John Downes
Born
Sean Edward Downes

c. 1962
Northern Ireland
Died (aged 22)
Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Cause of deathPlastic bullet
NationalityIrish
SpouseBrenda Downes
Children1

Sean Edward Downes (c. 1962 – 12 August 1984), was a civilian, who was killed after he was shot in the chest with a plastic bullet in August 1984 during a anti-internment rally in Belfast during the Troubles.[1]

Background

Sean Edward "John" Downes was born in Northern Ireland, in c. 1962, to a catholic household.[2]

On 12 March 1979 when Downes was 16 he was arrested and charged for being in a youth wing of the Provisional IRA, but wasn't given any jail time as long as he promised to stay out of trouble. Downes wouldn’t ever rejoin the Provisional IRA.[1][3]

Downes would marry his long time girlfriend Brenda in c. 1983, who he would have a daughter with.[1][4]

Death

On 12 August 1984, John Downes accompanied with his wife Brenda and their 18-month old daughter Claire attended a anti-internment rally in the Falls Road. hosted by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and NORAID director Martin Galvin.

The RUC arrived to disperse the crowd, but when the RUC attempted to arrest Galvin the crowd began to riot. Brenda and Claire left soon after the rioting started, but John stayed; a while later Downes who was wielding a stick approached two constables whose backs were turned, Constable Nigel Hegarty upon seeing this shot Downes in the chest with a plastic bullet at a range of less than 20 meters, fatally wounding Downes who would die soon afterwards.[1][3][5]

Downes was the 15th person killed by a plastic bullet during the troubles.

Legacy

During John Downes’ funeral over 5,000 people attended including Gerry Adams and Martin Galvin.

Downes’ death was one of the main reasons for the formation of the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets, which was founded by Emma Groves and Clara Reilly.

Inquiry

In April 1986 constable Nigel Hegarty in a controversial decision, was found not guilty of manslaughter. Brenda and her solicitor Pat Finucane attempted to overturn but were unsuccessful, partly due to Pat's murder in February 1989.[3][4][6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Paul (24 March 2022). "'A freeze frame death in front of the world': the police killing of Sean Downes at the height of the Troubles". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "ІПС ЛІГА:ЗАКОН - система пошуку, аналізу та моніторингу нормативно-правової бази". ips.ligazakon.net. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Thomas, Jo (14 August 1984). "THOUSANDS IN ULSTER MARCH TO DENOUNCE KILLING BY THE POLICE". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Driven by anger and a refusal to forget". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "RUC Reservist Acquitted". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "RUC Reservist Acquitted". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
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