Jimmy Steele (Irish republican)
Jimmy Steele (8 August 1907 – 9 August 1970) was an Irish republican militant. He was one of the most prominent Irish Republican Army (IRA) men in Belfast after the Irish Civil War who held practically every senior position in the Northern Command of the IRA.[1] Later in life Steele publicly denounced the leadership of the IRA which was a prelude to the split in the IRA (Official and Provisional Irish Republican Army). Steele founded and edited several Irish Republican publications. Steele spent a large portion of his life (20 years) in jails as a result of his actions against British security forces.[2]
Steele joined
In the summer of 1935 Steele led IRA units in the defense of Catholic homes during the Lancaster Street riots (see
In 1943 Steele, along with
Steele was arrested again on 29 May 1943. In late 1943 Steele was sentenced to 12 years in jail and was subjected to 12 "strokes of the birch" (permissible under the Special Powers Act (Northern Ireland) 1922.[10] Steele had been arrested on charges related to the IRAs bombing/sabotage campaign in England - the S-Plan and the Border Campaign. Steele was the last S-Plan internee released (October 1950).[11]
While interned in Belfast jail Steele and 22 other
Steele was founder of the Belfast Republican Press Centre in 1970. He was the first editor of Republican News, which started as a monthly and later became a weekly. Steele was also arrested/imprisoned in 1967. He wrote for a number of republican publications, including Glor Uladh, Resurgent Ulster and An Phoblacht. In the 1950 United Kingdom general election Steele stood for Sinn Féin in the West Belfast constituency.
He died on 9 August 1970 the year after the IRA split between the
Our two martyred comrades who we honour today … went forth to carry the fight to the enemy, into enemy territory, using the only methods that will ever succeed, not the method of the politicians, nor the constitutionalists, but the method of soldiers, the method of armed force. The ultimate aim of the Irish nation will never emerge from the political or constitutional platform. Indeed, one is expected to be more conversant with the teaching of Chairman Mao than those of our dead patriots.
Jimmy Steele was buried in Milltown Cemetery west Belfast.
References
- ISBN 978-0-692-04283-0.
- ^ Coogan, Tim, (1981),The IRA, William Collins & Sons Ltd, Glasgow, UK, pg 208.
- ^ Phoenix, Eamon & Parkinson, Alan (2010), Conflicts in the North of Ireland, 1900-2000, Four Courts Press, Dublin, Pg 130, ISBN 978 1 84682 189 9
- ^ MacEoin, Uinseann (1997), The IRA in the twilight years 1923-1948, Argenta Publications, Dublin, pg 383, ISBN 0951117246
- ^ Thorne, Pg.599
- ISBN 0862788366.
- ^ Tim Pat Coogan, The IRA
- ^ Coogan, pg 240.
- ^ Anderson, Pg. 93
- ^ MacEoin, pg 456
- ^ McKenna, Joseph (2016), The IRA Bombing Campaign Against Britain, 1939-40. Jefferson, NC US: McFarland & Company Publishers. pg 156.
- ^ Coogan, pgs 242-246
- ^ Thorne, Pg. 312
- ^ Melaugh, Dr Martin. "CAIN: Patrick Ryan (2001) 'The Birth of the Provisionals - A Clash between Politics and Tradition'". cain.ulst.ac.uk.
- ^ McKenna, pg 165.