when gstq is played in croke park remember aidan mc anespie

[true ulster gael]

THE EXECUTION OF AIDAN MC ANESPIE
Eilish Mc Anespie

It is of paramount importance that the killing of my brother, Aidan Mc Anespie, on the 21st of February 1988, is not viewed as an isolated incident but rather as the result of systematic and routine victimisation for several years by British crown forces. These include members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Ulster Defence Regiment and the British Army.

My brother, Aidan McAnespie, was the youngest of a family of six children. He was born in Aughnacloy, a predominantly loyalist village situated on the border with the Republic of Ireland. The area historically had a high unemployment rate, that is, for those nationalists living there. As a consequence, Aidan looked for work across the border and was fortunate enough to get a job in a poultry processing plant in Monaghan town, some ten miles south of Aughnacloy. To go to work each day, Aidan had to pass through a permanent British Army checkpoint at the southern side of the village. As a result, the security forces became familiar with him and often asked him to remove his car from the road for what was termed a "routine search". They would then take the car apart, removing door panels and wheels. They would also search through his lunch with their bare hands saying, "You'll be late for work today Aidan". Aidan made complaints to his trade union about these incidents who made representations on his behalf, but the harassment continued unabated.

On other occasions they would ask him to remove his coat, shoes and socks in the rain. When he refused, they would put him on the ground and one soldier stood on his throat while another pulled off his shoes and socks. Aidan made complaints to his local R.U.C. station. It was not unusual for Aidan to be taken into the British Army base for a vehicle search two or three times a week and the car pulled apart. The harassment got so bad that he stopped driving through the checkpoint, instead he would drive to the filling station just south of the checkpoint and would phone my mother. She would then cycle down through the town and out past the checkpoint and walk back through with Aidan. On one occasion a soldier shouted after them, "Are you trying to protect your son Mrs McAnespie?".

Aidan contacted newspapers seeking the protection that publicity might have given him and one national newspaper carried a story describing him as the most harassed person in Ireland. He could have wallpapered his room with official complaints made to the R.U.C. both through solicitors and the local parish priest. Aidan's life evolved around the continual threat of harassment and physical violence at best and the real threat of being killed at worst. A soldier stopped my father about a year before the shooting and asked, "Are you Aidan's father?". When he said he was, the soldier said, "We have a bullet here for him."

On the 21st of February 1988, Aidan parked his car at the northern side of the checkpoint and walked towards the local G.A.A. pitch, which was just south of the checkpoint. He had only walked three hundred yards when a single bullet from a heavy calibre machine gun cut him down, in the prime of his life, on a lovely sunny afternoon, while on the way to a Gaelic football match. Aidan's life was taken, his killer watched him walk towards the football pitch, aimed and fired to kill. This is the view of our family and many community and church leaders. The then Cardinal and Primate of all Ireland described the killing as murder.

In stark contrast the British Army described the incident as a tragic accident. They claimed, firstly, that the gun used was being passed from one soldier to another when it was accidentally discharged. This account later changed to one of accidental discharge when the gun was in the process of being cleaned. Because the Northern Ireland Office's statement of what happened supported this version, all subsequent investigations carried out by the R.U.C. was mobilised to support this explanation of events.

In actual fact, the security force explanation was so incredible that they had to create evidence to support their claim. For example, eye witnesses saw a man coming out of a sanger from which Aidan was shot, wearing casual clothes and sports shoes. The next day the army had a number of their people painting the checkpoint in casual clothing. Aidan's car was parked close to the checkpoint in a nationalist housing estate. On the day of the funeral eye witnesses saw a man remove it. Our family phoned the local R.U.C. station to report it missing. They said that they knew nothing about it but to try C.I.D. in Dungannon. C.I.D. in Dungannon were not aware of the missing car, we then phoned the local police to report the stolen car. The press got to hear about the missing car and shortly after speaking to the police a local journalist could tell the family that the car was removed by the police for its safety. It seems incredible that of all the cars parked in the housing estate this was the only car in some kind of danger.

In addition, the army claimed, that due to the accidental discharge of the weapon three shots were fired, one of which ricocheted off the road hitting Aidan. Local people living nearby say the army reconstructed this account of things when, as darkness fell, a flashing light was placed at the spot where Aidan was shot and three shots were heard to be fired. It is widely believed that the army fired the shots to mark the road to support their ricochet theory. When challenged by the press, the army claimed that they came under fire from terrorists, a claim denied by the I.R.A. and local people nearby who say no attack of the kind took place.

