Frank Stagg (Irish republican)
Frank Stagg | |
---|---|
Proinsias Stagg | |
UK | |
Cause of death | Hunger strike |
Organisation | Provisional IRA |
Known for | Hunger strike of 62 days, from 14 December 1975 |
Relatives | Emmet Stagg (brother) |
Frank Stagg (
Stagg was one of 22 Irish republicans to die on hunger strike in the twentieth century.Background
Stagg was the seventh child in a family of thirteen children. He was born in
In 1972, he joined the Luton cumann of Sinn Féin and soon after became a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).[7]
Provisional IRA
In April 1973, Stagg was arrested with six others alleged to comprise an IRA unit planning bombing attacks in
Stagg was initially sent to the top security
Following the hunger strike that resulted in the death of Michael Gaughan, the Price sisters, Feeney and Kelly were granted repatriation to Ireland. Stagg was denied repatriation and was transferred to
Hunger strike
In 1975 he was transferred to
Stagg's demands were:[6]
- An end to solitary confinement
- No prison work
- Repatriation to prison in Ireland
The British government refused to meet any of these demands. Stagg died on 12 February 1976 after 62 days on hunger strike.[6][11]
The IRA swore revenge over his death, warning the British public it was going to attack indiscriminately. They exploded about 13 bombs throughout England within a month after Stagg's death.[12][full citation needed]
The three funerals of Frank Stagg
Frank Stagg's burial caused considerable controversy in Ireland.
His body was then taken to the parish church in Hollymount by helicopter and buried near the family plot. This first burial was attended by thousands of Republicans while 1,600 members of the
Following the first burial, a
In order to prevent the body from being disinterred and reburied by republicans, the first grave had been covered with concrete. Local Gardaí kept an armed guard by the grave for six months. However, unknown to them, the plot beside this grave was available for purchase. Frank's brother George purchased the plot and placed a headstone over it, with it declaring that the "pro-British Irish government" had stolen Frank's body. 22 months later in November 1977, a group of republicans dug down into the plot that George had purchased, then dug sideways and recovered Frank's coffin from the adjacent plot under cover of darkness, before reburying it in the republican plot beside the body of Michael Gaughan under a third and final headstone. The Republicans held their own version of a funeral ceremony before disappearing back into the night. This is sometimes referred to as the third and final funeral of Frank Stagg.[15][16]
Following the final burial, an anonymous letter was sent to the Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, the Minister for Justice Patrick Cooney, the Minister for Post and Telegraphs Conor Cruise O'Brien and Minister for Foreign Affairs Garret FitzGerald, informing them each that they had been "marked out for assassination" because of their government's involvement with Stagg's burial(s). Stagg's widow Bridie and his brother Emmett were reported to have been intimidated by members of the Provisional IRA due to their opposition to his burial in a Republican plot.[14]
References
- ^ "The funerals of Frank Stagg". republican-news.org. 11 November 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Increased turnout in Bundoran to honour hunger strikers". Saoirse. September 1995. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
- ISBN 0-9542946-0-2.
- NUI Galway. Archivedfrom the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Hedges, John (1 June 2017). "Mayo's heroes". An Phoblacht. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "FRANK STAGG". Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d McCormack, Mike (1 February 2010). "A Promise Fulfilled". Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Man's denial on chemicals; The Times; 25 Oct 1973; pg2 Col F
- ^ Priest who 'raised...; The Times; 2 Nov 1973; pg1 col E
- ^ Maume, Patrick (October 2009). "Stagg, Frank". Dictoionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Kelleher, Lynne (25 September 2018). "TG4 documentary to tell story of Frank Stagg who died after 62-day hunger strike". Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Arlington Heights Herald from Arlington Heights, Illinois on March 17, 1976 · Page 3". Newspapers.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ Behind Closed Doors: Cabinet Confidential. RTÉ, 2 January 2007
- ^ Irish Times. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ McGlynn, Pat (1 August 1981). "The deaths of Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg". An Phoblacht. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ "Frank Stagg's Three Funerals". rte.ie. RTE. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.