Jim Lynagh
Encyclopedia
Jim Lynagh from Monaghan Town, County Monaghan
, Republic of Ireland
, was a volunteer
in the East Tyrone Brigade
of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
(IRA).
in the Republic of Ireland
. He joined the Provisional IRA in the early 1970s. In December 1973 he was badly injured in a premature bomb explosion, arrested, and spent five years in the Maze Prison. While imprisoned he studied and became a great admirer of Mao Zedong
. After his release from prison in 1979 Lynagh was elected as a Sinn Féin
councillor for Monaghan, and held this position when he was killed.
. He quickly became a unit commander and gradually built up his ruthless reputation. After a series of Loyalist attacks against Nationalist politicians in late 1980 and early 1981 Lynagh was suspected of involvement with an attack on the Stronge estate near Middletown
. The IRA killed the retired Ulster Unionist Stormont speaker, Sir Norman Stronge
, and his son James (an RUC officer), before burning down their mansion, Tynan Abbey
, and shooting their way through a police cordon.
Lynagh was known as “The Executioner” by the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC). He was picked up and interrogated many times by the Gardaí
in Monaghan but was never charged. During this time he devised a Maoist military strategy adapted to Irish conditions aimed at escalating the war against British forces. The plan envisaged the destruction of police and British Army bases in parts of Northern Ireland in order to create liberated areas under IRA control. In 1984 he started cooperating with Pádraig McKearney
who shared his views. The strategy began materializing with the destruction of RUC police stations in Ballygawley
in December 1985 (where two RUC officers were killed), and in The Birches
in August 1986. Jim Lynagh is believed to have been responsible for 28 killings. The Irish police and the RUC said he was one of the hardest men they ever interrogated.
on 8 May 1987 during an IRA attack on Loughgall RUC police station, his third attack on isolated rural police stations. Lynagh's men detonated a 200 lb bomb and engaged in a fire-fight with the security services. Lynagh and the seven other members of the IRA team, who were killed became known as the "Loughgall Martyrs" to Irish Republicans.
Lynagh was buried in Monaghan Town following an incident where Garda Special Branch
officers were attacked by a crowd of mourners.
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, was a volunteer
Volunteer (Irish republican)
Volunteer, often abbreviated Vol., is a term used by a number of Irish republican paramilitary organisations to describe their members. Among these have been the various forms of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army...
in the East Tyrone Brigade
Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
The East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army , also known as the Tyrone/Monaghan Brigade was one of the most active republican paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles"...
of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
(IRA).
Background
One of twelve children, Lynagh was born and raised in Tully Estate, County MonaghanCounty Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He joined the Provisional IRA in the early 1970s. In December 1973 he was badly injured in a premature bomb explosion, arrested, and spent five years in the Maze Prison. While imprisoned he studied and became a great admirer of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. After his release from prison in 1979 Lynagh was elected as a Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
councillor for Monaghan, and held this position when he was killed.
East Tyrone Brigade
After his release from prison Lynagh became active in the IRA again, serving with the Provisional IRA East Tyrone BrigadeProvisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
The East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army , also known as the Tyrone/Monaghan Brigade was one of the most active republican paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles"...
. He quickly became a unit commander and gradually built up his ruthless reputation. After a series of Loyalist attacks against Nationalist politicians in late 1980 and early 1981 Lynagh was suspected of involvement with an attack on the Stronge estate near Middletown
Middletown, County Armagh
Middletown is a small village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies two miles from Tynan and close to the border with County Monaghan. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 240 people...
. The IRA killed the retired Ulster Unionist Stormont speaker, Sir Norman Stronge
Norman Stronge
Captain Sir Charles Norman Lockhart Stronge, 8th Baronet, MC, PC , JP was a senior Unionist politician in Northern Ireland....
, and his son James (an RUC officer), before burning down their mansion, Tynan Abbey
Tynan Abbey
Tynan Abbey, County Armagh, Northern Ireland was a large neo-gothic-romantic country house built circa 1750 and situated outside the village of Tynan...
, and shooting their way through a police cordon.
Lynagh was known as “The Executioner” by the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC). He was picked up and interrogated many times by the Gardaí
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
in Monaghan but was never charged. During this time he devised a Maoist military strategy adapted to Irish conditions aimed at escalating the war against British forces. The plan envisaged the destruction of police and British Army bases in parts of Northern Ireland in order to create liberated areas under IRA control. In 1984 he started cooperating with Pádraig McKearney
Pádraig McKearney
Pádraig Oliver McKearney was a Marxist-oriented Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer. He was killed in a Special Air Service ambush with seven other IRA men at Loughgall, County Armagh in May 1987.-Background:...
who shared his views. The strategy began materializing with the destruction of RUC police stations in Ballygawley
Attack on Ballygawley barracks
The attack on Ballygawley RUC barracks was an attack carried out on 7 December 1985 by a Provisional Irish Republican Army group against a Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks at Ballygawley, County Tyrone...
in December 1985 (where two RUC officers were killed), and in The Birches
The Birches, County Armagh
The Birches is a small village in northern County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is 6 miles northwest of Portadown, close to junction 12 on the M1 Motorway and to the southern shore of Lough Neagh. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 150...
in August 1986. Jim Lynagh is believed to have been responsible for 28 killings. The Irish police and the RUC said he was one of the hardest men they ever interrogated.
Death
Lynagh was killed in an ambush by the Special Air ServiceSpecial Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
on 8 May 1987 during an IRA attack on Loughgall RUC police station, his third attack on isolated rural police stations. Lynagh's men detonated a 200 lb bomb and engaged in a fire-fight with the security services. Lynagh and the seven other members of the IRA team, who were killed became known as the "Loughgall Martyrs" to Irish Republicans.
Lynagh was buried in Monaghan Town following an incident where Garda Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
officers were attacked by a crowd of mourners.
See also
- The Troubles in LoughgallThe Troubles in LoughgallThe Troubles in Loughgall recounts incidents during, and the effects of the Troubles in Loughgall, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.Incidents in Loughgall during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities:-1974:...