It is difficult to share the facts of the whole story in how Sean died, this memorial is created in his honour and his story, life and death are now a part of Irish History. However, it is history that is still fresh and I have hesitated in putting his death in words as I do not wish his memorial to be desecrated by those with differing opinions. This is simply to remember the person, the soul and the tragedy of war, loss of life and the courage of a young man when faced with unending persecution simply because of his faith.
The Story of the Gibraltar 3 is recorded now in World courts following numerous investigations that found the actions of the SAS a violation of the Rules of War, Right to Life and Rules of Engagement among many other infractions.
Sean Savage was a five year old child when what is known as the "Irish Troubles" began. He grew up witnessing the struggles of the Irish people for justice and equality under British Rule. He and his family endured every day the injustices and persecutions of simply being Catholic in West Belfast. He grew up with the Civil Rights movement of One Man, One Vote while he watched his community be destroyed, neigbours, friends and family imprisioned without trial, murdered for their faith and endure the brutalities and human indignities of War.
At 17 years of age Sean joined the Irish Republican Army while studying for his 'A' Level exams. On the word of an "Informer" he was arrested and imprisioned without charge or trial. Although the "Informer" later retracted his statement. It was common for young men of the area to be arrested and severely beaten until they said what was wanted of them by the Forces. It was 1981.
On March 6 1988 as Sean Mairéad Farrell and Danny McCann walked along the streets of Gibraltar, Sean trailing behind the other two when they heard men behind them.
Turning to see guns in their hands, Mairéad and Danny put their hands in the air to surrender, Sean ran in another direction. Danny stepped to protect Mairéad when a hail of bulletts flew. Mairéad was shot three times in the back and as she lay on the ground was shot twice more in the face.
Danny was shot four times, twice in the back and while lying on the ground wounded, twice more in the head.
Sean Savage was chased down and in a hail of bullets was shot at least 16 times, five bulletts in the back, four in the head and multiple other areas.
The British Government released news reports indicating the three were high ranking IRA terriorists who were shot dead after planting a massive bomb which they planned to detonate by remote control.
The British Legal System deemed the killings to be lawful.
Subsequent reviews of the case by the European Court of Human Rights in 1995 found that the "Killings were Unlawful". There was no remote control device, no active bombs. There had been no warnings given to the three to stop and no effort made to arrest them. The three Volunteers were unarmed at the time of their murders.
The bodies were not released until 10 days after the murders and many obstacles had to be overcome in order to fly the remains home. As they arrived in Dublin landing again on Irish soil a party of Provisional Volunteers in Belfast fired a volley of shots over a memorial of Mairéad, Sean and Dan as Father Piarus O'Duill prayed over the deceased.
After crossing the border into the North the coffins draped in tricolours were seized by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). They warned the families that the funerals must take place "Within the law" and without
"Paramilitary Trappings". While the mourning families waited the coffins were "delivered" to their respective homes in what was a show of power and control on the part of the RUC.
Kevin MacCracken another young Belfast man was shot dead by the British Army while trying to assist mourners at the home of Sean Savage on March 14 1988.
The funerals of the Gibraltar 3", were held on March 16 1988 and were attended by over 10,000 people. They were to be buried together in the Republican Plot at Milltown Cemetery after Requiem Mass.
As Fr. Alex Reid and Fr. Raymond Murray prayed at the graveside and the final coffin; that of Dan McCann was lowered into the ground; the ceremony was disrupted by hand grenade blasts and shooting.
Michael Stone loyalist paramilitary was attacking mourners in the graveyard. His grenades and gun shots would cause the deaths of three more people. Thomas McErlean, John Murray and Caoimhin MaBradaigh who responded to the attacks by trying to protect mourners, more than 60 others were injured.
On March 9 2008 twenty years after the murders of March 6 2008 there were commemorative marches held in Northern Ireland in honour and remembrance of The "Gibraltar 3". Queens University in Belfast were Mairéad had been a student at the time of her death also commemorated the event with a black flag vigil.
At the time of her death it was custom for the university to lower the flag to 1/2 mast in respect of a deceased student. This honour had been refused Mairéad in 1988 which moved students to take over the Vice Chancellors office and lower the flag themselves.
Died with - Mairéad Farrell
Died with - Daniel McCann
The Story of the Gibraltar 3 is recorded now in World courts following numerous investigations that found the actions of the SAS a violation of the Rules of War, Right to Life and Rules of Engagement among many other infractions.
Sean Savage was a five year old child when what is known as the "Irish Troubles" began. He grew up witnessing the struggles of the Irish people for justice and equality under British Rule. He and his family endured every day the injustices and persecutions of simply being Catholic in West Belfast. He grew up with the Civil Rights movement of One Man, One Vote while he watched his community be destroyed, neigbours, friends and family imprisioned without trial, murdered for their faith and endure the brutalities and human indignities of War.
At 17 years of age Sean joined the Irish Republican Army while studying for his 'A' Level exams. On the word of an "Informer" he was arrested and imprisioned without charge or trial. Although the "Informer" later retracted his statement. It was common for young men of the area to be arrested and severely beaten until they said what was wanted of them by the Forces. It was 1981.
On March 6 1988 as Sean Mairéad Farrell and Danny McCann walked along the streets of Gibraltar, Sean trailing behind the other two when they heard men behind them.
Turning to see guns in their hands, Mairéad and Danny put their hands in the air to surrender, Sean ran in another direction. Danny stepped to protect Mairéad when a hail of bulletts flew. Mairéad was shot three times in the back and as she lay on the ground was shot twice more in the face.
Danny was shot four times, twice in the back and while lying on the ground wounded, twice more in the head.
Sean Savage was chased down and in a hail of bullets was shot at least 16 times, five bulletts in the back, four in the head and multiple other areas.
The British Government released news reports indicating the three were high ranking IRA terriorists who were shot dead after planting a massive bomb which they planned to detonate by remote control.
The British Legal System deemed the killings to be lawful.
Subsequent reviews of the case by the European Court of Human Rights in 1995 found that the "Killings were Unlawful". There was no remote control device, no active bombs. There had been no warnings given to the three to stop and no effort made to arrest them. The three Volunteers were unarmed at the time of their murders.
The bodies were not released until 10 days after the murders and many obstacles had to be overcome in order to fly the remains home. As they arrived in Dublin landing again on Irish soil a party of Provisional Volunteers in Belfast fired a volley of shots over a memorial of Mairéad, Sean and Dan as Father Piarus O'Duill prayed over the deceased.
After crossing the border into the North the coffins draped in tricolours were seized by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). They warned the families that the funerals must take place "Within the law" and without
"Paramilitary Trappings". While the mourning families waited the coffins were "delivered" to their respective homes in what was a show of power and control on the part of the RUC.
Kevin MacCracken another young Belfast man was shot dead by the British Army while trying to assist mourners at the home of Sean Savage on March 14 1988.
The funerals of the Gibraltar 3", were held on March 16 1988 and were attended by over 10,000 people. They were to be buried together in the Republican Plot at Milltown Cemetery after Requiem Mass.
As Fr. Alex Reid and Fr. Raymond Murray prayed at the graveside and the final coffin; that of Dan McCann was lowered into the ground; the ceremony was disrupted by hand grenade blasts and shooting.
Michael Stone loyalist paramilitary was attacking mourners in the graveyard. His grenades and gun shots would cause the deaths of three more people. Thomas McErlean, John Murray and Caoimhin MaBradaigh who responded to the attacks by trying to protect mourners, more than 60 others were injured.
On March 9 2008 twenty years after the murders of March 6 2008 there were commemorative marches held in Northern Ireland in honour and remembrance of The "Gibraltar 3". Queens University in Belfast were Mairéad had been a student at the time of her death also commemorated the event with a black flag vigil.
At the time of her death it was custom for the university to lower the flag to 1/2 mast in respect of a deceased student. This honour had been refused Mairéad in 1988 which moved students to take over the Vice Chancellors office and lower the flag themselves.
Died with - Mairéad Farrell
Died with - Daniel McCann
It is difficult to share the facts of the whole story in how Sean died, this memorial is created in his honour and his story, life and death are now a part of Irish History. However, it is history that is still fresh and I have hesitated in putting his death in words as I do not wish his memorial to be desecrated by those with differing opinions. This is simply to remember the person, the soul and the tragedy of war, loss of life and the courage of a young man when faced with unending persecution simply because of his faith.
The Story of the Gibraltar 3 is recorded now in World courts following numerous investigations that found the actions of the SAS a violation of the Rules of War, Right to Life and Rules of Engagement among many other infractions.
Sean Savage was a five year old child when what is known as the "Irish Troubles" began. He grew up witnessing the struggles of the Irish people for justice and equality under British Rule. He and his family endured every day the injustices and persecutions of simply being Catholic in West Belfast. He grew up with the Civil Rights movement of One Man, One Vote while he watched his community be destroyed, neigbours, friends and family imprisioned without trial, murdered for their faith and endure the brutalities and human indignities of War.
At 17 years of age Sean joined the Irish Republican Army while studying for his 'A' Level exams. On the word of an "Informer" he was arrested and imprisioned without charge or trial. Although the "Informer" later retracted his statement. It was common for young men of the area to be arrested and severely beaten until they said what was wanted of them by the Forces. It was 1981.
On March 6 1988 as Sean Mairéad Farrell and Danny McCann walked along the streets of Gibraltar, Sean trailing behind the other two when they heard men behind them.
Turning to see guns in their hands, Mairéad and Danny put their hands in the air to surrender, Sean ran in another direction. Danny stepped to protect Mairéad when a hail of bulletts flew. Mairéad was shot three times in the back and as she lay on the ground was shot twice more in the face.
Danny was shot four times, twice in the back and while lying on the ground wounded, twice more in the head.
Sean Savage was chased down and in a hail of bullets was shot at least 16 times, five bulletts in the back, four in the head and multiple other areas.
The British Government released news reports indicating the three were high ranking IRA terriorists who were shot dead after planting a massive bomb which they planned to detonate by remote control.
The British Legal System deemed the killings to be lawful.
Subsequent reviews of the case by the European Court of Human Rights in 1995 found that the "Killings were Unlawful". There was no remote control device, no active bombs. There had been no warnings given to the three to stop and no effort made to arrest them. The three Volunteers were unarmed at the time of their murders.
The bodies were not released until 10 days after the murders and many obstacles had to be overcome in order to fly the remains home. As they arrived in Dublin landing again on Irish soil a party of Provisional Volunteers in Belfast fired a volley of shots over a memorial of Mairéad, Sean and Dan as Father Piarus O'Duill prayed over the deceased.
After crossing the border into the North the coffins draped in tricolours were seized by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). They warned the families that the funerals must take place "Within the law" and without
"Paramilitary Trappings". While the mourning families waited the coffins were "delivered" to their respective homes in what was a show of power and control on the part of the RUC.
Kevin MacCracken another young Belfast man was shot dead by the British Army while trying to assist mourners at the home of Sean Savage on March 14 1988.
The funerals of the Gibraltar 3", were held on March 16 1988 and were attended by over 10,000 people. They were to be buried together in the Republican Plot at Milltown Cemetery after Requiem Mass.
As Fr. Alex Reid and Fr. Raymond Murray prayed at the graveside and the final coffin; that of Dan McCann was lowered into the ground; the ceremony was disrupted by hand grenade blasts and shooting.
Michael Stone loyalist paramilitary was attacking mourners in the graveyard. His grenades and gun shots would cause the deaths of three more people. Thomas McErlean, John Murray and Caoimhin MaBradaigh who responded to the attacks by trying to protect mourners, more than 60 others were injured.
On March 9 2008 twenty years after the murders of March 6 2008 there were commemorative marches held in Northern Ireland in honour and remembrance of The "Gibraltar 3". Queens University in Belfast were Mairéad had been a student at the time of her death also commemorated the event with a black flag vigil.
At the time of her death it was custom for the university to lower the flag to 1/2 mast in respect of a deceased student. This honour had been refused Mairéad in 1988 which moved students to take over the Vice Chancellors office and lower the flag themselves.
