Funeral for former Derry IRA leader on Sunday

The veteran Derry republican and Irish language activist Manus Canning, who died in hospital earlier today, will be laid to rest on Sunday.

Mr Canning [pictured on left with Sean Mac Stiofain and Cathal Goulding] who was in his nineties, was sentenced to eight years in Wormwood Scrubs in the 1950s for stealing a consignment of arms from the British Army Officer Training Corps.

While in prison, Canning stood for Sinn Féin in Derry the 1955 general election, taking 35.5% of the vote.

He stood again in1959, when the party attempted a public campaign on his behalf, but he took only 27% of the vote. While in jail, he taught the IRA chief-of-staff Sean Mac Stíofáin to speak Irish. On release, he was sent by the IRA to Germany and Austria to source ammunition for future attacks.

In 1960, Canning moved to New York City to work for a publishing company. At the request of the IRA, he and Vincent Conlon assumed the leadership of Clan na Gael in the hope of raising additional funds for the IRA, although this had little immediate effect.

While in New York, Canning spent time with Brendan Behan, and in 1964 met Naoko, the couple later marrying and moving back to Derry.

Mr Canning is predeceased by his wife and is survived by their son Seany.

His wake is being held at Lindenwood Park, Foyle Springs, and his funeral mass is at Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty at 12.30pm on Sunday.