Wikipedia:WikiProject Irish Republican Army/Preparation/William Fleming
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William Fleming ((Irish Óglach Liam Ó Pléamonn), born 1965 – 6 December 1984), was a member (Volunteer) in the Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army from the predominantly Protestant "Top Of The Hill" area in Waterside, Derry, Northern Ireland.
Fleming was killed. along with Danny Doherty after they were ambushed by British Army soliders close to his home in 1984.[1][2]
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[edit] Background
Fleming was the sixth of seven childern and the youngest of four son's of Leo and Betty Fleming. Fleming grew up in the Waterside area to the east of Derry City.[3][4]
[edit] Paramilitary career
Fleming became involved in the republican movement from an early age and spent most of his formative years imprisioned in the republican H-Blocks of HMP Maze.
On 6 December 1984 Fleming and Danny Doherty were driving on a motorbike on active service in Derry. They entered the grounds of Gransha Hospital, an unmarked car driven by a member of the SAS rammed into the motorbike, dislodging Fleming from the pillion seat.
As Fleming lay on the ground, two further SAS members shot him, first with 9mm pistols, until they ran out of ammunition, and then with HK 53 sub-machine guns. His autopsy showed that he had four gunshot wounds to his head and 56 to his trunk and torso.
After Fleming had been knocked from the motorbike it went out of control. The bike then mounted a pavement kerb and threw Doherty, who was already shot, to the ground. Two more SAS soldiers then continued to shot at Doherty as he lay on the ground. During the inquest into the shootings, the coroner stated that Doherty had three gunshot wounds to the head and a further twenty one shots to his body.
Following the shootings, the RUC left the bodies lying where they had fallen for over five hours, before eventually removing them to Altnagelvin Hospital.
It was reported at the time they were attempting to target an off-duty member of the UDR who worked at Gransha.
William Fleming was a cousin of Ciaran Fleming and they died within four days of each other. His sister Lynn Fleming is a Sinn Féin representative for the Waterside area.
[edit] Funeral
Willie Fleming's funeral from the Waterside joined up with that of Danny Doherty of Creggan. It was the largest funeral in Derry City since the death of Patsy O'Hara. The coffins were draped with Tricolours and four IRA Volunteers in full uniform fired a volley over the coffins. Over 3,000 people followed the cortege to Derry City Cemetery. In his oration, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said: "We are an occupied country and those brave enough to fight repression deserve nothing but respect and unfailing support from us all. Only the IRA can bring Britain to the negotiating table."
[edit] References
- ^ CAIN Index of Deaths
- ^ British Troops Ambush And Kill 2 I.R.A. Men
- ^ Four Derry Volunteers killed in action
- ^ Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.267
- ^ Four Derry Volunteers killed in action
- ^ Derry's New Mayor Is IRA Man's Sister
[edit] See also
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