Билли Фокс: Ирландия саяхатшысының өмірі мен қазасы

Irish Fine Gael politician (1939–1974)

Billy Fox (3 January 1939 – 12 March 1974) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel from 1973 to 1974 and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Monaghan constituency from 1969 to 1973. He was killed by the IRA who were carrying out a raid on his girlfriend's farmhouse. Five members of the Provisional IRA were convicted of involvement in his murder.

A member of the Fine Gael party, Fox was first elected to Monaghan County Council in 1967, and as a Fine Gael TD to the 19th Dáil for the Monaghan constituency at the 1969 general election. He lost his seat at 1973 general election, but later that year he was elected to the 13th Seanad as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel. Fox was also one of a handful of members of the Oireachtas from the minority Protestant community. Fox came to prominence when he campaigned against the British Army's cratering of border roads and its use of CS gas and rubber bullets. On one occasion, he brought CS gas canisters and rubber bullets into the Dáil chamber and berated the Fianna Fáil Government's policy on Northern Ireland. He was forcibly removed from the Dáil and the incident made front page news.

On the night of Monday 11 March 1974, about a dozen IRA men arrived at the home of Fox's girlfriend, Marjorie Coulson. She lived there with her parents and brother, and Fox regularly visited on Monday evenings. The IRA issued a statement saying that it was not involved, adding that "Mr Fox was known personally to a number of the leadership of the republican movement". Loyalist gunmen had bombed a house at nearby Legnakelly and shot one of the occupants, a republican activist. The Seanad adjourned for a week as a mark of respect. About 500 people attended his funeral at Aughnamullen, including the Taoiseach and the Irish President, Erskine Childers. One of those convicted for Fox's killing, Sean Kinsella, later escaped from Portlaoise Prison and was later convicted of arms offences and attempted murder in England. He was released by the Government of Ireland under the Good Friday Agreement. The Senator Billy Fox Memorial Park in Latton is named in his memory. The Cavan Monaghan Young Fine Gael branch was also named after him in his memory.