BELFAST RB BOOKLET 2020 - Flipbook - Page 49
Ci t y of Belf ast Grand Bl ack Chapt er - Dem onst rat i on Bookl et 2020
Everyone knew Bobby Neill as an
Like Bobby, Jimmie McCurrie too was a
inoffensive wee man who merely loved a good and decent family man. Hard working in
pint; his football and was an ever popular the coal-quay he was also known to do
workmate among his colleagues in the anyone in need, a wee turn and that was
local Irish Bonding Company.
evident in the way he regularly helped out his
Accompanied by his neighbour Billy elderly mother to look after his ailing brother
During any good weather Saturday,
Farr, local man Jimmie McCurrie had left
his wife Kathleen in their Ardiluan Street Jimmie and Kathleen would have taken
home at around half past eight that their children to a seaside-trip down to
night to go for a game of darts in the Bangor, but that Saturday in June 1970
changed the fabric of both his and Bobby's
nearby Scotch Row public house.
Two of his four young children were east Belfast homes, as well as the overall
engaged in painting the kerbstones in locality and community, forever.
Before that infamous day, fifty years ago,
traditional colours, preparing for the
this
year, the residents of the Newtownards
forthcoming Twelfth celebrations.
Road
and Short Strand area would have
At home, Kathleen had been preparing a pot
mixed
freely, met socially and even worked
of soup as Jimmie and his mates were
together;
but that was, and is, no longer the
traditionally coming back to the house later on,
case.
The
IRA saw to that by nurturing its
as they did every week, taking turns, for a bite
naked
sectarianism
in an unlikely goal of
to eat after a Saturday night out.
united
Mother
Ireland
at
the point of a gun.
However that Saturday night Jimmie went
Its
Commander,
Billy
McKee who had also
round to the Buffs Club on the Albertbridge
been
shot
that
night,
reportedly
a mistake by
Road to pay his dues and afterwards they all
returned to the Newtownards Road around one of his own and a later outed informer,
Short Strand republican, Denis Donaldson.
10:45pm unaware of the trouble going on.
After McKee was transported to the Mater
Heading home through the side streets,
Hospital and with the Army awaiting orders to
Jimmie and his mates then turned from
arrest him after he had been treated, McKee
Beechfield Street into Bryson Street, when
was allegedly spirited over the border in a
he was shot by an IRA gunman operating
stolen ambulance then spent the rest of his life
from the corner of Kilmood Street.
lauding all and sundry of his role that night yet
His friends dived for cover as the gunfire was never questioned by the authorities. Later
continued, however when they managed to along with Frank Card, he was caught with a
crawl back to the corner of Bryson Street gun in his car and both served a short time in
looking for their friend, but were unable to find prison for their nefarious terrorist activities.
him in the darkness and the turmoil.
A devout Roman Catholic and an openly
A nearby lady then called out to them that sectarian killer, McKee who died in 2019
a wounded man had been into her house and given an IRA funeral, once boasted
and about two o'clock a nearby ambulance that .. 'any Protestant; man, woman or child
ferried Jimmie to hospital; however he was is a target.'. But along with many of his ilk,
unfortunately pronounced dead on arrival McKee now stands before the ultimate
with his pregnant wife Kathleen, then to be courtroom and prayerfully to be sentenced
told of the very sad news about her dear with the final judgement .. 'the judgement
that is mine sayeth the Lord. '
husband, Jimmie.
Every year on the last Friday in June, EBHCS continue to hold a short parade followed by
a 'Memoriam Service' in the McCurrie/Neill Memorial Garden, in everlasting remembrance
of each of the victims from that fateful Saturday in June 1970. Lest We Forget
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN - 47 - AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING