Séanna Walsh | |
|---|---|
 Sid Walsh speaking at a Sinn Féin commemoration for IRA VolunteerCharlie McGlade inDrimnagh, Dublin, September 2010 | |
| Member of Belfast City Council | |
| Assumed office 14 September 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Groves |
| Constituency | Collin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957 (age 67–68) Short Strand, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Provisional Irish Republican Army |
| Rank | Volunteer |
| Conflict | The Troubles |
Séanna Walsh orSéanna Breathnach or Sid Walsh (born 1957) is aSinn Féin member ofBelfast City Council and a formervolunteer in theProvisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Walsh was born in theShort Strand area of East Belfast but for a time lived in Ravenhill Avenue untilloyalists intimidated the Walsh family out of their home. Séanna's great grandfather had been shot dead in the same area byB-Specials whenNorthern Ireland was founded.[1]
In 1973, Walsh was arrested along with a number of fellow IRA men while robbing abank and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. InLong Kesh prison, where he was entitled toSpecial Category Status as an IRA prisoner, he met and befriendedBobby Sands.[1]
Séanna was released from prison in May 1976. Three months later he was arrested and charged with possession of arifle and was sentenced to ten years in prison. By the time he arrived back in the H-Blocks, theBritish government had withdrawn Special Category status and the IRA members had commenced theirblanket protest. Walsh refused to wear a prison uniform and went on to become one of the leaders of the blanket protest.[1]
When thehunger strike ended in late 1981, Walsh became theOfficer Commanding (OC) of the IRA prisoners in the H-Blocks. He was released after seven years and seven months. Upon his release, he married Sinéad Moore, a former republican prisoner. They had two daughters, the youngest of whom was only two weeks old when he was arrested again, caught makingexplosives andmortar bombs.[1] He was sentenced to twenty-two years in prison. While on remand inCrumlin Road Gaol, Walsh again became OC of the IRA prisoners.[1]
At the age of forty-two, Walsh had spent over half his life, a total of twenty-one years, in jail. He was released along with other imprisoned IRA members under the provisions of the 1998Belfast Agreement.[2]
In July 2005, he appeared on a DVD reading out a statement from theIRA Army Council announcing the end to its armed campaign.[3] In doing so, Walsh became the first IRA member since 1972 to represent the organisation without wearing a mask.[4]
In 2012, Walsh, along with other former paramilitaries, of both sides, participated in the launching of theIrish language edition of theDepartment of Education'sFrom Prison to Peace education pack, intended for 14–16 years old pupils.[5]
In February 2015, along with three other former members of the IRA, he met, inDerry, four formerBritish Army soldiers who had served in Northern Ireland duringthe Troubles. The men talked about the reasons they had taken up arms, the consequences of their decision, and the prospects for a lasting peace.[6]
In 2012 Walsh was working forSinn Féin as head of itsIrish language department.[7] In 2015 he wasco-opted by the party ontoBelfast City Council for theDistrict Electoral Area ofCollin to replace Bill Groves.[2] He held his seat at the2019 council elections.[8]