Éamonn O'Doherty | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Éamonn Ó Dochartaigh |
| Born | 1939 Carrick-on-Suir,County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 27 October 1999 (aged 59–60) Carrick-on-Suir,County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Allegiance | Irish Republic |
| Branch | Irish Republican Army(1958–1969) Provisional IRA(1969–1986) |
| Rank | Officer Commanding Chief of Staff(1974) |
| Unit | South Fermanagh Brigade(1970–1973) General Headquarters Staff (GHQ)(from 1973) |
| Battles / wars | Border Campaign The Troubles |
Éamonn O'Doherty (Irish:Éamonn Ó Dochartaigh; 1939 – 27 October 1999) was anIrish republican and one-timechief of staff of theProvisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). During the 1986 split, he supportedRepublican Sinn Féin.
O'Doherty joined theIRA in 1958 in his nativeCarrick-on-Suir,County Tipperary, and participated in theBorder Campaign.
In 1970, he went toNorthern Ireland and was attached to the SouthFermanagh Battalion of the Provisional IRA and later became Officer Commanding (OC) of the IRA in the Fermanagh/Monaghan/Armagh area.
In 1973, he was promoted to the IRA General Headquarters Staff (GHQ) and after the arrest ofSéamus Twomey later that year, he was appointed chief of staff. He remained in this position until his own arrest and imprisonment inPortlaoise Prison in 1974.
After his release, he resumed his work with the IRA GHQ and after a year he was sent on a mission to the USA, where he was arrested and detained for one year. He subsequently undertook a number of missions in various parts of the world on behalf of the IRA.
In 1985, he wrote a book entitledThe IRA at War.
In the 1986 split in therepublican movement, O'Doherty sided withRepublican Sinn Féin and refused to recognise the legitimacy ofDáil Éireann inLeinster House. O'Doherty felt that the decision to recognise theRepublic of Ireland was a "greater treachery even thanCollins and company".
He died, aged 60, in Carrick-on-Suir.