THE IRISH OBSERVER: Sinn Fein Provisional IRA Monaghan Town

Monday, January 11, 2021

Sinn Fein Provisional IRA Monaghan Town

Michael Lynagh in the picture below was a member of Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town. In 1979, Michael Lynagh worked for the election of his younger brother Jim Lynagh to Monaghan Town Council. Michael Lynagh was also brother to convicted criminal Colm Lynagh who shot dead an innocent civilian, Gabriel Murphy in Emyvale in 1982. This criminal action cost Sinn Fein/PIRA support and votes at a crucial time of the movements development in County Monaghan.

Jim Lynagh abused his position in the Provisional IRA by allowing Colm Lynagh to be housed with Sinn Fein/PIRA members in The Provisional IRA Wing of Portlaoise Prison. Normally those who abused PIRA weapons were shot in the head and buried in a bog-hole.

Michael Lynagh was a serial child rapist in Monaghan Town who was protected by the Sinn Fein/PIRA Leadership until Michael hung himself in Mountjoy Jail in 1982, much to the relief of his victims.

Michael Lynagh, serial child rapist.

The PIRA in Monaghan was made up mainly of PIRA members who had went On-The-Run from Northern Ireland. In the early 1970s there were many gun battles and bomb attacks launched from Monaghan under the Command of Kevin McKenna. The first Greenfinch (Female member of The UDR) was murdered in one such attack.

Eva Martin, Greenfinch, Murdered by Provisional IRA

It is worth noting that back in the 1970s/80s it often took some time to confirm the credentials of those claiming to be On-The-Run. Monaghan was viewed as a priority area for the British Security Forces, and there was always the possibility that Agents or Informers would try to infiltrate Sinn Fein/PIRA by claiming to be On-the-Run.

The British had infiltrated Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan on a number of occasions, George Poytz being a very good example. George had infiltrated The PIRA in south Armagh and Monaghan on behalf of The RUC.

In 1992, when I moved to Armagh City, I had noted Briege O Caolain being followed by a loyalist who had been involved in the murder of Adrian Carroll in 1983. I asked a friend of mine who was a taxi driver to follow the loyalist. I followed the loyalist to the Rugby Club in Armagh and I told the taxi driver to go on about his business.

I explained to the loyalist that if Briege was harmed I would make a formal statement to The RUC. I also explained Briege's husband was one of the people who was helping to bring about an end to The PIRA campaign. The loyalist explained that Briege had been brought to their attention by a member of Sinn Fein/PIRA who had been living in Monaghan Town and claiming to be On-the-Run, but was now back living in Armagh without explanation.

The reason I dealt with the loyalist myself rather than report to The PIRA in Monaghan, was because I was under orders from Kevin McKenna to keep my head down and not allow myself to be brought to the attention of The RUC.

I would also discover a relationship between so called 'republicans' in Armagh and elements of The UVF in Mid-Ulster, later known as The LVF. I was told by fellow mature students at Armagh Tech that certain individuals who were known to me as 'republicans' were the main drug dealers in Catholic areas of Armagh.

I meet with and spoke to one of the 'republicans' that I had known over many years, and he admitted that they were dealing drugs, he simply said that if they did not deal then someone else would. So called 'republicans' in Armagh City were importing drugs through The Republic, to a safe-house in Stewartstown, County Tyrone and the drugs were being divided between elements of The UVF and so called 'republicans' from Armagh City.

Shortly after my confrontation with the 'republican'' drug dealer, I was assaulted by members of Sinn Fein/PIRA in Armagh, confirming their involvement in the drugs trade. I simply could not get involved in any confrontations as I had important work to do, I spoke to a Garda Detective in Monaghan about the drugs coming into Stewartstown.

Between 1994-97 two sisters in Monaghan were bringing UDR members into Monaghan Town after they would be out drinking in places such as Keady and Caledon. I followed the two sisters and the UDR men to Monaghan Town on one occasion after a tip-off, again, I could not get involved, and so I reported these incursions to a Garda Detective.

