Gerard Weston
Encyclopedia
Father Gerard Edward Weston MBE (20 October 1933 – 22 February 1972) was a Roman Catholic priest and military chaplain.
Educated at St Mary's College, Crosby and Upholland, where he was ordained by Archbishop Heenan in 1960. He joined the British Army in 1966 as an army chaplain, serving in Germany, the Persian Gulf, Kenya and Northern Ireland. He achieved the rank of Captain.
During the height of the Troubles
, he frequently entered alone the dangerous areas of Ballymurphy
and Turf Lodge in Belfast
, talking with local people in an attempt to reduce tension. He was in great personal danger, especially as a rumour circulated that a British soldier was operating disguised as a priest.
For his own safety, his commanding officer eventually ordered his withdrawal, and he was awarded the MBE
for gallantry on 15 February 1972.
Seven days later, Father Weston drew up in his Morris Traveller
car at the car-park of the Officers' Mess
of the 16th Parachute Brigade in Aldershot
. As he was exiting his vehicle, a huge bomb exploded, killing the padre instantly, together with six civilians. He was 38 years old.
The Official IRA
claimed responsibility, in retaliation for Bloody Sunday
three weeks earlier.
Public revulsion at the attack was in part responsible for the organisation ordering a ceasefire three months later, and it later disbanded.
Father Weston is buried at SS Peter and Paul Church, Crosby
.
Educated at St Mary's College, Crosby and Upholland, where he was ordained by Archbishop Heenan in 1960. He joined the British Army in 1966 as an army chaplain, serving in Germany, the Persian Gulf, Kenya and Northern Ireland. He achieved the rank of Captain.
During the height of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, he frequently entered alone the dangerous areas of Ballymurphy
Ballymurphy
Ballymurphy may refer to:*Ballymurphy, Belfast - an area in Belfast, northern Ireland, known for the Ballymurphy Massacre.*Ballymurphy, County Carlow - a village in County Carlow, Ireland....
and Turf Lodge in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, talking with local people in an attempt to reduce tension. He was in great personal danger, especially as a rumour circulated that a British soldier was operating disguised as a priest.
For his own safety, his commanding officer eventually ordered his withdrawal, and he was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for gallantry on 15 February 1972.
Seven days later, Father Weston drew up in his Morris Traveller
Morris Minor
The Morris Minor was a British economy car that debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show, London, on 20 September 1948. Designed under the leadership of Alec Issigonis, more than 1.3 million were manufactured between 1948 and 1971...
car at the car-park of the Officers' Mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
of the 16th Parachute Brigade in Aldershot
1972 Aldershot Bombing
The Aldershot bombing was a car bomb attack by the Official Irish Republican Army on 22 February 1972 in Aldershot, England. The bomb targeted the headquarters of the British Army's 16th Parachute Brigade and was claimed as a revenge attack for Bloody Sunday. Seven civilian staff were killed and...
. As he was exiting his vehicle, a huge bomb exploded, killing the padre instantly, together with six civilians. He was 38 years old.
The Official IRA
Official IRA
The Official Irish Republican Army or Official IRA is an Irish republican paramilitary group whose goal was to create a "32-county workers' republic" in Ireland. It emerged from a split in the Irish Republican Army in December 1969, shortly after the beginning of "The Troubles"...
claimed responsibility, in retaliation for Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
Bloody Sunday —sometimes called the Bogside Massacre—was an incident on 30 January 1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, in which twenty-six unarmed civil rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army...
three weeks earlier.
Public revulsion at the attack was in part responsible for the organisation ordering a ceasefire three months later, and it later disbanded.
Father Weston is buried at SS Peter and Paul Church, Crosby
Crosby, Merseyside
Crosby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. Historically part of Lancashire it is situated north of Bootle, south of Southport, Formby and west of Netherton-History:...
.