UVF East Belfast Battalion

“In proud memory of fallen comrades Capt Joe Long, Vol James (Milky) Cordner, Vol Robert (Squeak) Seymour, Vol Robert Bennett – lest we forget”. Seymour was shot dead by the (P)IRA (Sutton); James Cordner and Joseph Long were killed in a premature explosion (Balaclava St), and Robert Bennett was killed by the British Army during a riot (Sutton). 

The plaque was previously on a brickwork column in front of the previous mural – see M02953.

Ballymacarrett Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney

Families Against Supergrass Trials

“Families Against Supergrass Trials demand human rights and justice!” The trials of fourteen (alleged) UVF members began in September, using supergrass witnesses (BBC | Guardian). A FAST banner is here seen in Spier’s Place. Extramural has images of the banners in Donegall Pass, Mount Vernon, and Newtownards Road. [The trial would largely collapse in February, 2012 (Guardian)]

For the mural on the left, see UVF Roadblock At Donaghadee; for the memorial on the right, see They Paid The Ultimate Sacrifice.

Spier’s Place, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Frizzell’s

This tablet marks the site of Frizzel’s Fish shop, where at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday 23rd October 1993 a terrorist bomb exploded. 9 innocent souls lost their lives and many more were injured.”

The Shankill UDA and LPA had their headquarters October 23rd above Frizzell’s (here “Frizzel’s”) fishmongers on the Shankill Road. The meeting whose attendees were the intended target had ended early and the bomb exploded prematurely, killing nine people, including the owner and three members of his family, and one of the IRA bombers (elsewhere memorialized, by a plaque in Ardoyne), and injuring 57 others.

See also: Shankill Atrocities which (in one of its panels) reproduces the scene after the bombing.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Kieran Doherty TD

“Vol. Kieran Doherty, Óglaigh Na hÉireann, age 25, commenced his hunger strike on May 22 and tragically died on Sunday afternoon 2nd Aug 1981. Kieran was elected TD by the people of Cavan and Monaghan in their support of the prisoners’ campaign for political status.” “It is not those who inflict the most but those who endure the most who shall conquer in the end – this [paraphrase of 1920 hunger-striker Terence MacSwiney] was one of the last messages sent out of the H-Blocks by Vol Kieran Doherty TD.”

The mural on the stairs has been removed – compare with 2004, which also has close-ups.

This portrait and plaque to Doherty are at the bottom of Slemish Way at the junction with the Andersonstown Road; there is a memorial stone at the top of Slemish Way on Commedagh Drive.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Joe McCann

“Joe McCann Staff Capt. [Official] IRA. Murdered by British paratroopers 15th April 1972.” Joe McCann was (Official) IRA OC in the Markets area of south Belfast, where he was shot by paratroopers in 1972. The graven image to the left reproduces a famous photograph (included below) which shows McCann, with MI, during the occupation of the Inglis bakery in the Markets on August 9th, 1971 – Internment Day.

Joy Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Eamonn Lafferty

“Vol Eamonn Lafferty killed on active service at this spot on the 18th Aug 1971 by Crown forces whilst defending his community. Eamonn was just 19 years old. Fuair sé bás ar son na hÉireann. Erected by the Eamonn Lafferty [Sinn Féin] Cumann [Fb]” Lafferty was killed in a gun-battle between the Derry Brigade and British Army forces who were attempting to dismantle barricades in republican “Free Derry”. The mural and plaque shown (and a headstone) are situated — as the mural states — in the location where he was killed, in Creggan’s Kildrum Gardens. (His body is buried in City Cemetery.)

This mural replaces a simpler mural at the same location – see Eamonn Lafferty. The headstone remains as before.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Billy McGreanery

“In memory of Billy McGreanery, an unarmed man, who was shot dead at this junction by a British soldier on 15 September 1971. In 2010, an official report into his shooting revealed that the then Attorney General was of the opinion that it was acceptable for British soldiers to shoot unarmed civilians. Erected by the Pat Finucane Centre.

“This junction” refers to the top of Westland Street. According to Sutton, McGreanery was shot by a sniper from the Army base in Bligh’s Lane.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Tom Williams

“In loving memory of Vol. Tom Williams “C. Coy” 2nd Battalion Belfast Brigade IRA who lived here [46 Bombay Street, where Williams lived with his grandmother Fay] and was executed in Belfast Gaol [Crumlin Road] 2nd Sept 1942, aged 19 years. Ar dheis Dé go ra[i]bh a anam. Erected by National Graves Association, Belfast 1992.”

Williams, the unit’s leader, took sole responsibility for the killing of RUC Constable Patrick Murphy, hoping that it would save the lives of the other seven (including two women) who had taken part in the ambush. The six men were jointly convicted of the killing but only Williams was ultimately hanged, after appeals from Ireland (not yet officially ‘The Republic Of’), the Vatican, and the US State Department (RN).

There is a portrait of Williams at the bottom of Clonard Street.

Bombay Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Gerald McAuley

“In memory of Fian Gerald McAuley (aged 15) killed while defending the people of Clonard on the 15th August 1969. Erected by the Greater Clonard Ex-Prisoners Association.” McAuley was killed during the riots in August 1969 that mark the start of “the Troubles” (An Phoblacht). The plaque is near the spot where he was killed. His portrait was above the No Decommision mural and then in the Never Again mural in Bombay Street.

Waterville Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Bryson-Mulvenna

A second plaque has been added to the mural of Patrick Mulvenna and Jim Bryson and the mural itself has been refreshed: the lark in the apex has been replaced by funeral trappings and the knot-work frame has been painted over.

“In proud and loving memory of Óglach Patrick Mulvenna, shot dead by British crown forces near this spot while an active service, 31st August 1973, and of his comrade Óglach Jim Bryson, also shot and died of his wounds, 22nd September 1973. Belfast Brigade Óglaigh na hÉireann. I measc laoachra na nGael go raibh siad.”

Ballymurphy Road, Belfast

For the other, original, plaque and the original mural, see Bryson-Mulvenna.

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney