Pearse McAuley (1964/1965[citation needed] – c. 18 March 2024) was a Provisional IRA member, who escaped from Brixton Prison in London on 7 July 1991 along with his cellmate Nessan Quinlivan, while awaiting trial on charges relating to a suspected plot to assassinate former brewery company chairman, Sir Charles Tidbury.[1]
Pearse McAuley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964/1965[citation needed] Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland[citation needed] |
| Died | c. 18 March 2024 (aged 59) Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland |
| Spouse(s) | Pauline Tully |
| Children | 2 |
McAuley fled to Ireland, where he was granted bail while contesting extradition to Britain.
Manslaughter conviction
editIn 1999, McAuley was convicted of manslaughter in Dublin's Special Criminal Court for his role in the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in the course of an armed robbery. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.[2]
McAuley was released from prison in August 2009, having served ten-and-a-half years of his sentence.[3] The Crown Prosecution Service announced it would not seek his extradition on charges related to the Brixton escape.[4] His release prompted adverse commentary in the Irish press, with McAuley being described as a "psychopathic gun nut".[5]
Marriage and separation
editIn 2003, he married Pauline Tully, a Sinn Féin councillor on Cavan County Council and was granted day release from prison to attend the wedding.[6] The couple had two sons, and separated in February 2014.[7]
Conviction for stabbing wife
editOn Christmas Eve 2014, McAuley was arrested for stabbing Tully multiple times in front of their two children.[8] He was found guilty on 28 November 2015, and on 2 December 2015 was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, the final four suspended.[9][10]
In her victim impact statement, Tully said "I am in absolute fear of him and fear that someday he will make another attempt on my life. I do not ever expect to enjoy a peaceful mind, but will live a life haunted by what happened to me."[11]
McAuley was released from prison on 24 June 2022.[11]
McAuley was found dead at his home in Strabane on 18 March 2024. He was 59. It is suspected that he died of natural causes a number of days before his body was found.[12]
References
edit- ^ "2 Irishmen Shoot Their Way Out of a Prison in London - New York Times". The New York Times. 8 July 1991. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ "BBC News | Latest News | IRA killers jailed". Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "The Irish Times - Wed, Aug 05, 2009 - McCabe killers released from jail". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Were overtures made to deter the extradition of two IRA men Pearse McAuley and Nessan Quinlivan? - Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
- ^ "Sinn Fein supplied the bullets for political hit - Independent.ie". Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ McLaughlin, Brian (10 January 2003). "O'Dea criticises wedding release of McCauley". The Irish Times. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ "Estranged wife describes attack by Pearse McAuley - RTÉ News". RTÉ.ie. 5 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ^ "Detective Garda Jerry McCabe killer held after wife is stabbed - Independent.ie". Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ "Garda killer Pearse McAuley told his children to say goodbye before stabbing mother - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". Belfasttelegraph. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Pearse McAuley stabbed wife 13 times, court hears". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ a b Dillon, Eamon (24 June 2022). "Killer Pearse McAuley freed from jail after serving time for horror attack on TD ex-wife". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ "Garda killer Pearse McAuley found dead in Co Tyrone home". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 18 March 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 March 2024.