Eddie Fullerton: Difference between revisions

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			{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2021}}
	'''Eddie Fullerton''' (1935-1991) was a ] councillor from ], ]. He was killed at his ] home in ] by members of the ].
			{{Use Irish English\|date=April 2021}}
		⚫	{{Infobox politician
			\| name=Eddie Fullerton
			\| image= Eddie Fullerton.jpg
			\| term_start=1979
			\| term_end= 1991
			\| predecessor=
			\| successor=
			\| birth_date= {{Birth date\|1935\|3\|26\|df=y}}
			\| birth_place= ], ]
			\| death_date={{death date and age\|1991\|5\|25\|1935\|2\|9\|df=y}}
			\| death_place= ], ], ], Ireland
			\| death_cause= ]
			\| constituency=]
			\| party=]
			\| office=]lor
			\| spouse= Dinah Peach
			\| children = 6
			}}
			'''Edward Fullerton''' (26 March 1935 – 25 May 1991) was a ] councillor from ] in ], ]. He was killed at his ] home in May 1991 by members of the ] (UDA).<ref>{{Cite news\|last=McDonald\|first=Henry\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/apr/20/northernireland\|title=The double agent who helped run terror cell\|date=2003-04-20\|work=The Observer\|access-date=2020-02-18\|language=en-GB\|issn=0029-7712}}</ref>

			==Childhood and career==
	Fullerton emigrated to ] at the age of 18, and then moved to ]. He became involved in ] in ], where he also met and married his wife Diana. They returned to ] in 1975. He was elected to ] for Sinn Féin in 1979, and held his seat until his death.
			The eldest of John and Mary (or Maria) Fullerton's 20 children, Fullerton emigrated to ] at the age of 18, and then moved to ]. He became involved in ] in ], where he also met and married Dinah Peach. They returned to Ireland in 1975 and had six children.<ref>{{Cite news \|date=2021-05-25 \|title=30th anniversary of Councillor Eddie Fullerton is commemorated \|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/news/uk-news/30th-anniversary-of-councillor-eddie-fullerton-is-commemorated-3249281 \|access-date=2024-04-15 \|work=Derry Journal \|quote=The eldest of 20 children and a gifted footballer and boxer, Eddie Fullerton was 18 when he moved to Scotland in search of work. He then went to Birmingham, where he met and married his wife, Dinah. They had six children and returned to Buncrana in the mid 70s.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|last=Greenslade \|first=Roy \|date=2021-05-26 \|title=Fullerton family’s 30 year campaign for justice \|url=https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/28097 \|access-date=2024-04-15 \|work=An Phoblacht \|quote=Born on a small farm in Buncrana in March 1935, he was the eldest of 20 children born to John and Mary Fullerton. He was unable to continue his schooling beyond the aged 12, despite winning plaudits from his teachers, because his father needed him to work on the farm. Aged 18, he went to Scotland to find work, eventually moving south to Birmingham. There, he fell in love with Diana Peach, started a construction business (employing many men from Donegal), raised a family of six, and became intensely interested in Irish politics.}}</ref> He was elected to ] for Sinn Féin in 1979,<ref>{{Cite web \|last= \|first= \|date=2021-05-22 \|title=Sinn Féin leader calls for public inquiry into Eddie Fullerton murder \|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2021/05/22/sinn-fein-leader-calls-for-public-inquiry-into-eddie-fullerton-murder/ \|access-date=2024-04-15 \|website=Donegal Daily \|language=en-US \|quote=Fullerton, who was the first Sinn Féin member to be elected to Donegal County Council in 1979, “embodied what it means to be a proud Irish republican activist and a dedicated united Irelander,” said Ms McDonald. “Everything he did was about lifting people up and moving forward.}}</ref> and held his seat until his assassination at age 56.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Young \|first=David \|date=2021-12-12 \|title=Man arrested over 1991 murder of Sinn Fein councillor \|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/man-arrested-over-1991-murder-of-sinn-fein-councillor/41143757.html \|access-date=2024-04-15 \|website=Irish Independent \|language=en \|quote=Gardai investigating the murder of a Sinn Fein councillor in Co Donegal 30 years ago have arrested a man. Eddie Fullerton, a father of six, was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries at his home in Buncrana in May 1991. The UDA carried out the attack on the 56-year-old builder and republican politician.}}</ref>

