Northern Ireland

Last death sentence inmate Liam Holden laid to rest as congregation told of his fond memories of Long Kesh

Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams at the funeral of Liam Holden. Picture By Hugh Russell.
Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams at the funeral of Liam Holden. Picture By Hugh Russell. Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams at the funeral of Liam Holden. Picture By Hugh Russell.

THE north’s last death penalty inmate recalled "with great fondness" the many years he spent in prison following the commutation of his sentence to life behind bars, his funeral service heard today.

Liam Holden, who died last Thursday aged 68, spent 17 years in prison after his wrongful conviction for the killing of a British Army private, shot dead 50 years ago this week.

The father-of-two, one of 12 siblings born to Martha and Samuel Holden, grew up in the Westrock bungalows in the Whiterock area of west Belfast.

He left school at 15 and began working as a trainee chef at Chimney Corner. His great love of cooking remained with him for the rest of his life and he had real ambitions to be a top chef, Fr John Downey told the large congregation gathered at St John’s on the Falls Road.

These ambitions were “cruelly interrupted when at the age of 18 he was sentenced to death, later commuted to life."

Mr Holden was arrested approximately a month after the killing of Private Frank Bell, who died on September 20 1972, three days after he was shot by a sniper while on patrol in Ballymurphy.

Liam Holden leaves Belfast High Court in 2012 after his conviction for the murder of Private Frank Bell was  overturned .
Liam Holden leaves Belfast High Court in 2012 after his conviction for the murder of Private Frank Bell was overturned . Liam Holden leaves Belfast High Court in 2012 after his conviction for the murder of Private Frank Bell was overturned .

Mr Holden was tortured by members of the Parachute Regiment and forced into making a confession. He was convicted the following year but this was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2012.

“He spent the next 17 years in Long Kesh. A lot of people would find this quite daunting but he spoke of this part of his life with great fondness, loved the sense of camaraderie, togetherness, empathy, the sharing of a common cause,” Fr Downey said.

The celebrant recalled that Mr Holden began working as a taxi driver on his release, a job that allowed him to talk with lots of different people.

“This was right up his street,” Fr Downey said. “He was a quiet man but loved nothing more than making people laughing, he lived for it.”

The funeral of Liam Holden the last man sentenced to deathin the North  get on the way from St John's Church on the Falls Road in West Belfast Picture By Hugh Russell.
The funeral of Liam Holden the last man sentenced to deathin the North get on the way from St John's Church on the Falls Road in West Belfast Picture By Hugh Russell. The funeral of Liam Holden the last man sentenced to deathin the North get on the way from St John's Church on the Falls Road in West Belfast Picture By Hugh Russell.

The congregation heard how “anyone who came across him was guaranteed to come away full of laughter”.

It was a great gift but he also was “always there for anyone needing assistance”.

“But he had a little flaw some in the congregation may know about. He loved football but he had a very poor taste in teams. He loved Arsenal. It does reflect Liam’s great sense of humour,” Fr Downey said.

Along with joy and laughter, there was sadness, including losing his “beloved Pauline”, his dear parents and many of his siblings.

When he finally lost the battle against illness, he was surrounded by members of his family, including children, Samuel and Bronagh.

Following Requiem Mass, his remains were brought to the City Cemetery for burial.

Mourners included former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.

Private Bell was also 18 when he was fatally shot by the sniper in the Ballymurphy area. From Cheshire, he had joined 2nd Para six weeks earlier, was due for a month’s leave before redeployment to Malaya.

Engaged to be married, his grandfather at the time told the local newspaper his grandson joined the army because he was unemployed.