Kieran Fleming
Encyclopedia
Kieran or Ciarán Fleming (born 25 October 1959 – 2 December 1984), was a member of the 4th Battalion, Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
from the Waterside
area of Derry
, Northern Ireland
. He died while attempting to escape after a confrontation with British troops in 1984.
.
. He was convicted of the murder
of RUC woman Linda Baggley in 1976 and imprisoned.
, the largest break-out of prisoners in Europe since World War II
and in British prison history. Fleming, along with 37 other republican prisoners, armed with 6 hand-guns, hijacked a prison meals lorry and smashed their way out of HMP Maze past 40 prison wardens and 28 alarm systems. During the escape Gerry Kelly
shot and injured a prison warden as the officer attempted to foil the escape.
was noted for his hard line militarist republicanism. He is reputed to have backed a plan to form full time guerilla units or "flying columns" based in the Republic, which would carry out four or five large scale attacks in the north a year. This approach was espoused by the militant Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
led by Padraig McKearney
and Jim Lynagh
, who wanted an escalation of the conflict to what they termed "total war". They were opposed by Kevin McKenna, the IRA Chief of Staff and by the republican leadership based around Gerry Adams
, on the grounds that actions on that scale were too big a risk and unsustainable. The IRA leadership wanted a smaller scale campaign of attrition, supplemented by political campaigning by Sinn Féin
.
, County Donegal
. The van was then loaded with nine beer kegs, each containing 100 lb of explosives. They then crossed the border and travelled to Kesh, County Fermanagh
. At the Drumrush Lodge Restaurant just outside of Kesh they then planted a landmine in a lane leading to the restaurant and wired up a device which was connected to an observation point. From there a hoax call was made in order to lure the British Army to the restaurant on the pretense that there was a firebomb planted within the restaurant.
MacGiolla Bhrighde observed a RUC patrol car approaching the restaurant and gave the detonation code word "one". However, the mine failed to explode. MacGiolla Bhrighde and British Army soldier Alistair Slater
were both killed during the operation. Fleming and the remainder of the ASU
then came under fire from the SAS
unit and retreated. Fleming, unable to swim, became trapped between the SAS units and the swollen River Bannagh and was swept away and drowned.
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
from the Waterside
Waterside, Derry
The Waterside is an urban neighbourhood on the east side of the River Foyle opposite the Cityside of Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Traditionally, the Waterside ends at the Caw roundabout near the Foyle Bridge...
area of Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He died while attempting to escape after a confrontation with British troops in 1984.
Background
Fleming was the youngest son of Paddy and Maud Fleming. Fleming grew up in the Waterside area to the east of Derry CityDerry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
.
Paramilitary activities
Fleming became involved in the republican movement from an early age and spent most of his formative years imprisoned in the republican H-Blocks of HMP MazeMaze (HM Prison)
Her Majesty's Prison Maze was a prison in Northern Ireland that was used to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles from mid-1971 to mid-2000....
. He was convicted of the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of RUC woman Linda Baggley in 1976 and imprisoned.
Maze Escape
On 23 September 1983, Fleming was involved in the Maze Prison escapeMaze Prison escape
The Maze Prison escape took place on 25 September 1983 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. HM Prison Maze was a maximum security prison considered to be one of the most escape-proof prisons in Europe, and held prisoners convicted of taking part in armed paramilitary campaigns during the Troubles...
, the largest break-out of prisoners in Europe since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and in British prison history. Fleming, along with 37 other republican prisoners, armed with 6 hand-guns, hijacked a prison meals lorry and smashed their way out of HMP Maze past 40 prison wardens and 28 alarm systems. During the escape Gerry Kelly
Gerry Kelly
Gerard "Gerry" Kelly is an Irish republican politician and former Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer who played a leading role in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April 1998...
shot and injured a prison warden as the officer attempted to foil the escape.
Tactical outlook
Fleming, according to IRA sources quoted by journalist Ed MoloneyEd Moloney
Ed Moloney is an Irish journalist and author best known for his coverage of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and particularly the activities of the Provisional IRA. Ed worked for the Hibernia magazine and Magill before going on to serve as Northern Ireland editor for The Irish Times and...
was noted for his hard line militarist republicanism. He is reputed to have backed a plan to form full time guerilla units or "flying columns" based in the Republic, which would carry out four or five large scale attacks in the north a year. This approach was espoused by the militant Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
The East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army , also known as the Tyrone/Monaghan Brigade was one of the most active republican paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles"...
led by Padraig McKearney
Pádraig McKearney
Pádraig Oliver McKearney was a Marxist-oriented Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer. He was killed in a Special Air Service ambush with seven other IRA men at Loughgall, County Armagh in May 1987.-Background:...
and Jim Lynagh
Jim Lynagh
Jim Lynagh from Monaghan Town, County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, was a volunteer in the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army .-Background:...
, who wanted an escalation of the conflict to what they termed "total war". They were opposed by Kevin McKenna, the IRA Chief of Staff and by the republican leadership based around Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
, on the grounds that actions on that scale were too big a risk and unsustainable. The IRA leadership wanted a smaller scale campaign of attrition, supplemented by political campaigning by Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
.
Kesh Ambush and death
On Sunday morning, 2 December 1984, Fleming and Antoine Mac Giolla Bhrighde stole a Toyota van in PettigoPettigo
Pettigo is a small village on the border of County Donegal, Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is bisected by the Termon River which is part of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The van was then loaded with nine beer kegs, each containing 100 lb of explosives. They then crossed the border and travelled to Kesh, County Fermanagh
Kesh, County Fermanagh
Kesh is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is on the Kesh River about from Lower Lough Erne. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 972 people....
. At the Drumrush Lodge Restaurant just outside of Kesh they then planted a landmine in a lane leading to the restaurant and wired up a device which was connected to an observation point. From there a hoax call was made in order to lure the British Army to the restaurant on the pretense that there was a firebomb planted within the restaurant.
MacGiolla Bhrighde observed a RUC patrol car approaching the restaurant and gave the detonation code word "one". However, the mine failed to explode. MacGiolla Bhrighde and British Army soldier Alistair Slater
Al Slater
Sergeant Alistair Ira Slater MM was a British Army soldier who served in B Sqn, 22 Special Air Service who was killed on 2 December 1984 whilst on operations against the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Kesh, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.The operation also led to the deaths of Antoine...
were both killed during the operation. Fleming and the remainder of the ASU
Active Service Unit
An active service unit was a Provisional Irish Republican Army cell of five to eight members, tasked with carrying out armed attacks. In 2002 the IRA had about 1,000 active members of which about 300 were in active service units....
then came under fire from the SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
unit and retreated. Fleming, unable to swim, became trapped between the SAS units and the swollen River Bannagh and was swept away and drowned.
Monument Issue
In 2002, a row erupted when a monument to Fleming, MacGiolla Bhrighde and Sligo Volunteer Joe MacManus was sited close to the place where Protestant workmen William Hassard and Frederick Love were killed by the IRA in 1988.See also
- The Troubles in KeshThe Troubles in KeshThe Troubles in Kesh recounts incidents during, and the effects of, The Troubles in Kesh, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.Incidents in Kesh during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities:-1984:...