If I had reported to Sinn Fein/PIRA, both the UDR men and the women would most likely have been shot dead. In 1994 Doc Doherty was shot dead in Dublin and a bomb left by UVF, in 1997 a bomb was left at the Sinn Fein/PIRA Office in Monaghan Town. I believe that all of this is connected.

Monaghan PIRA Attacks in the 1970s

On 2 May, 1974, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) attacked a British Army base manned by the Ulster Defense Regiment (UDR) near the Northern Ireland–Republic of Ireland border at Clogher, County Tyrone. The IRA unit engaged the small base with automatic weapons, rockets and improvised mortars. Ferret armored cars were deployed to the scene and a fierce firefight erupted. The IRA withdrew behind the border with the Republic. The assault on the outpost killed greenfinch Eva Martin and wounded another UDR soldier.

The situation at the political level in Northern Ireland by 1974 was tense. The new Assembly, established under the provisions of the Sunningdale Agreement, was on the verge of collapse after the victory of anti-Faulkner Unionists in the February general elections. The month of May would witness the Ulster Workers' Council strike, which would be the coup de grâce of The Sunningdale Agreement.

On the security side, the PIRA had stepped up their campaign by April, in the hope that their actions could bring the political compromise to an end. The UDR was put on selective call-out; 100 extra servicemen per battalion were deployed each day. On 10 April, 1974, Lieutenant Colonel George Saunderson, a former second-in-command of the 4 UDR Battalion, was shot and killed by PIRA members at the school of Teemore, Derrylin, County Fermanagh, where he worked as Headmaster. Saunderson was shot ten times with an AK-47 automatic rifle.

On the same day as the Clogher attack, the Ulster Loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) blew up a pub in Belfast killing six Catholic civilians, 18 other people were seriously injured in the attack.

At 11:10pm of 2 May, 1974, when a training night at UDR Deanery barracks, a Georgian building manned by the 6 UDR Battalion, was coming to its conclusion, a group of approximately 40 PIRA members opened up with small arms, anti-tank rockets and improvised mortars from two firing positions. Most of the hostile fire came from a hill 800 yards to the north, while a secondary position targeted the base from the south. The attackers also deployed forward observers equipped with radios. Fire was returned from the part-time guard and from Ferret Armoured Cars belonging to 3 Troop, A Squadron, 1st Royal Tank Regiment armed with Browning .30 machine guns.

The PIRA team struck the UDR outpost with two or three rocket propelled grenades and 15 mortar rounds, although little damage was done. One rocket passed through the base protective fence, landed in an open area and ricocheted upwards, exploding against the opposite fence.

Another rocket hit a tree outside a window, and the outburst killed greenfinch Eva Martin, wounded by a metal fragment, and seriously injured a Lieutenant on his legs, stomach and head. UDR full-time clerk Richard Martin, Eva's husband, witnessed her death. The blast also left the building without electrical power.

Two other greenfinches took care of the operations room. Meanwhile, 4 and 8 UDR Battalion patrols arrived on the scene, mounting ambushes and deploying cut-off platoons on the roads leading to the border and alerting the Garda.

The PIRA covered their getaway by blocking roads using nine hijacked vehicles. The engagement lasted about 25 minutes according to PIRA member and future Garda/MI5 Agent, Sean O'Callaghan.

UDR patrols rounded up a Garand rifle and 27 improvised mortar shells in the surroundings of the Deanery the next morning. Two days later, a patrol from the 6 UDR Battalion thwarted a car bomb attack in Enniskillen.

Harry Baxter, 6 UDR Battalion commander, visited the barracks on the first hours of 3 May. He found the morale among the greenfinches high in spite of Martin's death.

Eva Martin's body was buried at Lisbellaw Presbyterian Church, Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh. She was the first greenfinch and the first female soldier to be killed in action during the PIRA Racist Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing. The wounded lieutenant recovered from his injuries, but he left the regiment sometime later.

Sinn Fein/PIRA Monaghan Town other Murders

Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town, kidnapped, tortured and secretly buried school boy Columba McVeigh. This cowardly murder earned PIRA Chief of Staff, Kevin McKenna and his fellow murderer, Hensey McKenna the nick-name, the Moors Murderers, as Columba’s body remains undiscovered in the Moors of north Monaghan. The kidnapping, torture, murder and secret burial of Columba, identical to the crimes committed by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady in England in the 1960s.