			==Death==
	At two o'clock in the morning, on the 25th May 1991, Fullerton and his wife were woken by the sound of their front door being knocked in with a sledgehammer. The ] paramilitaries shot the councillor six times from the stairs as he left the bedroom to investigate the noise.
			At 11:50 pm, four armed members of the ] (a cover name for the UDA) forced their way into an isolated house in Shandrum, outside Buncrana. They held the family occupying the house hostage for 2 hours before stealing a sledgehammer and their car, both of which were to be used in the killing of Fullerton.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|last= \|first= \|date=2022-01-14 \|title=In full - Police Ombudsman's report into Fullerton murder \|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2022/01/14/in-full-police-ombudsmans-report-into-eddie-fullerton-murder/ \|access-date=2024-04-15 \|website=Donegal Daily \|language=en-US}}</ref>

			At 2:00 am on 25 May 1991, Fullerton and his wife were woken by the sound of their front door being knocked in with a sledgehammer. Fullerton was then shot six times from the stairs as he left the bedroom to investigate the noise.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.relativesforjustice.com/eddie-fullerton.htm \|title=Eddie Fullerton - Relatives for Justice \|access-date=2009-01-19 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203201048/http://relativesforjustice.com/eddie-fullerton.htm \|archive-date=2009-02-03 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|date=2016-05-27 \|title=UFF assassination: Truth still sought 25 years after Eddie Fullerton murder \|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/news/uff-assassination-truth-still-sought-25-years-after-eddie-fullerton-murder-777112 \|access-date=2024-04-15 \|work=Derry Journal \|quote=Loyalist terrorists smashed their way into the Fullerton home at around 2am on 25 May 1991 and made there way upstairs. After being confronted by Eddie Fullerton they shot him a total of six times.}}</ref>
	There has long been suspicion of ] ] in the killing, and of the subsequent ] investigation. A month later, a documentary on English television revealed that an RUC intelligence file containing Fullerton's photograph and details was found in the possession of the UDA in ]. The weapon used to kill him was recovered two years later. No-one has ever been charged with the murder. The Fullerton family has long campaigned for an independent public inquiry into the events surrounding his death.

			Following the attack, the loyalists fled across the border. The car used in the attack was later found on fire at around 4:05am at Coney Road on Culmore Point outside ].<ref name=":0" />
⚫	This was the third ~~murder~~ of an elected representative in the ] ~~(previously~~ the ]~~) since its independence~~.

			The UDA claimed the killing was retaliation for the ] killing of Ian Sproule on 13 April 1991 near ], ], alleging that Fullerton had leaked information on Sproule to the IRA from a ] meeting. A subsequent Garda investigation found no evidence supporting the claim.<ref name=":0" />
⚫	{{~~Ireland-~~politician~~-stub}}~~

	{{crime-bio-stub}}
			==Police file==
			A month later, a documentary on British television revealed that a police file from ] (RUC) intelligence containing Fullerton's photograph and details was found in the possession of the UDA in ]. The weapon used to kill him was recovered two years later. The perpetrators were never found. The Fullerton family has long campaigned for an independent public inquiry into the events surrounding his death.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/4224\|title=Ó Snodaigh seeks clarifications on Fullerton case\|work=sinnfein.ie\|access-date=6 January 2010\|archive-date=24 May 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524175831/https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/4224\|url-status=dead}}</ref>

		⚫	This was the third killing of an elected representative in the ] since its independence from the ].

			==Aftermath==
			The shooting dead by the IRA's ] of high ranking UDA commander and ] Cecil McKnight in ] area of Derry a month later was claimed as retaliation for the death of Fullerton.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/cgi-bin/dyndeaths.pl?querytype=date&day=29&month=06&year=1991\|title=CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths\|website=cain.ulster.ac.uk\|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/londonderry-orangemen-murdered-during-the-troubles-1-2362059\|title=Londonderry Orangemen murdered during the Troubles\|website=www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk\|language=en\|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>

			==Arrest==
			On 12 December 2021, a 56-year-old man was arrested around 10am as he was about to attend church in ].<ref name=rte-man-arrested-in-relation-to-1991-murder>{{Cite news\|title=Man arrested in relation to 1991 murder of Sinn Féin councillor\|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/1212/1266351-murder-arrest/\|last=Reynolds\|first=Paul\|date=2021-12-12\|access-date=2021-12-13\|publisher=]}}</ref> He was detained under section 30 of the Offences against the person Act and can be detained for up to three days.<ref name=rte-man-arrested-in-relation-to-1991-murder/> He was taken to Letterkenny Garda station for questioning. It is the first arrest in the case.<ref name=rte-man-arrested-in-relation-to-1991-murder/>

