---

 

EXCERPT FROM:

CLASS STRUGGLE

Vol. 7 No. 3   MARCH   1983

MURDER OF A COMRADE

BY AN IRISH CORRESPONDENT

1983 opened with growing concern that the British army of occupation and "it's eyes and ears" - the RUC was engaged on a "shoot on suspicion" policy here in the six north eastern counties of Ireland. Events before the bells rang out the old year have since followed a similar pattern and it is clear that the new year will not he a happy one for our long suffering populace whose fresh tears have been shed over the graveside of yet another young anti Imperialist.

NEIL MC MONAGLE

On Saturday February 5th, the latest victim of the British Army/RUC policy of "shoot on suspicion" was laid to rest on Derry's Creggan Hill. His short life was marked by an outstanding dedication to the land of his birth and the class of his origin. For him the struggle for international socialism began and ended on the streets of his own city.

Comrade Neil McMonagle often showed a keen interest in what was happening in Latin America and the Middle East, and instinctively supported those fighters for national liberation and socialism, regardless of their creed or skin colour. He celebrated the victories of the downtrodden, because every victory abroad weakened imperialism on a global scale. His infrequent visits to the Connolly book shop in Derry, which was regularly raided by the Crown Forces, was always in search of some reading material, usually associated with revolutionary forces overseas. Often he took an interest in the solidarity movement in Britain, and acted as a representative of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement when socialist visitors came to the city. Above all he will be remembered by those who were honoured to have known him as a friend and comrade for his cheerful nature and ready smile, and a personality of optimism that was certainly the hallmark of a genuine revolutionary socialist. At a later date a more fitting tribute will be recorded when his dream of unity, peace, and socialism has been achieved. One is reminded of a frequent saying of his: "They May Kill the Revolutionary, But Never the Revolution!"

Neil was only 23 years old when his young life was snuffed out by British imperialism on the night of Wednesday February 2nd near his home in the Shantallow district. His companion, 19 year Liam Duffy was shot several times and is now critically ill under military guard at Musgrave Park Hospital, over ninety miles from his home. Neil's family in the face of media suggestions to the contrary, remain adamant that the shooting was 'premeditated cold blooded murder" and told pressmen of the death threats issued by the RUC against their brother after he was released from jail for insufficient evidence against him. The Derry Journal of February 4th takes up the story:

"Mrs Marian Robinson, the sister of the dead man, said that her brother had been baby-sitting in Mrs Helena Breslin's house at Leafair Park and had said that he had been expecting Liam Duffy to call and keep him company. She said that Mr Duffy had obviously called with him as there were cups and plates left sitting in the house, suggesting that the two youths had been eating together in the house before the shooting had occurred. The McMonagle filmily said they believed the two youths were decoyed out of the house: they said that their brother must have been lured out of the house otherwise he would not have left the Breslin children, aged one and two years unattended. It is still unclear how the two men came to leave the house and go to the area where the shooting occurred.

"There was unanimous belief among residents of the area who talked with reporters that the shooting had been carried out by an under cover SAS squad and that neither of the two local men were armed. Tension in the area was high following the shooting, with local people angrily denouncing the fact the ambulance transporting the youths to hospital was delayed by the army for at least ten minutes.

"Local priest, Rev Joseph Carolan, was one of the first at the scene and he administered the Last Rites. He said that the two young men were lying in a small field just off the grass verge, only about three feet from each other. He said that one victim was obviously shot dead while the other was moving his arms apparently shot in the stomach. He said that the ambulance taking the two youths to hospital was blocked by soldiers and that an altercation then took place between him and an army officer, which led to Fr. Carolan contacting an RUC inspector and the ambulance was then allowed to proceed"

INLA STATEMENT

In a statement issued to the same paper on February 7th, his comrades paid their own tribute to Neil's memory: "The Derry Brigade of the INLA deeply mourn the assassination of our comrade Neil McMonagle by the SAS on Wednesday. He was a fearless soldier who will not go unforgotten. His powers of leadership and his untiring devotion to the cause of republican socialism made him a prime target for the emissaries of British imperialism who in the end took his young life."

