Last Wednesday 5 March, Sheena Campbell Ogra Shinn Fein hosted the opening event to remember the 20th anniversary of the Gibraltar 3, at Queens University Belfast.It began with a black flag vigil outside the university front gates for 30 minutes as a mark of respect to those killed in Gibraltar and Milltown.
Following the vigil there was a talk and a showing of a film in Queens University.
The speakers at the event were Seamus Finucane, partner of Mairead Farrell when she was tragically killed, Jennifer McCann MLA, who was a close comrade of Mairead having been imprisoned with her in Armagh Gaol, she was also a close friend of Dan McCann, and West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff who was a student at Queens, at the time of the Gibraltar 3’s death.
Ogra activist Eunan Carlin, chaired proceedings.
All 3 speakers talked about the significance of the Gibraltar and Milltown killings, and give a personal account of the individuals. They all spoke of Mairead as confident, educated and articulate women, driven by her passion for freedom. Having already been imprisoned in Armagh, Mairead on her release immediately got re-involved in the struggle and also took up studying at Queens.
They spoke of Daniel McCann being a very capable and dedicated volunteer, who was massively respected amongst Belfast republicans, and Sean Savage who was only 23 when he was killed was said to have possessed great leadership skills.
They spoke about the bravery of those who pursued Michael Stone in Milltown cemetery when he launched that murderous attack. Their selfless actions saved the lives of dozens of others.
Barry McElduff also recounted the student takeover of the Chancellor’s Office at Queen’s when Mairead was killed. He talked about it being common practice for Queen’s University to lower the flag to half mast when a student died; they refused to do so for Mairead because they claimed she was a ‘terrorist.’ So a number of defiant students including Barry McElduff and the late Michael Ferguson proceeded to take over the Chancellor’s office and lower the flag themselves.
The event was very emotional, informative and deeply inspiring, the engaging film, and the personal accounts captured the audience and ensured everyone left the event better educated of the tragic events of 20 years ago.
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