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| '''Billy Fox''' (3 January 1939 – 12 March 1974) was an Irish politician and a member of the ]'s ] from 1969 to 1973, and of ] from 1973 until he was shot dead by a group of up to 13 gunmen in March 1974. The circumstances of his death are disputed with various paramilitary groups such as the ],<ref> states Fox was killed by the "Irish Republican Army", which, according to Sutton's categorisation, is "Provisional Irish Republican Army". (Official IRA killings are attributed to the "Official Irish Republican Army").</ref> the ],<ref name="Wilmington">http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=rQKKVauEoioC&dat=19740312&printsec=frontpage Wilmington Morning Star, March |
'''Billy Fox''' (3 January 1939 – 12 March 1974) was an Irish politician and a member of the ]'s ] from 1969 to 1973, and of ] from 1973 until he was shot dead by a group of up to 13 gunmen in March 1974. The circumstances of his death are disputed with various paramilitary groups such as the ],<ref> states Fox was killed by the "Irish Republican Army", which, according to Sutton's categorisation, is "Provisional Irish Republican Army". (Official IRA killings are attributed to the "Official Irish Republican Army").</ref> the ],<ref name="Wilmington">http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=rQKKVauEoioC&dat=19740312&printsec=frontpage ''Wilmington Morning Star'', March 13, 1974, p. 5. "Irish Senator Killed - Protestant Extremists claim Responsibility"</ref> and the ]<ref>''The IRA'' by Tim Pat Coogan p. 357 - ISBN 0-00-653155-5;</ref><ref>Tim Pat Coogan, ''Disillusioned Decades'', Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1987 p. 520 - ISBN 0-09-941522-4</ref> being attributed for the killing. | ||
| ==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
Revision as of 14:17, 23 October 2011
For other people named Billy Fox, see Billy Fox (disambiguation).| Billy Fox | |
|---|---|
| Dáil Éireann | |
| In office 1969–1973 | |
| Constituency | Monaghan |
| Seanad Éireann | |
| In office 1973 – 12 March 1974 | |
| Constituency | Cultural and Educational Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 January 1939 County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Died | 12 March 1974 Tircooney, County Monaghan |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
Billy Fox (3 January 1939 – 12 March 1974) was an Irish politician and a member of the Republic of Ireland's Dáil Éireann from 1969 to 1973, and of Seanad Éireann from 1973 until he was shot dead by a group of up to 13 gunmen in March 1974. The circumstances of his death are disputed with various paramilitary groups such as the Provisional IRA, the Ulster Defence Association, and the Official IRA being attributed for the killing.
Political career
A member of the Fine Gael party, Fox was first elected to Monaghan County Council in 1967, and as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) to the Dáil for the Monaghan constituency in the 1969 general election. He lost his seat in Monaghan, against the national trend, in the 1973 general election. Later that year however he was elected to the 13th Seanad by the Cultural and Educational Panel.
Death
On 12 March 1974, he went to visit the home of his fiancée in rural County Monaghan, as he habitually did every Monday. Thirteen armed paramilitaries had occupied the house in Tircooney (near Clones). He ran from the scene but was followed and shot dead.
Responsibility for the killing was claimed by the Ulster Defence Association who claimed that Senator Fox had links to the Provisional IRA. Five members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army were subsequently convicted of the killing. One of the convicted men, Sean Kinsella, later escaped from Portlaoise Prison and was later convicted of arms offences and attempted murder in England. He was released by the Irish government under the Belfast Agreement. The historian and journalist Tim Pat Coogan however suggests that it was the Official Irish Republican Army that was actually responsible.
Fox was the first member of the Oireachtas to be killed since the assassination of the then Minister for Justice Kevin O'Higgins by the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army in 1927.
The Senator Billy Fox Memorial Park in Aughnamullen is named in his memory.
References
- The Malcolm Sutton Index of Deaths states Fox was killed by the "Irish Republican Army", which, according to Sutton's categorisation, is "Provisional Irish Republican Army". (Official IRA killings are attributed to the "Official Irish Republican Army").
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=rQKKVauEoioC&dat=19740312&printsec=frontpage Wilmington Morning Star, March 13, 1974, p. 5. "Irish Senator Killed - Protestant Extremists claim Responsibility"
- The IRA by Tim Pat Coogan p. 357 - ISBN 0-00-653155-5;
- Tim Pat Coogan, Disillusioned Decades, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1987 p. 520 - ISBN 0-09-941522-4
- Daily Telegraph Dublin frees nine IRA prisoners to aid peace talks
- The IRA by Tim Pat Coogan p357 - ISBN 0-00-653155-5;
- Tim Pat Coogan, Disillusioned Decades, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1987 p520 - ISBN 0-09-941522-4
- Coillte: Senator Billie Fox Park, Co. Cavan
This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database