Name Gary Donnelly | Role Irish republican | |
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Gary Donnelly is an Irish republican, former Real Irish Republican Army (Real IRA) prisoner, and as of May 24, 2014, an elected member of Derry and Strabane District Council.
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Republican activity
Donnelly is a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM) and formerly the Real IRA.
Arrests and convictions
In March 2010, Donnelly was convicted of assaulting a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer and sentenced to seven months imprisonment. While serving his sentence Donnelly briefly went on hunger strike following his removal from the republican wing of HM Prison Maghaberry. Prison officials explained the decision claiming Donnelly had received a death threat from the Real IRA, a charge Donnelly denied.
In August 2010 Donnelly was charged under the auspices of "terrorism legislation" in connection with three pipe bomb attacks in September 2009. Authorities accused Donnelly of being in possession of a mobile phone linked to the attacks. On December 22 of the same year the charges were dropped.
In addition to Donnelly's March 2010 conviction, he has been charged with assaulting police officers on two other occasions. In both cases the charges were eventually dropped.
In November 2014, Donnelly, along with two co-defendants, was sentenced to six-months in prison for "causing criminal damage" by writing an anti-internment slogan on the historic walls of Derry. Donnelly's solicitor asserted that "writing political slogans had been a long-standing tradition and there were no objections from local residents to the graffiti." In January 2015, Donnelly was successful in his appeal of the sentence and was granted a 12-month conditional discharge. He was supported by TDs Eamon O Cuiv, Clare Daly, Thomas Pringle, and Maureen O'Sullivan. They claimed the charges were unfair.
In July 2015, following a three-volley salute at the funeral of Patsy O'Hara's mother, Donnelly's house was searched by the PSNI. No arrests were made.
Political career
On May 24, 2014, Donnelly was elected to the Derry and Strabane District Council. Although a member of the 32CSM, Donnelly ran as an independent and received 1,154 votes.
He supported Independents 4 Change candidate Thomas Pringle in the Donegal Constituency election in the Irish general election of 2016.