Jim Lynagh (13 April 1956 – 8 May 1987)
He joined the IRA in the early 1970s. In December 1973 he was badly injured in a premature bomb explosion, arrested, and spent five years in Long Kesh.While in jail he studied and became a great admirer of Mao Zedong.After his release from prison in 1979 Lynagh was elected as a Sinn Fein councillor for Monaghan, and held this position when he was killed.After his release from prison Lynagh became active in the IRA again.He quickly became a unit commander and gradually built up his ruthless reputation. After a series of Loyalist attacks against Nationalist politicians in late 1980 and early 1981 Lynagh was suspected of involvement with an attack on the Stronge estate.Lynagh was known as “The Executioner” by the RUC.He was picked up and interrogated many times by the Gardai in Monaghan but was never charged.During this time he devised a Maoist military strategy adapted to Irish conditions aimed at escalating the war against British forces. The plan envisaged the destruction of police and British Army bases in parts of Northern Ireland in order to create liberated areas under IRA control. In 1984 he started cooperating with Padraig Mc Kearney who shared his views. The strategy began materializing with the destruction of RUC police stations in Ballygawley in December 1985 and in the Birches in August 1986.The Irish police and the RUC said he was one of the hardest men they ever interrogated.Lynagh was killed in an ambush by the SAS during an attack on Loughall RUC station.