Raymond McCreesh

Infobox 1981 Hungerstriker
irish= Réamann Mac Raois
name= Raymond McCreesh
paramilitaryorganisation= Provisional IRA
dateofbirth= 25 February, 1957
placeofbirth= Camlough, County Armagh
hungerstrikestarted= 22 March, 1981
died= 21 May, 1981, aged 24
daysonstrike= 61|

Raymond Peter McCreesh (Irish name: Réamann Mac Raois; [cite web | title = Ag bunadh Gaeltachta | url = http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/18951 | publisher = "An Phoblacht" | date = 3 May 2007 | accessdate = 2007-10-29] 25 February, 1957 - 21 May, 1981) was an Irish Republican hunger striker and a volunteer in the South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).cite book | last = | first = | authorlink = | title = Tírghrá | publisher = National Commemoration Centre | date = 2002 | pages = p. 264 | doi = | isbn = 0-9542946-0-2] [ [http://larkspirit.com/hungerstrikes/bios/mccreesh.html Biography from IRIS, Vol. 1, No. 2, November 1981] (Sinn Féin publication)]

Background

McCreesh was born in Camlough in County Armagh. At the age of 17, McCreesh joined the South Armagh Brigade of the IRA. In June 1976, Danny McGuinness, Paddy Quinn, Seamus Quinn and McCreesh were captured during an ambush on a British Army patrol at the Mountain House Inn on the Newry-Newtownhamilton Road.

IRA career

The unit hijacked a car from a farm in Sturgan, which was to be used in their escape, but were spotted moving into ambush position. They prematurely opened fire on soldiers when they began moving in to investigate and the IRA member in the car drove off. The others tried to hide in a farmhouse but were surrounded. After they failed to shoot their way out and a local Catholic parish priest facilitated their surrender. [ [http://www.giveirelandbacktotheirish.com/mccreesh.htm Raymond McCreesh] ] [ [http://larkspirit.com/hungerstrikes/bios/mccreesh.html McCreesh Biography from IRIS, Vol. 1, No. 2, November 1981] ]

Hunger strike

On 2 March 1977, McCreesh and Paddy Quinn were convicted and sentenced to fourteen years in prison for attempted murder, possession of a rifle and ammunition and a further five year for IRA membership. [ [http://www.inac.org/irishhistory/hungerstrikes/chapters/31 Two Lives and Two Deaths for Ireland] ] [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329424865-103588,00.html Guardian] ]

One of the soldiers who captured them, Lance Corporal David Jones was later killed by Francis Hughes.

He joined the blanket protest and took part in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike, dying after 61 days on hunger strike.

References