Misplaced Pages

Billy Fox (politician): Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 16:38, 31 May 2015 editSpleodrach (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers169,939 edits Reverted to revision 658648049 by Snappy (talk): Rv - no ref provided. (TW)← Previous edit Latest revision as of 16:50, 26 November 2024 edit undo82.6.167.63 (talk) →Political career 
(92 intermediate revisions by 40 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Irish politician (1939–1974)}}
{{other people|Billy Fox}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox Politician {{Infobox officeholder
| name = Billy Fox | image = Billy_Fox_(Fine_Gael).jpg
| image = | caption = Fox, circa 1970s
| caption = | office = ]
⚫ | term_start = 1 June 1973
⚫ | office = ]
| term_start = June 1969 | term_end = 12 March 1974
⚫ | constituency = ]
| term_end = February 1973
⚫ | office1 = ]
| predecessor =
| term_start1 = ]
⚫ | successor =
| term_end1 = ]
| constituency = ] | constituency1 = ]
⚫ | majority =
| office2 = ] | birth_name = William Fox
⚫ | birth_date = {{birth date|1939|1|3|df=y}}
⚫ | term_start2 = 1 June 1973
| birth_place = Cortubber, ], ], Ireland<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/fox-william-billy-a3348 | title=Fox, William ('Billy') |work=] }}</ref>
| term_end2 = 12 March 1974
⚫ | death_date = {{death date and age|1974|3|12|1939|1|3|df=y}}
| predecessor2 =
⚫ | death_place = ], County Monaghan, Ireland
| successor2 =
| death_cause = ]
⚫ | constituency2 = ]
| nationality = ]
| majority2 =
⚫ | birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|1|3|df=y}}
⚫ | birth_place = ], Ireland
⚫ | death_date = {{Death date and age|1974|3|12|1939|1|3|df=y}}
| death_place = Tircooney, County Monaghan
| party = ] | party = ]
⚫ | spouse =
| religion = ]<ref name="wikileaks"> WikiLeaks, 12 March 1974.</ref>
| footnotes = | children =
⚫ | alma_mater =
}} |}}
'''Billy Fox''' (3 January 1939 – 12 March 1974) was an Irish ] politician who served as a ] for the ] from 1973 to 1974 and a ] (TD) for the ] constituency from 1969 to 1973.<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Billy-Fox.D.1969-07-02/|title=Billy Fox|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=5 November 2012}}</ref>


'''Billy Fox''' (3 January 1939 – 12 March 1974) was an Irish politician and a member of ] from 1969 to 1973,<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=19&MemberID=1329&ConstID=152|title=Mr. Billy Fox|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=5 November 2012}}</ref> and of ] from 1973 until his death in March 1974. He was shot dead by gunmen who were allegedly carrying out a raid on his girlfriend's farmhouse. Five members of the ] were convicted of involvement in his murder.<ref>''Lost Lives'', McKittrick, Kelters, Feeney, Thornton & McVea, p. 426-7 – ISBN 978-1-84018-504-1</ref><ref> states Fox was killed by the "Irish Republican Army", which, according to Sutton's categorisation, is "Provisional Irish Republican Army". (Official IRA killings are attributed to the "Official Irish Republican Army").</ref> However, there have been claims that it was the ]<ref name=tpcoogan>''The IRA'', Tim Pat Coogan, p. 357 – ISBN 0-00-653155-5.</ref> or the ]<ref name="Wilmington">{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j2o0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZwoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=788%2C2454926|title=Irish Senator Killed – Protestant Extremists claim Responsibility|date=13 March 1974|work=Wilmington Morning Star|page=5|accessdate=26 October 2011}}</ref> who were responsible. He was shot to death by the IRA who were carrying out a raid on his girlfriend's farmhouse. Five members of the ] were convicted of involvement in his murder.<ref>''Lost Lives'', McKittrick, Kelters, Feeney, Thornton & McVea, pp. 426–27; {{ISBN|978-1-84018-504-1}}</ref><ref> states Fox was killed by the "Irish Republican Army", which, according to Sutton's categorisation, is "Provisional Irish Republican Army". (Official IRA killings are attributed to the "Official Irish Republican Army").</ref>


