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

Thousands commemorate deaths of Strabane IRA volunteers

Published: 23 February, 2010

Karina Carlin (nee Breslin), Antoinette Brennan (nee Devine), Pat Doherty MP and Martin Mc Guinness MP.

Karina Carlin (nee Breslin), Antoinette Brennan (nee Devine), Pat Doherty MP and Martin Mc Guinness MP.

Several thousand people turned out at a commemoration parade in Strabane yesterday to mark the 25th anniversary of the deaths of local IRA Volunteers Charlie Breslin (aged 20), and brothers Michael Devine (aged 22) and David Devine (aged 16) who were summarily executed by British State Forces in a pre-planned shoot to kill operation in a field overlooking the Head of the Town area of their hometown in the early hours of February 23rd 1985. The parade is part of an extended weekend of events organised by the Breslin/Devine Commemoration Committee in conjunction with the Strabane Memorial Flute Band which was formed by local people and friends of the three local IRA volunteers in the wake of their deaths.

Led by a colour party and with seven participating bands yesterday's parade left the Drumrallagh and made its way to the Volunteers Monument at Fountain Street where commemoration proceedings took place.

Speaking at the Monument, members of both the Breslin and Devine families thanked the people of Strabane for having stood shoulder to shoulder with them over the last 25years and said that this solidarity had given them the strength to get through the many long years since their deaths.

Guest Speaker at the event Martin Mc Guinness said that the terrible events of 25 years ago were a direct result of the Shoot to Kill Policy as ordered by Margaret Thatcher. He said that David, Charlie and Michael were young people who had everything in life going for them but instead choose to fight back against British state oppression and the attempted imposition of 2nd class citizenship upon the people Strabane and other republican and nationalist communities throughout the six counties. He said that David, Charlie and Michael were committed Irish republicans and the massive turnout to commemorate their memory 25 years on was undoubtedly of great comfort to the Breslin and Devine families.

In a message to the Orange Order Martin Mc Guinness said,

"The days of the Orange State and second class citizenship are over and the Orange Order must sit up and take notice that the world is changing all around them and they must recognise that the days of triumphalist Orange marches through areas where they are not wanted have to be consigned to the history books forever."

Following, proceeding at the Volunteers Monument the parade continued en route through the other areas of the town to the Scór Site in the town centre where a band competition took place followed by a buffet, annual quiz and music in Katy Daly's.

The extended weekend of Commemoration events began on Friday night when over three hundred people attended a Dinner Dance in the Fir Trees Hotel to coincide with the 25 Anniversary of the formation of Strabane Memorial Flute Band. This extremely memorable night also saw the launch, in preview format, of the Commemorative DVD Twilight Graves. The high quality and professional production feature interviews with family and friends of Charlie, Michael and David, original TV footage from the time and as well a range of additional material. Twilight Graves is an emotional rollercoaster ranging from: the tender reflections and memories of those nearest and dearest to Charlie, Michael and David, through the harrowing accounts of their deaths and funerals; the contempt visited upon the families by the British state through its military and judicial apparatus; the far-reaching impact upon the local community and wider political fall-out, but throughout a powerful testimony shines through reflecting the extraordinary strength and dignity of the Breslin and Devine families in the face of so much suffering and adversity. The full length version of the Twilight Graves is now available for sale at a cost of £12 and hundreds have already been purchased.

Such was the demand that the major commemorative exhibition in memory of Charlie, Michael and David being held in Fountain Street Community Centre had to be extended from Saturday, Sunday and into Monday. People have come fro near and afar to view the exhibition which combined family memorabilia of their loved ones with photographic and newspaper accounts of their deaths and subsequent events. The exhibition also saw the display of the Relatives for Justice Remembrance Quilt. The quilt is made up of squares of material designed and made by family members in dedication to those who have been killed through state and state sponsored violence.

Events are continuing tonight Monday 22nd February with an anniversary mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Strabane and will conclude on Tuesday 23rd February with a Candlelight Vigil at the Volunteers Memorial at the junction of Fountain Street and Inisfree Gardens with this final event taking place 25 years to the day of the summary execution of Charlie, Michael and David

The Breslin/Devine Commemoration Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed in any way to the major success of the commemoration events and in ensuring that fitting tribute is paid to the memory of Charlie, Michael and David.