Loughgall Martyrs 20th Anniversay Commemorative website

Óglach Padraig McKearney

8^th May 1987

Vol. Padraig McKearney

Padraig McKearney was educated at local primary schools in Collegeland and The Moy, and went on to Dungannon Academy but left school after he was first arrested in 1972. He suffered a severe beating and spent six weeks on remand, the charges were dropped when the bruising healed. In December 1973, he was arrested and later sentenced to seven years for possession.

He was in prison when his 18 year old brother, Vol. Sean McKearney was killed while on active service. He was released in 1977 but only to have 3 years of freedom. In August 1980 he was sentenced to 14 years. He served only 3 of them before escaping in the mass break out in September 1983.

A friend remembers that, "When Padraig was 17 and on remand charged with blowing up the Post Office in The Moy, his granny on his father's side told him that his great, great uncle had blown up the same Crown Building, nearly 100 years before." The republican blood of the family runs deep on both sides, with Padraig's maternal grandfather having fought in the Tan War.

Having evaded capture Vol. Padraig McKearney was killed on 8^th May 1987 during the attack on Loughgall barracks which also claimed the lives of his seven comrades. At his funeral the McKearney family thanked all those "who took him into their homes and their hearts."

Even his niece, aged 9 at the time of his death, remembered him as,

"A brilliant soldier, a great uncle and he was always cool"

Volunteer Padraig McKearney was buried in his hometown, The Moy 13 years to the day after his brother Sean died on Active Service.