A soldier, David J.Holden, was charged with unlawful killing. While on this charge he was allowed to go home to his family in England. Approximately six months later all charges were dropped. At Aidan's inquest, the coroner, Roger Mc Lernon, said the death was a cause of "profound regret" and was "avoidable and should have been avoided". The R.U.C. stated at the inquest and it was repeated by the coroner, that there was no suggestion that Aidan had ever been involved in any form of illegal activity. Guardsman Holden was not compelled to attend the inquest. The coroner advised the jury that although the soldier was entitled under law not to attend his unsworn statement should be treated with caution. The only other soldier in the sanger when the fatal shot was fired was conveniently absent without leave for the six months previous to the inquest. The coroner said, this was "amazing" and of "profound concern". Our family was not present at this inquest because we had no faith in its ability to discover the truth and we have a series of unanswered questions:

Why did the gun that killed Aidan have a live round in its breach while being cleaned?
Why was it cocked?
Why was the safety catch off?
How could David Holden's hands still be slippery and wet, ten minutes after he finished washing sanger walls?
Is it possible to accidentally exert nine pounds of pressure on a weapon's trigger, pulling it backwards and upwards?
Why was Holden out of uniform, wearing what appeared to be a track suit when he left the sanger under police escort after the shooting?
How could the Northern Ireland Office release a definitive statement of the shooting less than an hour after it had taken place?
Was this a rigorous investigation?

It must be remembered that this is in no way the only incident of its type. The S.A.S., the British Army and R.U.C. have been involved in the murders of hundreds of nationalists in controversial circumstances. On the day of Aidan's funeral the only serving member of the British Army, Private Thain, to be convicted of killing an Irish person, Kidso Reilly, was set free after serving just over two years of a life sentence and is back with the army on "active service". Holden was subsequently released on charges of not taking proper care of a weapon and was disciplined in a military tribunal. He has since been discharged on medical grounds and is a free man. We are now told that it is important to build for the future.

If we are to overcome our past we must come to terms with it and we can only do that if we know the truth about it. The British must acknowledge the atrocities which they have carried out on the Irish people.

[zoyler]

Lamentable and murderous as his killing was what has this got to do with an international game of Rugby a generation later? We all know what happened, we all know it was never goiing to be solved and the guilty brought to justice.  How many families on all sides feel the same way You have to move on and stop wallowing in victimhood.  The only people your hurting are yourselves. Whataboutery leads nowhere except to idiots like True Ulstergael spouting rubbish all over this website!

[lawnseed 2]

your wasting your time TUG  i tried to point out exactly as you did how gaels of the 32 counties have been abused and murdered since the foundation of our association and got the same shi-- as zoyler is now giving you. its not so easy to sweep it all under the carpet when you will carry the scares of a loyalist attack for picking up the ball for the rest of your life if i met you i could show you where myself and a dozen others were beat up for playing gaelic at a third level college in northern irelamd, and its not a hundred years ago. young lads like zoyler have no life experience they think that anyone over thirty is doting maybe if he'd got the butt of a rifle in the face or spat on for trying to get to training he'd understand. but anyone who disagrees with whats going on at the moment is instantly labled an old bollix or a dinasuar or a racist, the people who founded the gaa made the rules for a reason and laid the foundation for the organisation we are now who are we to question their motives i dont think as people we are any smarter than they were.

[zoyler]

Young lad me ass! I was at my first Hurling AIF in 1959.  I have been lifted by the UDR but not assaulted, I've had my house searched by the British Army - no doubt following a tip off from a nice neigbour who would know my non  Sinn Fein views. Its because I have been around a while and done my best to enjoy life and do no harm to anyone else that I hold the views I do.  No doubt to you I'm a traitor, turncoat, shoneen, west brit, brit even but I'd rather you regard me as all those things then hold the narrow sectarian and hateful views you appear to have.  I have gone to Rugby & RoI soccer matches since the 1960s and GAA games everywhere.  TUG is indeed waisting his time!  Theres oh so much more to life then painting yourself into a narrow bitter wee corner where everybody and every thing is out to get you and you are the only one true beliver keeping the faith.  Get over yourself and get a life.  Look at all the wonderful people who have suffered serious loss and yet can forgive and not forget but move on. Wait til you see 82,500 people enjoying themselves on Saturday afternoon in peaceful rivalry and try and enjoy it.