			The arrested man was released without charge the following day.<ref name=tj-man-arrested-over-1991-murder>{{Cite news\|title=Man arrested over 1991 murder of Sinn Féin councillor in Donegal is released\|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/eddie-fullerton-murder-arrest-5628390-Dec2021/\|date=2021-12-13\|access-date=2021-12-14\|work=]\|agency=]}}</ref> A file was to be prepared by the ].<ref name=tj-man-arrested-over-1991-murder/>

			==References==
			<References/>

			==External links==
			*

			{{Ulster Defence Association\|state=collapsed}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Fullerton, Eddie}}
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			{{SinnFéin-politician-stub}}

Latest revision as of 23:08, 23 November 2024

Eddie Fullerton


Donegal County Councillor
In office 1979–1991
Constituency	Buncrana

Personal details
Born	(1935-03-26)26 March 1935 Donegal, Ireland
Died	25 May 1991(1991-05-25) (aged 56) Buncrana, Inishowen, County Donegal, Ireland
Manner of death	Assassination
Political party	Sinn Féin
Spouse	Dinah Peach
Children	6

Edward Fullerton (26 March 1935 – 25 May 1991) was a Sinn Féin councillor from Inishowen in County Donegal, Ireland. He was killed at his Buncrana home in May 1991 by members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

Childhood and career

The eldest of John and Mary (or Maria) Fullerton's 20 children, Fullerton emigrated to Scotland at the age of 18, and then moved to England. He became involved in Irish republicanism in Birmingham, where he also met and married Dinah Peach. They returned to Ireland in 1975 and had six children. He was elected to Donegal County Council for Sinn Féin in 1979, and held his seat until his assassination at age 56.

Death

At 11:50 pm, four armed members of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (a cover name for the UDA) forced their way into an isolated house in Shandrum, outside Buncrana. They held the family occupying the house hostage for 2 hours before stealing a sledgehammer and their car, both of which were to be used in the killing of Fullerton.

At 2:00 am on 25 May 1991, Fullerton and his wife were woken by the sound of their front door being knocked in with a sledgehammer. Fullerton was then shot six times from the stairs as he left the bedroom to investigate the noise.

Following the attack, the loyalists fled across the border. The car used in the attack was later found on fire at around 4:05am at Coney Road on Culmore Point outside Derry.

The UDA claimed the killing was retaliation for the Provisional IRA killing of Ian Sproule on 13 April 1991 near Castlederg, County Tyrone, alleging that Fullerton had leaked information on Sproule to the IRA from a Garda Síochána meeting. A subsequent Garda investigation found no evidence supporting the claim.

Police file

A month later, a documentary on British television revealed that a police file from Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) intelligence containing Fullerton's photograph and details was found in the possession of the UDA in Derry. The weapon used to kill him was recovered two years later. The perpetrators were never found. The Fullerton family has long campaigned for an independent public inquiry into the events surrounding his death.

This was the third killing of an elected representative in the Republic of Ireland since its independence from the United Kingdom.

Aftermath

The shooting dead by the IRA's Derry Brigade of high ranking UDA commander and UDP member Cecil McKnight in the Waterside area of Derry a month later was claimed as retaliation for the death of Fullerton.

Arrest

On 12 December 2021, a 56-year-old man was arrested around 10am as he was about to attend church in Muff, County Donegal. He was detained under section 30 of the Offences against the person Act and can be detained for up to three days. He was taken to Letterkenny Garda station for questioning. It is the first arrest in the case.

The arrested man was released without charge the following day. A file was to be prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

