Joe McCann was shot dead during a confrontation with RUC Special Branch members and British paratroopers in 1972.
28 Facts About Joe McCann
1.
2.
Joe McCann was born in the former Pound Loney section of the Lower Falls area of West Belfast, and spent most of his life there and in the nearby Markets area of the city.
3.
Joe McCann's mother died when he was four years old, leaving four children.
4.
Joe McCann was expelled from the school due to allegedly arguing about politics and religion with the Christian brothers.
5.
Joe McCann joined the Fianna Eireann at age 12, and then joined the IRA in the 1964 after his family moved to Turf Lodge.
6.
Joe McCann had expressed an interest in the priesthood while a teenager.
7.
Joe McCann joined the Third Order of Saint Francis in his later teens, influenced by the Christian socialist Grille magazine which emphasised left-wing thinking within radical Christianity.
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Gusty Spence 8.
Joe McCann became involved in housing issues and any matters which related to local government.
9.
Joe McCann married Anne McKnight who hailed from a strong republican family in the Markets area in Belfast.
10.
Joe McCann was appointed Officer Commanding and operations officer of the Third Battalion of the Belfast Brigade, which was centred around the Market area of Belfast.
11.
Joe McCann's unit opened fire on a passing British mobile patrol near Cromac Square, hitting the patrol from both sides.
12.
Joe McCann was the fourth British soldier to die on active service, and the seventh overall since the conflict began.
13.
Joe McCann eventually released the three UVF members, allegedly because they were "working class men".
14.
Joe McCann was photographed during the incident, holding an M1 carbine, against the background of a burning building and the Starry Plough flag.
15.
Joe McCann was killed on 15 April 1972 in Joy Street in The Markets by soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment.
16.
Joe McCann had returned to Belfast shortly before being killed and was at the top of the RUC Special Branch wanted list.
17.
Joe McCann was told by the Official IRA Belfast command to return for his own safety to Dublin.
18.
Joe McCann was approached by an RUC officer who informed him that he was under arrest.
19.
Joe McCann was unarmed and tried to run to evade arrest when fired on by the soldiers.
20.
Joe McCann was shot dead in Joy Street just before the junction with Hamilton Street.
21.
Joe McCann was hit 3 times according to the pathology report, the fatal shot hitting him in the buttock and passing up through his internal organs.
22.
Joe McCann was among the most militant of the Official IRA's Belfast volunteers and far more enthusiastic about "armed struggle" in Northern Ireland than the Official IRA leadership.
23.
Joe McCann's killing was closely followed by the organisation calling a ceasefire.
24.
Some former Official IRA members alleged that Joe McCann's killing was set up by their Dublin leadership who were unhappy with his militancy and favoured a ceasefire.
25.
The Official IRA shot five British soldiers, killing three, in revenge for Joe McCann's killing, in different incidents the following day in Belfast, Derry and Newry.
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Gusty Spence 26.
One of the more surprising tributes to Joe McCann came from Gusty Spence, leader of the Ulster Volunteer Force loyalist group.
27.
Spence wrote a letter of sympathy to Joe McCann's widow, expressing his, "deepest and profoundest sympathy" on the death of her husband.
28.
In 2010, the Historical Enquiries Team investigation into the killing of Joe McCann found it was unjustified.