Plaque unveiled in memory of men killed in SAS ambush

A PLAQUE has been unveiled on the spot where four young members of East Tyrone Brigade of the IRA were shot dead in an SAS ambush in Clonoe 30 years ago.

Republicans held commemoration services and candlelit vigils last Wednesday night to mark the anniversary of Kevin Barry O’Donnell (21) and Sean O’Farrell (22), from Coalisland, Peter Clancy (21), from Clonoe, and Patrick Vincent (20), from Dungannon, who were killed at Clonoe church on February 16, 1992.

The plaque was unveiled by the Eamonn Ceannt Society Coalisland/Clonoe and the Thomas J Clarke 1916 Societies. The event, organised in conjunction with family and friends of the four ‘Volunteers’, was attended by independent councillors, Barry Monteith and Dan Kerr.

It was followed by a graveside commemoration at Peter Clancy’s grave in Clonoe and then at the Republican Plot in Coalisland to commemorate Sean O’Farrell and Barry O’Donnell. The commemorations then moved to the graveside of Patrick Vincent in Edendork.

A spokesman for the 1916 Society estimated that over 500 people attended the commemoration.

Coalisland/Clonoe Martyrs Sinn Féin Cumann also held memorial events which began with an online commemoration on their Mid Ulster Facebook site at noon on Wednesday. The party also organised a candlelit vigil, in memory of the four men, after Mass at Clonoe Chapel.

It was also held at the place where the four IRA members were gunned down. There was an oration by Mid Ulster MLA, Linda Dillon.

The event concluded with Cara Hilley singing the Irish national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann’.