Murder of Gareth O'Connor
Gareth O'Connor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gareth Paul O'Connor[1] 1978/1979 |
| Disappeared | Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Died | c. May 2003 |
| Nationality | Irish |
Gareth Paul O'Connor (1978/1979 – c. May 2003) was a member of the Real IRA who was murdered in 2003.[2]
Disappearance
[edit]O'Connor disappeared after driving through Newtownhamilton in 2003, en route to Dundalk Garda station, where he regularly reported as part of bail conditions imposed after he was charged in the Republic of Ireland with membership of the Real IRA.[3]
In May 2003, Monsignor Denis Faul stated that he believed an armed group was involved in O'Connor's disappearance:
What I'm really afraid of is that he will join the 'disappeared'. I've spoken to his family about this, that they might never see him again. If he is dead, and we hope he is not, they might not be able to bury him. I have been dealing with people who have been missing their dear ones for 28 years.
Discovery of body
[edit]On 11 June 2005, O'Connor's body was discovered in his car in Newry Canal, County Down.[4] His father, Mark, believes that the Provisional IRA were responsible for the murder, as they had threatened father and son. Mark O'Connor said: "I gave those names [of the killers] to Gerry Kelly [Sinn Féin assembly member]. But nothing has been done. Gerry Adams ignores us and ignores all the families of the Disappeared."[5]
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said:[5]
The IRA have made it clear that they were not involved in the disappearance of Gareth O'Connor. We accept totally this statement. It is our belief that the family should look towards either the republican micro organisation Gareth O'Connor was suspected to be involved with or the Special Branch he was alleged to be working for to further their search for justice. Gerry Adams is deeply committed to this issue and to seeing this injustice ended.
See also
[edit]- Forced disappearance
- Disappeared (Northern Ireland)
- Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
- Thomas Murphy (Irish republican)
- Peter Wilson (Disappeared)
- Gerard Evans
- Columba McVeigh
- Murder of Jean McConville
- Disappearance of Peter Wilson
- Robert Nairac
- Internal Security Unit
- List of solved missing persons cases
References
[edit]- ^ "Files relating to Gareth O'Connor murder handed to coroner's legacy unit". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 16 December 2021 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "'My meeting with IRA in Tyrone shed'". BBC News. 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "Gareth O'Connor murder: Family 'shocked' by On the Run letter sent to suspect". BBC News. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "O'Connor suspect in Hallett report". BBC News. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ a b Young, Connla (23 January 2017). "Suspected agent Gareth O'Connor 'saved multiple lives'". The Irish News. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
External links
[edit]- 1970s births
- 2000s missing person cases
- 2003 deaths
- Deaths by firearm in Northern Ireland
- Enforced disappearances in Northern Ireland
- Kidnapped people from Northern Ireland
- Missing person cases in Ireland
- Murder victims from County Armagh
- People killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
- People murdered in Northern Ireland
- Terrorism deaths in Northern Ireland
- 2003 murders in the United Kingdom
- May 2003 events in the United Kingdom
- Unsolved murders in Northern Ireland