==Political career== ==Political career==
A member of the ] party, Fox was first elected to ] in 1967, and as a Fine Gael ] (TD) to the ] for the ] constituency at the ].<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2800|title=Billy Fox|work=ElectionsIreland.org|accessdate=5 November 2012}}</ref> He lost his seat at ] but later that year was elected to the 13th ] by the ]. Fox was also one of a handful of members of the ] from the minority Protestant community.<ref>http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19740312&id=j2o0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZwoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=788,2454926</ref> A member of the ] party, Fox was first elected to ] in 1967, and as a Fine Gael ] to the ] for the ] constituency at the ].<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2800|title=Billy Fox|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> He lost his seat at the ], but later that year he was elected to the 13th ] as a Senator for the ]. Fox was also one of a handful of members of the ] from the minority Protestant community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19740312&id=j2o0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZwoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=788,2454926|title=Star-News – Google News Archive Search}}</ref>


Fox came to prominence when he campaigned against the British Army's cratering of border roads and its use of CS gas and ]s. On one occasion, he brought ] canisters and rubber bullets into the Dáil chamber and berated the ] Government's policy on ]. He was forcibly removed from the Dáil and the incident made front-page news.<ref name=rumours>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/rumours.html|work=]|title=Rumours from Monaghan}}</ref> Fox came to prominence when he campaigned against the British Army's cratering of border roads and its use of CS gas and ]s. On one occasion, he brought ] canisters and rubber bullets into the Dáil chamber and berated the ] Government's policy on ]. He was forcibly removed from the Dáil and the incident made front-page news.<ref name=rumours>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/rumours.html|work=]|title=Rumours from Monaghan}}</ref>


==Death== ==Death==
On the night of Monday 11 March 1974, about a dozen gunmen arrived at the home of Senator Fox's girlfriend, Marjorie Coulson.<ref name=mckittrick>]. ''Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles''. Random House, 2001. pp.426-427</ref> She lived there with her parents and brother, and Senator Fox regularly visited on Monday evenings.<ref name=mckittrick/> The farmhouse was in the rural townland of Tircooney in ], near the border with Northern Ireland. The gunmen searched the farmhouse and demanded the occupants hand over weapons.<ref name=mckittrick/> As this was taking place, Senator Fox drove down the laneway and was stopped by some of the gunmen who were outside. He ran, but was shot and killed by a single gunshot wound through the upper torso.<ref name=mckittrick/> The gunmen then ordered everyone out of the house, set it on fire, and escaped.<ref name=mckittrick/> On the night of Monday 11 March 1974, about a dozen IRA men arrived at the home of Fox's girlfriend, Marjorie Coulson.<ref name=mckittrick>]. ''Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles''. Random House, 2001. pp.426–427</ref> She lived there with her parents and brother, and Fox regularly visited on Monday evenings.<ref name=mckittrick/> The farmhouse was in the rural townland of Tircooney in ], near the border between ] and Northern Ireland. The IRA searched the farmhouse and demanded the occupants hand over weapons.<ref name=mckittrick/> As this was taking place, Fox drove down the laneway and was stopped by some of the IRA members who were outside. He ran, but was shot and killed by a single gunshot wound through the upper torso.<ref name=mckittrick/> They then ordered everyone out of the house, set it on fire, and escaped.<ref name=mckittrick/>


