James McDade

James Patrick McDade (24 July 1946 – 14 November 1974) was a volunteer and a lieutenant in the Birmingham Battalion  of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) who was killed in a premature explosion while planting a bomb at the Coventry telephone exchange in 1974.

Early life
Born in Oakfield Street in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, McDade was educated at Holy Cross Primary School, Belfast and at St Gabriel's Secondary School. McDade's family of five brothers and two sisters were highly musical, and he was an accomplished singer. McDade enjoyed sporting activities was a talented Gaelic football player. He moved to England living in Sparkhill, Birmingham and performing as a pub singer around the West Midlands. There he married and had two sons, Gerard and Anthony.

Gerard McDade, James' brother, was also an IRA volunteer (reported to be Quartermaster with A company, 3rd Battalion, Belfast Brigade). He was shot in the back by a British Army soldier on 21 December 1971.

Republican activities
McDade joined the IRA in England and was involved in the bombing campaign based in Britain. He was killed on 14 November 1974 in a premature explosion while planting a bomb at a telephone exchange and postal sorting office at Salt Lane, Greyfriars, Coventry.

Obituary and funeral
The 16 November 1974 edition of the Irish News carried many tributes to McDade. Respects were paid by London and Birmingham Comhairle Ceantair, Sinn Féin; Coventry and Belfast Cumann, Sinn Féin; Command Staff, Óglaigh na hÉireann, England; and GHQ staff.

The Republican Movement in England planned to honour McDade a with local paramilitary guard of honour but Archbishop of Birmingham George Dwyer forbade a funeral service in the local diocese. Sinn Féin declared there had never been an intention to bury him locally.

The Home Secretary Roy Jenkins resisted attempts to ban the IRA but declared an aggressive stance towards paramilitary displays. Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull Councils banned all processions connected to the death of McDade for one month in the West Midlands under the Public Order Act 1936. Ground staff at Belfast International Airport refused to handle the coffin; The Times reported evidence of their intimidation. Instead his remains were flown to Dublin.

Liam Hannaway, a senior member of the Republican Movement, gave the oration at the funeral. His coffin was draped in the same Tricolour flag of Ireland that was used for the funerals of Terence MacSwiney and Michael Gaughan. IRA volunteers fired three volleys at his graveside. He was buried in the Republican plot at Milltown Cemetery, Belfast on 23 November 1974.

Birmingham Six
The Birmingham Six, five of which were from North Belfast, with John Walker from Derry, knew McDade through the Birmingham Irish community. Five of them were arrested on their way to the funeral, whilst the sixth was arrested in Birmingham. They were found guilty of carrying out the 21 November 1974 bombings in August the following year and received life sentences, but released from prison on 14 March 1991 after the Court of Appeal quashed their convictions.