Vol. Colm Maguire Memorial

by reabhloid dearg Wed Feb 07, 2007 23:02

Oration at Colin Maguire commemoration – Gerard Murray.
Glasnevin Cemetary, Dublin. 4/2/07.

Friends and comrades, on behalf of the Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee, it is indeed an honour to be asked to speak here today at this unveiling to former prisoner of war and Volunteer Irish National Liberation Army, Colin Maguire.

It is almost twenty years since Colin died in what can only be described as disturbing circumstances. Even to this day his loving wife Maureen is left with many unanswered questions and so cannot bring closure to her lasting grief.

He is buried here I this cemetery among many others who fought against the state and for what they believed in. People who chose to make the ultimate sacrifice, they choose death rather than oppression.

Colin was from Liverpool, the son of a Presbyterian minister of Irish descent but rebelled against his background and became active in Republicanism in the city.

It was of no surprise that in his job in the post office he became a shop steward but after several years he left after a heated debate with a colleague. He then moved to London where he also ran the News from Nowhere bookstore, becoming well known in left wing circles where his former friends still talk of him with great pride and fondness.

I am led to believe that former comrades of Colin, from his time in London have travelled over today to remember him and to keep his memory alive, so you are all very welcome.

Unfortunately I did not know Colin as I was also in prison at the time of his arrival in Divis Flats but I have heard of his dedication and commitment from his comrades who lived with him there.

It must have taken a brave decision to travel from England to Belfast, especially during the turbulent time of the hunger strikers when emotions and anger were running high at everything English. At this time bear in mind that he moved into a vacant flat and had nobody to help him settle in to his new surroundings.

I can only surmise that during his first few weeks there, the sense of loneliness and isolation would have been enough to convince a lesser man to return home. But not Colin, although his accent would have made him stand out amidst a crowd, obviously his dedication and dependability at the many protests and white line pickets for the blanket men gained him the respect of everyone around him.

He pledged his allegiance to the Irish Republican Socialist Party where he was heavily involved in all the political issues around Divis, but because of the constant harassment and brutality of the crown forces, Colin felt by joining the Irish National Liberation Army he would be of better value to the struggle.

Colin joined the INLA to oppose injustice, oppression, sectarianism and British rule in Ireland. Like all soldiers of the INLA he was out for a Republic for the working class people of Ireland – not for the rich, the high and mighty or as we now have flocking around the fringes of Stormont, the great and the good.

He and some comrades left the flats after an operation went wrong and ultimately moved to Dundalk where he made his home. Unfortunately, as was all too usual at the time, living conditions were at best basic with monetary problems always to the fore - far cry from the conditions Colin would have been raised in.

This must give us all some idea of the commitment and devotion to his beliefs that this man had. It was during his time in Dundalk when during an operation he was eventually caught by the Gardaí and sent to Portlaoise prison.

Prison can effect all of us in many different ways and as the old saying goes “it will either make you or break you” so Colin must have found it more difficult than most.

Even to this day, almost twenty years on, there are still some unanswered questions surrounding his untimely death. I am sure that his wife is still waiting patiently for the state authorities to explain their reasons of neglect and utter disinterest in Colin’s condition so at last she will have some sort of closure to this sorry saga.

Colin had embarked on a hunger strike previously, so how can someone, especially in a high security prison, not be noticed that he is refusing food? Did the authorises know and refuse to do anything or did they really have no knowledge of his eating. The latter, one finds hard to comprehend, especially as he had a history of this kind of protest and prisoners in high security prisoners are checked regularly and everything they do is constantly monitored.

The prison system always goes to great pains to emphasise that a prisoner is there as a punishment and not to be punished so if the above is true, then I will leave you all to make up your own minds on how Portloaise prison dealt with Comrade Colin Maguire and this entire very unsavoury and utterly distasteful affair.

Although Colin was only 31 years old when he died, a young man in his prime, full of life and energy, he achieved a lot in his short life. He left behind a lot of fond memories from no matter what quarter of organisation he was involved in.

Because of the distasteful handling of the manner surrounding Colin’s death, I think that we should spare a thought for Colin’s widow, as she has had much pain to ensure, sorrow to bear and brief to contend with.

When we look at this memorial we should always remember the sacrifice that he made and the turbulent times that he lived through, suffering hardships and harassment but if, the truth be told, Colin does not need a memorial because for as long as there is Republicans still alive in Ireland struggling for a Workers Republic then the spirit of Colin and all the other men and women who died that they and their class could be free will live on.

During the time of the Hunger Strikes and the during the early eights, the INLA was at the forefront of the struggle here in Ireland but harassment, imprisonment and death squads took their toll as the states recognised the threat that these men and women posed to their regimes.

It was not always easy to be a member of the Republican Socialist Movement as there were always pressures coming from many quarters but that was the life of Colin, along with the rest of us chose and ultimately made the movement what it is today.

Colin did not shrink from any task that was given to him, which was proven at the time of his arrest when he stayed behind after a large scale Gardaí chase to ensure that the rest of his comrades made their escape.

Unfortunately this young man did not live to see how this movement has flourished over the past number of years but it is because of the memory of Colin and also the memories of all the other dead Volunteers that have made the Republican Socialist Movement survive throughout the darkest days of the troubles.

Colin was a soldier in the army of the people, and he understood the reality of life in nationalist and Republican working class areas, that was why he was a revolutionary, a socialist and a martyr for his class.

To his wife Maureen, I can only hope this memorial can bring some sort of closure to this sad and sorry chapter in her life. Hopefully when people pass by here and read about Colin they ill understand who he was and what he stood for.

The Republican Socialist Movement have lost a fine comrade, but we can only imagine the feelings of hurt and loss that his family have ensured over all these years.

To the memory of Colin Maguire, husband, volunteer, prisoner of war, comrade and friend, we salute you.

by Scouser - IWW Sun Aug 12, 2007 13:46

I've only just seen this article about Colin Maguire. I first met him when we were involved in anti-fascist work in Liverpool during the late 70s and early 80s. Along with three other comrades, he was a member of the IRSP Liverpool Support Group. He was very involved in a number of organisations including the Troops Out Movement, the Anti Nazi League and the Merseyside Anti Racist Alliance. He was a tall lad, but slighly built. This did not stop him taking part in street fights with members of the National Front and British Movement. On one occassion a fight broke out on Church Street between fascist paper sellers and members of local socialist and anarchist groups. Colin had earlier been enjoying his bottled Guinness in the White Star pub and was on the upper deck of a bus making his way home to his flat in Toxteth. Seeing the fight, Colin ran downstairs and opened the door of the bus by using the emergency handle. He jumped off the bus, ran up the street and thumped one of the fascists. Another time he punched a 'fascist' who ran towards him and when the 'fascist' dropped his radio, Colin realised he had planted an undercover copper. He was arrested after the death of Airey Neave, but released. The police cause quite a bit of damage to his flat. In case anyone is getting the wrong idea, Colin was a gentle lad. He kept hamsters as pets and I never saw lose his temper with anyone. I worked with him when we were sent on a Government Training Scheme in 1979 when we were both unemployed and looking for work in the building trade. I have to admit when I read of his death in The Guardian all those years ago, I cried, which is something I seldom do. He was a good comrade and I'm glad I knew him.