Comrade McMonagle was given a republican and military funeral as is traditional for all revolutionary fighters who dedicated their lives for socialism. His remains were draped in the tricolour and starry plough flags and his beret and belt were placed on top of his coffin. As the procession neared the city cemetery a volley of shots echoed through the narrow ghetto streets of the Bogside - a last salute to a proletarian soldier of a proletarian army of liberation. Even in death the occupation forces could not ignore this revolutionary, indeed a non intended tribute in its own right. Three British army helicopters shadowed the funeral procession all the time as it made its way from the church to the city cemetery. It was the first time that so many had been present at a Republican funeral. (The cost of this tribute from the army is £1,000 for every hour a helicopter is in the air.) After two minutes of silence was observed, a comrade from the IRSP step- forward to deliver a brief oration. He said that Neil had taken the path of resistance, to which he was committed for some years, and which ultimately cost him his life. He hit out at what he described as the hypocrisy of church leaders who called for a week of prayer for Judge Doyle but ignored the reality of the British presence in Ireland as shown by the murder of Neil McMonagle. Continuing he added: "Comrade Neil had known about the hardships of life under British rule and had always recognised the needs of the community and the necessity of armed struggle. Neil had married while on the run and had worked tirelessly for the working class of Derry without complaint." The speaker called on all those present to work towards building up a movement that would bring about a 32 county Socialist Republic. That, he said, would be a fitting tribute to the memory of Neil McMonagle.

 

 

Report of the Funeral of Eugene (Neil) McMonagle

(SAOIRSE, newspaper of Belfast IRSP, March 3rd 1983)

Following the funeral on Saturday of Derry INLA man, Neil McMonagle, who was shot dead in a British army undercover operation last Wednesday night the INLA repeated their warning to civilians to stay away from premises frequented by members of the British army and the RUC.

Neil McMonagle was given a military style funeral during which three armed and masked men fired shots over his coffin. As the funeral cortege made its way from his sister Marion's home in Leafair Park to St. Brigid's Church, Carnhill, for Saturday's Requiem Mass, the hearse was flanked by seven masked men. McMonagle's coffin was draped in the Irish Tricolour and the Starry Plough flags with his beret and belt on top, but these flags were removed from the coffin before it was taken into the church for 9. 30 am Mass.

Father O'Connell told the congregation that it was a sad day for justice and the rule of law when questions had to be asked publicly about the 'apparent SAS type shoot to kill policy which led to Neil's death.'

Among the mourners was Martin McMonagle, a 20 year old brother of the dead man who was on compassionate parole from Portlaoise prison to attend the funeral.

Army helicopters shadowed the funeral procession as it made its way to the church and from the church to the city cemetery. As the courtege reached the junction of Bligh's Lane and Lone Moor Road, a masked colour party of 13 men and two women and three armed men wearing black trousers, green anoraks and masks, emerged from Stanley's Walk. The coffin was removed from the hearse and the armed men following orders given in Irish, fired three volleys of shots from handguns before disappearing into the crowd. Then the cortege continued on its way to the cemetery led by four drummers and two masked women carrying the Tricolour and Starry Plough flags. The other members of the colour party flanked the hearse. At the graveside, two minutes of silence was observed. In a tribute to the deceased Liam O'Comain of the IRSP said that Neil McMonagle had never understood the meaning of cowardice, and that the Kitsonian tactic of eliminating Republican activists would prove as useless as internment, brutal interrogations, H-Blocks, non-jury courts, rubber bullets and supergrasses. He added, "for in the end the will of the people will be revealed for that will is embodied in the minds and hearts of people like Neil McMonagle."

Jimmy Brown, a member of the IRSP Ard Chomhairle, also praised the dead man who, he said, had taken a path of committed resistance, a path which ultimately cost him his life. He hit out at what he described as the hypocrisy of Church leaders.

Irish Republican Socialist Party, Derry City.