Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Kieran or Ciarán Fleming (born 25 October 1959 – 2 December 1984), was a volunteer in the 4th Battalion, Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) from the Waterside area of Derry, Northern Ireland.[1] He died while attempting to escape after a confrontation with British troops in 1984
Kesh ambush
On Sunday morning, 2nd December 1984, Fleming and Antoine Mac Giolla Bhrighde stole a Toyota van in Pettigo, County Donegal. The van was then loaded with nine beer kegs, each containing 100 lb of explosives.They then crossed the border and travelled to Kesh, County Fermanagh. At the Drumrush Lodge Restaurant just outside Kesh they then planted a landmine in a lane leading to the restaurant and wired up a device which was connected to an observation point. From there a hoax call was made in order to lure the British Army to the restaurant on the pretense that there was a firebomb planted within the restaurant.
MacGiolla Bhrighde observed a RUC patrol car approaching the restaurant and gave the detonation code word "one". However, the mine failed to explode. MacGiolla Bhrighde and British Army soldier Alistair Slater were both killed during the operation.Fleming and the remainder of the ASU then came under fire from the SAS unit and retreated. Fleming, unable to swim, became trapped between the SAS units and the swollen River Bannagh and was swept away and drowned
Kieran or Ciarán Fleming (born 25 October 1959 – 2 December 1984), was a volunteer in the 4th Battalion, Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) from the Waterside area of Derry, Northern Ireland.[1] He died while attempting to escape after a confrontation with British troops in 1984
Kesh ambush
On Sunday morning, 2nd December 1984, Fleming and Antoine Mac Giolla Bhrighde stole a Toyota van in Pettigo, County Donegal. The van was then loaded with nine beer kegs, each containing 100 lb of explosives.They then crossed the border and travelled to Kesh, County Fermanagh. At the Drumrush Lodge Restaurant just outside Kesh they then planted a landmine in a lane leading to the restaurant and wired up a device which was connected to an observation point. From there a hoax call was made in order to lure the British Army to the restaurant on the pretense that there was a firebomb planted within the restaurant.
MacGiolla Bhrighde observed a RUC patrol car approaching the restaurant and gave the detonation code word "one". However, the mine failed to explode. MacGiolla Bhrighde and British Army soldier Alistair Slater were both killed during the operation.Fleming and the remainder of the ASU then came under fire from the SAS unit and retreated. Fleming, unable to swim, became trapped between the SAS units and the swollen River Bannagh and was swept away and drowned