Kevin McKenna was captivated by the Moors Murderers and the fear that their crimes had created on a national level.

Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town, Murdered, 79-year-old Louis Mountbatten, also aboard the boat were his elder daughter Patricia, Lady Brabourne; her husband Lord Brabourne; their twin sons Nicholas and Timothy Knatchbull; Lord Brabourne's mother Doreen, Dowager Lady Brabourne; and Paul Maxwell, a young crew member from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. Nicholas (aged 14) and Paul (aged 15) were killed by the blast and the others were seriously injured. Doreen, Dowager Lady Brabourne (aged 83), died from her injuries the following day.

Thomas McMahon (Carrickmacross, Monaghan) and Francie McGirl (Leitrim) planted the bomb on Louis Mountbatten's boat, both men acting on the direct orders of Martin McGuinness who had been told clearly that women and children would die.

Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town, Murdered, 86-year-old Norman Stronge and his son James. Those who murdered Norman Stronge were Jim Lynagh, Laurence McNally, Aidan McGurk, Seamus Shannon, Edward ‘Ned’ Hamill, Seamus McElwaine, John ‘Dinger’ Bell, Owen Smyth (claimed that he and Lynagh Planned the murders) Barry Kerr.

Those who Commanded the Stronge murders were, Kevin McKenna (Chief of Staff, 1983-1997), Michael McKevitt, Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy, Brendan McKenna (Adjutant), JB O’Hagan (Quarter Master/Recruitment/Internal Security), Hensey McKenna, Barry McHugh, and Jim Lynagh was OC.

In 1981, while drenched in the blood of Norman Stronge and his son James, Sinn Fein Councilor, Jim Lynagh, did with others burn the historic Monaghan Court House to the ground. Lynagh had also planned to murder Lord Paddy Rossmore and burn Lord Rossmore within his holiday home (Gate Lodge) in Rossmore Forest Park. When Lord Rossmore was warned by Gardai not to return to his home that night, Lynagh and others burned his home to the ground.

Lynagh had warned fellow murderer Owen Smyth not to enter Northern Ireland after the Stronge murders, however, Smyth did enter Northern Ireland, was arrested by the RUC and turned Super-grass.

Smyth later withdrew his statements, however, fellow murderer Seamus Shannon was extradited on the basis of Smyth's statements. Smyth like many informers was allowed to return to the ranks of Sinn Fein/PIRA, and would participate in a human bomb attack in 1990, allowed to do so as the OC of that operation was Michael 'Pete' Ryan who was having sex with Owen Smyth's sister-in-law, Dr Marian Smyth. Marian Smyth later giving birth to one of Pete's children (Michael). Pete was having sex with a number of females.

Lynagh in 1981 wanted to bomb a bus load of protestants in Church Square, Monaghan Town, as they prepared to leave for 12 July parades in Northern Ireland. Lynagh wanted to burn the homes of specific Garda Officers, however, when his plans were frustrated he and others painted salutes of a gunman on the homes of certain Garda Officers, including Hugh Brennan as part of a campaign of intimidation.

Lynagh in 1981 wanted to murder members of the Protestant Association in Monaghan Town, namely Alan Crawford and Seymour Crawford.

Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town, Murdered, an innocent civilian, Gabriel Murphy in Emyvale, after Gabriel had challenged Jim Lynagh about the fact that Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town had protected Jim Lynagh’s brother Michael Lynagh who was a serial child rapist. Gabriel was murdered in front of his wife and children by Colm Lynagh and Barry Kerr.

Child Rapist, Michael Lynagh, Monaghan Town, protected by SF/PIRA in Monaghan Town.

By the 1980s, Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town, spent more time covering up for Sinn Fein/PIRA Rapists and Paedophiles, such as Michael Lynagh, Brendan Toal (Father of SF/PIRA Councilor Malachy Toal) Patrick 'Paddy' Tierney and so forth than they did engage in attacks on British forces.