The next day, the ] claimed that it had killed Senator Fox because he had links to the Provisional IRA.<ref name="Wilmington" /> The IRA issued a statement saying that it was not involved, adding that "Mr Fox was known personally to a number of the leadership of the republican movement".<ref name=mckittrick/> However, shortly after the shooting, five men from County Monaghan were charged with Senator Fox's murder and IRA membership. They were convicted in May 1974 and sentenced to penal servitude for life.<ref name=mckittrick/> One of those convicted told the court they had raided the farm because they received a tip-off that ] weapons were being stored there.<ref name=mckittrick/> He said there was an agreement that no shots were to be fired. His understanding was that Senator Fox had taken some of the men by surprise and they had shot to wound, not recognizing him.<ref name=mckittrick/> It was reported that the tip-off came from another local family and was the result of a grudge.<ref name=mckittrick/> IRA members were already suspicious that the UVF was receiving local help, following an incident in November 1973.<ref name=politico>. Politico.ie. 1 October 1984.</ref> Loyalist gunmen had bombed a house at nearby Legnakelly and shot one of the occupants, a republican activist.<ref name=politico/> In its statement on Fox's killing, the IRA said "We have repeatedly drawn attention to the murderous acts of a group of former ] from ] … led by serving officers of the British Army".<ref name=mckittrick/> The author ], however, suggests that members of the ] were responsible for killing Senator Fox.<ref name=tpcoogan/><ref>Tim Pat Coogan, ''Disillusioned Decades'', Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1987. p520 – ISBN 0-09-941522-4.</ref> The next day, the ] claimed that it had killed Fox because he had links to the Provisional IRA.<ref name="Wilmington">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j2o0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZwoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=788%2C2454926|title=Irish Senator Killed – Protestant Extremists claim Responsibility|date=13 March 1974|work=Wilmington Morning Star|page=5|access-date=26 October 2011}}</ref> The IRA issued a statement saying that it was not involved, adding that "Mr Fox was known personally to a number of the leadership of the republican movement".<ref name=mckittrick/> However, shortly after the shooting, five men from County Monaghan were charged with Fox's murder and IRA membership. They were convicted in May 1974 and sentenced to penal servitude for life.<ref name=mckittrick/> One of those convicted told the court they had raided the farm because they received a tip-off that ] weapons were being stored there.<ref name=mckittrick/> He said there was an agreement that no shots were to be fired. His understanding was that Senator Fox had taken some of the men by surprise and they had shot to wound, not recognizing him.<ref name=mckittrick/> It was reported that the tip-off came from another local family and was the result of a grudge.<ref name=mckittrick/> IRA members were already suspicious that the UVF was receiving local help, following an incident in November 1973.<ref name=politico>. Politico.ie. 1 October 1984.</ref> Loyalist gunmen had bombed a house at nearby Legnakelly and shot one of the occupants, a republican activist.<ref name=politico/> In its statement on Fox's killing, the IRA said "We have repeatedly drawn attention to the murderous acts of a group of former ] from ] … led by serving officers of the British Army".<ref name=mckittrick/> The author ], however, suggests that members of the ] were responsible for killing Senator Fox.<ref name=tpcoogan>''The IRA'', Tim Pat Coogan, p. 357; {{ISBN|0-00-653155-5}}.</ref><ref>Tim Pat Coogan, ''Disillusioned Decades'', Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1987. p520 – {{ISBN|0-09-941522-4}}.</ref>


The Seanad adjourned for a week as a mark of respect. About 500 people attended his funeral at Aughnamullen, including the ] and the Irish president, ].<ref name=mckittrick/> Fox was the first member of the ] to be killed since ] ] by the anti-Treaty ] in 1927.<ref name="wikileaks" /> When ] first became a TD in 1969 he shared an office with Billy Fox. Bruton has said that he is still angry at the murder.<ref></ref> The ] documentary ''Rumours from Monaghan'' reported in detail on the circumstances of Fox's killing.<ref name=rumours/> Because Fox was a Protestant, some have suggested that the motive for the killing was sectarian.<ref></ref><ref></ref> The Seanad ] for a week as a mark of respect. About 500 people attended his funeral at Aughnamullen, including the ] and the Irish President, ].<ref name=mckittrick/> Fox was the first member of the ] to be killed since ] ] by the anti-Treaty ] in 1927.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} When ] first became a TD in 1969 he shared an office with Billy Fox. Bruton said in 2004 that he was still angry at the murder.<ref></ref> The ] documentary ''Rumours from Monaghan'' reported in detail on the circumstances of Fox's killing.<ref name=rumours/> Because Fox was a Protestant, several TDs have stated that the motive for the killing was sectarian.<ref></ref><ref></ref>


One of those convicted for Fox's killing, Sean Kinsella, later escaped from ] and was later convicted of arms offences and ] in England. He was released by the ] under the ].<ref>{{Wayback |date=20050411113311 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/12/19/wdub19.html |title=Daily Telegraph Dublin frees nine IRA prisoners to aid peace talks }}</ref> One of those convicted for Fox's killing, Sean Kinsella, later escaped from ] and was later convicted of arms offences and ] in England. He was released by the ] under the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/12/19/wdub19.html |title=Daily Telegraph Dublin frees nine IRA prisoners to aid peace talks |access-date=2008-03-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050411113311/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F1997%2F12%2F19%2Fwdub19.html |archive-date=11 April 2005 |df=dmy }}</ref>