[lawnseed 2]

"hateful views you appear to have" says it all. i dont think your run ins with her majestys forces had anything to do with you attending gaa matches or playing gaa games id say they had more to do with your disagreable attitude. while your enjoying gsthq on saturday remember that our assoc, is making a tank of money out of selling its ideals to the highest bidder and still the price of our tickets is going up. i repeat the challange question can anyone tell me how gaelic games and culture are being promoted by this venture? my club is being nailed to the wall for £4000stg before we pay our fees or even buy a ball to kick and you are sitting up defending god save..   in croke park, gaelic sports have disappeared in three quarters of co. derry dublin is a city of 2 million people and they cant beat tyrone or armagh. i suggest you get to the next talk being given by peter quinn (ex pres) where you will hear exactly how thw gaa see the future of our sports V soccer or rugby you'll get the shock of your life the things not as rosy in the garden as you might think while your singing away to yourself 'born to reign over us etc

[Maroon Heaven]

When God Save the Queen is play at Croker, I will not be remembering your brother but focusing on a sporting rivalry that dates back to 1879 and hoping that the occasion is as spirited and well mannered as every other match since.

Your Brothers death is tragic but this is not an event to celebrate the British armed forces.

[Turlough O Carolan]

The murder of Aidan McAnespie is horrific crime for which the members of the British security forces should forever hold their heads in shame.

However a sporting event is not the occasion to pick on a national anthem because of the actions of a government. If we follow that logic, then let's also pick on the Irish national anthem for our own government's historical actions such as the sale of 40,000 Irish children to America for adoption because they were born to unmarried mothers, the legions of young Irish women who were sent to Magdalene Laundaries because they happened to get pregnant outside marriage. This is a list that could go on and on. A sporting occassion is not the time nor place to argue the horrible actions of governments. If it was, then the throw end would be delayed for decades, nay centuries.

The criminal actions of these governments and police forces are beyond contempt. But two teams chasing a pig's bladder of an egg shaped ball around a field (no matter what country they represent) are genuinely providing entertainment and making the world a better place. Let's put things in perspective; this is not the time to boo or cast judgement.

[Mayo4Sam]

Just as a point of information that article was by Eilish McAnespie and not TUG.

I'd just like to point out that this happened almost 20 years ago and things have moved on a lot, and for the better.
This kind of bitterness can only lead to a deeper divide. Some people choose to go down this road and others such as the likes of Gordon Wilson choose to move on and try to ensure that more families dont end up having the hurt enflicted on them from either side.
People that like to live in the past should be left in the past

[Star Spangler]

Its very sad to see the memory of someone like Aidan (a true Tyrone gael) being abused by some arsehole out to try to score cheap points for their own fucked up view on things.  The originator of this thread should crawl back into the swamp he came out of.

[Hardy]

Well said Star Spangler

[Bensars]

Couldnt agree more spangler.


I would love two minutes alone with true ulster gael

[dublinfella]

your wasting your time TUG  i tried to point out exactly as you did how gaels of the 32 counties have been abused and murdered since the foundation of our association and got the same shi-- as zoyler is now giving you. its not so easy to sweep it all under the carpet when you will carry the scares of a loyalist attack for picking up the ball for the rest of your life if i met you i could show you where myself and a dozen others were beat up for playing gaelic at a third level college in northern irelamd, and its not a hundred years ago. young lads like zoyler have no life experience they think that anyone over thirty is doting maybe if he'd got the butt of a rifle in the face or spat on for trying to get to training he'd understand. but anyone who disagrees with whats going on at the moment is instantly labled an old bollix or a dinasuar or a racist, the people who founded the gaa made the rules for a reason and laid the foundation for the organisation we are now who are we to question their motives i dont think as people we are any smarter than they were.

did you object to the British Special Olympics team in CP?

[Mayo4Sam]

Its very sad to see the memory of someone like Aidan (a true Tyrone gael) being abused by some arsehole out to try to score cheap points for their own fucked up view on things.  The originator of this thread should crawl back into the swamp he came out of.

Here, here

[downredblack]

"People that like to live in the past should be left in the past"

Yeah it is very easy to say that and it is a nice sound bite but  your past is other peoples present . Aidan Mcenespie may have been murdered 20 years ago and to some that is a lifetime ago and time to move on but if it was your brother / father / uncle would you be so quick to move on ? I am in favour of opening up CP but I think peoples sensitivities on both sides surrounding this whole issue should at least be respected .

[full back]

I agree DRB, and I sympathise with the whole family, but to have some little pr1ck come on here and print stuff like that is a joke.
If he was sincere in it he would not have been posting all over the place trying to wind people up.
He is a kn0b