Séamus McElwain | |
|---|---|
 Séamus McElwain mug shot (1983) | |
| Born | 1 April 1960 County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland |
| Died | 26 April 1986(1986-04-26) (aged 26) Roslea,County Fermanagh Northern Ireland |
| Allegiance | Irish Republic |
| Paramilitaries |
|
| Rank |
|
| Unit | South Fermanagh Brigade |
| Known for | Maze Prison escape |
| Battles / wars | The Troubles |
Séamus Turlough McElwain (1 April 1960 – 26 April 1986[1]) was avolunteer in the South Fermanagh Brigade of theProvisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) duringThe Troubles, who was killed by Britishspecial forces while preparing to ambush an army patrol.
McElwain was the oldest of eight children and was born and grew up in thetownland ofKnockacullion, beside thehamlet and townland ofKnockatallon, near the village ofScotstown in the north-west ofCounty Monaghan in theRepublic of Ireland.[1][2]
McElwain took his first steps towards becoming involved inphysical force republicanism when he joinedNa Fianna Éireann aged 14. At the age of 16, McElwain turned down an opportunity to study in theUnited States and joined the IRA, stating "no one will ever be able to accuse me of running away".[1][3]
McElwain was an active member of the IRA, who becameOfficer Commanding of the IRA inCounty Fermanagh by the age of 19.[3] On 5 February 1980, McElwain killed off-dutyUlster Defence Regiment (UDR) corporal Aubrey Abercrombie as he drove a tractor in the townland of Drumacabranagher, nearFlorencecourt. Later that year, on 23 September, McElwain killed off-dutyRoyal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Reserve Constable Ernest Johnston outside his home inRoslea.[3][4] McElwain was suspected of involvement in at least 10 other killings[5][6] including the attempted murder of RUC officer John Kelly, who was the father of futureDemocratic Unionist Party politicianArlene Foster, at their farm nearAghadrumsee in 1979.[7][8]
On 14 March 1981, a detachment of theBritish Army surrounded a farmhouse near Roslea, containing McElwain and three other IRA members. Despite being armed with four rifles, including anArmalite, the IRA members surrendered and were arrested.[3] While on remand inCrumlin Road Gaol, McElwain stood in theFebruary 1982 Irish general election as an independent candidate forCavan–Monaghan and received 3,974 votes (6.84% of the vote).[9][10] In May 1982 McElwain was convicted of murdering the RUC and UDR members, with the judge describing him as a "dangerous killer" and recommending he spend at least 30 years in prison.[3]
On 25 September 1983, McElwain was involved in theMaze Prison escape, the largest break-out of prisoners in Europe sinceWorld War II and in British prison history. Thirty-eight republican prisoners, armed with 6 handguns, hijacked a prison meals lorry and smashed their way out ofthe Maze prison.[3][11]
After the escape, he joined an IRAactive service unit operating in the area of the border between Counties Monaghan and Fermanagh. The unit targeted police and military patrols with gun and bomb attacks, while sleeping rough in barns and outhouses to avoid capture.[12]
In April 1986, a British Army patrol nearRoslea in the south-east of County Fermanagh discovered an improvisedland mine attached to a command wire in ahedgerow and reported the discovery to their superior officers. A detachment from theSpecial Air Service Regiment was ordered to establish a covertobservation post nearby and keep theimprovised explosive device under surveillance.[13]
At approximately 5am on the morning of 26 April 1986, McElwain and another IRA member,Seán Lynch from nearLisnaskea, approached the scene and were ambushed by the hidden SAS soldiers.[14][15] Both were severely wounded; McElwain was questioned then shot dead while incapacitated, while Lynch managed to escape the initial ambush before being arrested the following morning in a search by the British Army and RUC.[16][17][18]
McElwain was buried inScotstown, County Monaghan, his funeral was attended by an estimated 3,000 people, includingGerry Adams andMartin McGuinness; the latter gave an oration describing McElwain as "a brave intelligent soldier, a young man who gave up his youth to fight for the freedom of his country" and "an Irish freedom fighter murdered by British terrorists".[19] A uniformed IRA guard of honour flanked the coffin as it arrived at Scotstown Parish Church, with three IRA members eventually firing avolley of shots over his coffin.[20]
In 1987, McElwain's father, Jimmy, a longtime member ofMonaghan County Council, became the chairman of the Séamus McElwain Cumann ofRepublican Sinn Féin.[21]
On 1 April 1990, a monument to McElwain was erected inCorlat, a townland beside Knockatallon in the north-west of County Monaghan. The oration was given by a Catholic priest, Father Piaras Ó Dúill, who compared McElwain toNelson Mandela, saying they both had the same attitude to oppression and both refused to denounce principle.[22] The inscription on the monument is a quote fromPatrick Pearse; "As long as Ireland is unfree the only honourable attitude for Irishmen and Irishwomen is an attitude of revolt".[23] A monument to McElwain and six other republicans was erected in Roslea in 1998, and unveiled by veteran republicanJoe Cahill.[6]
In January 1993, aninquest jury returned a verdict that McElwain had beenunlawfully killed. The jury ruled the soldiers had opened fire without giving him a chance to surrender, and that he was shot dead five minutes after being wounded.[17][18] TheDirector of Public Prosecutions requested a full report on the inquest from the RUC, but no one has been prosecuted for McElwain's death.[5][17][18][24]
In April 2006, approximately 1,000 people in Roslea paid tribute to McElwain during the traditional Easter Commemoration to mark the 90th anniversary of theEaster Rising. Victims groups andunionist politicians, includingDemocratic Unionist Party memberArlene Foster, had asked theParades Commission to ban the parade from the area where McElwain was killed, describing him as an "evil murderer", but the Commission ruled the commemoration could proceed without any restriction.[25] In Corlat, two weeks later, some 500 people attended the launch of a documentary film about McElwain,Life and death of an IRA activist, marking the 20th anniversary of his death.[26]
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)