Martin McBirney
Robert Martin McBirney
Biography
McBirney studied law at Trinity College Dublin and became a barrister in Belfast, before being called to the bar at Gray's Inn.[1] In his spare time, he became active in the Northern Ireland Labour Party (NILP), and served on its executive from 1964-67. In 1966-67, he was also party Chairman. He combined these roles as the first Chairman of the Northern Ireland Society of Labour Lawyers.[2][3]
McBirney stood for the NILP in
In the 1970s, McBirney focused on his legal career. He was made a
Death
At approximately 8.20 am on 16 September 1974, McBirney was shot in his home at 172 Belmont Road, Belfast. A man was seen to get out of a car and walk to the rear of the McBirney home. The man was then observed leaving and getting back into the car which had two other occupants. The car was located some 500 yards (460 m) from the scene of the murder. Its occupants were seen to drive off in another vehicle. The car used to convey the gunmen to and from the scene had been hijacked on the morning of the murder. It was attributed to the Irish Republican Army.
Police investigations linked one person to the murder who was also identified as being the gunman. He was subsequently charged and convicted of murder and received a life sentence.
On the same day another judge, Rory Conaghan, was shot dead by the IRA outside his home at Beechlands off the Malone Road, Belfast.[7][8] Both murders have been attributed to the Irish Republican Army.[9] On hearing of McBirney's death, his sister-in-law, Frances Cooke, suffered a fatal heart attack.[3][10]
McBirney was a
Poet Michael Longley later revelated that he had written the poem A Civil Servant in McBirney's honour.[12]
References
- ^ The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal, vol. 81, p. 118
- ^ a b Aaron Edwards, A history of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, p.157
- ^ a b c d David McKittrick, Lost Lives, pp.474-475
- ^ a b "Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results: Boroughs - Belfast Archived 22 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine", United Kingdom Election Results
- ^ "East Belfast 1950-1970", Northern Ireland Elections.
- ^ Fionnbarra Ó Dochartaigh, Ulster's White Negroes, p. 61
- ^ Northern Ireland: Terrorist Activities", Hansard; accessed 7 October 2015.
- ^ Kevin Mullan, "Murder of city-born Judge raised with Kissinger", Londonderry Sentinel; accessed 7 October 2015.
- ^ Malcolm Sutton, "An Index of Deaths from Conflict in Ireland: M", CAIN Web Service
- ^ Susan McKay, Bear in Mind These Dead, p. 206
- ^ Connal Parr, "Managing His Aspirations: The Labour and Republican Politics of Paddy Devlin", Irish Political Studies, 27:1
- ^ "Songs for dead children: The poetry of Northern Ireland's Troubles". 28 December 2017.