Aidan McAnespie was a Catholic boy who grew up in a small town called Aughnacloy in County Tyrone Northern Ireland. Aidan Mac Anespie attended St Mary’s primary school in Aughnacloy and then St Ciaran’s Secondary School in Ballygawley County Tyrone.
Aidan Mac Anespie was the son of John and Elizabeth (RIP) Mac Anespie who lived at Hillcrest in Augnacloy, County Tyrone. Aidan had two sisters Elish (RIP) and Margo. Aidan Mac Anespie had three older brothers Sean, Gerard and Vincent.
The Mac Anespie family were and remain highly regarded within the Aughnacloy community. In the early 1980s Northern Ireland was in political and social turmoil. Many people who in different circumstances would have lived ordinary lives found themselves in the middle of a very dirty war.
It was during the IRA hunger strikes of 1980/1981 that the three older Mac Anespie brothers would join the republican movement. Eventually Sean, Gerard and Vincent would move from the north of Ireland to the Irish Republic.
Aidan Mac Anespie remained at home in Aughnacloy with his father John and mother Elizabeth. When Aidan Mac Anespie left school in June 1980 he faced the prospect of going on the Dole if he remained in County Tyrone as there were few jobs available especially for Catholics.
Aidan Mac Anespie contacted his good friend Vincent McKenna who had begun work in Monaghan Town in the Irish Republic. Vincent McKenna was working in Monaghan Poultry Products; while McKenna was only 16 years old he was already a Shop Steward (ITGWU) and representing fellow workers.
Aidan Mac Anespie asked Vincent McKenna if he could get him a job in the poultry products. Vincent McKenna was able to secure a job for Aidan Mac Anespie and another lad from Aughnacloy.
Aidan Mac Anespie was delighted to get the job and soon bought himself a 125 Yamaha motor cycle so he could travel the 13 miles from Aughnacloy to Monaghan each day without depending on anyone else to give him a lift. Aidan loved his job and everyone who worked with him enjoyed his good nature and humour.
Aidan Mac Anespie worked in the Poultry products from 1980-1988 at which time Aidan Mac Anespie was murdered in cold blood by the British Army as he walked to a game of Gaelic football.
Aidan Mac Anespie had done no wrong, he had been harassed every day by the RUC and British Army as he went to and from his work and finally they murdered Aidan Mac Anespie.
This year 2011 Aidan Mac Anespie will be dead 23 years. Aidan Mac Anespie’s memory lives on with those who knew and cared about Aidan.
In Ireland we have suffered many tragedies and inflicted much pain on our neighbours, however, the murder of Aidan Mac Anespie was unjustified and unjustifiable.
