Patrick Kelly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 19 March 1957 Carrickfergus,County Antrim,Northern Ireland |
| Died | 8 May 1987 (aged 30) Loughgall,County ArmaghNorthern Ireland |
| Allegiance | Provisional Irish Republican Army |
| Years of service | c. 1974–1987 |
| Rank | Officer Commanding |
| Unit | East Tyrone Brigade |
| Battles / wars | The Troubles |
Patrick Joseph Kelly (19 March 1957 – 8 May 1987), was anIrishcommander of theEast Tyrone Brigade of theProvisional Irish Republican Army during the mid-1980s until his death in aSpecial Air Service ambush atLoughgall, County Armagh in May 1987.[1][2]
The oldest child in aRoman Catholic family of five, Kelly was born and lived inCarrickfergus until he was 16 before the family returned to live inDungannon. Patrick Kelly's uncle was theIrish Republican activist and elected officialLiam Kelly.[3]
Kelly became a member of theProvisional Irish Republican Army at the beginning of the 1970s and became one of the most experienced IRA men in Tyrone. He was arrested in February 1982 based on testimony from an informant named Patrick McGurk but was released in October 1983 due to lack of evidence, after a trial that lasted fifteen minutes.[4]
In 1985, Kelly became brigade commander in East Tyrone and began developing tactics for attacking isolatedRoyal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) bases in his area. Under his leadership theEast Tyrone Brigade became the most active IRA unit.[5][6][7]
In 1986, Kelly attended the IRA Army Convention where the main topic of discussion was the principle ofabstentionism.Gerry Adams and others argued that the abstentionist rule should be dropped and the Provisional movement should become involved in constitutional politics. Kelly voted against dropping the rule, and a rift with the majority of theIRA Army Council ensued.[6]
Patrick Kelly was killed by theSpecial Air Service on 8 May 1987 whilst he was participating in an attack on Loughgall police station, in which seven other IRA men:Pádraig McKearney,Declan Arthurs, Seamus Donnelly, Tony Gormley, Eugene Kelly,Jim Lynagh, and Gerard O'Callaghan also died. Kelly's funeral in Dungannon was one of the largest in Tyrone duringthe Troubles.[8][9]
Kelly was buried in Edendork cemetery, two miles from his home in Dungannon.