The Senator Billy Fox Memorial Park in Aughnamullen is named in his memory. The Senator Billy Fox Memorial Park in Latton is named in his memory. The Cavan-Monaghan ] branch was also named after him in his memory.{{cn|date=April 2024}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


{{Monaghan (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Members of the 13th Seanad}} {{Members of the 13th Seanad}}
{{PIRA}} {{PIRA}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = Fox, Billy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Irish politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 3 January 1939
| PLACE OF BIRTH = County Monaghan, Ireland
| DATE OF DEATH = 12 March 1974
| PLACE OF DEATH = Tircooney, County Monaghan
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Billy}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Billy}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
Line 75: Line 65:
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 16:50, 26 November 2024

Irish politician (1939–1974)

Billy Fox
Fox, circa 1970s
Senator
In office
1 June 1973 – 12 March 1974
ConstituencyCultural and Educational Panel
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1969 – February 1973
ConstituencyMonaghan
Personal details
BornWilliam Fox
(1939-01-03)3 January 1939
Cortubber, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, Ireland
Died12 March 1974(1974-03-12) (aged 35)
Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland
Manner of deathAssassination by gunshot
Political partyFine Gael

Billy Fox (3 January 1939 – 12 March 1974) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel from 1973 to 1974 and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Monaghan constituency from 1969 to 1973.

He was shot to death by the IRA who were carrying out a raid on his girlfriend's farmhouse. Five members of the Provisional IRA were convicted of involvement in his murder.

Political career

A member of the Fine Gael party, Fox was first elected to Monaghan County Council in 1967, and as a Fine Gael TD to the 19th Dáil for the Monaghan constituency at the 1969 general election. He lost his seat at the 1973 general election, but later that year he was elected to the 13th Seanad as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel. Fox was also one of a handful of members of the Oireachtas from the minority Protestant community.

Fox came to prominence when he campaigned against the British Army's cratering of border roads and its use of CS gas and rubber bullets. On one occasion, he brought CS gas canisters and rubber bullets into the Dáil chamber and berated the Fianna Fáil Government's policy on Northern Ireland. He was forcibly removed from the Dáil and the incident made front-page news.

Death

On the night of Monday 11 March 1974, about a dozen IRA men arrived at the home of Fox's girlfriend, Marjorie Coulson. She lived there with her parents and brother, and Fox regularly visited on Monday evenings. The farmhouse was in the rural townland of Tircooney in County Monaghan, near the border between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The IRA searched the farmhouse and demanded the occupants hand over weapons. As this was taking place, Fox drove down the laneway and was stopped by some of the IRA members who were outside. He ran, but was shot and killed by a single gunshot wound through the upper torso. They then ordered everyone out of the house, set it on fire, and escaped.

The next day, the Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed that it had killed Fox because he had links to the Provisional IRA. The IRA issued a statement saying that it was not involved, adding that "Mr Fox was known personally to a number of the leadership of the republican movement". However, shortly after the shooting, five men from County Monaghan were charged with Fox's murder and IRA membership. They were convicted in May 1974 and sentenced to penal servitude for life. One of those convicted told the court they had raided the farm because they received a tip-off that UVF weapons were being stored there. He said there was an agreement that no shots were to be fired. His understanding was that Senator Fox had taken some of the men by surprise and they had shot to wound, not recognizing him. It was reported that the tip-off came from another local family and was the result of a grudge. IRA members were already suspicious that the UVF was receiving local help, following an incident in November 1973. Loyalist gunmen had bombed a house at nearby Legnakelly and shot one of the occupants, a republican activist. In its statement on Fox's killing, the IRA said "We have repeatedly drawn attention to the murderous acts of a group of former B Specials from County Fermanagh … led by serving officers of the British Army". The author Tim Pat Coogan, however, suggests that members of the Official IRA were responsible for killing Senator Fox.

The Seanad adjourned for a week as a mark of respect. About 500 people attended his funeral at Aughnamullen, including the Taoiseach and the Irish President, Erskine Childers. Fox was the first member of the Oireachtas to be killed since Minister for Justice Kevin O'Higgins by the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army in 1927. When John Bruton first became a TD in 1969 he shared an office with Billy Fox. Bruton said in 2004 that he was still angry at the murder. The RTÉ documentary Rumours from Monaghan reported in detail on the circumstances of Fox's killing. Because Fox was a Protestant, several TDs have stated that the motive for the killing was sectarian.

