West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin Councillors to honour deceased colleagues

Published: 3 November, 2008

Councillor Sean Clarke

Councillor Sean Clarke

The Sinn Féin members of Omagh District Council plan to honour four of their deceased colleagues at a special tribute dinner dance to be held in the Mellon Country Hotel on 22 November. Mid Ulster MP and senior Sinn Féin negotiator, Martin Mc Guinness will address the gathering.

The four Councillors who will be remembered are, Mickey Mc Anespie, Cathal Quinn, Patsy Mc Mahon and Barney Mc Aleer.

Mickey, who served as Council chair, represented the Mid Tyrone District Electoral Area, was killed in a tragic farming accident in April 2007. Patsy Mc Mahon, a veteran Republican and long serving Councillor from Carrickmore died in January 2007, while his close friend and fellow Councillor, Barney Mc Aleer from Loughmacrory, passed away in September 2005.

Former Councillor, Cathal Quinn, from Dromore, was the husband of current Councillor, Ann Quinn. Cathal died suddenly in March 2007 at his home in Tummery. It will be an emotional and hectic weekend for Ann who departs from the dinner dance to Africa to carry out charity work for two weeks with orphans in Mombasa.

Speaking ahead of the event, Councillor Sean Clarke said "As the longest serving Councillor on the Sinn Féin bloc, I have had the unique privilege of serving with all four of these men during the past 19 years. Each of them were close friends of mine, and I hold them in the highest esteem particularly for their willingness to stick their head above the parapet and stand for Sinn Féin at a time when there was a concerted campaign against the party and our families".

"During those dark days of the late 80's and early 90's, 14 members of Sinn Féin, including Councillors, were murdered either directly or indirectly by the state. In West Tyrone, this includes Pádraig Ó Seanacháin who was murdered near his home in Killen on 12th August 1991".

"This figure does not include family members of Councillors, who met their deaths. For example, Teresa Clinton, wife of Sinn Féin representative Sean Clinton was murdered at their family home in the Lower Ormeau and Martin Lavery, brother of Councillor Bobby Lavery, was shot in front of his 5 year old daughter while wrapping Christmas presents on 20 December 1992. Councillor Lavery's son Sean (age 21) was also murdered in an attack on the family home in August 1993".

Councillor Clarke continued "The deaths of these four Councillors from the Omagh District have been compounded in recent months by the passing of fellow West Tyrone Councillors Ivan Barr and Charlie Mc Hugh. During the past three years, we have lost six former or serving Councillors in this constituency. This has had a huge impact on their families, the party and the wider community, which they served with distinction".

Councillor Clarke concluded "The tribute night will be a very emotional occasion for the families of our friends who are no longer with us. As a Councillor group, we felt it was important to remember and pay tribute to Barney, Patsy, Cathal and Mickey for the huge sacrifice they made in representing our community during difficult times. It is important that their contribution to the struggle for equality and social justice is not forgotten and I would like to invite everyone to come along and share the occasion with us".

Tickets for the event can be ordered from the Sinn Féin Office on James Street, Omagh (Tel: 028 82253040).