Frank Durkan

Frank Durkan (1930 – 2006) was an Irish-American attorney best known for having represented numerous members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), including avowed gun-runner and pivotal North American member of the IRA George Harrison, who stood trial, and was acquitted, in 1982.

In another prominent case, which occurred the previous year, Durkan convinced a federal magistrate to deny the United Kingdom's request that Desmond Mackin - accused of shooting a British soldier- be extradited to British custody.

Born in Bohola, County Mayo, Durkan immigrated to the United States in 1947, aged 17. He stayed with his uncle, William O'Dwyer, the eldest brother of his mother, Mary. "Bill" O'Dwyer was the Mayor of New York City at the time, while his uncle, Paul O'Dwyer, was an influential activist who would later become president of the New York City Council. "The kid" was quickly whisked away to a small apartment in the Bronx to earn his way. In the mean time, he worked as a liquor store clerk, janitor and car park while being encouraged to follow in the "legal" familial footsteps.

A graduate of Columbia University, 1951, he would earn his law degree from New York Law School two years later, after which he would serve as a clerk for the law firm of O'Dwyer & Bernstein, where Paul O'Dwyer was the senior partner. He, along with Paul's son Brian, were the senior partners at the time of his death.

In addition to representing accused members of the IRA he would also practice malpractice and negligence law, and - towards the twilight of his career- indulge in political campaigns aimed at legitimizing the cause of the new IRA within American political circles by lobbying the government on behalf of Irish-American republicans and Irish nationalists; he was ultimately unsuccessful by the 1990s when a client Joe Doherty was deported in 1992 after 10 years of litigation.

He died on November 16, 2006, aged 76, in Greenwich, Connecticut from complications from RA-induced pulmonary fibrosis. He was survived by his wife, Monica, two daughters, Mary Louise and Aisling, a son-in-law, Stead, and two grandchildren, Brian and Declan.

External links

Provisional Irish Republican Army

General

Organisation

Attacks

Insurgency, 1969–1977	Battle of St Matthew's Scottish soldiers' killings Balmoral showroom bombing Abercorn bombing Donegall St bombing Battle at Springmartin Bloody Friday Claudy bombing Coleraine bombings M62 coach bombing Guildford pub bombings British Airways bombing attempt Birmingham pub bombings Bayardo Bar attack Drummuckavall ambush Balcombe Street siege Kingsmill massacre

Long War, 1977–1988	Jonesboro Gazelle downing La Mon restaurant bombing Warrenpoint ambush Dunmurry train explosion Lough Foyle attacks Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings Harrods bombing Brighton hotel bombing Newry mortar attack Ballygawley attack

Peace Process, 1988–1998	Corporals killings Lisburn van bombing Ballygawley bus bombing Jonesborough ambush Deal barracks bombing Derryard attack Derrygorry Gazelle downing RFA Fort Victoria bombing Proxy bombings Downing St mortar attack Mullacreevie ambush Glenanne barracks bombing Teebane bombing Cloghoge attack 1992 Manchester bombing South Armagh sniper campaign Warrington bomb attacks Cullaville occupation Bishopsgate bombing Battle of Newry Road Shankill Road bombing Crossmaglen Lynx downing Drumcree conflict Docklands bombing 1996 Manchester bombing Osnabrück mortar attack Thiepval barracks bombing Coalisland attack July 1997 riots

Chiefs of Staff

Seán Mac Stíofáin (1969–72)
Joe Cahill (1972–73)
Seamus Twomey (1973)
Éamonn O'Doherty (1973–74)
Seamus Twomey (1974–77)
Gerry Adams (1977–78)
Martin McGuinness (1978–82)
Ivor Bell (1982–83)
Kevin McKenna (1983–97)
Thomas "Slab" Murphy (1997–2005)

Personalities
(Volunteers)

Associates

Derivatives

Prominent killings

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