One of those convicted for Fox's killing, Sean Kinsella, later escaped from Portlaoise Prison and was later convicted of arms offences and attempted murder in England. He was released by the Government of Ireland under the Good Friday Agreement.

The Senator Billy Fox Memorial Park in Latton is named in his memory. The Cavan-Monaghan Young Fine Gael branch was also named after him in his memory.

References

  1. "Fox, William ('Billy')". Dictionary of Irish Biography.
  2. "Billy Fox". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  3. Lost Lives, McKittrick, Kelters, Feeney, Thornton & McVea, pp. 426–27; ISBN 978-1-84018-504-1
  4. The Malcolm Sutton Index of Deaths states Fox was killed by the "Irish Republican Army", which, according to Sutton's categorisation, is "Provisional Irish Republican Army". (Official IRA killings are attributed to the "Official Irish Republican Army").
  5. "Billy Fox". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  6. "Star-News – Google News Archive Search".
  7. ^ "Rumours from Monaghan". RTÉ Radio 1.
  8. ^ McKittrick, David. Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Random House, 2001. pp.426–427
  9. "Irish Senator Killed – Protestant Extremists claim Responsibility". Wilmington Morning Star. 13 March 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  10. ^ "The crime and punishment of Michael Kinsella ". Politico.ie. 1 October 1984.
  11. The IRA, Tim Pat Coogan, p. 357; ISBN 0-00-653155-5.
  12. Tim Pat Coogan, Disillusioned Decades, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1987. p520 – ISBN 0-09-941522-4.
  13. Forgiveness is better than more inquiries: Bruton
  14. Seanad Eireann Debate Vol. 181 No. 138 – Mr. B. Hayes
  15. Badfellas by Paul Williams : quoting Paddy Cooney
  16. "Daily Telegraph Dublin frees nine IRA prisoners to aid peace talks". Archived from the original on 11 April 2005. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for the Monaghan constituency
This table is transcluded from Monaghan (Dáil constituency). (edit | history)
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)		 Deputy
(Party)		 Deputy
(Party)
2nd 1921 Seán MacEntee
(SF) 		Eoin O'Duffy
(SF) 		Ernest Blythe
(SF)
3rd 1922 Patrick MacCarvill
(AT-SF) 		Eoin O'Duffy
(PT-SF) 		Ernest Blythe
(PT-SF)
4th 1923 Patrick MacCarvill
(Rep) 		Patrick Duffy
(CnaG) 		Ernest Blythe
(CnaG)
5th 1927 (Jun) Patrick MacCarvill
(FF) 		Alexander Haslett
(Ind)
6th 1927 (Sep) Conn Ward
(FF)
7th 1932 Eamon Rice
(FF)
8th 1933 Alexander Haslett
(Ind)
9th 1937 James Dillon
(FG)
10th 1938 Bridget Rice
(FF)
11th 1943 James Dillon
(Ind)
12th 1944
13th 1948 Patrick Maguire
(FF)
14th 1951
15th 1954 Patrick Mooney
(FF) 		Edward Kelly
(FF) 		James Dillon
(FG)
16th 1957 Eighneachán Ó hAnnluain
(SF)
17th 1961 Erskine H. Childers
(FF)
18th 1965
19th 1969 Billy Fox
(FG) 		John Conlan
(FG)
20th 1973 Jimmy Leonard
(FF)
1973 by-election Brendan Toal
(FG)
21st 1977 Constituency abolished. See Cavan–Monaghan
« 12th Seanad «   Members of the 13th Seanad (1973–1977) » 14th Seanad »
Administrative Panel
Agricultural Panel
Cultural and Educational Panel
Industrial and Commercial Panel
Labour Panel
Dublin University
National University
Nominated by the Taoiseach
Elected or nominated later
Provisional Irish Republican Army
General
Organisation
Actions
1970–1979
1980–1989
 1990–1991
1992–1997
Personalities
(Volunteers)
Espionage and
Supergrasses
Associates
Derivatives
Prominent
killings
Categories: