MARTIN HURSON, aged 24, was born in Cappagh, County Tyrone, on 13 September 1956.
Martin was arrested in November 1976 and was charged with possession of explosives following sustained physical abuse at the hands of the RUC. He received a 20-year sentence in November 1977, which he unsuccessfully appealed against on a number of occasions.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
An IRA Volunteer, Martin stood as a H-Blocks/Armagh candidate in the Longford/Westmeath constituency during the June 1981 general election in the South, polling extremely well but missing out on election.
He spent 46 days on hunger strike from 29 May. He died on 13 July 1981.
Shock at death of Martin Hurson
THE death of IRA Volunteer Martin Hurson on 13 July 1981, after 46 days on the Hunger Strike, was unexpected. The suddenness of his death, coming only five days after that of Joe McDonnell, came as a shock since two other Hunger Strikers – Kieran Doherty and Kevin Lynch – had been almost a week on hunger strike ahead of Martin.
Martin had replaced south Derry man Brendan McLaughlin, who was forced to come off the Hunger Strike due to a burst stomach ulcer. His health since being moved to the prison hospital had been deteriorating at a far quicker rate than that of his comrades. Throughout the Hunger Strike he had difficulty keeping down the required daily five pints of water. This problem caused him to hallucinate and he suffered from a degree of incoherence in his speech. He rapidly deteriorated towards the end.
Martin Hurson was the sixth H-Block Hunger Striker to die.
Coming two weeks earlier than might have been expected, his death disproved the assessment that the Hunger Strikers were not in danger until around the 60-day stage. Even as the young Tyrone man was dying, the vindictiveness of the prison authorities never abated. Though the family had been sent for due to his serious condition, Martin’s brother, Francie, was refused entry to the prison because he arrived after 10pm! He spent the night outside the H-Blocks gate as his brother died inside.
• IRA guard of honour lifts the coffin of Martin Hurson at the graveside
The following morning, Martin Hurson’s body was removed by the RUC to Omagh Hospital without consultation with the family. This was to deny mourners en route the opportunity to pay their last respects. Despite this, over a hundred cars followed the hearse from Omagh to the Hurson home in Cappagh, County Tyrone.
Relatives, friends and comrades carried the coffin for the last mile home, escorted by a uniformed guard of honour and followed by a large procession of sympathisers.
Later, at the Hurson home, guards of honour from the IRA, Cumann na mBan and Fianna Éireann stood to attention as unending lines of mourners filed past the coffin.
On Wednesday afternoon, Martin Hurson’s relatives carried the Tricolour-draped coffin, with gloves and beret on top, down the country lane from his home to the hearse waiting to take his remains to Galbally Church. A lone piper led the hearse, which was escorted by an IRA guard of honour, followed by Cumann na mBan and Fianna Éireann. Wreath-bearers headed the thousands of mourners as three British Army helicopters flew overhead.
Following the funeral Mass, the guard of honour carried the remains to the burial plot. Four armed and uniformed IRA Volunteers emerged from the mourners and fired volleys from handguns in honour of their dead comrade. They then stood for a minute’s silence.
• Martin Hurson’s sisters Josephine, Rosaleen and his fiancé Bernadette Donnelly at the funeral
Tyrone republican Francie Molloy presided over the graveside ceremonies. The 1916 Proclamation was read out and a bugler sounded The Last Post as IRA Volunteers stood to attention in salute of their former comrade.
An impassioned and comprehensive oration was given by Seán Lynch, who had been Hurson’s election agent in the 1981 general election. Speaking of Martin Hurson’s past, Lynch described the 26-year-old as “a member of a large family whose mother died when he was only a boy, a young man who played Gaelic football for the local GAA club in Galbally, a lover of all things Irish who was forced to emigrate and who returned and threw in his lot with those who dispute the claim of England to rule over one inch of Irish soil”.
Seán Lynch talked about the sacrifices of freedom fighters of the time, saying they possessed the same “virtue of patriotism, of spiritual, unselfish love of country as it was understood by Mercier, Casement, Pearse, MacSwiney, Stagg, Sands, and Martin Hurson”.
He went on to say their sacrifices would “save the cause of Irish independence from destruction at the hands of foreign enemy and native compromiser, and carry it to victory yet”. There was a certain prophetic note to Lynch’s words and again when he said that the spirit of Martin Hurson shines and “calls like a voice from Heaven, filling young hearts with courage and determination”.
He went on to outline the origins and sources of not only the horrendous conditions endured by prisoners in Armagh and the Blocks but also “all our social and political evils – the British connection”. He also pointed to the “pretence and skulduggery” of the Irish Government of the time who, six deaths later, still refused to support the prisoners’ ‘Five Demands’.
Only three days separated the funerals of Joe McDonnell and Martin Hurson. The proximity of the deaths intensified the depth of frustration and sadness felt by supporters of the Hunger Strikers. Ireland was awash with protests but the British Government still would not budge.
Catholic and Protestant church leaders unite in condemnation of mosque ‘hate display’.
Replica mosque placed on loyalist bonfire in Co Tyrone
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
By Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent
July 10, 2026 at 8:36am BST
Catholic and Protestant church leaders have said the placing of a replica mosque on a loyalist bonfire is “grossly offensive”.
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, were speaking before police moved in to remove a hate display at Moygashel, near Dungannon on Thursday.
The controversial pyre was set alight before the offensive display was removed.
The model mosque is thought to have been placed on the pyre on Wednesday and was due to be lit on Friday as part of the July 12 celebrations on Friday.
Two signs were placed on the pyre reading “secure our borders” and “end the threat of radical Islam”, while a figure holding what appears to be an ISIS flag was also added.
Images circulated on social appear to show banner hung from a fence close to the bonfire with the message “are you concerned with the current direction of our world – the Bible has all the answers”.
It is not known who was responsible for that signage.
In a joint statement the respected Christian church leaders said society “should be appalled at the provocative denigration of symbols associated with faiths that are sincerely held by others”.
“The targeting of the Muslim community through crude symbols and threats of violence by sinister forces undermines these Gospel principles of respect and compassion as well as freedom of religion which is a fundamental principle of a democratic society,” they said.
The senior church figures added that “the placement of a replica mosque atop a bonfire is grossly offensive and raises tensions so soon after the unrest that destroyed property and severely impacted the lives of individuals and families.
“Christians of all traditions would be aghast at the wanton destruction of Christian imagery,” they said.
“Likewise, we should be appalled at the provocative denigration of symbols associated with faiths that are sincerely held by others.”
The archbishops encouraged Christians to reflect.
“We urge Christians, and all people of good will, to reflect carefully on their actions which can ignite violence against innocent people, all of whom are made in God’s image and are therefore worthy of respect and compassion,” they said.
“We want to assure our Muslim fellow citizens and those who are living and working here of the goodwill and respect of the majority of people here.”
The PSNI has come under renewed criticism after refusing to remove loyalist paramilitary propaganda erected at an Eleventh Night bonfire site on the outskirts of north Belfast, despite recently acquiring enhanced legal powers to tackle such displays.
UVF banners and other paramilitary insignia appeared in the Ballyduff area of Newtownabbey in recent days as part of the annual display of sectarian triumphalism surrounding the Eleventh Night bonfires ahead of anti-Catholic parades by the Protestant Orange Order.
Although amendments to Britain’s ‘Terrorism Act’ were introduced earlier this year, granting the PSNI greater authority to remove paramilitary displays, the force has once again failed to act against openly displayed UVF propaganda.
The PSNI’s reluctance to enforce the law against loyalists has reinforced evidence of unequal policing and the state’s tolerance of sectarian intimidation from unionist and loyalist organisations.
Among the banners erected at the site in Newtownabbey is an expensively produced display depicting two masked and armed UVF figures carrying assault rifles. Other signs prominently feature the insignia of the UVF and its youth wing, the Young Citizen Volunteers (YCV).
One banner declares: “The prevention of the erosion of our identity is now our priority – Ballyduff, Glengormley.”
Another glorifies the “1st East Antrim Battalion” of the UVF alongside an image of a masked gunman, while listing a number of loyalist districts across east Antrim.
The bonfire itself is draped in flags, including one bearing the emblem of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment—the regiment responsible for the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry in January 1972, when 14 unarmed civil rights marchers were shot dead.
A further flag commemorates a a local UVF commander who died in 2020, highlighting the continued public glorification of loyalist paramilitaries.
SDLP councillor Carl Whyte said the displays constituted clear breaches of the law.
“Decades after loyalist ceasefires, loyalist paramilitary organisations continue to operate as organised criminal gangs, exploiting working-class communities while enriching themselves,” he said.
“The erection of these disturbing paramilitary displays breaches multiple laws, including the Terrorism Act. Nowhere else in Britain would armed terrorist propaganda be tolerated in this way. The PSNI should exercise its powers and remove these displays immediately.”
Earlier this year, PSNI Deputy Chief Bobby Singleton told the Policing Board that “failing to act” over paramilitary flags and emblems was no longer an option.
But last week it emerged that East Belfast UDA flags had again been erected close to Garnerville, despite years of controversy surrounding the display of loyalist paramilitary emblems in the area.
At a recent Policing Board meeting, Alliance Assembly member Peter McReynolds admitted loyalist paramilitaries were effectively “giving two fingers” to the PSNI and Stormont departments and openly mocking the authorities’ repeated failures.
FDNY bantamweight Stephanie Valentin [left] in action against Despoina Karatziou of Mendez Boxing. Valentin lost on points.
FDNY boxers raise $80k
July 08, 2026 by Jay Mwamba
With local Irish amateurs Tim Egan and Declan Friel on the card, the Fire Department of New York [FDNY] boxing club raised $80,000 for charity at its10th annual “Thrilla in Camilla” show at St. Camillus Church in Rockaway Beach, Queens.
The event, under open skies, included eight FDNY pugilists against opponents from various clubs in the New York.
“We donated $50,000 to Tunnel to Towers [Foundation] and another $5,000 each to the Patrick Brady Foundation, the FDNY Foundation, the Fire Family Transport Foundation, the Fight for Firefighters Foundation, the NY Firefighters Foundation and the Friends of Firefighters Foundation,” said FDNY Boxing Club president Bobby McGuire. “A great night.”
Tunnels to Towers has been a major beneficiary of FDNY boxing proceeds before. This current donation brings to $300,000 FDNY’s support to Towers in the past three and a half years. The Foundation provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star/fallen first responder families, builds smart homes for injured veterans, and works to end veteran homelessness.
Members of Donal Ward’s BUA Boxing Gym in Astoria, Dundalk’s Timmy Egan and Donegal product Declan Friel were both victorious on the “Thrilla in Camilla” card. Egan outpointed Bronx firefighter Oliver Patrouch in their 165-pound scrap while Friel recorded his first amateur win with a commanding performance over emergency medical technician Patrick McKeown in the 158-pound division.
The other results were [FDNY boxers listed first]:
Welterweight – John Marrero [FDNY EMS St. 3] lost a split decision to Merrick Hickaro [Woodside Boxing Club];
Bantamweight – Stephanie Valentin [FDNY Eng. 294] came up short in an action-packed scrap with Despoina Karatziou [Mendez Boxing Club];
Cruiserweight – Kyle McGrath [Champs Boxing] defeated Jeremy Witherspoon [Woodside];
Heavyweight – Jason Bergin [FDNY Ladd. 5] was victorious via split points over Aiden Haran [Woodside];
Heavyweight – Sean Massimo [FDNY Ladd. 59] beat Eric Wendt [FDNY Div. 3]; and
Super Heavyweight – Dmitriy Teplitskiy [FDNY Ladd. 173] edged the game Josh Bungalso [Woodside].
Seven acquitted over charges linked to 2019 Derry riot
Seven men have been found not guilty of offences stemming from a riot in 2019 in which young freelance journalist Lyra McKee tragically lost her life.
Several petrol bombs had been directed at the PSNI and a car was set on fire following a wave of oppressive PSNI incursions into the strongly republican area of the Creggan in Derry.
Amid intense rioting on April 18, 2019, a group of onlookers, including Ms McKee, were standing beside an armoured police vehicle when she was hit. The New IRA accepted responsibility for her tragic death.
A large number of republicans were rounded up by the PSNI at the time. Of those, nine men eventually appeared at Laganside Courthouse. With strong support in the courtroom from among the local community, they faced a string of 52 charges before a Diplock non-jury trial that started in May 2024.
All but two of them were this werk cleared of all the charges they faced – one was declared guilty of riot-related charges and ordered remanded into custody without bail, while another was declared guilty of assault.
Three men, Peter Cavanagh (pictured, right), Paul McIntyre and Jordan Gareth Devine, were cleared of a joint enterprise charge of murder. Defence lawyers had strongly criticised the very low standard of the evidence in the case, which was almost entirely circumstantial.
In a statement, Saoradh condemned what it said had been the state’s “flagship” prosecution.
Its “total collapse” had “laid bare the lengths to which the British establishment, its judicial apparatus, and the corporate media will go to criminalise Republicanism”, they said.
“For years, Irish Republicans have been subjected to a coordinated campaign of character assassination, prolonged internment by bail, and malicious prosecution.
“Even a non-jury system failed to validate the state’s transparently political narrative.”
They criticised the mainstream media reporting, which they said had deliberately obscured the “central fact” of the day, that the overwhelming majority of those dragged through the courts were vindicated and found innocent.
“To read or watch the news, one would mistakenly believe a blanket conviction had been secured,” they said.
“As Republicans, we remain deeply sensitive to the fact that an innocent civilian lost her life in a tragic accident in 2019. It is a tragedy that should never have occurred.
“However, it is utterly abhorrent that the British state, its security apparatus, and a compliant media have systematically exploited this tragic loss of life as a political weapon to wage a sustained assault on the Republican community and the legitimate struggle for Irish liberation.”
There was also criticism of the political establishment, and particularly the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), for statements falsely claiming Ms McKee had been deliberately targeted and which misrepresented the trial itself as unjust.
“The NUJ has released statements lamenting that ‘justice was not served’ for the family, choosing to entirely ignore the reality that the evidence failed because the state’s case was built on pure speculation and political opportunism,” Saoradh said.
“By declaring that “someone got away with murder”, these organisations openly dismiss the fundamental principle that individuals cannot be convicted without evidence, showing a complete disregard for the profound injustice inflicted upon the accused men and their families over the last number of years.
“For years, these men faced draconian restrictions, destroyed livelihoods, and state sponsored vilification.
“The press, which consistently functions as a mouthpiece for the state, refused to cover the glaring inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case throughout the long running show trial, and they refuse to cover the reality of the injustice faced by the accused.
“Yesterday’s verdicts are a victory against state overreach, but the struggle against the weaponisation of the judicial system and the selective morality of the establishment media continues.”
