Ciara Durkin
Encyclopedia
Ciara Durkin was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard
who died under mysterious circumstances while deployed in Afghanistan. The US Army investigation ruled the death a suicide but the family disputes this.
Durkin was from the island of Eanach Mheáin, near Lettermore
, in County Galway
, Republic of Ireland
. Her mother, Angela Cloherty, is a native of Eanach Mheáin while her father, Tommy, was a native of Tourmakeady
, County Mayo
. Following Tommy's retirement as a teacher, the family emigrated to Boston
in 1986. The family were only in Boston a few months when her father died at the age of 55. Ciara returned to Ireland
to attend primary school in Tuairín, Carraoe /An Cheathrú Rua, and secondary school in Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiarán, An Cheathrú Rua, returning to Boston in her mid-teens.
Of her family, her mother, Angela, and siblings Fíona Canavan, Máire, Deidre and Pearse live in Boston, while her brother Tómas lives in New York
. Her sister Angela lives in Eanach Mheáin and is married to Pádraig Ó Conghaile, a former footballer with Lettermore and now works in Galway VEC. Her brother, Eóin Durkan also resides in Eanach Mheáin, while another sister, Áine Durkan lives in Buncrana, County Donegal
. She and her brother Pearse were very active members of the Boston gay community. Family members said Ciara was planning to marry her longtime girlfriend following the end of her tour of duty in Afghanistan
.
Her ashes were brought to Galway on Saturday October 13 and buried with her late father in Lettermore
graveyard.
in Afghanistan
of a single gunshot wound to the head, and the Army has confirmed that Durkin's death was "non-combat"-related.
According to reports, Durkin had told her family that she'd uncovered information that "would upset other military officials." According to Durkin's sister, "She was in the finance unit and she said, 'I discovered some things I don’t like and I made some enemies because of it.' Then she said, in her light-hearted way, 'If anything happens to me, you guys make sure it gets investigated.'" An e-mail she had sent friends in June 2007, claimed a fellow soldier had pulled a 9mm gun on her. Family members have also noted that Durkin was a lesbian
which may have posed a problem within the military. After her death a number of scandals involving Afghan arms sales and high level officials surfaced.
and Ted Kennedy
of Massachusetts and US Representative William Delahunt are pressing for answers. In a letter, Senator John Kerry urged US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates "to deploy your staff on this matter immediately, so that the answers and circumstances around Specialist Durkin's death are uncovered, expeditiously and thoroughly."
Massachusetts National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, and contains the oldest units in the United States Army. It is currently headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and commanded by Major General Joseph C...
who died under mysterious circumstances while deployed in Afghanistan. The US Army investigation ruled the death a suicide but the family disputes this.
Durkin was from the island of Eanach Mheáin, near Lettermore
Lettermore
Leitir Móir is a Gaeltacht village in County Galway, Ireland. It is also the name of an island, linked by road to the mainland, in which the village of Lettermore is situated. The name derives from the Irish Leitir Móir meaning great rough hillside . The main spoken language of the area is Irish...
, in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Her mother, Angela Cloherty, is a native of Eanach Mheáin while her father, Tommy, was a native of Tourmakeady
Tourmakeady
Tuar Mhic Éadaigh is a small village in County Mayo, Ireland. It has a population of about 1000 people. It is located on the shores of Lough Mask. Part of Tourmakeady was originally in neighbouring County Galway, but was placed under the administration of County Mayo in 1898...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. Following Tommy's retirement as a teacher, the family emigrated to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1986. The family were only in Boston a few months when her father died at the age of 55. Ciara returned to Ireland
Ireland
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...
to attend primary school in Tuairín, Carraoe /An Cheathrú Rua, and secondary school in Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiarán, An Cheathrú Rua, returning to Boston in her mid-teens.
Of her family, her mother, Angela, and siblings Fíona Canavan, Máire, Deidre and Pearse live in Boston, while her brother Tómas lives in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Her sister Angela lives in Eanach Mheáin and is married to Pádraig Ó Conghaile, a former footballer with Lettermore and now works in Galway VEC. Her brother, Eóin Durkan also resides in Eanach Mheáin, while another sister, Áine Durkan lives in Buncrana, County Donegal
County 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...
. She and her brother Pearse were very active members of the Boston gay community. Family members said Ciara was planning to marry her longtime girlfriend following the end of her tour of duty in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Her ashes were brought to Galway on Saturday October 13 and buried with her late father in Lettermore
Lettermore
Leitir Móir is a Gaeltacht village in County Galway, Ireland. It is also the name of an island, linked by road to the mainland, in which the village of Lettermore is situated. The name derives from the Irish Leitir Móir meaning great rough hillside . The main spoken language of the area is Irish...
graveyard.
Details of her last days
Durkin died in a secure area at Bagram Air BaseBagram Air Base
Bagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
of a single gunshot wound to the head, and the Army has confirmed that Durkin's death was "non-combat"-related.
According to reports, Durkin had told her family that she'd uncovered information that "would upset other military officials." According to Durkin's sister, "She was in the finance unit and she said, 'I discovered some things I don’t like and I made some enemies because of it.' Then she said, in her light-hearted way, 'If anything happens to me, you guys make sure it gets investigated.'" An e-mail she had sent friends in June 2007, claimed a fellow soldier had pulled a 9mm gun on her. Family members have also noted that Durkin was a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
which may have posed a problem within the military. After her death a number of scandals involving Afghan arms sales and high level officials surfaced.
Congressional involvement
US Senators John KerryJohn Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
and Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
of Massachusetts and US Representative William Delahunt are pressing for answers. In a letter, Senator John Kerry urged US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates "to deploy your staff on this matter immediately, so that the answers and circumstances around Specialist Durkin's death are uncovered, expeditiously and thoroughly."
See also
- Pat TillmanPat TillmanCorporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
- LaVena JohnsonLaVena JohnsonLaVena Johnson was a Private First Class in the United States Army whose death, officially ruled a suicide, has attracted international attention amid claims she was raped and murdered...
- Jessica LynchJessica LynchJessica Dawn Lynch is a former Private First Class in the United States Army Quartermaster Corps. Lynch served in Iraq during the 2003 invasion by U.S. and allied forces. On March 23, 2003 she was injured and captured by Iraqi forces but was recovered on April 1 by U.S...