Seán McCaughey
Encyclopedia
Seán McCaughey (born c. 8 June 1915–11 May 1946) was an Irish Republican Army leader in the 1930s and 1940s, and hunger striker.
Born in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, McCaughey was Adjutant-General of the IRA and Officer Commanding (O/C) of its Northern Command
. In September 1941 he was found guilty by a Dublin court of having detained and assaulted Stephen Hayes, IRA Chief of Staff and sentenced to death by firing squad. His sentence was commuted to life.
Imprisoned in Portlaoise Prison
, McCaughey refused to wear prison clothes and spent nearly five years naked except for a blanket. He commenced a hunger strike
on 19 April 1946. After 16 days, he stopped taking water and died on 11 May, the 23rd day of his protest.
He was buried in a family grave which is under the care of the National Graves Association, Belfast
in Milltown Cemetery
.
He was the last person to die on hunger strike in the Republic of Ireland
.
Born in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, McCaughey was Adjutant-General of the IRA and Officer Commanding (O/C) of its Northern Command
IRA Northern Command
Northern Command was a command division in the Irish Republican Army and Provisional IRA, responsible for directing IRA operations in the northern part of Ireland.-IRA:...
. In September 1941 he was found guilty by a Dublin court of having detained and assaulted Stephen Hayes, IRA Chief of Staff and sentenced to death by firing squad. His sentence was commuted to life.
Imprisoned in Portlaoise Prison
Portlaoise Prison
Portlaoise Prison is the Republic of Ireland's only high security prison. It is located in Portlaoise, County Laois. It should not be confused with the Midlands Prison, which is a newer, medium security prison situated directly beside it....
, McCaughey refused to wear prison clothes and spent nearly five years naked except for a blanket. He commenced a hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
on 19 April 1946. After 16 days, he stopped taking water and died on 11 May, the 23rd day of his protest.
He was buried in a family grave which is under the care of the National Graves Association, Belfast
National Graves Association, Belfast
The National Graves Association, Belfast is a private Irish republican organisation which undertakes to care for and maintain the graves of some Irish Republican Army volunteers who are buried in Belfast cemeteries...
in Milltown Cemetery
Milltown Cemetery
Milltown Cemetery is a large cemetery in west Belfast, Northern Ireland.It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and the M1 motorway. Milltown Cemetery opened in 1869 and there are now approximately 200,000 of Belfast's citizens buried there. Most of those buried there are...
.
He was the last person to die on hunger strike in the 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,...
.