Phil O'Donnell (Irish republican)
Phil O'Donnell (3 June 1932 – 24 December 1982), was a volunteer in the 2nd Battalion, Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and a founding member of Saor Uladh from the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland.
Background
O'Donnell, originally from Derry, had been a member of the British Army and joined the republican movement in 1969 after the Battle of the Bogside.[1][2]
Donegal training camps
He utilised his training in the British Army by organising and running training camps in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. During one training camp O'Donnell, and a number of other volunteers were captured by the Irish Army outside of Fahan.[citation needed] The group were remanded in Mountjoy Prison before their trial. During the trial O'Donnell stated that they were the "Defenders of the Bogside" and following their acquittal he quipped "if we are innocent can we please have our guns back".[2]
O'Donnell then returned to Derry and the republican movement.
Saor Uladh
After a number of operations had been cancelled by the
Internment
O'Donnell was interned on 9 August 1971 at the beginning of
Following his release he returned to
Memorial
In October 2003, a memorial was unveiled in the
Death
O'Donnell contracted cancer and died at the age of 50 on Christmas Eve 1982.[2][6]
References
- Noraid. Archived from the originalon 8 October 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
- ^ ISBN 0-9542946-0-2p. 252
- ^ Martin Dillon, God and the Gun
- ^ Michael Farrell, Northern Ireland: The Orange State
- ^ ""Derry Volunteers' Memorial unveiled"". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
- ^ ""I nDíl Chuimhne, Comhbhrón agus Beannachtaí"". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 20 January 2008.