Died with - Mairéad Farrell
Died with - Daniel McCann
The Story of the Gibraltar 3 is recorded now in World courts following numerous investigations that found the actions of the SAS a violation of the Rules of War, Right to Life and Rules of Engagement among many other infractions.
Sean Savage was a five year old child when what is known as the "Irish Troubles" began. He grew up witnessing the struggles of the Irish people for justice and equality under British Rule. He and his family endured every day the injustices and persecutions of simply being Catholic in West Belfast. He grew up with the Civil Rights movement of One Man, One Vote while he watched his community be destroyed, neigbours, friends and family imprisioned without trial, murdered for their faith and endure the brutalities and human indignities of War.
At 17 years of age Sean joined the Irish Republican Army while studying for his 'A' Level exams. On the word of an "Informer" he was arrested and imprisioned without charge or trial. Although the "Informer" later retracted his statement. It was common for young men of the area to be arrested and severely beaten until they said what was wanted of them by the Forces. It was 1981.
On March 6 1988 as Sean Mairéad Farrell and Danny McCann walked along the streets of Gibraltar, Sean trailing behind the other two when they heard men behind them.
Turning to see guns in their hands, Mairéad and Danny put their hands in the air to surrender, Sean ran in another direction. Danny stepped to protect Mairéad when a hail of bulletts flew. Mairéad was shot three times in the back and as she lay on the ground was shot twice more in the face.
Danny was shot four times, twice in the back and while lying on the ground wounded, twice more in the head.
Sean Savage was chased down and in a hail of bullets was shot at least 16 times, five bulletts in the back, four in the head and multiple other areas.
The British Government released news reports indicating the three were high ranking IRA terriorists who were shot dead after planting a massive bomb which they planned to detonate by remote control.
The British Legal System deemed the killings to be lawful.
Subsequent reviews of the case by the European Court of Human Rights in 1995 found that the "Killings were Unlawful". There was no remote control device, no active bombs. There had been no warnings given to the three to stop and no effort made to arrest them. The three Volunteers were unarmed at the time of their murders.
The bodies were not released until 10 days after the murders and many obstacles had to be overcome in order to fly the remains home. As they arrived in Dublin landing again on Irish soil a party of Provisional Volunteers in Belfast fired a volley of shots over a memorial of Mairéad, Sean and Dan as Father Piarus O'Duill prayed over the deceased.
After crossing the border into the North the coffins draped in tricolours were seized by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). They warned the families that the funerals must take place "Within the law" and without
"Paramilitary Trappings". While the mourning families waited the coffins were "delivered" to their respective homes in what was a show of power and control on the part of the RUC.
Kevin MacCracken another young Belfast man was shot dead by the British Army while trying to assist mourners at the home of Sean Savage on March 14 1988.
The funerals of the Gibraltar 3", were held on March 16 1988 and were attended by over 10,000 people. They were to be buried together in the Republican Plot at Milltown Cemetery after Requiem Mass.
As Fr. Alex Reid and Fr. Raymond Murray prayed at the graveside and the final coffin; that of Dan McCann was lowered into the ground; the ceremony was disrupted by hand grenade blasts and shooting.
Michael Stone loyalist paramilitary was attacking mourners in the graveyard. His grenades and gun shots would cause the deaths of three more people. Thomas McErlean, John Murray and Caoimhin MaBradaigh who responded to the attacks by trying to protect mourners, more than 60 others were injured.
On March 9 2008 twenty years after the murders of March 6 2008 there were commemorative marches held in Northern Ireland in honour and remembrance of The "Gibraltar 3". Queens University in Belfast were Mairéad had been a student at the time of her death also commemorated the event with a black flag vigil.
At the time of her death it was custom for the university to lower the flag to 1/2 mast in respect of a deceased student. This honour had been refused Mairéad in 1988 which moved students to take over the Vice Chancellors office and lower the flag themselves.
Died with - Mairéad Farrell
Died with - Daniel McCann
Gravesite Details
Murdered in Gilbraltar
