27 November 2008 Edition

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Fógraí bháis: JIMMY DUFFY

The funeral of Jimmy Duffy, veteran of Crumlin Road and the H-Blocks

The funeral of Jimmy Duffy, veteran of Crumlin Road and the H-Blocks

ON Sunday, 2 November, veteran republican Jimmy Duffy died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Born in August 1946, he died aged 62 from an illness he bore with great dignity.
Jimmy was a committed republican and remained true to the republican beliefs that motivated him through his life as an IRA Volunteer and in prison, both in the Cages of Long Kesh and on the Blanket in Crumlin Road Jail and the H-Blocks.
Sinn Féin assembly member Fra McCann, who was ‘on the Blanket’ with ‘Duff’ in the Crum, gave the graveside oration in which he paid tribute to our comrade.
“I would like on behalf of the Republican Movement and republicans across Ireland to offer our sincere condolences to the Duffy family on the recent death of Jimmy.
“Jimmy Duffy lived with his family in the Beechmount area before moving to Turf Lodge where he lived with his mother, father, brother and sisters.
“It would be fair to say that in all my dealings with people over the years, when Duff’s name came up in conservation, I never heard anyone having a bad word to say about him.
“He was a quiet, unassuming person who, like many here today, came up through a hard school: he was an Irish republican and deeply committed to the struggle for Irish independence.
“And like many republicans, Duff had seen the hardships and brutality on our streets and decided to do something about it. So, in 1973, he joined the IRA.
“As an active Volunteer in the Ballymurphy and New Barnsley areas, Jimmy soon earned the respect of his comrades and when taking part in operators he instilled a sense of confidence in younger Volunteers who looked up to him.
“It was not long before the Brits were on his trail and he was arrested and interned in Long Kesh.
“On his release in 1975, Jimmy reported back to the Army and resumed his role on active service.
“It was around this time that I met Duff. A Brit had been injured during an IRA operation and the Brits were after Duff. He was sent to the Falls, until things eased off, and while in the D Company area he volunteered for active service. However, he was ‘homesick’ for ‘The Murph’ and soon went back up the road. Not long afterwards, he was arrested and ended up in prison once again.”


H-BLOCKS
“Little did I know that soon after I would end up being reacquainted with  Jimmy in Crumlin Road Jail. In early 1977, Jimmy was sentenced to three-and-a-half years. Soon after, in May, I was given a three-year sentence and joined Duff on the Blanket Protest in B Wing of the Crum. We were soon to be joined by Joe Maguire and Gerry Murray.
“The Screws kept us in solitary confinement and made us slop out or go to the toilet naked as they tried to break our spirits. They refused us showers and did everything to stop us talking to each other. All through that period, Jimmy, who was our O/C, was an inspiration.
“Over the 15 months that we were in B Wing, a deep bond grew between us.
“In 1978, when we heard that the men in the H-Blocks had begun the No Wash Protest, we started throwing our leftover food in the corner of our cells. Within hours, we were moved to the Blocks.
“I ended up in H3 while Jimmy was in H4. The next time I saw Jimmy was when I went up to meet him on his release from Long Kesh. Again Jimmy reported back to the struggle and travelled around Ireland and America, highlighting the situation in the H-Blocks.
“After the Hunger Strikes, Jimmy again played an active role in the Army in the Ballymurphy area. He had a deep pride in The Murph and its people and he earned their respect.
“We have all lost a good friend and I can honestly say that I feel I am a better person for knowing Jimmy Duffy.
“We shared many hardships together and shared many laughs. He was a dedicated republican to the end. To his brother, John, and his sisters, Imelda and Maureen, we extend our deepest sympathies.”

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