Northern Ireland

Funeral takes place for Co Derry republican Paul McGlinchey

The funeral of Paul McGlinchey in Ballyscullion, Co Derry on Saturday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.
The funeral of Paul McGlinchey in Ballyscullion, Co Derry on Saturday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.

THE funeral has taken place of Co Derry republican Paul McGlinchey, who is believed to have been longest serving H-Block 'blanketman'.

The 63-year-old died last Thursday after a battle with illness.

Originally from Bellaghy, he was one of the first IRA prisoners to take part in the prison protest after being sentenced for possession of arms as an 18-year-old in 1976.

The protest was part of a campaign for political status, which didn't end until 1981 following the deaths of ten hunger strikers.

He also served a sentence in Portlaoise Prison for armed robbery in the 1990s.

His brother, former INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey, was shot dead in 1994.

Another brother Sean is currently a Sinn Féin representative at Causeway Coast and Glens council.

A large crowd of mourners followed the cortege as it made its way to the Church of St Joseph, Ballyscullion, on Saturday for Requiem Mass.

The coffin was draped in the 'Irish Republic' flag and a tricolour along with a black beret and gloves, while former 'blanketmen' formed a guard of honour.

In a book published in 2017 Mr McGlinchey talked about the time he spent on protest in the H-Blocks and revealed he was forced to serve an extra three years behind bars due to lost remission when the protest eventually ended.