In the picture below, Seamus McElwaine's funeral 1986, Brendan Toal is already, publicly known as a serial Child Rapist, yet Brendan can be seen in the picture below with grey hair and cap in hand, his son Malachy far left black leather jacket.

I arrived in Monaghan Town in 1980 when I was 16 years-old, the Sinn Fein/PIRA structure was as follows.

Fergal O’Hanlon, Sinn Fein Cumann: Members:

In 1980, The Fergal O’Hanlon Cumann meet at a room above Saint Macartan's Hall, Park Street, Monaghan Town, which was located across the street from the home of Pádraigín Ó Murchadha. The key for the Hall had to be collected from the Parish Priest at the Parochial House, Park Street.

Kevin McKenna, WANTED, 1981

Pádraigín Ó Murchadha sister of Vol Fergal O’Hanlon who was shot dead by RUC in 1957, cousin of Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and married to Wexford Republican, Maitiú Ó Murchadha who died in 2020. I found both Pádraigín and Maitiú to be traditional republicans and I often had tea and a slice of bread in the kitchen of their house on Park Street.

Pádraigín's brother Eighneachán Ó hAnnluain (Died, 1994) had been elected as one of four Sinn Fein TDs in 1957, the other three being Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, John Joe Rice John Joe McGirl. Eighneachán was a talented artist and we had a few chats when I would collect An Phoblacht on a Saturday evening before selling them around the pubs.

Maitiú Ó Murchadha's van parked outside the house on Park Street

Joe B. O’Hagan aka J.B. O'Hagan (died 23 April 2001) was a Provisional IRA member and Sinn Fein Candidate for Northern Ireland Assembly elections in 1983. When I moved to Monaghan Town 1980, J.B. O'Hagan was sharing a house on Ballybay Road with Sinn Fein/PIRA member, Joe Campbell from Tyrone, Joe Campbell was one of the people who took over house in Caledon in 1968 from which Civil Rights Campaign begun.

An active member of the PIRA, JB O'Hagan, almost single handedly carried the torch for the IRA in north Armagh for decades. He joined the IRA in 1940 and participated in several IRA campaigns over the next five decades. A founder of the Provisional IRA, he served on The PIRA Army Council till imprisoned in the Republic of Ireland. On 31 October, 1973, he and PIRA members Kevin Mallon and Seamus Twomey, escaped from Mountjoy Jail, Dublin, by means of a helicopter. JB O’Hagan was The PIRA Recruiting Officer in Monaghan Town in 1980, JB also dealt with Internal-Security.

Kieran Starrs Sinn Fein/PIRA member On-the-Run from Portadown, his Brother Aidan Starrs was one of three PIRA members shot dead by The PIRA in 1994 after all three allegedly admitted to working for the RUC, the person who murdered them was himself an RUC Informer. Kieran Starrs was active in Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan but also travelled the country for An Phoblacht.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was in 1980 known as Kevin Keelan, however, he changed his name to the Irish/Gaelic version as he thought it would give him more electoral reach. Caoimhghín was also working in the Bank in 1980, however, Caoimhghín joined Sinn Fein/PIRA when the Hunger-strikes began in 1980 (there were two Hunger-Strikes – 1980 which was called off by Brendan ‘Darkie’ Hughes and then the second Hunger-strike lead by Bobby Sands in which 10 men died).

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, held a number of positions in Sinn Fein/PIRA, at one point he was Manager of An Phoblacht at 44 Parnell Square, Dublin and later he was the Runner between PIRA Chief of Staff, Kevin McKenna and Northern Command. When Caoimhghín became Editor of An Phoblacht, I was managing the Sinn Fein/PIRA Centre at 21 Dublin Street, Monaghan.

The Sinn Fein/PIRA Centre had been a domestic dwelling belonging to an old man called, Jimmy McKenna, when Jimmy died, we purchased the property by means of Caoimhghín writing, and me delivering, letters to businesses in Monaghan Town and asking for their financial support to set-up an advice centre.

