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| '''Phil O'Donnell''' (born ] ] – ] ]), was a ] in the 4th Battalion, Derry Brigade of the ] and a founding member of ] from the ] area of ], ]. | '''Phil O'Donnell''' (born ] ] – ] ]), was a ] in the 4th Battalion, Derry Brigade of the ] and a founding member of ] from the ] area of ], ]. | ||
| ==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| O'Donnell |
O'Donnell, originally from Derry, had been a member of the ] and joined the ] in 1969 after the ].<ref name="Noraid">{{cite web | author= | title="Roll of Honour" | work=] | url=http://www.noraid.org/roll_of_honor.html | accessdate=20 January | accessyear=2008}}</ref><ref name="T-NCC">''Tírghrá'', National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.252</ref> | ||
| ==Donegal training camps== | ==Donegal training camps== | ||
| He utilised his training in the British Army by organising and running training camps in ]. During one training camp O'Donnell, and a number of other volunteers were captured by the ] outside of ]. The group were remanded in ] before their |
He utilised his training in the British Army by organising and running training camps in ]. During one training camp O'Donnell, and a number of other volunteers were captured by the ] outside of ]. The group were remanded in ] before their trial. During the trial O'Donnell stated that they were the ''"Defenders of the Bogside"'' and following their acquittal he quipped ''"if we are innocent can we please have our guns back"''.<ref name="T-NCC"/> | ||
| O'Donnell then returned to Derry and the republican movement. | O'Donnell then returned to Derry and the republican movement. | ||
| ==Saor Uladh== | ==Saor Uladh== | ||
| After a number of operations had been cancelled by the ], O'Donnell became disillusioned with the IRA and joined ] in forming republican splinter group ]. Kelly had been court |
After a number of operations had been cancelled by the ], O'Donnell became disillusioned with the IRA and joined ] in forming the republican splinter group, ]. Kelly had been ] from the ] in 1951 for insubordination and then went on to form the new paramilitary group. Saor Uladh was most active in Kelly's home ground of East Tyrone. The group targeted Customs posts and security force installations, their principle objective being the removal of the border and the reunification of Ireland.<ref>Martin Dillon, ''God and the Gun''</ref><ref>Michael Farrell, ''Northern Ireland: The Orange State''</ref> | ||
| ==Internment== | ==Internment== | ||
| O'Donnell was interned on ], ] at the beginning of ]. O'Donnell was at first taken to ] before being moved to ] which was harboured in ] |
O'Donnell was interned on ], ] at the beginning of ]. O'Donnell was at first taken to ] before being moved to ] which was harboured in ]. He was finally transferred to ] and was released after eight months. | ||
| Following his release he returned to ] and was arrested in the ] and charged with IRA membership and possession of weapons. O'Donnell spent several years in ] and upon his release was again active in the republican movement.<ref name="T-NCC"/> | Following his release he returned to ] and was arrested in the ] and charged with IRA membership and possession of weapons. O'Donnell spent several years in ] and upon his release was again active in the republican movement.<ref name="T-NCC"/> | ||
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| ==Death== | ==Death== | ||
| O'Donnell |
O'Donnell contracted cancer and died at the age of 50 on ] 1982.<ref name="Chuimhne">{{cite web | author= | title=''"I nDíl Chuimhne, Comhbhrón agus Beannachtaí"'' | work=] | url=http://www.anphoblacht.com/notices/2003-12-18 | accessdate=20 January | accessyear=2008}}</ref><ref name="T-NCC"/> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| <references /> | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:O'Donnell, Phil}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:O'Donnell, Phil}} | ||
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Revision as of 23:42, 20 January 2008
Phil O'Donnell (born 3 June 1932 – 24 December 1982), was a volunteer in the 4th Battalion, Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and a founding member of Saor Uladh from the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland.
Background
O'Donnell, originally from Derry, had been a member of the British Army and joined the republican movement in 1969 after the Battle of the Bogside.
Donegal training camps
He utilised his training in the British Army by organising and running training camps in County Donegal. During one training camp O'Donnell, and a number of other volunteers were captured by the Irish Army outside of Fahan. The group were remanded in Mountjoy Prison before their trial. During the trial O'Donnell stated that they were the "Defenders of the Bogside" and following their acquittal he quipped "if we are innocent can we please have our guns back".
O'Donnell then returned to Derry and the republican movement.
Saor Uladh
After a number of operations had been cancelled by the IRA Army Council, O'Donnell became disillusioned with the IRA and joined Liam Kelly in forming the republican splinter group, Saor Uladh. Kelly had been court martialled from the Irish Republican Army in 1951 for insubordination and then went on to form the new paramilitary group. Saor Uladh was most active in Kelly's home ground of East Tyrone. The group targeted Customs posts and security force installations, their principle objective being the removal of the border and the reunification of Ireland.
Internment
O'Donnell was interned on 9 August, 1971 at the beginning of Operation Demetrius. O'Donnell was at first taken to Magillen before being moved to Maidstone prison ship which was harboured in Belfast Lough. He was finally transferred to Long Kesh and was released after eight months.
Following his release he returned to active service and was arrested in the Republic of Ireland and charged with IRA membership and possession of weapons. O'Donnell spent several years in Portlaoise Prison and upon his release was again active in the republican movement.
Memorial
In October 2003, a memorial was unveiled in the Bogside near Free Derry Corner which had the names of the 18 IRA volunteers from the Derry Brigade from the area who died during The Troubles and included Phil O'Donnell as well as Kieran Fleming, Danny Doherty and William Fleming.
Death
O'Donnell contracted cancer and died at the age of 50 on Christmas Eve 1982.
References
- ""Roll of Honour"". Noraid. Retrieved 20 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.252
- Martin Dillon, God and the Gun
- Michael Farrell, Northern Ireland: The Orange State
- ""Derry Volunteers' Memorial unveiled"". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 20 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ""I nDíl Chuimhne, Comhbhrón agus Beannachtaí"". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 20 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)