Vol. Sean McCartney Remembered in Belfast
On the 8th of May, 1921, Belfast IRA Volunteer Sean McCartney was killed on active service in an engagement with British troops on Lappinduff Mountain, Co Cavan, Ireland.
Speaking from his graveside, Lasair Dhearg’s Pádraic MacCoitir said, “On this day, in 1921, IRA Volunteer Sean McCartney was shot dead in the Lappinduff Mountains in County Cavan. Sean was a local lad from Norfolk Street here in Belfast. He and his comrades in the Belfast Battalion, about fifteen or sixteen of them, joined their comrades in the Cavan flying column. They were setting up ambushes and planning attacks against the British Army, RIC and the Black & Tans. Unfortunately for them, they were surprised in an ambush and a gun battle ensued.”
“Sean McCartney himself was shot and fatally wounded. His body was taken to the local British Army barracks, and when his body was handed over to his family and his comrades it was badly mutilated. Sean’s other comrades were captured and they were taken to local barracks in county Cavan where they were interrogated and some of them tortured. On July 11th of that year, they were up in front of a British military tribunal, and they were sentenced to death.”
“The following day on the 12th of July a truce was called, and all volunteers who were sentenced to death got their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. In this particular case the volunteers captured in Lappinduff Mountains got their sentences commuted to three years imprisonment, and they were all released within months. One of those captured was my mothers uncle, Johnny McDermott.”
“Volunteer Sean McCartney, who died 100 years ago today, will never be forgotten. We will always remember the sacrifice he and his other comrades gave for us as Irish Republicans today, and for future generations.”