When I was managing the Sinn Fein/PIRA centre, I done so with due diligence, I opened the centre early each morning, ensured it was clean, often painting the shop at my own expense as I would never take any money from Sinn Fein/PIRA. I treated clients and visitors with curtesy, no matter who they were. Freestate soldiers, who were poorly paid, would often call in for assistance with supplementary welfare allowances that they could claim due to their low pay. If something was more complicated, I would make an appointment for them to call back with Caoimhghín would hold his weekly clinics.

When it came to the presentation of the centre, I was not shy about telling more senior members of Sinn Fein/PIRA of what I thought of their behavior. I remember, Hensey McKenna entering the centre one day and sitting on the lower book shelf while eating a bag of chips, I asked Hensey to go upstairs as the centre was not a doss house, that did not go down well. On another occasion I challenged, senior members of Sinn Fein/PIRA when I discovered that they had taken money from the till to buy themselves chicken dinners, I told them in no uncertain terms, that the wives of our prisoners were receiving €10 per-month from us as that was all we could afford to pay them.

When it came to elections, only small numbers of those who claimed to be 'republicans' would get involved. A handful of people would do the dirty work, such as pasting 8,000 posters to cardboard, punching holes and threading bailing twine for connecting the posters to lamp-posts. There were always plenty of volunteers to turn up for the warmth of the Count Centre and photo-opportunities.

Rita O'Hare five in from left Protesting at Section 31 Broadcasting Act

On more than one occasion, Fianna Fail TD, Jimmy Leonard, tried to get me to work for Fianna Fail as I was always out on the road day and night when elections were on. I often got a lift to Dublin with Jimmy Leonard TD as I would be thumbing along the road heading for 44 Parnell Square to deliver a message to Rita O'Hare for Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

In fairness, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin always gave me Twenty-Punts (Irish pounds) to get McConnon's bus and something to eat when he sent me to Dublin, however, I would never take Sinn Fein/PIRA money, and so I would thumb to Dublin, and give back the Twenty-Punts to Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin upon my return.

In 1981, we ran PIRA Hunger-striker, Kieran Doherty for election in Monaghan/Cavan and Kieran was elected. In 1982, an opportunity to give Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin his first run out for the Dail was frustrated by Jimmy McElwaine, Father of Seamus McElwaine, when Jimmy insisted on Seamus McElwaine being run for election.

Seamus was in 1982 on remand in Crumlin Road Jail for two murders, our vote crumbled, due to internal rivalries. When the people of Monaghan/Cavan voted for Kieran Doherty, they done so to save life, this was misunderstood, they were not going to vote for a person charged with two murders. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was eventually elected to The Dail in 1997.

This move towards politics, with, "The Ballot Box in one hand and the Armalite in the other", was not an easy move. Criticism was directed at Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin when he spent £300 (Punts) on large self-image posters, at a time that Provisional IRA volunteers were being paid £10 per-week to murder, and if they were in jail, their wives were being paid £10 per-month. Kevin McKenna, Jim Lynagh and others had supported Ivor Bell and his contention that Gerry Adams was winding down The Provisional IRA. In 1983, as The Provisional IRA struggled to fund terrorist operations, particularly in England, failed elections had cost Sinn Fein/PIRA over €1,000,000.

Vincent Conlon was a senior member of The PIRA and dealt mainly with PIRA Finance. Vincent Conlon was with Fergal O’Hanlon and Sean South in 1957 when both were shot dead by the RUC. Vincent Conlon and I often worked together maintaining the Fergal O’Hanlon Monument on The Clones Road in Monaghan Town. He was an intelligent man with a wealth of knowledge and he imparted that knowledge to young people such as myself.

Vincent McKenna joined The Fergal O’Hanlon Sinn Fein/PIRA Cumann in 1980 and was sworn in by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, all of the above (excluding Vincent Conlon) were in attendance. Vincent McKenna worked politically with Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, although this relationship sometimes over-lapped with PIRA business.

