INLA men’s murders reconstruction

THE murder of two INLA men in Co Louth more than 30 years ago has featured in an RTÉ reconstruction broadcast.

SHOT: Thomas ‘Ta’ Power (left) FEUD: Hugh Torney (right)

Thomas ‘Ta’ Power (33) and then INLA ‘chief of staff’ John GerardO’Reilly (26) were gunned down as they sat in the Rossnaree Hotel, near Drogheda, in January 1987 by members of the Irish People’s Liberation Organisation (IPLO). The INLA men had been in the hotel to try and settle an internal dispute about the direction of the group and were due to meet other members. However, the potential peace summit ended up in bloodshed when gunmen wearing false beards burst into the hotel and opened fire as their victims drank tea.

Two other men were injured during the ambush including Peter Stewart and Hugh ‘cueball’ Torney, who was himself killed in another feud in 1996. Leading IPLO man Gerard Steenson has been linked to the double killing, although others claim he was not involved.

He and another man were shot dead weeks later in March 1987 by the INLA faction in west Belfast. It is understood that the renewed appeal for information comes after relatives of Power, who was from the Markets area of south Belfast, met gardaí recently.

Campaign group Relatives for Justice recently wrote to the Republic’s Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garda commisioner Nóirín O’Sullivan on behalf of the Power family asking for a review of the case. It is beleived that at that meeting family members learned for the first time that three men were questioned after the ambush but later released. No-one has ever been convicted. Gardaí failed to respond to a series of questions put to them by The Irish News about the case.

A reconstruction of the attack was featured on RTÉ’s Crime Call programme on Monday. The broadcaster declined to release any details of the programme in advance. Mike Ritchie from Relatives for Justice said: “Families who have lost loved ones below the border face a difficult situation because they were not able to benefit from the Historical Enquires Team information and review,” he said. “It’s important that the Garda reviews these cases themselves.”

With many thanks to: The Irish News.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/crimecall/this_month.html

http://www.rte.ie/amp/860691/

Fallen Comrades of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement (IRSM)

I.R.S.M

Emmanuel Gargan

Volunteer – Irish National Liberation Army
Assassinated on 21 March 1987

Emmanuel Gargan, age 25, was killed in a South Belfast pub by an Irish People’s Liberation Organisation gunman in retaliation for the INLA’s execution of IPLO leader Gerard Steenson on March 15th. Gargan had survived two earlier attempts on his life by the IPLO, and was still on crutches from the second attempt when he was killed.

Kevin Barry Duffy
Volunteer – Irish National Liberation Army
Assassinated on 21 March 1987

Kevin Barry Duffy, age 20, was killed in Armagh City by the Irish People’s Liberation Organisation in retaliation for the INLA’s execution of IPLO leader Gerard Steenson on March 15th.

The IPLO was a counter-revolutionary group formed by individuals who had resigned or been purged from the IRSM, who then came together to attempt to destroy the IRSM.

Gargan and Duffy were both involved in the INLA’s efforts to defend itself and the Irish Republican Socialist Party from the IPLO’s attacks.

They died as they lived: as Republican Socialists. Remember them with honour and pride.

Source: Strabane IRSP

With many thanks to: Irish Fenian Brotherhood.