Malachy Carey (1956 – 12 December 1992) was a volunteer in the

Provisional Irish Republican Army The Irish Republican Army (IRA; ), also known as the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and informally as the Provos, was an Irish republican paramilitary organisation that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland, facilitate Irish reu ...

and a

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur G ...

candidate in local government elections. He was born in Loughgiel,

County Antrim County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, ) is one of six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has a population o ...

in 1956 to an old County Antrim family. He was assassinated by Loyalist paramilitaries in

Ballymoney Ballymoney ( ga, Baile Monaidh , meaning 'townland of the moor') is a small town and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. The civil parish of Ballymoney is situated i ...

, County Antrim. on 12 December 1992. His death was reported in Republican newspaper

An Phoblacht ''An Phoblacht'' (Irish pronunciation: ; en, "The Republic") is a formerly weekly, and currently monthly newspaper published by Sinn Féin in Ireland. From early 2018 onwards, ''An Phoblacht'' has moved to a magazine format while remaining an ...

. A Sinn Féin Cumann (local branch of Sinn Féin) has been named in his honour. He was imprisoned in

Crumlin Road (HM Prison) HMP Belfast, also known as Crumlin Road Gaol, is a former prison situated on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. Since 1996 it is the only remaining Victorian era former prison in Northern Ireland. It is colloquially known as ' ...

in 1977 at the age of 21, and took an active part in the

Blanket protest The blanket protest was part of a five-year protest during the Troubles by Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) prisoners held in the Maze prison (also known as "Long Kesh") in Northern Ireland. The ...

until it ended after the

1981 Irish Hunger Strike The 1981 Irish hunger strike was the culmination of a five-year protest during the Troubles by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. The protest began as the blanket protest in 1976, when the British government withdrew Special C ...

. He became part of

Bobby Sands Robert Gerard Sands ( ga, Roibeárd Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh; 9 March 1954 – 5 May 1981) was a member (and leader in the Maze prison) of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) who died on hunger strike while imprisoned at HM Prison M ...

team in the prison during the period that spanned the two Hunger Strikes. During this period he was known as a 'courier', concealing information notes and other items, including a camera, within his body. His fellow prisoners nicknamed him 'The Suitcase'. He was described by leading member of Sinn Féin, Jim Gibney, as 'solid and dependable... and an important part of Bobby Sands' team'. Released from prison after 10 years in 1987, he stood in local elections in his native village of Loughgiel. Malachy Carey received many death threats during this period, and was finally assassinated by loyalists on 12 December 1992. Sinn Féin have claimed there was collusion in his murder by state agencies.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carey, Malachy 1956 births 1992 deaths Irish republicans Provisional Irish Republican Army members