Kieran Fleming
Kieran Fleming, AKA Ciarán Fleming (25 October 1959 - 2 December 1984) was an Irish republican and Provisional IRA volunteer.
IRA activities edit
In 1976, Fleming was convicted of the murder of Royal Ulster Constabulary officer Linda Baggley and sentenced to life imprisonment, to be served at HMP Maze prison. However, on 23 September 1983, Fleming and 37 other republicans hijacked a prison meals lorry and drove through several walls out of the prison, past 40 prison warders and 28 alarm systems, in what is now known as the Maze Prison escape, the largest prison escape in British history.
On 2 December 1984, Fleming and Antoine Mac Giolla Bhrighde stole a Toyota van in County Donegal and loaded it with explosives before driving to County Fermanagh. In County Fermanagh, Mac Giolla Bhrighde rigged the explosives up to a detonator held by Fleming, before reporting to the police that an IRA terror attack was occurring in the area. When Mac Giolla Bhrighde saw the responding police vehicle, he ordered Fleming to detonate the explosives. However, the explosives failed to go off, and Mac Giolla Bhrigdhe got out of the van to see what was happening. Several SAS officers who had been waiting nearby to ambush them then jumped out of their car and Mac Giolla Bhrighde opened fire, killing Sergeant Alistair Slater before being gunned down. Fleming then tried to run away as the SAS opened fire on him, but was caught between the SAS and the swollen banks of the River Bannagh. Unable to swim, Fleming was swept away by the river and drowned.
Trivia edit
- Just four days later, Fleming's cousin William Fleming was killed by the SAS while attempting to assassinate an Ulster Defence Regiment member.