Peter ‘Skeet’ Hamilton

Republicans all over Ireland were saddened to learn of the death on Friday 25 February of IRA Volunteer Peter ‘Skeet’ Hamilton in County Louth.

Peter joined the the ranks of the Third Battalion’s ‘A’ Company in early 1971 at the age of 17 in his home area of Ardoyne. During the course of the struggle Peter spent more than 20 years in British jails.

He enjoyed only a few months of freedom after his first spell in prison between 1971 and 1975, before spending more than 17 years in jail from 1975 until his release in the early 1990s.

During his time in prison Peter was one of the Republican prisoners who fought hand to hand with the British army during the burning of Long Kesh.
Peter was a determined volunteer who was much admired by his comrades both inside and outside the prisons.

He attempted to escape on at least three occasions, once from a Belfast Courthouse and twice with local Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly, including the Great Escape from the H-Blocks in 1983.

Peter reported back to active service with the IRA despite his long spells of imprisonment and had to leave his home again in 1994 after escaping arrest in Ardoyne.
He moved to Dundalk in County Louth and immediately became a well known figure in the town, earning the respect and affection of his comrades.

Peter worked until shortly before his death at the ex-prisoners’ centre in Dundalk, Fáilte Abhaile which provides support and care for former Republican prisoners in the border area.

Last year he campaigned for his old friend and comrade Gerry Kelly in the Westminster elections and on the morning of his death he was one of the first people in County Louth to cast his vote for Gerry Adams.
North Belfast Sinn Féin offers its condolences to Peter’s grieving family and we will carry a more complete obituary in our next edition.
Óglach den scoith ab ea é.