Pearse McAuley, infamous for his involvement in the IRA and subsequent violent crimes, will be laid to rest in his hometown of Strabane on Thursday. McAuley was found dead at his home in Co Tyrone on Monday night, with his death not considered suspicious by the PSNI.
Funeral arrangements include Requiem Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane, followed by burial in Strabane Cemetery.
A funeral notice pays tribute to McAuley as the father of Pearse and Eoghain, the son of the late Pearse and Sheila McAuley, and a beloved partner of Mary. He is also remembered as a cherished sibling and relative.
Pearse Mcauley, an Ira Killer (Credits: Belfast Live)
While his death is attributed to natural causes, it’s reported that McAuley may have been deceased for several days in his hometown. McAuley, nearing 60 years old at the time of his death, was known for his violent past, including a brutal knife attack on his ex-wife, Pauline Tully, who survived being stabbed 13 times in 2014.
Before this, McAuley had served time for the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in 1996, a crime that led to his imprisonment until his release in 2009.
Despite his violent history, Sinn Féin had supported McAuley and others involved in the 1996 killing, advocating for his early release under the Good Friday Agreement.
Pearse Mcauley, an Ira Killer (Credits: The Irish Times)
McAuley’s relationship with Tully, whom he married while incarcerated, added another layer of complexity to his story. However, his actions, including an attack on his wife, led to his disassociation from republican circles.
Despite his turbulent and controversial life, McAuley’s death marks the end of a chapter in Northern Ireland’s troubled history.
