Raymond McCreesh

Raymond Peter "Ray" McCreesh (Irish: Réamann Mac Raois;^[1] 25 February 1957 - 21 May 1981) was an Irish republican hunger striker and a volunteer in the South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).^[2][3]

Background

Raymond Peter McCreesh, the seventh in a family of eight children, was born in St. Malachy's Park, Camlough on 25 February 1957. He was born into a strong Republican family, and was active in the Republican movement from the age of 16. McCreesh attended the local primary school in Camlough, St Malachy's, and later attended St Colman's College in Newry. Raymond first joined na Fianna Éireann, the IRA's youth wing, in 1973, and later that year he progressed to join the Provisional IRA's South Armagh Brigade. McCreesh had worked for a short time as steelworker in a predominately loyalist factory in Lisburn. However, As sectarian threats and violence escalated, Raymond switched professions to work as a milk roundsman in his local area of South Armagh: an occupation which greatly increased his knowledge of the surrounding countryside, as well as enabling him to observe the movements of British Army patrols in the area.

Ambush

On 25 June 1976, at age 19, McCreesh, along with two other Provisionals, Danny McGuinness and Paddy Quinn, were captured by paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment. All three were sentenced to 14 years.^[4] McCreesh was part of a group which had gone to a farmyard in Sturgan to ambush a covert Army observation post that they had located on the main Newry – Newtonhamilton road. The group was observed from a military observation post.^{[citation needed]}

As the fourth member of the group drove the stolen car down the road to act as a lure for the British troops, the other three moved into position. Upon attempting to return, the driver of the car spotted the paratroopers on the hillside closing in on the other three and opened fire to warn them. Immediately, the soldiers opened fire on the three IRA men.^{[citation needed]}

Raymond and Paddy Quinn ran for cover to a nearby house, but were immediately besieged by paratroopers. Realising that they wouldn't be able to leave the house alive, they telephoned two priests asking them to come to assist with their intended surrender. When one of the priests arrived and entered the house the men came out the front door with their hands above their head to indicate surrender, but the soldiers opened fired forcing them to retreat back into the house.^{[citation needed]}

After the arrival of the police, and the second priest, the two gunmen again surrendered and were taken to Bessbrook barracks where they were questioned for three days before being charged.^{[citation needed]}

Danny McGuinness, who had had taken cover in a disused quarry outhouse, was captured in a follow-up operation the next day. The fourth member of the group, who had been struck by three bullets, in the leg, arm and chest, managed to crawl away and to elude the massive follow-up search. Catholic parish priests facilitated their surrender.^[5][6]

Hunger strike

On 2 March 1977, McCreesh and Paddy Quinn were convicted and sentenced to fourteen years in prison for attempted murder, possession of a rifle and ammunition and a further five year for IRA membership.^[7][8]

One of the soldiers who captured them, Lance Corporal David Jones was later killed by Francis Hughes.^{[citation needed]}

McCreesh joined the blanket protest and took part in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike, dying after 61 days on hunger strike.

Gravestone erected for Ray McCreesh.

Other information

He is commemorated on the Irish Martyrs Memorial at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney, Australia.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ "Ag bunadh Gaeltachta". An Phoblacht. 3 May 2007. http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/18951. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
2. ^ Tírghrá. National Commemoration Centre. 2002. p. 264. ISBN 0-9542946-0-2. 
3. ^ Biography from IRIS, Vol. 1, No. 2, November 1981 (Sinn Féin publication)
4. ^ The British Army in Northern Ireland. Michael Dewar. Guild Publishing
5. ^ Raymond McCreesh
6. ^ McCreesh Biography from IRIS, Vol. 1, No. 2, November 1981
7. ^ Two Lives and Two Deaths for Ireland
8. ^ Guardian