John McAleese joined the Royal Engineers in 1969, aged 20, and in 1973 passed the All Arms Commando Course, which earned him the green beret and a transfer to 59 Independent Commando, Royal Engineers.
14 Facts About John McAleese
1.
2.
John McAleese was a lance corporal in 1980, serving in Pagoda Troop, 'B' Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment, when he led "Blue Team" in the storming of the Iranian Embassy in London during a hostage siege on 5 May 1980.
3.
John McAleese fought in the Falklands War in 1982, and in The Troubles.
4.
John McAleese was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action at the Loughgall ambush in County Armagh on 8 May 1987, and was present at the Drumnakilly ambush in County Tyrone in August 1988.
5.
John McAleese served as a bodyguard for three Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom.
6.
John McAleese was discharged from the British Army on 8 February 1992 with the rank of staff sergeant.
7.
John McAleese sold his British Army service medals for an undisclosed sum to the Lord Ashcroft Collection.
8.
John McAleese appeared in the BBC produced television documentary series SAS Survival Secrets, detailing the organizational structure of the Special Air Service Regiment and the nature of the military and security roles in which it is used.
9.
John McAleese found employment in the corporate sphere of airsoft gaming, and as a spokesman for the corporate development of the martial art 'Goshinkwai'.
10.
John McAleese was the co-founder and first director for training and operations of private security company NNK Special Services Group until his death.
11.
Four days after his son's funeral, John McAleese was arrested by officers from West Mercia Police over an allegation of accessing child pornography on the internet via his home computer.
12.
John McAleese had first been contacted by the British police in relation to the matter in 2007 whilst at his home in Greece, and had told them he would attend a British police station to assist with their enquiries when he was next back in the United Kingdom.
13.
John McAleese died on 26 August 2011 of a heart attack in his sleep at the age of 62 in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he was living.
14.
John McAleese was survived by his second wife, a daughter by his first marriage, and step child and son by his second marriage.