The Five Demands

Una breve malattia ha stroncato la vita di Leo Martin

Lunedì 31 gennaio, presso il Royal Victoria Hospital di Belfast. è morto uno dei membri fondatori del Provisional IRA
Leo Martin, fu membro dell’Army Council, che nel 1969 contribuì a formare dopo essersi schierato con il repubblicano Ruairi O Brádaigh ed essere entrato tra i ranghi dell’Official IRA.
Fu in prima linea nell’assicurare il rifornimento di armi al gruppo paramilitare di recente costituzione e si credeva sia stato parte attiva nella spedizione del primo carico dell’organizzazione attraverso il confine.
Leo Martin fu imprigionato più volte nel corso della sua vita ed era ben conosciuto nell’area di West Belfast per essere stato, per molti anni, alla guida di un taxi nero in Falls Road.
La salma è stata tumulata nel cimitero di Milltown.

Founding Provisional IRA member dies (UTV)
A west Belfast man, who was one of the founding members of the Provisional IRA (PIRA), has died in hospital following a short illness.
Leo Martin was a member of the militant group’s first army council which he helped form in 1969 after siding with Co Longford Republican, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and walking out on the Official IRA.
He was at the forefront of securing arms for the newly established group and was believed to have been involved in the shipment of the organisation’s first shipment across the border.
Mr Martin was imprisoned several times in the course of his life and was well known in west Belfast for driving a black taxi on the Falls Road for many years.
The veteran Republican died on Monday in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

He will be buried on Thursday in Milltown Cemetery following Requiem Mass at St Oliver Plunkett Church at 10am.