2000 PEOPLE ATTEND CLONOE MARTYRS 20th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION

Two thousand people marched through Coalisland on Sunday 19th in memory of East Tyrone IRA Volunteers Barry O’Donnell, Seán O’Farrell, Peter Clancy and Patrick Vincent.  The four Volunteers were ambushed in cold blood by the SAS at Clonoe Chapel on 16th February 1992 while they dismantled their weaponry following a daring attack on Coalisland RUC Barracks. The independent commemoration was organised by the 1916 Societies, namely the Eamonn Ceannt Society (Coalisland/Clonoe) and the Thomas Clarke Society (Dungannon). Banners highlighting the lack of an Inquest into the shootings and the campaign for truth fought by the families since then were carried and from 1916 societies across Ireland.

The march, which was the largest seen in Coalisland for many years, was the culmination of a weekend of events marked the 20th anniversary of these brave Irishmen. It began on Thursday 16th when a crowd of over 200 hundred people travel round to light candles at each grave and a torchlight procession at Edendork. On Friday 17th around 300 people packed into Clonoe Community Centre for “Memories of Barry, Patrick, Peter and Sean – a night of stories and music”. On Sat 18th Wreath laying ceremonies beginning at Clonoe 2pm, Coalisland 2.30pm and Edendork 3pm took place. That evening an Inquest Discussion in assoc. with Relatives for Justice, in the Cornmill, Coalisland took place where family members laid out the legal battle they are involved in to secure an Inquest. An exhibition on the four Volunteers was on show all weekend in the Cornmill, Coalisland with hundreds through the door each day.
http://www.ir-news.net/2012/02/2000-people-attend-clonoe-martyrs-20th-anniversary-commemoration/