For example, in 1986, Jim Lynagh wanted me to move with my young family to Aughnacloy permanently as a Provisional IRA Intelligence Officer. I agreed to Lynagh's request, however, when I began stocking the shelfs of the Sinn Fein/PIRA centre with my republican books and 4-track-tapes, as I wanted to return to Tyrone with clean hands. Caoimhghín asked why I was of loading my books and tapes, I told Caoimhghín what Lynagh had asked of me.

A couple of days after I had told Caoimhghín what Lynagh wanted me to do, Lynagh spoke to me. Lynagh said I should not have told Caoimhghín about our plan, however, Lynagh said Caoimhghín was right. Lynagh told me to join the local Aughaloo GAA club in Aughnacloy and use those visits to Aughnacloy for Intelligence gathering. I began training with Aughaloo GAA in 1986 and finished training and playing for Aughaloo in 1988.

Vincent McKenna front left carrying coffin at Kieran Doherty Commemoration in Monaghan Town 1981

Vincent McKenna was at all times answerable to his cousin PIRA Chief of Staff, Kevin McKenna, however, Vincent McKenna had a number of roles within Sinn Fein/PIRA, Vincent McKenna worked with JB O’Hagan on Internal-Security, with Joe Cahill on Internal-Security in Dublin, as an Intelligence Officer with Jim Lynagh, after Jim Lynagh was shot dead at Loughgall Vincent McKenna worked with another member of East Tyrone PIRA on Intelligence, and would serve as a Runner between Kevin McKenna and Martin McGuinness, Northern Command between 1992-1997. Omagh Bomb

Na Fianna Eireann (Junior PIRA)

I joined Na Fianna Eireann in Monaghan Town in June 1980, while Na Fianna Eireann is the Junior Wing of the PIRA, it was more like the Boy Scouts, just marching and learning commands in Irish. We marched at Bodenstown and on Easter Sunday in Monaghan. Some graduated to The PIRA, most walked away.

Na Fianna Eireann Members: Fra O’Leary, Malachy Toal, Vincent O’Brien (RIP, Feb 2022), John McKenna, Jimmy McKenna, Vincent McKenna, Siobhan McKenna, Roisin McKenna, Philip Callan, Leo Cassidy, Tommy Gallagher, Noel McGahan, Ruby Coughlan, Christy Lynn and Pat Lynn.

Make-up of The PIRA Command Staff in Monaghan:

Kevin McKenna (Chief of Staff, 1983-1997) Kevin was On-the-Run from County Tyrone, where he had murdered a number of people. Kevin also murdered and directed murder in The Irish Republic. Kevin McKenna worked closely with Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy and MichaelMcKevitt.

Hennessy McKenna was On-The-Run and originated from south Derry. Hennessy was tight with Kevin McKenna and both of them had Murdered Columba McVeigh and Cormac McCabe in north Monaghan.

Barry McHugh Mullaghmatt Council Housing Estate (Kieran Doherty Park) was On-the-Run from Tyrone and was close to Kevin McKenna, Barry had married the widow of another PIRA member who was killed by his own bomb during an attack on an RUC Station. Barry McHugh and Tommy McNulty had manned the incident centre in Dungannon during the 1975 cease-fire.

Brendan McKenna (Adjutant) was On-the-Run from south Derry and had married a local Monaghan woman, Bernie Rush, who was a hairdresser. Brendan lived in Mullaghmatt Council Housing Estate (Kieran Doherty Park). Brendan would also take on the post of Director of Elections. Brendan, in my view, kept the wrong company.

Brendan McKenna front left with one hand on Lynagh's coffin.

J.B. O’Hagan (see, Fergal O’Hanlon, Sinn Fein Cumann: Members)

Vincent Conlon initially dealt with Finance, however, after he moved to America Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin took on that role, and I can say with confidence, there was no money within Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan other than what was raised from organising events, such as The Wolfe Tones in Emyvale, although by the time we paid The Wolfe Tones there was not much left for Sinn Fein/PIRA.

If Kevin McKenna needed money to pay someone off, such as a corrupt Garda, Kevin received that money from Slab Murphy.

PIRA OCs

When a member of The PIRA was imprisoned, he automatically lost his Rank and would be replaced very quickly. When Jim Lynagh was in Jail Edward ‘Ned’ Hamill was the OC. Charlie Caufield was OC in south Fermanagh.

