John Thomas "Mac" McAleese,MM (25 April 1949 – 26 August 2011) was aScottish soldier who took part in several late 20th century conflicts with theBritish Army'sRoyal Engineers and theSpecial Air Service. During his time in the Special Air Service, he famously had a role in the storming of theIranian Embassy inLondon during ahostage-taking siege in May 1980.^[2][3]

John McAleese
Nickname(s)	Mac
Born	(1949-04-25)25 April 1949 Stirling, Scotland[1]
Died	26 August 2011(2011-08-26) (aged 62) Thessaloniki, Greece
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/ branch	British Army
Years of service	1969–1992
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Unit	Royal Engineers 22 SAS
Battles / wars	Operation Nimrod Falklands War Operation Banner
Awards	Military Medal

McAleese was born inStirling,Scotland, on 25 April 1949 and grew up inLaurieston, Falkirk.^[1]

He joined theRoyal Engineers in 1969, aged 20, and in 1973 passed theAll Arms Commando Course (AACC), which earned him the green beret and a transfer to59 Independent Commando, Royal Engineers.

In 1975 he transferred into theSpecial Air Service. He was alance corporal in 1980, serving in Pagoda Troop, 'B' Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment, when he led "Blue Team" in the storming of theIranian Embassy inLondon during a hostage siege on 5 May 1980.^{[citation needed]} McAleese fought in theFalklands War in 1982, and inThe Troubles. He was awarded theMilitary Medal for gallantry in action at theLoughgall ambush inCounty Armagh on 8 May 1987,^[4] and was present at theDrumnakilly ambush inCounty Tyrone in August 1988.^[5] He also served as a bodyguard for threePrime Ministers of the United Kingdom.^[6] He was discharged from the British Army on 8 February 1992 with the rank ofstaff sergeant.^[2][1]

After leaving the British Army McAleese worked for a short while as the landlord of aHerefordpublic house, was employed as a security contractor in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and became an advisor/interviewee on several British television programmes examining the working practices of British Special Forces soldiering.^{[citation needed]} He sold his British Army service medals for an undisclosed sum to theLord Ashcroft Collection.^[7] He appeared in theBBC produced television documentary seriesSAS Survival Secrets (2003), detailing the organizational structure of the Special Air Service Regiment and the nature of the military and security roles in which it is used.^[8] He also found employment in the corporate sphere ofairsoft gaming, and as a spokesman for the corporate development of themartial art 'Goshinkwai'.^[9] He was the co-founder and first director for training and operations of private security company NNK Special Services Group (NNK Group) until his death.^{[citation needed]}

McAleese married twice. On 20 August 2009 his elder son,Serjeant Paul McAleese of 2nd BattalionThe Rifles,^[10] was killed on active service inAfghanistan by a roadside bomb during a foot patrol inHelmand Province.^[1]

Four days after his son's funeral, John McAleese was arrested by officers fromWest Mercia Police over an allegation of accessingchild pornography on theinternet via his home computer. He had first been contacted by the British police in relation to the matter in 2007 whilst at his home inGreece, and had told them he would attend a British police station to assist with their enquiries when he was next back in the United Kingdom. After his son's funeral he had voluntarily attended a police interview, during which he had been cautioned, placed under arrest and bailed pending further enquiries, after which he returned to his residence in Greece. On a failure to attend the next bail appointment in the UK, McAleese had been contacted by West Mercia Police at his home in Greece, whereupon he refused to return to England to attend the bail hearing. In March 2010 West Mercia Police applied for aEuropean Arrest Warrant for John McAleese at Hereford Magistrates Court, which was granted, and in November 2010 theBritish Government formally requested McAleese's arrest by theGreek Government and extradition from its territory back to the United Kingdom. The matter was still legally ongoing at the time of McAleese's death.^[11][12]

McAleese died on 26 August 2011 of aheart attack in his sleep at the age of 62 inThessaloniki, Greece, where he was living. His funeral was held at Hereford Cathedral.^[13] He was survived by his second wife, a daughter by his first marriage, and step child and son by his second marriage. His second wife died by suicide in November 2018.^[14]