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Republicans from all backgrounds expected to attend Derry IRA commemoration

A family organised commemoration to mark the 37th anniversary of IRA man George McBrearty will be held in Derry this weekend
A family organised commemoration to mark the 37th anniversary of IRA man George McBrearty will be held in Derry this weekend A family organised commemoration to mark the 37th anniversary of IRA man George McBrearty will be held in Derry this weekend

THE family of an IRA man shot dead by the British Army will hold a commemoration to mark his 37th anniversary in Derry this weekend.

George McBrearty (23) died along with fellow republican Charles Maguire (21), during a gun battle with members of the 14th Intelligence Company in Derry in May 1981.

In recent years republicans from across Ireland, and all shades of opinion, have attended a family organised commemoration in his native city.

Last year the IRA man’s 89-year-old mother Bridie unveiled a new mural on the gable of his niece’s house in the Creggan estate.

Prominent Irish America Martin Galvin, who once headed up republican fundraising group Noraid, is expected to chair the event while Pol Scannell, chair of the Tony Taylor campaign in Dublin, will be the main speaker.

The republican’s brother, Danny McBrearty, urged members of the public to attend the event.

“We the McBrearty family are very pleased that a commemoration for our brother George is able to unite everyone with great dignity and respect,” he said.

The commemoration will be held at the mural on Rathlin Drive in the Creggan area of Derry at 1pm on Sunday.