Edward ‘Ned’ Hamill

Jim Lynagh who Murdered Norman Strong and his son James

Charlie Caufield - OC Enniskillen Bomb 1987

Seamus McElwain shot dead by SAS 1986

Michael 'Pete' Ryan

Pat Treanor

John ‘Dinger’ Bell

Provisional IRA Volunteers

Sinn Fein/Provisional IRA in Monaghan Town, protected many child-rapists within their ranks. One of the most prolific child rapists was Michael Lynagh, who was Jim Lynagh's older brother by 3-years.

Michael Lynagh had worked for Jim Lynagh's election to Monaghan Urban Council in 1979, so those who say that Michael Lynagh was not involved in Sinn Fein/Provisional IRA are simply liars.

Shortly after I moved to Monaghan Town in 1980 when I was 16-years-old and living alone in a bedsit, I was lured to a house by Michael Lynagh, stabbed and raped.

I reported being raped to a member of The Provisional IRA and I was subject to a Kangaroo Court that was Chaired by JB O'Hagan, who was Provisional IRA Quarter Master (and other roles) and later a Sinn Fein candidate for the NI Assembly elections in 1983. The conclusion of the Kangaroo Court was that I was to remain silent and Michael Lynagh would be moved to Dublin.

I did not disclose being raped to someone who had asked me to baby-sit with her a few weeks later in August, 1980. While baby-sitting this female disclosed to me that she had been raped by Michael Lynagh when she was a child. I did not disclose my being raped, I was simply shocked.

I can say now, that my being raped by Michael Lynagh, was known to An Garda Siochana, however, no action could be taken, or I would have been murdered as was fellow school child Columba McVeigh, because that is what JB O'Hagan said would happen if I told anyone about being raped.

Michael Lynagh was known as a child rapist before I moved to Monaghan Town, and in order to cover his crimes Michael Lynagh claimed mental illness and alcohol abuse.

In 1982, Michael Lynagh hung himself in Mountjoy Jail, I asked the young woman who had disclosed to me about being raped to go with me to St Macartan's Cathedral to see Michael Lynagh in his coffin so she could get closure, but she could not, she continued to live with dark depressive moods and would many years later admit so in a public setting, but still too afraid to name Michael Lynagh in public.

I seen Michael Lynagh in his coffin and this helped me to some degree, I was happy that he would rape no more children.

Michael Lynagh a serial child rapist protected by Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan Town.

Seamus Shannon (Jim Lynagh’s Brother-in-Law) Murdered Norman Strong and his son James

John Joe Coyle Tuff man from Ardboe, enjoyed a good scrap, was OC on some operations

Laurence McNally shot dead by SAS 1991

Michael 'Pete' Ryan (escaped from Crumlin Road Jail, 1981) shot dead by SAS 1991

Aidan McGurk (Dungannon) Caught while sleeping on command wire to Landmine. Aidan's son Gary McGurk who was born in Monaghan Town and attended St Louis Convent school, would as an adult be sentenced to 29 years in prison in America for the Murder of a young female student.

Tommy 'TC' Cassidy Serial Killer, also shot and wounded Robert John Murray, Aughnacloy, cowardly attack, injuring Robert John, his wife and 6 week old baby.

Sean xxxxxxxxxx (Volunteer – was stood down - disclosed the names of two Female PIRA Volunteers to this Author, who were living in Aughnacloy and who were not known to The RUC, this Author has never disclosed their names to anyone)

Gerard xxxxxxxxxx (Quarter Master)

Vincent xxxxxxxxxx (Gunman)

Sean Tierney (arrested by RUC 1986, Gough Barracks Armagh)

Sean Lynch wounded with Seamus McElwain 1986

Peter ‘Pete’ Rafferty

Brian Cunningham (Keady)

James Cunningham (Keady)

Jackie Crowe (south Armagh)

George Pontyz (south Armagh, based in Castleblaney – RUC Informer)

Bernard McGinn, Castleblaney, operated south Armagh, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin’s brother-in-law, turned Informer when arrested by The RUC, 20 senior south Armagh PIRA members arrested on McGinn's evidence. McGinn was allowed to return to Monaghan and live out the rest of his life, many Informers enjoyed this Amnesty from The PIRA after they had turned informer, if they were connected to the right people.

