Jim Sullivan (Irish Republican)
Encyclopedia
Jim Sullivan was a leading member of the Official Irish Republican Army from the lower Falls area of Belfast
.
Sullivan was second in command of the Belfast Brigade of the Official IRA (under Billy McMillen
) and played an important role in events in Belfast during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was chairman of the Central Citizens' Defence Committees established in the city after the burning of many homes by loyalist mobs in the 1969 Northern Ireland Riots
. He also played an important role in the Falls Curfew
, a three day gun battle in July 1970 between the Official IRA and the British Army
.
In later years Sullivan played a leading role in the development of the Republican Clubs which became the Workers' Party of Ireland
in 1982. In 1973 he was elected to Belfast City Council
for that party and retained his seat until he retired in the late 1980s.
On 3 September 1991 Jim Sullivan's youngest son, 24 year old Seamus, was shot dead by members of the Ulster Defence Association
on his first day of employment at the Belfast City Council refuse collection depot on Springfield Avenue. His murder was regarded as a random sectarian murder of a Catholic rather than having any connection with his father's political activity.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
Sullivan was second in command of the Belfast Brigade of the Official IRA (under Billy McMillen
Billy McMillen
Billy McMillen was an Irish republican activist and an officer of the Official Irish Republican Army...
) and played an important role in events in Belfast during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was chairman of the Central Citizens' Defence Committees established in the city after the burning of many homes by loyalist mobs in the 1969 Northern Ireland Riots
1969 Northern Ireland Riots
During 12–17 August 1969, Northern Ireland was rocked by intense political and sectarian rioting. There had been sporadic violence throughout the year arising from the civil rights campaign, which was demanding an end to government discrimination against Irish Catholics and nationalists...
. He also played an important role in the Falls Curfew
Falls Curfew
The Falls Curfew was a British Army operation during 3–5 July 1970 in an area along the Falls Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The operation started with a weapons search but quickly developed into rioting and gun battles between British soldiers and the Official Irish Republican Army...
, a three day gun battle in July 1970 between the Official IRA and the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
In later years Sullivan played a leading role in the development of the Republican Clubs which became the Workers' Party of Ireland
Workers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
in 1982. In 1973 he was elected to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
for that party and retained his seat until he retired in the late 1980s.
On 3 September 1991 Jim Sullivan's youngest son, 24 year old Seamus, was shot dead by members of the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
on his first day of employment at the Belfast City Council refuse collection depot on Springfield Avenue. His murder was regarded as a random sectarian murder of a Catholic rather than having any connection with his father's political activity.