Sean Downes
John Downes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sean Edward Downes February 1962 |
| Died | 12 August 1984 (aged 22) |
| Spouse | Brenda Downes |
| Children | 1 |
Sean Edward "John" Downes (February 1962 – 12 August 1984), was a ex-Provisional Irish Republican Army youth member, who died after he was shot in the chest with a plastic bullet in August 1984 during an anti-internment rally in Belfast.[1]
Personal Life
[edit]Sean Edward Downes was born in February 1962 in Belfast, to Gerry and Vera Downes, he was their fifth child.[2][3][4]
On 12 March 1979 when Downes was 16 he was arrested and charged for being in a youth wing of the Provisional IRA, but wasn't given any jail time as long as he promised to stay out of trouble. Downes wouldn’t ever rejoin the Provisional IRA.[1][5]
Downes would marry his long time girlfriend Brenda in January 1983; their marriage was held at the St. Agnes Church. They would have a daughter Claire who was born in February.[1][6]
Death
[edit]On 12 August 1984, John Downes accompanied with his wife Brenda and their 18-month old daughter, Claire attended a anti-internment rally in Andersonstown in front of the Connolly House. Hosted by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and NORAID director Martin Galvin.
The RUC arrived to disperse the crowd, but when the RUC attempted to arrest Galvin the crowd began to riot. Brenda and Claire left soon after the rioting started, but John stayed; a while later Downes who was wielding a stick approached two constables whose backs were turned. Constable Nigel Hegarty, upon seeing this shot Downes in the chest with a plastic bullet at a range of less than 20 meters, Downes would immediately collapse and die minutes later.[1][5][7]
Downes was the 15th person killed by a plastic bullet during the Troubles.
Legacy
[edit]During John Downes’ funeral over 5,000 people attended including Gerry Adams and Martin Galvin.
Downes’ death was one of the main reasons for the formation of the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets, which was founded by Emma Groves and Clara Reilly.
Two separate plaques were installed in memory of Downes near where he died.[8][9]
Inquiry
[edit]In April 1986 constable Nigel Hegarty in a controversial decision, was found not guilty of manslaughter. Brenda and her solicitor Pat Finucane attempted to overturn but were unsuccessful, partly due to Pat's murder in February 1989.[5][6][10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Johnson, Paul (24 March 2022). "'A freeze frame death in front of the world': the police killing of Sean Downes at the height of the Troubles". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Public Enquiry into Events of August 12th 1984". Indiana University Indianapolis. 2 June 2020. p. 120. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "ІПС ЛІГА:ЗАКОН - система пошуку, аналізу та моніторингу нормативно-правової бази". ips.ligazakon.net. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "The Irish People | University Library". library.indianapolis.iu.edu. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Jo (14 August 1984). "THOUSANDS IN ULSTER MARCH TO DENOUNCE KILLING BY THE POLICE". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Driven by anger and a refusal to forget". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "RUC Reservist Acquitted". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ Activity, Extramural (13 May 2002). "Sean Downes". Peter Moloney Collection. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Activity, Extramural (11 June 2008). "John Downes". Peter Moloney Collection. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "RUC Reservist Acquitted". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 29 October 2023.