Unmarked IRA grave is discovered and restored
Andersonstown News Thursday
27 Nov 2008
By Joe Diamond
MEMBERS of the Belfast National Graves Association (BNGA) have located and restored the lost grave of a local IRA volunteer which had lain unmarked for almost 90 years.
The organisation, which maintains republican graves and memorials throughout the city, found the grave of Freddie Fox with help from staff at Milltown Cemetery and dedicated a new headstone to the dead volunteer.
Freddie was shot in August 1921 while on an intelligence-gathering operation against the notorious RIC murder gang which went on to murder six members of the McMahon family and their lodger in North Belfast in 1922. He later died in hospital, aged just 19.
Liam Shannon, Chairperson of the BNGA, said although Freddie was born in Lisburn, he eventually moved to Durham Street in the lower Falls area and joined ‘B’ Company, Ist Battalion, IRA.
“On August 6, 1921 Freddie and a comrade, Frank Crummy, were sent out to shadow a police official, who was suspected of being a member of the murder gang which operated during curfew hours,” explained Liam.
“A policeman came across them unexpectedly and Freddie Fox was seriously injured in the course of the shooting.
“The policeman was wounded in the leg, and Frank Crummy managed to escape, but was arrested later. Freddie was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital under a heavy police guard, but died nine days later, on August 15, 1921. He was buried in Milltown, and his grave lay unmarked ever since,” added Liam. “We’re proud to have been involved in marking his resting place.”
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands