Séanna Walsh
Séanna Walsh | |
---|---|
Born | 1957 Short Strand, East Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Allegiance | Provisional Irish Republican Army |
Rank | Volunteer |
Conflict | The Troubles |
Séanna Walsh or Séanna Breathnach (born 1957) is a Sinn Féin member of Belfast City Council and a former volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Early life
Walsh was born in the
IRA activity and imprisonment
In 1973, Walsh was arrested along with a number of fellow IRA men while robbing a
Séanna was released from prison in May 1976. Three months later he was arrested and charged with possession of a
When the
Release
At the age of forty-two, Walsh had spent over half his life, a total of twenty-one years, in jail. He was released along with other imprisoned IRA members under the provisions of the 1998
In July 2005, he appeared on a DVD reading out a statement from the IRA Army Council announcing the end to its armed campaign.[3] In doing so, Walsh became the first IRA member since 1972 to represent the organisation without wearing a mask.[4]
Working for reconciliation
In 2012, Walsh, along with other former paramilitaries, of both sides, participated in the launching of the Irish language edition of the Department of Education's From Prison to Peace education pack, intended for 14–16 years old pupils.[5]
In February 2015, along with three other former members of the IRA, he met, in Derry, four former British Army soldiers who had served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The men talked about the reasons they had taken up arms, the consequences of their decision, and the prospects for a lasting peace.[6]
Political career
In 2012 Walsh was working for
References
- ^ a b c d e Morrison, Danny (16 August 2004). "An Issue of Trust". Andersonstown News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ a b Black, Rebecca (11 September 2015). "IRA veteran who called end to armed campaign to become SF councillor". Belfast Telegraph. Ireland. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (29 July 2005). "After 35 years of bombs and blood a quiet voice ends the IRA's war". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
- ^ Bird, Charlie (28 July 2015). "A Time for Peace". RTÉ. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Cobain, Ian (25 May 2012). "Schools pack launched by republican and loyalist ex-prisoners". An Phoblacht. Belfast. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Cobain, Ian (4 March 2015). "Road to reconciliation: ex-IRA members and British soldiers come face to face". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ Walsh, Séanna (January–March 2012). "Prisoners can help secure Peace in the Basque Country". IRIS - the Republican Magazine (25): 26–29. Retrieved 1 May 2019 – via Issuu.
- ^ Hughes, Brendan (23 April 2019). "Constituency Notebook: Belfast has key battles and high-profile candidates". Irish News. Retrieved 1 May 2019.; "Belfast City Council candidates". Election 2019. BBC. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.