Mick Murray
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph Murray also known as Squire Murray was an
IRA
Volunteer
named as a ringleader of the Birmingham Pub Bombings
. He was born c1936 and died in 1999 and is buried in Clonmellon
, County Westmeath
.
, County Dublin
and was educated at Scoil Mhuire, Marino
. He ran a pub in Kilbeggan
.
Murray's involvement in the bombing of the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town included choosing the targets and making the bombs. He transported the bombs to Birmingham
city centre before handing them to the planters. He made the telephone warning using the codename Double X. Murray would later tell Paddy Hill and Johnny Walker (see Birmingham Six
) that the phone boxes to be used had been vandalised requiring the finding of another some distance away
He was charged with explosives offences jointly with Michael Sheehan and James Kelly (Woods). All three were tried as part of the same trial that convicted the Birmingham Six
. Murray remained silent throughout the trial refusing to plead or acknowledge the proceedings. He was sentenced to 12 years. The trial judge, The Hon. Mr Justice Bridge
, described Murray as having all the demeanour of a soldier and commended him for his manner.
In prison he was active in the Blanket protest
campaign. On release he was excluded from England and worked as a driver for An Phoblacht
while resuming IRA activities. He stayed loyal to the Provisionals following the Real IRA secession but remained a hardliner within the organisation, strongly opposing decommissioning
.
IRA
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...
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...
named as a ringleader of the Birmingham Pub Bombings
Birmingham pub bombings
The Birmingham pub bombings occurred on 21 November 1974 in Birmingham, England. The explosions killed 21 people and injured 182. The devices were placed in two central Birmingham pubs – the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town . Although warnings were sent, the pubs were not evacuated in time...
. He was born c1936 and died in 1999 and is buried in Clonmellon
Clonmellon
Clonmellon is a small town in County Westmeath, Ireland situated between Kells in County Meath and Delvin in Westmeath.-Buildings of note:* Ballinlough Castle* Clonmellon Market Yard* Killua Castle, Clonmellon Westmeath-See also:...
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
.
Early life
He was born in DonnycarneyDonnycarney
Donnycarney or Donnycarny is a Northside suburb in the city of Dublin, Ireland. It is bordered by Beaumont, Artane, Killester and Marino, and lies in the postal districts of Dublin 9 and 5....
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
and was educated at Scoil Mhuire, Marino
Marino, Dublin
Marino is a Northside suburb located in Dublin, Ireland.-Location and access:Marino encompasses the area within the boundaries of Sion Hill Road, Gracepark Road, Philipsburgh Avenue , Malahide Road and Shelmartin Terrace. Marino borders other Northside areas such as Fairview, Donnycarney and...
. He ran a pub in Kilbeggan
Kilbeggan
-Geography:Kilbeggan is situated on the River Brosna, in the south of County Westmeath. It lies southeast of Lough Ennell, north of the boundary with County Offaly, about 9 kilometres north of Tullamore. Kilbeggan is surrounded by the gently rolling Esker Riada, the linear sand hills that stretch...
.
Republican Activities
He joined the IRA in the early 50s.Murray's involvement in the bombing of the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town included choosing the targets and making the bombs. He transported the bombs to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
city centre before handing them to the planters. He made the telephone warning using the codename Double X. Murray would later tell Paddy Hill and Johnny Walker (see Birmingham Six
Birmingham Six
The Birmingham Six were six men—Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Joseph Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker—sentenced to life imprisonment in 1975 in the United Kingdom for the Birmingham pub bombings. Their convictions were declared unsafe and quashed by the Court of...
) that the phone boxes to be used had been vandalised requiring the finding of another some distance away
He was charged with explosives offences jointly with Michael Sheehan and James Kelly (Woods). All three were tried as part of the same trial that convicted the Birmingham Six
Birmingham Six
The Birmingham Six were six men—Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Joseph Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker—sentenced to life imprisonment in 1975 in the United Kingdom for the Birmingham pub bombings. Their convictions were declared unsafe and quashed by the Court of...
. Murray remained silent throughout the trial refusing to plead or acknowledge the proceedings. He was sentenced to 12 years. The trial judge, The Hon. Mr Justice Bridge
Nigel Bridge, Baron Bridge of Harwich
Nigel Cyprian Bridge, Baron Bridge of Harwich PC was a British barrister and judge. Bridge was the presiding judge at the trial of the Birmingham six in 1975, the verdict of which was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 1991, and he later served as a Law Lord.-Early and private life:Bridge's father...
, described Murray as having all the demeanour of a soldier and commended him for his manner.
In prison he was active in the Blanket protest
Blanket protest
The blanket protest was part of a five year protest during the Troubles by Provisional Irish Republican Army and Irish National Liberation Army prisoners held in the Maze prison in Northern Ireland. The republican prisoners' status as political prisoners, known as Special Category Status, had...
campaign. On release he was excluded from England and worked as a driver for An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht is the official newspaper of Sinn Féin in Ireland. It is published once a month, and according to its website sells an average of up to 15,000 copies every month and was the first Irish paper to provide an edition online and currently having in excess of 100,000 website hits per...
while resuming IRA activities. He stayed loyal to the Provisionals following the Real IRA secession but remained a hardliner within the organisation, strongly opposing decommissioning
Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning was established to oversee the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons in Northern Ireland, as part of the peace process.-Legislation and organisation:...
.