Background and early IRA activity Martin Meehan (Irish republican)

martin meehan on active service provisional irish republican army in belfast, 1971

meehan questioned in relation 1971 scottish soldiers killings never charged. in 6 weeks following beginning of operation demetrius in august 1971, 6 soldiers green howards regiment killed ira in north belfast. meehan became 1 of wanted ira members in area, , when arrested badly beaten soldiers , needed 47 stitches of head. meehan imprisoned without charge under special powers act in crumlin road jail. meehan , 2 other ira members including joe b. o hagan escaped prison on 2 december 1971. men covered in butter keep warm, hid inside manhole six-and-a-half hours before scaling prison walls using ropes made knotted blankets , sheets.

meehan escaped across border dundalk in republic of ireland, , on 27 january 1972 arrested garda along 7 other ira members following four-hour cross-border gun battle between ira , soldiers royal scots dragoon guards. meehan claimed reporters @ time, pasted them. have heard them squealing miles . despite on 4,500 rounds of ammunition being fired casualty farmer s prize-winning pig. ira members arrested in possession of anti-tank gun, carbine , 7 rifles, acquitted @ trial following month due lack of evidence.

meehan returned northern ireland, arrested on 9 august 1972. charged escaping lawful custody, , @ trial argued under special powers act british soldier had no power of arrest , such had legal right escape. awarded £800 in compensation being illegally detained twenty-three days, , government forced amend special powers act legalise detention of others held under act. charged membership of provisional ira, , received three-year sentence when became first person convicted of offence. imprisoned in long kesh, , released on 4 october 1974. after release interned without trial, , on 5 december 1975 last internee released after internment had been abolished.

the long war

on 11 july 1979 ira kidnapped seventeen-year-old youth suspected of being informer club in new lodge area of belfast. on four-day period moved between number of safe houses beaten , interrogated, , confessed working informer british army. youth rescued british army patrol raided house being held, , 1 kidnapper arrested. meehan , 4 other men arrested after. in march 1980 meehan sentenced twelve years imprisonment after found guilty of conspiracy kidnap , false imprisonment. meehan convicted based largely on evidence of informer, evidence described judge of poor quality . meehan protested innocence, , began hunger strike lasted sixty-six days culminating in thirst strike refused water. protest ended following intervention of cardinal Ó fiaich, persuaded meehan end strike. in september 1985 meehan released prison.

in march 1988 meehan sentenced further fifteen years imprisonment after being convicted of kidnapping , false imprisonment of member of territorial army. soldier had been kidnapped on 12 july 1986 , imprisoned in house in ardoyne area, before being freed in rescue operation british army. court heard soldier had suffered broken jaw , had been bound , blindfolded in preparation being shot dead, although meehan claimed arrested while attempting arrange hand soldier on priest. while in prison meehan assaulted prison officers, later received £14,000 in compensation. released prison on 20 january 1994.