Cuimhnigh linn Óglaigh Joseph Whitty agus Tom Williams inniú. Joseph Whitty came from Connolly Street in Wexford town. He was a volunteer in the IRAs South Wexford Brigade. He was arrested and imprisoned in late 1922, after the counter-revolution had begun. Prior to his imprisonment, he was among the many Republicans in County Wexford to suffer at the hands of Britains occupation forces and later at the hands of the Free State traitors. In February 1923, members of Cumann na mBan had gone on hunger strike in protest against ongoing internment and successfully secured their release. By May the Civil War had officially ended, but thousands of Republicans remained imprisoned, often in very poor conditions. This resulted in further hunger strikes during 1923. The Free State government had since passed a motion outlawing the release of prisoners on hunger strike, and this was to have dire consequences for Joseph Whitty and others. He died in Newbridge Internment Camp, on September 2nd, at the age of 19. He was the fifth Republican to die on hunger strike since 1917, and was laid to rest in Ballymore Cemetery, Killinick with full military honours. The prison conflict was to escalate further in the coming months, with Free State authorities allowing two more Republicans to die on hunger strike that November. Tom Williams moved to the Falls Road in West Belfast after his family were burned out of their home in North Belfast during the pogroms of the 1920s. After being educated locally, he left school to find work as a labourer. He joined the Con Colbert slua of Na Fianna Éireann, where he carried out many tasks including attending arms lectures, history lectures and scouting for the IRA. Before long his talents were required in the ranks of the IRA. After several volunteers of C Company, Second Belfast Battalion, were arrested and charged with armed robbery, Tom was appointed to C Company Staff. By early 1942, he was O/C of C Company. Despite him being so young, his superiors had no doubt about his ability to fulfill his role as O/C, believing he was totally dependable and had wisdom far beyond his years. Easter 1942 posed problems for the IRA in Belfast. Under Stormonts draconian Special Powers Act, Easter commemorations were banned. The IRA were determined to defy the authorities and devised a simple plan. In three areas of the city, IRA units were to create diversions by firing shots over, but not at RUC patrols, thus drawing them into these areas and clearing the way for two commemorative parades to take place elsewhere in the city. Tom Williams volunteered to lead one of the diversionary operations. At the corner of Cawnpore Street, Toms unit fired shots over an RUC patrol. Unfortunately they didnt flee for reinforcements as anticipated, and instead pursued the IRA unit. Tom and his comrades made it to the OBrien Family home safehouse, where Mrs. OBrien invited them to stop for some lemonade. Soon the house was surrounded by the RUC and a gunfight ensued which led to Constable Patrick Murphy being shot dead and Tom Williams being seriously wounded. Tom was carried to an upstairs bedroom, while the rest of the unit attempted to shoot their way out. They were eventually forced to give themselves up and received a terrible beating from the RUC during their arrest, with one Special Branch man suggesting upon seeing Tom that they should “Shoot that bastard on the bed.” In the aftermath of the incident, Tom was strenuously interrogated by the RUC. He breached IRA rules when he made a statement in which he took responsibility for the killing of Constable Murphy. He even falsely claimed to have fired all of the shots in Murphys direction, such was his desire to save his comrades. Tom and five of his unit were charged and sentenced to death, although all of them later had their sentences commuted, except Tom. Despite widespread appeals for mercy to be shown, Tom was hanged in Crumlin Road Jail on the morning of September 2nd 1942. He was 18 years old. He remains an enduring Republican icon, having willingly sacrificed himself to save the lives of his comrades.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:28:02 +0000
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