- Keenan, Brian
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▪ 2009Northern Irish republican militantborn 1942, Belfast, N.Ire.died May 21, 2008, Dublin, Ire.served two prison sentences for delivering weapons to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and helping orchestrate the IRA bombing campaign in Britain in the 1970s, but he eventually assisted in the disarmament of the IRA in 2005. Keenan joined the Provisional IRA in 1970, and by 1972 he had established a relationship with Libya that allowed him to deliver weapons to the IRA. He quickly moved up the ranks of the radical organization, becoming quartermaster general in 1973 and organizing the IRA bombings in London shortly thereafter. Keenan was arrested in 1979 on 18 counts of planning terrorist acts, including 6 killings, and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. After his release (1993) on parole, Keenan expressed the belief that supporting the peace process through politics, rather than through violence, was the best way to achieve a united Ireland, and he became actively involved in promoting an IRA cease-fire and disarmament. Much of the success of the peace process was attributed to Keenan's efforts and leadership. In 1996 he was appointed to the IRA army council, and three years later he was involved in secret disarmament talks with Canadian Gen. John de Chastelain. Keenan in 2005 stepped down from his position on the army council for health reasons.
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Universalium. 2010.