Peadar Mohan Killed car accident

Tommy McMahon Murdered Lord Louis Mountbatton 1979

Tommy McNulty

John Arthurs from Dungannon, done hard time, good solid individual, feet firmly on the ground

Pat 'The Gub' Arthurs, from Dungannon, had his finger shot off when trying to murder a prison officer

Pat Corrigan

Paddy McCarron

Oliver McCarron (Dismissed)

Michael ‘Micky’ John

Brendan Corrigan

Brian McMeel

Gabriel McCormack

Paddy McCormack

Eugene Wallace

Frank Daly

Noel McConnell

Jeff McKenna (Augher) Killed in Hit and Run on Dorset Street in Dublin 1982 while selling An Phoblacht. Involved in attack that resulted in Murder of Eva Martin.

Jeff McKenna front-left 1981

Tommy Moynagh

Brendan Toal

Malachy Toal

John Toal

Jim Quigley

Cathal McNally

Malachy Leonard

Ben McCloy

Cathal Lavery

John McKenna

Tom Green

John Milne

Rose O’Neil

Fintan Ó Caoláin

Frank Cleary Brother of Peter Cleary who was shot dead by SAS

Stephen Moore

Joe O’Neil

Brendan Devlin

Seamus McErlaine (south Derry)

Frank Hardie

Charlie McGrory

Barney McAleer

James Dunlop (Ballymena)

Eamon ‘Ned’ Kelly

Kieran Lavery

Edward ‘Ned’ McDonald

Seamus Soraghan (seriously assaulted by Garda Heavy Gang)

James 'Lou' Ginley, caught with Aidan McGurk while sleeping on a Command wire to a landmine in 1981. On 27 November, 2022, James Lou Ginley was arrested by An Garda Siochana for subjecting his wife Rosemary to a brutal and sustained assault.

Laurence McKenna (5 years Lynagh's funeral)

Patrick McKenna (5 years Lynagh’s funeral)

Brian McKenna

Peter McKenna

Owen Smyth RUC Informer, claimed that he and Jim Lynagh planned the Murders of Norman Strong and his son James

Colm Lynagh (Volunteer – waster – shot dead doorman, Gabriel Murphy in Emyvale)

Barry Kerr (Volunteer – waster – shot dead doorman, Gabriel Murphy in Emyvale)

Southern Command Staff based at 44 Parnell Square, Dublin

Joe Cahill

Des Mackin

Seamus McGarrigle (P. O'Neil)

Dr Rose Dugdale

Rita O’Hare

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

INLA in Monaghan Town 1980s

Tony McCloskey Kidnapped, Tortured and Murdered by Dessie O'Hare

Fergal Lavery

Gerry Mallon Shot dead in Dungannon 1983

Paul Patterson

Andy McKenna

Antony Ballintine

Martin Gray

Gerard Ginley

Fergal Toal

Brian McKenna (Armagh)

Gregory Carroll (Armagh)

Conclusion Sinn Fein Provisional IRA Monaghan Town

Sinn Fein/IRA had a very strong base in Monaghan and this base had been strengthened during the 1957-62 failed border campaign, during which Sinn Fein/IRA had four TDs elected to Dail Eireann.

The sectarian campaign that began in Northern Ireland in 1968, meant that Sinn Fein/PIRA opened up their ranks to people who were basically sectarian bigots and other purely criminal elements, and the tradition of Republicanism was lost in this sectarian manifestation.

It cannot be denied that at the outset of the campaign in 1968 Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan soon assembled what can be described as a fighting force. However, by the 1980s, Sinn Fein/PIRA in Monaghan spent more time protecting Child Rapists such as Michael Lynagh, Brendan Toal, Patrick 'Paddy' Tierney and forth and Informers such as Owen Smyth, Bernard McGinn than they did fighting the Brits.