Seán Ó Conaill headstone unveiled

The grave of an Irish Republican who died in prison in England in 1977 was marked with a new headstone in Glasnevin Cemetery on 7 September by the National Graves Association. 

Seán Ó Conaill was beaten in police custody in 1974 when arrested for the shooting dead of a British Army Officer in Otterburn, Northumberland. He was not an IRA member but was politically motivated, having been born English and adopted an Irish name and militant politics in the wake of Bloody Sunday in 1972. 

Ó Conaill received a life sentence and was subject to the extremely harsh ‘Category A’ English prison system. Irish Republican prisoners grew to respect him and a number of former POWs attended Glasnevin ceremony. 

• The wreath was laid by Noel Gibson,  former POW in England

Seán Ó Conaill’s health deteriorated in prison  but he was denied proper medical treatment. This was despite repeated appeals from Irish Republican prisoners on his behalf. By the time he was diagnosed with cancer it was too late for effective treatment and he died on 1 October 1977.

One of those attending the headstone unveiling was Noel Gibson who visited the dying Ó Conaill in the hospital wing of Gartree Prison. Ó Conaill’s request for a Republican funeral was granted and he was accepted as a member of Sinn Féin and as such appears on the Republican Roll of Honour. 

• Seán Ó Conaill

Liam Ó Culbáird gave the oration at the National Graves Association ceremony and outlined Seán Ó Conaill’s story. He concluded with the final verse of Arthur Forrester’s song ‘The Felons of Our Land’:

Let cowards mock and tyrants frown, ah little do we care,

A Felon`s cap is the noblest crown an Irish head can wear

And every Gael in Inishfail, who scorn the serf`s vile brand,

From Lee to Boyne, would gladly join the Felons of our Land.

• Photos courtesy of National Graves Association. 

• Liam Ó Culbáird (N.G.A.), Patrick Mulryan (served 14 years in English jails) and Jackie Kaye of Prisoner's Aid Committee.