formed when they were three young lads, friends and comrades in Crumlin Road Jail. How poignant that 62 years later in death those bonds remain. To Gerry's wife Kathleen, his sons Gerry, Eamonn, Noel, Joe, Kevin and Adam and to his daughters Kathleen and Brenda, we offer our heartfelt condolences.

We have lost a dear friend and comrade who will be missed deeply. But we shall remember him always with admiration and affection. In life he was an inspiration to many young men and women, in death he will remain the same.

MARIE CUSH


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland