Tributes paid to former Blanketman and Hunger Striker from County Derry

Tributes have been paid to a former Blanketman and Hunger Striker from County Derry who passed away last week.

Brendan McLaughlin, a native of Greysteel, who lived in the Top of the Hill area of Derry, passed away on December 7.

The 74 year-old 's funeral took place on Thursday, December 11 in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Trench Road.

The father-of-two was laid to rest afterwards in Star of the Sea Cemetery, Faughanvale.

Brendan joined the Republican Movement in 1969. He went on the run in the early 1970s and had served a prison sentence in Portlaoise jail in 1974. In 1976 he was arrested in Greysteel, along with two comrades and after nine months on remand in Crumlin Road jail was sentenced to 12 years and sent to the H-Blocks of Long Kesh where he immediately went on the Blanket.

Mr McLaughlin was in H5 in an adjoining cell to Joe McDonnell and in May 1981 he was selected to replace Francis Hughes, who died on May 15, 1981, on the hunger strike. Within a week of being on hunger strike, Brendan developed a stomach ulcer and was moved to the prison hospital where Ray McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara were dying. He was subsequently removed to the military wing of Musgrave Park prison hospital in Belfast. He was forced to come off the hunger strike after 14 days after being given 24 hours to live. After spending some months under armed guard, he was returned to the H-Blocks after the conclusion of the hunger strike.

While in prison, Mr McLaughlin never took a visit. He was released on November 5, 1984. Five months after his release he lost his brother Michael and he started a band in his honour - the Michael McLaughlin Flute Band.

Paying tribute to Mr McLaughlin, Republican Sinn Féin said: “Following the 1986 Ard-Fheis Brendan stayed with Sinn Féin Poblachtach and has remained a faithful Republican since. Former comrades were greedy for money and power and sacrificed the struggle with little thought for all the young men and women lying in their early graves.

“Brendan suffered a stroke in April 1999 and has remained in a wheelchair since but he attended Easter commemorations in Derry every year. He was a well-known sight at the annual H-Block Armagh commemoration in Bundoran, Co Donegal every August, including this year. He was the 2007 Cabhair honoree for Ulster.”

ABOVE: The family of former IRA hunger striker Brendan McLaughlin's following his coffin draped in the Tricolour from his home in the Top of the Hill to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, for Requiem Mass on Thursday morning. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Mickey McGonigle, Honorary Vice President of Republican Sinn Féin, knew Brendan personally and stayed in contact with him right up until his death.

“After Brendan got out of prison in the 1980s he contacted me to find out how he could show his support to Republican Sinn Féin. He felt Republican Sinn Féin aligned with his principles,” said Mickey.

“He religiously attended every Easter commemoration in the City Cemetery in Derry and was always there to pay his respects at Sean Keenan's commemoration every year. He was a faithful supporter of the hunger strike march and commemoration and contributed so much to Republican Sinn Féin.”

Mickey visited the late Brendan often and in recent times both men regularly stayed in touch via telephone.

He said Mr McLaughlin had previously expressed his wishes to him to have a full republican funeral.

Above: The Tricolour is removed from the coffin of former IRA hunger striker Brendan McLaughlin's before entering the Church of the Immaculate Conception, for Requiem Mass on Thursday morning. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

“He only wanted Republican Sinn Féin to be involved in his funeral and he asked that I take charge of that. I am very happy that I was able to honour his wishes,” continued Mickey.

As Mr McLaughlin's remains were brought back to his Derry home last week, a piper played and also led the cortege on the day of his funeral.

Mr McGonigle and Anthony Lancaster, leader of Republican Sinn Féin in Derry, placed the Irish tricolour on Brendan's coffin.

The piper played a lament at the graveside and after the burial Mr McGonigle said a few words before Mr Lancaster gave the oration. Mr McGonigle also sang Amhrán na bhFiann.

Brendan is survived by his sons Michael and Brendan, daughter-in-law Julieanne, granddaughter Clara, wife Loretta, stepson Jamie and sister Celia. He was predeceased by his parents Catherine and John and brothers Michael and John.