Billy McKee, An Irish Republican
Billy McKee, a Falls man, for 70 years can be identified with the struggle for Irish Independence, he had suffered imprisonment in the 1940's during that Irish Republican Army Campaign and again in the 1956-61 Campaign. He came to the fore again following the pogrom of August 1969 when Catholic homes were attacked and burned by British Loyalists, usually led by heavily armed R.U.C men and their sectarian side kicks the infamous "B Specials", (Special Constabulary).
In the winter of 1969, Billy along with some other republicans attempted to oust the leadership of the IRA accusing them of having failed to defend the nationalist people and area's from these murderous attacks. They set up what became known as the Provisional IRA and by June the 27th the new group was tested to the extreme when loyalists made a three pronged attack on Ardoyne, the Springfield Road and the Short Strand, at this time Billy was Officer In Command of the Provisional IRA . Billy himself was shot at the defence of Short Strand but nevertheless the loyalists gangs failed to break into the Catholic area and their attempt to burn down St Matthews Chapel was thwarted.
In April 1971, the British army stopped a car and arrested Billy McKee, along with Proinsias MacAirt, another veteran republican and they were charged with being in pocession of a gun, he ended up in Crumlin Road jail. While there, a year later, Billy initiated a hunger strike for political status, after a struggle the British government conceeded. On his release Billy threw himself back into the struggle and took up his position again as OC. Belfast Brigade.