Latest:

13:52 Pope's butler held in Vatican leaks...
13:10 Sports fans warned of road delays
11:42 Seven sinks Westwood hopes
11:42 Teenage boy dies after bridge jump
11:40 Rory McIlroy misses cut again
11:02 Two held over Limerick drugs haul
10:02 Beale injury adds to Rebels woe
09:52 Ex-intelligence chief 'holds key'

Republicans visit top IRA man’s family over his book

By Margaret Canning
Monday, 2 November 2009

IRA's darkest secrets to be revealed as archives are released

Senior republicans have visited the family of an IRA commander who died last year about a book he wanted to be published after his death.

Brendan ‘The Dark’ Hughes, who fell out with the leadership of Sinn Fein over powersharing, left interviews which were to be used for a book on his time in the IRA.

The interviews, said to be in the care of Boston University, are believed to link a figure in republicanism with the death of Jean McConville, a mother-of-eight who the IRA abducted and ‘disappeared’ from her home in Divis Flats in 1972.

Her remains were eventually recovered at Shelling Hill beach, near Carlingford, Co Louth, in August 2003. Her case became the most notorious of the ‘Disappeared’ individuals — mostly civilians — who were abducted and secretly buried by the IRA.

According to The Observer, Mr Hughes, once one of the IRA’s most feared gunmen, handed the interviews to the university on the understanding they would not be made public until his death. Despite a spectacular falling-out with Sinn Fein over powersharing and what he viewed as its renunciation of socialist ideals, prominent figures from the party acted as pall bearers at Mr Hughes’ funeral last year.

He died in February after a short illness but his health never recovered from the effects of 53 days on hunger strike in the Maze prison in 1980.

A former IRA prisoner told the Observer Mr Hughes’ family received a visit a couple of weeks ago by figures “who are panicking about Brendan’s book”.

Print
Text Size
- Normal
- Large
- Extra Large

No surprises this has emanated from the USA.

Typical Americans - think they are Irish (when really they are American) and are always interfering in the affairs of Ireland.

Posted by Luke | 09.11.09, 18:34 GMT

It's truly sickening. Stormont SF wanted nothing to do with The Dark when he was dying, now they can't get enough of him . What a bunch of cowardly ghouls. Don't they realise by now that the pen is mightier than the sword?

Posted by Another writer | 09.11.09, 09:16 GMT

the sinn fein party have a lot to hide from thier voters it would seem,when truth comes out you will see how you were led like sheep

Posted by liam | 09.11.09, 07:22 GMT

One thing, I'm sure SF are very worried about this book. Reason is Brendan Hughes has been very deeply respected and not known for telling lies.

There will be a lot of lies that have and are being told thrown into the open and SF will be outed to many of their own followers who have followed like sheep.

Remember the Provos fought a war for 30 years and many people died and they gained little to nothing for Republicanism, or for anyone but themselves. They now sit as part of the British establishment, taking the Queens money. How can anyone trust such people is beyond believe! (turn full circle, just for a bit of power)

Posted by O'Neill | 03.11.09, 09:09 GMT

Truth to power, isn't that the socialst way?

Posted by lanelle | 03.11.09, 01:24 GMT

what is the embrassasment or shame in the truth tthat risng against tyranny and occupation is wrong or not justified? the struggle for freedom of a nation is nothing to hold ones head down or not seek the truth.

Posted by sean o lubaigh | 03.11.09, 01:21 GMT

Is there anything that the book can tell us which paints the IRA any worse than we know them to be - a bunch of psychopathic, sectarian, criminal thugs who murdered and maimed men, women and children.

Shame on you Bill. The truth might not make them free (the British Government did that) but it might expose them to further contempt.

Posted by Paddy | 02.11.09, 18:36 GMT

come on now this is a joke bury the book with him and get a life

Posted by bill | 02.11.09, 14:52 GMT

Subtle intimidation, and silent threats, is it not.

Posted by Realist | 02.11.09, 14:16 GMT

God works in mysterious ways. Let it all come out into the open. The public deserve to hear the truth. In fact, Sein Fein have always campaigned for the truth, albeit not theirs. The truth always comes out in the end-lol.

Posted by Realist | 02.11.09, 14:14 GMT