Commemoration for IRA bomber

Councillor Johnny McGibbon chaired the proceedings which were attended by members of Michael’s immediate family along with several hundred local republicans.

Gemma McKenna read an extract in memory of Volunteer Crossey from the publication An Tigra

Michael Crossey was killed on November 22, 1971 during an IRA attack on Donnelly & O’Neill’s Public House in Lurgan.

The premises were targeted as ‘a known haunt of British forces stationed in the town’.

According to Sinn Fein: “Michael died when, upon learning that the operation to clear the building had failed and that there were still patrons inside, he returned to where the bomb was located and attempted to defuse it. He was unsuccessful in his efforts and was killed in the subsequent explosion.”