Republican News · Thursday 29 May 2003

Sonny McCarthy honoured

Republicans from North Kerry and beyond assembled in brilliant sunshine near the North Kerry village of Lixnaw on Sunday, 25 May, to honour local republican William 'Sonny' McCarthy, killed by Black and Tan Forces on Easter Saturday, 1921. Led by the Ballyseedy Martyrs' Band, the parade made its way to the grave of Sonny McCarthy in the Kiltomey Churchyard. The event, organised by the local Sonny McCarthy Sinn Féin Cumann, was chaired by Cumann Secretary Gerald O'Sullivan, who said the attendance was fitting tribute to a man who, as Inteligence Officer of the Third Lixnaw Batallion, was a major cog in the wheel of resistance to British occupation. To extract information, Sonny McCarthy was tortured and this torture culminated in the breaking of both arms and legs. He was then taken to the Town Park in Tralee and executed.

The oration was delivered by North Kerry Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris, who paid tribute to the courage and commitment of Sonny McCarthy.

Ferris reminded those assembled that, despite the torture, Sonny McCarthy refused to divulge any information pertaining to his comrades and this typified his steely resolve, his bravery and his commitment to the struggle for freedom, justice and democracy.