06/06/2013
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh Dies
Former Sinn Féin president and IRA army council member Ruairí Ó Brádaigh has died at the age of 80.
Mr Ó Brádaigh was president of Sinn Féin in 1971 and led the Provisional IRA until 1983.
He famously disagreed with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness over the peace process, believing engaging in the political process would retain partition and was ultimately a "betrayal" of the "armed struggle".
Born in Longford, Ó Brádaigh was educated at St Mel's College and University College Dublin.
He graduated in commerce and with an Irish language-teaching certificate. He joined Sinn Féin at university, before committing himself to the IRA in 1951.
As a keen historian, he donated papers to the National University of Ireland in 2005, which detailed meeting with British agents in the '70s.
The notes are reported to have indicated Britain did, at one stage, consider withdrawal from Northern Ireland.
He and his wife, Patsy, had six children.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said: "It is with sadness that I have heard the news of the death of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh.
"On behalf of Sinn Fein, I want to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
"Whatever differences we may have shared on political matters Ruairí was a life-long activist who was committed to his principles."
(IT/MH)
Mr Ó Brádaigh was president of Sinn Féin in 1971 and led the Provisional IRA until 1983.
He famously disagreed with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness over the peace process, believing engaging in the political process would retain partition and was ultimately a "betrayal" of the "armed struggle".
Born in Longford, Ó Brádaigh was educated at St Mel's College and University College Dublin.
He graduated in commerce and with an Irish language-teaching certificate. He joined Sinn Féin at university, before committing himself to the IRA in 1951.
As a keen historian, he donated papers to the National University of Ireland in 2005, which detailed meeting with British agents in the '70s.
The notes are reported to have indicated Britain did, at one stage, consider withdrawal from Northern Ireland.
He and his wife, Patsy, had six children.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said: "It is with sadness that I have heard the news of the death of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh.
"On behalf of Sinn Fein, I want to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
"Whatever differences we may have shared on political matters Ruairí was a life-long activist who was committed to his principles."
(IT/MH)
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