Family mark 39th anniversary of George McBrearty in Creggan

The ongoing public health crisis meant that by necessity the annual commemoration was a low key affair.

George’s mother Bridie was joined by family members for a wreath-laying ceremony at George’s mural on Rathkeele Way on Sunday.

Mr. Brearty (aged 24) was shot dead alongside his comrade Charles ‘Pop’ Maguire (21) at the bottom of Southway by an undercover Britishsoldier during the hunger strike of 1981.

The family also remembered George’s brother Pat who died on the tenth anniversary of his death in 1991.

New York republican Martin Galvin, a long-standing supporter of the McBrearty family, sent a message of solidarity.

“A vital part of this commemoration usually occurs when the McBrearty family personally hands written invitations to diverse republican, nationalist, ex-pow and civil rights groups in the city, alongside publicly inviting anyone who wants to remember Irish patriots with pride.

“Every name on the Derry role of honour is read and remembered. The underappreciated hardships and heartaches suffered by all the families of these patriots are remembered.

“I applaud the McBrearty family for showing that even in today’s dire circumstances, Derry does not forget those patriotic men and women, who in terrible times against great odds and British terror, gave their lives so Derry and the six counties could take their rightful place in an Ireland free of British rule and injustice. I will be with them in spirit this year and plan to be with them again in person next year,” stated Mr. Galvin.

The former NORAID director marked the occasion by suggesting that Irish unity is achievable within a generation.

“Arlene Foster believes and boasts she will never see a border vote in her lifetime, much less a united Ireland. Her words are shared and encouraged by British officials. If we are ever to prove them wrong, we will need to work for and achieve the sort of unity which the George McBrearty commemoration exemplifies.

“We saw that type of unity, inspired by the hunger strikers in 1981. Hopefully next year’s commemorations of the 40th anniversary, of the hunger strikers and of George McBrearty, can be steps towards the nationalist unity needed to get the Irish unity which George McBrearty, the hunger strikers, and so many others died to achieve,” he stated.

Social distancing was carefully observed during the course of the memorial event as a result of the public health threat posed by the coronavirus. Although the numbers attending were by necessity lower than is normally the case it was a poignant and fitting commeoration for George. The family said they hoped to welcome their friends and supporters to a larger scale event upon George’s 40th anniversary in 2021.