Hugh Doherty (Irish republican)
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Hugh Aodh Doherty | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1950 (age 75–76) Gorbals District, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Known for | Balcombe Street Siege |
| Criminal status | Released under terms of the Good Friday Agreement[1] |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Pat Doherty (brother) |
| Criminal charge | 11 x Murder + 7 charges |
| Penalty | 11 terms of life imprisonment (30 years judicial recommendation)[1] |
| Details | |
| Date | 6 to 12 December 1975 |
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
| State | London |
| Locations | |
Hugh Aodh Doherty is a Scottish-born Irish republican. A former volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), he is known for his role in the Balcombe Street Siege in London in December 1975.[1]
Doherty is known for his role in the Balcombe Street Siege of December 1975, at the resolution of which he was sentenced to eleven terms of life imprisonment for offences including murder, with a judicial recommendation he serve at least 30 years.[2][3][4]
Doherty and fellow members of his active service unit had targeted tourist attractions, soldiers, police officers, politicians and other establishment figures as part of the IRA's armed campaign against Northern Ireland being a part of the United Kingdom.[5][6]
The Balcombe Street gang, who were named after the London street on which they were arrested after a six-day siege that was broadcast live on television and watched by millions, were responsible for a 14-month campaign of bombings and shootings across the south-east of England.[7]
Doherty is also known for the murder, together with Harry Duggan, of Ross McWhirter on 27 November 1975 at 6:45 p.m. Ross McWhirter (12 August 1925 – 27 November 1975) was, with his twin brother, Norris McWhirter, the cofounder of the 1955 Guinness Book of Records (known since 2000 as Guinness World Records) and a contributor to the television programme Record Breakers.