He was a solid comrade in politics who became a close friend.

I last spoke to him in Paris where he was working, teaching English. He struck me as contented.

We had a good evening enjoying the popular firemen’s fiesta, detached and totally unconnected

to all the in-fighting that was  going on within the IRSP/INLA back home.

Seamus was aware that Sean “Bap” Hughes was in Paris, but he just didn’t believe

him to be a threat to his life.

How wrong he was and he paid a terrible price.

Seamus was a solid revolutionary (romantic language it might appear) grounded in

his knowledge of Irish history. A socialist thinker who just did his best.

He wanted to believe you if you gave your word.

For that reason he agreed to meet someone and was promised he would come to no harm.

That was shamelessly denied him by Hughes, O’Reilly and Stewart who murdered him.

I first met Seamus through Ronnie Bunting and as a result of discussions between the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and the Irish Citizens’ Army (ICA); the latter  members a group of socialist revolutionary cells of the former Peoples Democracy.

We agreed to work together and that group of people became the silent and invisible link to all the major dealings with the supply of arms to  the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). Unknown even to the INLA’s Chief of Staff.

In my first direct operational contact (normally carried out by Ronnie), with an ICA cell I told them we

could obtain arms in Lebanon but that transport was difficult. “No problem” they said, we will go get them. They told me how and I must say I was sceptical but that is exactly what they did. Distance was not a problem for them. They planned things in detail and left little to chance.

Unfortunately, on one of their return trips there was a problem due to Al Fatahs Elite Force 17 not being careful in the loading  of the door of a camper van with plastic explosives.

As a result when Seamus and his comrade were stopped at the Turkish/Greek border the guard became suspicious when opening the door (causing the vehicle to tilt slightly towards him), to talk to the driver.

All hell broke loose when the guards’ search found guns, explosives and grenades concealed throughout the vehicle and Seamus and his comrade ended up in prison.

Two barristers where dispatched from Dublin to fight their case. Seamus was getting on so well with the prison director that all five go outside the jail and pose for photos.

Back home after one year he threw himself back into the struggle. Those subsequent years were

difficult for the IRSP/INLA as turmoil in its ranks took its toll.

Honour among comrades no longer existed.

In the midst of all of this Seamus continued to work on the importation of arms. In Dublin he was

surprised by Special Branch who found a concealed and potentially incriminating documents on him.

This led to the finding of 20 rifles. Seamus left Dublin for Paris but he would encounter dishonourable

people once again there who would take his life.

There is absolutely no excuse for what was done to him.

For me the death of  Seamus still causes me  pain and I can only but try to understand the grief of his

family.

Even after all these years, I often encounter moments where  his image  comes rushing back into my thoughts.

I get sad and angry but it means his face is always fresh in my mind.

When you have a friend and comrade like Seamus Ruddy it is impossible to forget and I do not.

Let us guard the memories

Harry Flynn.                                                                

May  2010

1981 The coffin of Mickey Devine who died on hungerstrike

carried by Seamus, Frank McCauley ( Mickey Devine’s brother in law)  and Harry Flynn.