I last wrote about Thomas Begley, a young Ardoyne Volunteer in 2010. In the last few weeks, his name has once again hit the headlines in the North's Media in relation to his tragic death on 23rd October, 1993. In which many Journalists and Unionist Politicians have attempted to demonise his memory for cheap point-scoring. I deeply sympathise with the relatives of all those who died during the IRA attack on the UDA Headquaters in 1993 and that includes the Begley family from Ardoyne. I have never been one to glorify War or it's terrible consequences and I won't start now. Although, what I will say is that what took place that day should never have happened but I firmly believe that it was a result of a premature explosion and those killed were not in anyway targeted. ![]() |
| Óglach. Thomas (Bootsy) Begley |
I know my words are little consolation to the victims families but sadly I cannot turn the clock back. Another of those badly injured was Sean Kelly also from Ardoyne. After his release from Long Kesh in 2000, Sean testified that he deeply regretted the deaths of so many in the explosion. He also told a local Newspaper that the actual target of the Volunteers that day, was the UDA Office and it's members who believed to have been inside above Frizzell's Fish Shop.
In the months before Thomas' death, Loyalist Paramilitaries had been involved in a sustained terror Campaign against the Catholic/Nationalist and Republican community throughout Belfast and beyond. The same groups had been well-informed and armed by British Military Intelligence, RUC Special Branch and MI5 to increase their activities in a bid to terrorise people across the Six Counties. As a result, the bring the Provisional IRA were put under pressure by it's supporters to retaliate against these gangs.
At the time, I was serving a lengthy prison sentence in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh for Republican activities. Although, it was clear to Republicans both inside and outside that Loyalist Leaders would soon come under attack by the IRA and INLA. So it fell to it's Belfast Commanders to not only gather Intelligence against Loyalist Leaders but to also plan a daring attack against them in their heartland, the Shankill Road. For years, the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDA) had owned an office on that particular road and regularly used it to plan attacks on Nationalists and Republicans. Therefore, it was not surprising when the office was picked as the identified target.
Having lived in Ardoyne all my life, it also wasn't a surprise that the local IRA Unit based there would be given the job of conducting the attack. As it was in close proximity to the district and in the months previous, a number of cars had been commandeered from local people to carry out operations against senior UDA figures. When News of the bombing broke, I knew that it was most likely carried-out by Volunteers from Ardoyne. At that particular stage however, I'd been behind bars for nearly four years and would have not known who was actually involved. Imagine my shock and surprise, when News report after report kept adding to the death toll from the explosion. It wasn't until the last report on BBC Radio Ulster at Midnight that I realised that something really dreadful had actually taken place that particular day.
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| An IRA Volunteer in Ardoyne in 1988 |
Being the weekend, no prisoner had any visits until Monday and we'd have to rely on the Media for News. It was no surprise listening to the various reports that a major premature explosion had actually taken place and that was behind the huge loss of life. As a Republican, I was devastated that so many innocent lives had been cut short in the attack and felt for the families of those who had died. Equally, I also felt for those behind the actual attack because they could not have known how wrong the Operation could have went. When the IRA finally admitted responsibility, my heart sank as they not only said something went badly wrong, but that a number of Volunteers were missing.
When Thomas Begley's name was mentioned and the Provisional IRA admitted that he had died in the explosion. I immediately recognised his family's name from Ardoyne. A pretty quiet family from my locality, known as decent people and hard workers. I knew all of them to speak to and had attended a number of local Schools with him and his brothers. Unlike my own family, Thomas' was not known as Republicans but he clearly had volunteered his services to the local Unit as so many others had over the years. His Parents, Billy & Sadie were really quiet and they all would be completely devastated. Not only from Thomas' death but with all those who were also killed.
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| Thomas' grave in the Republican Plot, Milltown Cemetery, Belfast |
In the Twenty years since then, the Begley family have remained very reluctant to speak about that terrible Saturday afternoon in 1993. They have also been very dignified in the face of a hostile State, Media and Unionist Campaign to demonise them and of course Thomas. Earlier today, I was pleased to read a few comments from Bootsy's Dad in the Irish News. It was very clear that his family are still suffering from the effects of his death. They and Bootsy grew-up and lived in the War Zone known as Ardoyne. Where many of their Neighbours and Friends were killed, injured and imprisoned because of the Conflict raging around them. It is clear that the War had influenced Bootsy's decision to join the IRA and I know many readers will strongly disagree with that, which is their right. However, if taken in it's historical context Thomas must have felt he had little alternative and wanted to change the political situation in Ireland.
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| Ardoyne Commemorative Mural Honouring Fallen Republicans, including Bootsy |
I did not know Thomas as an IRA Volunteer but I did know him from living in the area. As far as I and everyone else in Ardoyne is concerned, next week's Commemoration for him is timely and correct. Everyday since the Twelfth, Unionists have held countless marches in and around the Woodvale and Ardoyne Interface. They have also held a massive parade around the Shankill to commemorate Loyalist Killer, Brian Robinson. These and other marches are indeed sectarian and held in order to increase tensions in the wider community. Countless members of Westminster, Stormont and the City Council have publicly supported these events, whilst demanding Ardoyne does not honour Volunteer. Thomas Begley! The same Elected Representatives have never cared about the feelings and opinions about the Ardoyne community and their attitudes are unlikely to change. Many of these Politicians are also active members of the Orange and other bigoted organisations and as such are anti-Catholic/Nationalist and Republican. Given these facts they cannot be trusted!
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| Poster Advertising Bootsy's Commemoration |
Ardoyne has always honoured those who have made huge sacrifices to attain Ireland's freedom and we always will. Regardless of complaints from British and Unionist Politicians who have always demonised Ardoyne and its residents. Based on all of the above Ardoyne Republicans ask Ardoyne to attend next week's memorial to Óglach. Thomas (Bootsy) Begley.