References

McDonald, Henry (20 April 2003). "The double agent who helped run terror cell". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
"30th anniversary of Councillor Eddie Fullerton is commemorated". Derry Journal. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2024. The eldest of 20 children and a gifted footballer and boxer, Eddie Fullerton was 18 when he moved to Scotland in search of work. He then went to Birmingham, where he met and married his wife, Dinah. They had six children and returned to Buncrana in the mid 70s.
Greenslade, Roy (26 May 2021). "Fullerton family's 30 year campaign for justice". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 15 April 2024. Born on a small farm in Buncrana in March 1935, he was the eldest of 20 children born to John and Mary Fullerton. He was unable to continue his schooling beyond the aged 12, despite winning plaudits from his teachers, because his father needed him to work on the farm. Aged 18, he went to Scotland to find work, eventually moving south to Birmingham. There, he fell in love with Diana Peach, started a construction business (employing many men from Donegal), raised a family of six, and became intensely interested in Irish politics.
"Sinn Féin leader calls for public inquiry into Eddie Fullerton murder". Donegal Daily. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2024. Fullerton, who was the first Sinn Féin member to be elected to Donegal County Council in 1979, "embodied what it means to be a proud Irish republican activist and a dedicated united Irelander," said Ms McDonald. "Everything he did was about lifting people up and moving forward.
Young, David (12 December 2021). "Man arrested over 1991 murder of Sinn Fein councillor". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 April 2024. Gardai investigating the murder of a Sinn Fein councillor in Co Donegal 30 years ago have arrested a man. Eddie Fullerton, a father of six, was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries at his home in Buncrana in May 1991. The UDA carried out the attack on the 56-year-old builder and republican politician.
^ "In full - Police Ombudsman's report into Fullerton murder". Donegal Daily. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
"Eddie Fullerton - Relatives for Justice". Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
"UFF assassination: Truth still sought 25 years after Eddie Fullerton murder". Derry Journal. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2024. Loyalist terrorists smashed their way into the Fullerton home at around 2am on 25 May 1991 and made there way upstairs. After being confronted by Eddie Fullerton they shot him a total of six times.
"Ó Snodaigh seeks clarifications on Fullerton case". sinnfein.ie. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
"CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths". cain.ulster.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
"Londonderry Orangemen murdered during the Troubles". www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
^ Reynolds, Paul (12 December 2021). "Man arrested in relation to 1991 murder of Sinn Féin councillor". RTÉ News. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
^ "Man arrested over 1991 murder of Sinn Féin councillor in Donegal is released". TheJournal.ie. PA Media. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

External links

Relatives for Justice page on Cllr. Eddie Fullerton

v t e Ulster Defence Association
during the Troubles
Chairmen of the UDA	Charles Harding Smith (1971-1973) Andy Tyrie (1973-1988) position abolished (1988)
East Belfast Brigade	Albert "Ginger" Baker Jimmy Birch Billy Elliot Jim "Doris Day" Gray Tommy Herron Sammy McCormick Ned McCreery Michael Stone
North Belfast Brigade	John Boreland John Bunting Sammy Duddy Tommy English Davy Payne Andre & Ihab Shoukri Jimbo Simpson
South Belfast Brigade	David Adams Joe Bratty James Craig Raymond Elder Alex Kerr Jackie McDonald John McMichael Ray Smallwoods Michael Stone
West Belfast Brigade	Johnny Adair Ken Barrett Jackie Coulter Mo Courtney James Craig Frankie Curry William "Winkie" Dodds Hester Dunn Ernie Elliott Davy Fogel Donald Hodgen Billy Hull Matt Kincaid Tommy Lyttle Kenny McClinton Sam McCrory Alan McCullough William "Bucky" McCullough Stephen "Top Gun" McKeag Billy "Twister" McQuiston James "Sham" Millar Wendy Millar Brian Nelson Charles Harding Smith Gary "Smickers" Smyth Sammy Smyth Jim Spence William Stobie "Fat" Jackie Thompson Andy Tyrie John White
South East Antrim Brigade	Joe English John Gregg
North Antrim & Londonderry Brigade	Glenn Barr Ken Kerr Torrens Knight Billy McFarland Andy Robinson
Mid-Ulster Brigade	Robert John Kerr Eddie Sayers Michael Stone
Actions	Benny's Bar bombing (1972) Top of the Hill bar shooting (1972) New Lodge Six shooting (1973) Paddy Wilson and Irene Andrews killings (1973) Murder of Ann Ogilby (1974) Dublin Airport bombing (1975) Biddy Mulligan's pub bombing (1975) Milltown Cemetery attack (1988) Sean Graham bookmakers' shooting (1992) Attack on James Murray's bookmakers (1992) Castlerock killings (1993) Greysteel massacre (1993)
Prominent victims	Paddy Wilson (1973) John Turnley (1980) Miriam Daly (1980) Ronnie Bunting (1980) James Craig (1988) Pat Finucane (1989) Gerard Casey (1989) Eddie Fullerton (1991) Ned McCreery (1992) Frankie Curry (1999)
Related articles	Combined Loyalist Military Command Loyalist Association of Workers Loyalist feud Quis separabit? Real Ulster Freedom Fighters Red Hand Defenders Shankill Defence Association Ulster Army Council Ulster Democratic Party Ulster loyalism Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee Ulster nationalism Ulster Political Research Group Ulster Workers' Council strike Ulster Young Militants Volunteer (Ulster loyalist) Woodvale Defence Association
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