Clonoe GAA club unveils memorial to ‘fallen Gaels’

ON Saturday, Clonoe GAA club paid tribute to three of their members who were killed during the Troubles.

Hugh Gerard Coney, Brian Campbell and Peter Clancy were members of the IRA who were shot dead by British forces in three different decades during the years of the conflict. The O’Rahilly club unveiled the memorial and stated they ‘made the ultimate sacrifice’. The stone bearing the portraits and names of the three men read, ‘Erected by Clonoe O’Rahilly’s in proud memory of our fallen Gaels. Never Forgotten’.

Internee Hugh Gerard Coney who was aged 24, was shot dead in November 1974 as he attempted to escape from the Long Kesh prison camp. Teenager Brian Campbell (19) was killed alongside his close friend Colm McGirr (23) from Coalisland by undercover British soldiers in December 1983. And 30 years ago this month Peter Clancy was gunned down in an SAS ambush at Clonoe Church along with three other young men, Kevin Barry O’Donnell (21) and Sean O’Farrell (22) from Coalisland and Patrick Vincent (20) from Dungannon in February 1992.

Junior Coney, an older brother of Hugh Gerard Coney, described the erecting of the memorial as a “very nice gesture by the O’Rahilly club”. He added, “It is almost 50 years since Hugh Gerard was shot dead although it still feels like yesterday. It is very humbling to see the way the three lads have been remembered. They all played for this club and were O’Rahilly members. The families are very pleased.”

The unveiling was followed by refreshments in the club function room and later in the evening there was music by Liam McDonald.

Meanwhile following publicity of the event, Kenny Donaldson, spokesman for ‘Innocent Victims United’, was critical of the GAA and Sinn Féin MLAs Michelle O’Neill and Linda Dillon who were attendance.

He stated that the event did not help in challenging perceptions or encourage Protestants and Unionists to join the GAA.

Clonoe O’Rahilly GAC and Sinn Féin declined to respond to the criticism