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Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of one of the most heinous assassinations in recent Irish political history.
On the evening of October 28 1976 veteran republican, Maíre Drumm, was murdered by loyalist gunmen as she recovered from surgery in the Mater hospital in Belfast.
Despite security at the hospital the assassins, dressed as doctors, were able to enter the building; a scenario which has led to unresolved charges that there was more direct security force collusion in the murder than has subsequently been acknowledged.
Máire Drumm was a prominent and outspoken senior member of Sinn Fein at the time and had become noted for her direct and vocal criticisms of the British States occupation of north-eastern Ireland.
Born at Killeen. South Armagh in 1919, Máire (McAteer) was brought up with strong republican values. When she moved to Liverpool at 16 to find work she joined the local branch of the Gaelic League and on returning to Ireland she became involved with Sinn Féin in Dublin.
A keen sportswoman she was also active in Gaelic Games and played camogie when she settled in Belfast some years later. Her organisational skills even at this time were apparent and she soon became Secretary for Antrim Camogie Board, Chairperson of the Ulster Camogie Board and Vice-Chairperson of the Camogie Board for all Ireland.
Already strongly politicised when the Civil Rights campaign got under way in the late 1960s, Máire Drumm became immediately involved.
With others her organisational skills were used to good effect in finding shelter, food and clothing for the refugees who came flooding into West Belfast during the pogroms of 1969 whilst the governments in Dublin and London dithered Máire Drumms 'card was marked' by the British State from that point and as she increasingly became, what they saw as, the outspoken voice of Republican women an attempt on her life was inevitable.
The manner in which she was gunned down however pitched State-supported violence in Ireland to an all time low.
Maíre Drumm fought and died to achieve the goal of a free and united Ireland - an objective as yet not delivered despite her sacrifice and that of many others.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
28/10/06
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