Wikipedia:WikiProject Irish Republican Army/Preparation/Tommy McKearney

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Tommy McKearney (b. 1952, Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) is an Irish Republican, and former hunger striker and member (volunteer) within the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

Background
McKearney was born into a family with a long republican tradition. His grandfather, Tom Murray, was Adjutant General of the IRA's North Roscommon Brigade in the 1920s. McKearney has lost three of his brothers during The Troubles. Sean was killed by his own bomb in 1974, Pádraig was killed by the SAS in Loughall in 1987, and Kevin was killed by Loyalists in 1992 while working in the family's butchers shop.

IRA membership
McKearney joined the IRA in 1971 aged 18. On 19 October, 1977 he was arrested and charged with the murder of Stanley Adams, a postman and part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member. McKearney was interrogated for seven days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and claims to have been ill-treated while in custody. McKearney later received a twenty year sentence for the murder of Adams, after a statement which he never signed was accepted by the court on the word of a Royal Ulster Constabulary Inspector.

Hunger strike
McKearney took part in the 1980 hunger strike, along with fellow IRA members Brendan Hughes, Tom McFeeley, Sean McKenna, Leo Green, Raymond McCartney, and Irish National Liberation Army member John Nixon. . McKearney spent 53 days on hunger strike, from 27 October to 18 December, and according to a doctor had only a few hours left to live when the strike was called off.

Freedom
McKearney was released from prison in 1993, having served 16 years of his sentence. He now works as a freelance journalist and is an organiser for the Independent Workers Union.