Charles Breslin
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Breslin (September 5, 1964 – February 23, 1985), was a volunteer
in the West Tyrone Brigade
of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
from Strabane
, County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
.
. At the age of 15, Breslin, who had an easy going disposition, became an avid reader of Irish history and politics and joined Na Fianna Éireann, a republican scouting movement.
, were shot dead by undercover British Army
members (Special Air Service
), while returning arms to a dump, in a field, off Plumbridge Road, Strabane.
The undercover soldiers were aware of the arms dump after being tipped off by an informer. Over 200 hundred shots were fired at the trio and Breslin was hit 13 times.
, believed these, and other deaths, were part of a wider British government "shoot-to-kill" policy
, where Irish republican paramilitaries were summarily executed without any attempt at arrest.
The families of the three IRA members that were killed claimed they were ambushed after a stake out by the SAS
. In February 1987, a pathologist at the inquest stated two of the victims had been shot 28 times, mostly while on the ground and that the third victim had been hit on the bridge the of the nose. All three had single bullet wounds to the head.
on 7 May 2002, as part of a Belfast
High Court settlement brought as a result of the shootings.
The events of the shooting are also remembered in a song called British Justice (Shoot To Kill Policy).
. Members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
were accused of desecrating the graves of the volunteers, although Superintendent Raymond Murray of the PSNI denied that they had any involvement.
Volunteer (Irish republican)
Volunteer, often abbreviated Vol., is a term used by a number of Irish republican paramilitary organisations to describe their members. Among these have been the various forms of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army...
in the West Tyrone Brigade
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
from Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Background
Breslin was from the "Head of the Town" area in Strabane, close to the border with County DonegalCounty Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. At the age of 15, Breslin, who had an easy going disposition, became an avid reader of Irish history and politics and joined Na Fianna Éireann, a republican scouting movement.
Paramilitary activities
On February 23, 1985, Breslin, Michael Devine (22) and David Devine (17), volunteers within the Provisional Irish Republican ArmyProvisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
, were shot dead by undercover British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
members (Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
), while returning arms to a dump, in a field, off Plumbridge Road, Strabane.
The undercover soldiers were aware of the arms dump after being tipped off by an informer. Over 200 hundred shots were fired at the trio and Breslin was hit 13 times.
Shoot-to-kill policy
The families, many in the local community and across IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, believed these, and other deaths, were part of a wider British government "shoot-to-kill" policy
Shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland
During the period known as "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary were accused of operating a shoot-to-kill policy, under which suspects were alleged to have been deliberately killed without any attempt to arrest them...
, where Irish republican paramilitaries were summarily executed without any attempt at arrest.
The families of the three IRA members that were killed claimed they were ambushed after a stake out by the SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
. In February 1987, a pathologist at the inquest stated two of the victims had been shot 28 times, mostly while on the ground and that the third victim had been hit on the bridge the of the nose. All three had single bullet wounds to the head.
Damages from the Ministry of Defence
Substantial damages were awarded to the families of Breslin and the Devine brothers by the Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
on 7 May 2002, as part of a Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
High Court settlement brought as a result of the shootings.
The events of the shooting are also remembered in a song called British Justice (Shoot To Kill Policy).
Memorial attacked
In February 2005, in excess of a thousand people went to the graveside of Charles Breslin and the Devlin brothers to mark the 20th anniversary of the shooting and hear an oration given by Gerry AdamsGerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
. Members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
were accused of desecrating the graves of the volunteers, although Superintendent Raymond Murray of the PSNI denied that they had any involvement.
See also
- Shoot-to-kill policy in Northern IrelandShoot-to-kill policy in Northern IrelandDuring the period known as "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary were accused of operating a shoot-to-kill policy, under which suspects were alleged to have been deliberately killed without any attempt to arrest them...
- Diarmuid O'NeillDiarmuid O'NeillDiarmuid O'Neill , was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army . O'Neill was killed in London in 1996 during a police raid on the hotel where he and two other IRA volunteers were staying...
- Aidan McAnespieAidan McAnespieAidan McAnespie was an Irish Catholic who was killed in contested circumstances by a bullet from a heavy machine-gun held by a soldier at Aughnacloy border checkpoint in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland during the Troubles....