James M. Stronge | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons | |
| In office 1969–1972 | |
| Constituency | Mid Armagh |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly | |
| In office 1973–1974 | |
| Constituency | Armagh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 June 1932 |
| Died | 21 January 1981(1981-01-21) (aged 48) |
| Manner of death | Assassination (gunshot wounds) |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Occupation | Soldier, merchant banker, farm manager, reserve police constable |
MajorJames Matthew Stronge (21 June 1932 – 21 January 1981) was a soldier andUlster Unionist Party MP in theParliament of Northern Ireland, and the laterNorthern Ireland Assembly. He was the son and heir ofSir Norman Stronge, Bt; they were both killed by theProvisional Irish Republican Army at his family home,Tynan Abbey.
Born into an aristocratic family, he was educated atEton College andChrist Church, Oxford. In 1967, he was appointedHigh Sheriff of Armagh.[1]
He served asUlster UnionistMember of Parliament (MP) forMid Armagh for three years until the prorogation ofStormont in 1972 and a member of theNorthern Ireland Assembly, 1973-1974. In March 1972 Stronge was one of several unionist figures who appeared on the platform at anUlster Vanguard rally inPortadown. Three thousand men, including a large contingent ofUlster Special Constabulary Association members, were assembled in front of the platform.[2] He opposed thepower-sharing executive established by the 1973Sunningdale Agreement, stating he couldn't accept an executive which involved nationalist politicians, including theSocial Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).[3]
Stronge was also an officer in theGrenadier Guards. Having withdrawn from political and military life, his main interests since were confined tomerchant banking and service as aRUC Reserve Constable.
James Stronge was gunned down alongside his elderly fatherNorman, by theProvisional Irish Republican Army in the library of his home,Tynan Abbey, on the evening of 21 January 1981.[4]
TheStronge family's home was then burnt to the ground. The bodies of father and son were later recovered from their blazing home. On seeing the explosions at the house (and aflare Norman had lit in an attempt to alert the authorities),Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) personnel arrived at the scene and established a road block at the gate lodge. They encountered at least eight fleeing gunmen in two vehicles that rammed the checkpoint. The gunmen got off the cars and scattered. There followed a gunfight lasting 20 minutes in which at least 200 shots were fired before the attackers faded away. There were no casualties among the security forces.[5]
AuthorTim Pat Coogan stated that Norman Stronge and his son were shot because sectarian assassinations were claiming the lives of Catholics, but did not state that they were involved in these killings.[6]
Son and father were buried inTynan Parish church, at his funeral, a telegram sent from the Queen (to one of Norman's daughters) was read, it stated; "I was deeply shocked to learn of the tragic death of your father and brother; Prince Philip joins me in sending you and your sister all our deepest sympathy on your dreadful loss. Sir Norman's loyal and distinguished service will be remembered".[7]
In 1984, Seamus Shannon was arrested by theGarda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland and handed over to the RUC on a warrant accusing him of involvement in the killing of James and his father. TheIrish Supreme Court considering his extradition to Northern Ireland rejected thedefence that these were political offences saying that they were "so brutal, cowardly and callous that it would be a distortion of language if they were to be accorded the status of a political offence". The charges were later dropped against Shannon.[8][9]
James Stronge is remembered with a tablet in the assembly chamber in theParliament Buildings at Stormont.[10]He is also listed on theNational Police Memorial Roll of Honour.[11]
| Parliament of Northern Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forMid Armagh 1969–1973 | Parliament abolished |
| Northern Ireland Assembly (1973) | ||
| New assembly | Assembly Member forArmagh 1973–1974 | Assembly abolished |
