Billy Mc Millen - Early Republican Activity

Early Republican Activity

McMillen was born in Belfast in 1927 and joined the IRA at age 16 in 1943. During the IRA's Border Campaign (1956–62), he was interned and held in Crumlin Road jail. In 1964, he ran in the British general election as an Independent Republican candidate. The term Independent Republican was used owing to the legal ban on Sinn Féin. When McMillen placed the Irish tricolour in the window of his election office in the lower Falls area, this sparked a riot between republicans, loyalists and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. There had been tensions on the issue since the government of Northern Ireland banned the flying of the tricolour. In October 1964, during the general election campaign a photo of McMillen, who was the candidate, was placed in the window of the election office in Divis Street flanked on one side by the Starry Plough flag and on the other by the tricolour. Initially the authorities did not intervene, but they were jolted into action following threats from the Reverend Ian Paisley that if the flag was not removed he and his supporters would march on the office and remove it themselves. On the same night, Wednesday 28 September 1964 a large force of Royal Ulster Constabulary armed with rifles, sten-guns, batons and crowbars smashed down the doors of McMillen's election HQ and removed the tricolour. The following day the IRA replaced the flag in the window and police attacked a crowd who had gathered to support McMillen. Rioting ensued. MacMillen at around this time also succeeded Billy McKee as commander of the IRA Belfast Brigade.