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The coffin of Rose Dugdale is carried to the Crematorium Chapel in Glasnevin PA Images

Dublin funeral of IRA bomber Rose Dugdale hears she never regretted the life she chose

The former debutante led an IRA art heist during the Troubles.

ROSE DUGDALE, THE English aristocrat who led a notorious IRA art heist, had no regrets about turning her back on a life of privilege, her funeral heard yesterday.

Mourners were told that the disinherited heiress, who died earlier this month at the age of 82, always remained an “enigma” to the British establishment, with her legacy forever interwoven in the story of the republican movement in Ireland.

At the close of her cremation service in Dublin, the curtains were drawn across her coffin to the soundtrack of the Pet Shop Boys hit It’s A Sin.

Earlier, the coffin had been draped in the Irish flag as it was carried towards the Crematorium Chapel of Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, led by a lone piper.

The former IRA prisoner’s death came just days before a film about her life was released in cinemas.

The rebellious former debutante from Devon rejected the trappings of her early life to join the IRA in the 1970s and went on to mastermind a multimillion-pound fine art heist.

dr-bridget-dugdale-who-is-being-sought-by-police-on-suspicion-of-arms-smuggling-a-warrant-has-been-issed-for-dr-dugdale-32-on-charges-of-conspiring-to-smuggle-arms-and-explosives-to-ulster-and-wi Rose Dugdale in 1980 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The Oxford graduate was the ringleader of the 1974 IRA raid on the Russborough House estate in Co Wicklow, in which 19 valuable paintings were stolen.

She was involved in other IRA operations during the Troubles, including a failed bid to drop bombs on to a police station in Strabane in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, using a helicopter hijacked across the border in Co Donegal.

The republican bombmaker was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for her IRA activities. She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to a son, Ruairi, inside Limerick prison.

Her son joined her partner and republican colleague Jim Monaghan at the funeral service.

Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and several party colleagues were among those in attendance.

rose-dugdale-funeral Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was among the mourners Brian Lawless / PA Images Brian Lawless / PA Images / PA Images

Dugdale had been living in a care home in Dublin in recent years.

Addressing the service from his wheelchair, Monaghan described his partner as a “force of nature” and an “all rounder in revolution, politics and education”.

“Rose was a woman of many talents, she was well known as an IRA volunteer but she also taught economics and politics and sometimes a bit of philosophy,” he said.

Monaghan thanked the staff at the care home for everything they had done in caring for his partner.

Former Sinn Féin Assembly member and MEP Martina Anderson presided over the service yesterday afternoon.

She said her friend had a “pivotal role” in the republican movement.

“I stand here with a sore yet proud heart reminded of the remarkable journey I and so many others shared together with Rose in the depths of the Irish republican struggle,” she said.

“Rose’s path from a privileged upbringing to the heart of the republican struggle was marked by her insatiable and unwavering commitment to economic equality, social justice and human rights.”

Anderson added: “Rose’s legacy will forever be intertwined with the tapestry of Ireland’s fight for freedom.”

rose-dugdale-funeral The coffin of Rose Dugdale is carried to the Crematorium Chapel Brian Lawless / PA Images Brian Lawless / PA Images / PA Images

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh delivered the eulogy.

“Rose was an enigma to the establishment, they couldn’t and can’t still grasp that somebody could turn their back on privilege in order to help the masses,” he said.

“If they had spent any time with Rose they would have come away with a clear understanding of how her passion, her drive to help the oppressed, her determination to rebalance the world order was Rose literally putting her money where her mouth was.

“Having enjoyed an early life of privilege in England, living with all the trappings of wealth, she went on to reject that life that was being shaped for her and embraced wholeheartedly, with no regrets, a life in struggle against British imperialism and world imperialism.

“She was energetic, with a passion for justice, tackling poverty, and seeking the redistribution of wealth and rebalancing of power.”

A tribute from Dugdale’s son Ruairi was read by her long-time friend and republican colleague Marion Coyle at the close of the service.

“You will always live on in our hearts and never be forgotten – I love you ma,” he stated.

The film telling the story of the art heist, Baltimore, was released in cinemas this month.

Actress Imogen Poots plays Rose Dugdale in the thriller directed by Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy.

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    Mute Jules Lucas
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:48 PM

    The impact of this scandal has done wonders for the local village butcher, which we are better off buying our meat from anyway in my opinion!

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    Mute Christmas Carroll
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Completely agree! Never mind the fact that at least you know what you’re getting is the real deal, it’s much healthier and tastes a hell of a lot better… Makes the extra money spent worth it!

    49
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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:01 PM

    I agree. My local butcher is flying. He just bought a new car, he got rid of that old horse he used to go around on.

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    Mute Christmas Carroll
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:03 PM

    Dammit Figo :-P

    30
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    Mute Dodge Challenger
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Will this horse meat issue ever go away? It’s not that much of a big deal. Not to ruin any appetites but could you imagine the amount of little insects and other creatures that get minced in with the meat supply that we never know about.

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    Mute susanna smyth
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Burgers are tested for horse meat only. What other nasty could be in there disguised as beef ?

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    Mute Bo11ocks_to_this
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Did anyone else see the article from SA about water buffalo, horse and others found in beef. I’ll try find a link

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:15 PM

    A bit ironic that “Kanter” did the study eh?

    34
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    Mute pat aherne
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:21 PM

    When we were starting our then 18 month on meat (2years ago) my wife decided to get supermarket burgers just in case he did not like them – well to tell you the truth he pretty much threw the burger back at her. I said why not try butcher meat it will taste alot better and healthier for the child. She got a 1/4 pounder and he ate 2/3 of it. Hence even an 18 month old knew the taste of quality !!

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    Mute clareo79
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    Mar 4th 2013, 2:07 PM

    You gave an 18 month old a burger?!

    29
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    Mute mister
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:51 PM

    Interesting article. If I’m reading those stats correctly, does this indicate that ordinary local butchers have not experienced a bounce in trade? And if not, I wonder why?

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    Mute Hippocrateeth
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:57 PM

    In other news, the number of horses commuting on the Dart has risen by over 800% in the past week. Community watch locals report a growing number of incidences involving horses some described as having ‘brazen attitudes’ and ‘brass balls’ towards concerned travellers waiting on the platforms for their respective trains. In a more striking example of the intimidation by the footloose horses, a 6-pack box of Silverdale frozen burgers was kicked at an elderly man’s head causing the man to curse loudly at the ebullient edible equine. The man was later taken for questioning. A file has been sent to the office of the DPP and a request for legal aid has been sought.

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    Mute Dave Kavanagh
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:18 PM

    Great the media is loving this story and in doing so are systematically destroying one of Irelands core industries. Dont get me wrong I am totally for a free press but some of the sensationalism printed about this scandle (storm in a teacup) in relation to its connection with Ireland has been pure speculation and even when facts where established the Irish connection was still bigged up. Journal well done on being responsible and accurate if only other media would follow your example.

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    Mute Barry McSweeney
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    Mar 4th 2013, 3:22 PM

    If anyone is destroying one of Ireland’s core industries it is those who sold contaminated meat, the officials who refuse to admit that traceability “from farm to fork” is a lie, and the businessmen who refuse to speak publicly about what happened in their factories.
    Burying your head in the sand and “pulling on the green jersey” as you advocate will never work.

    14
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    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
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    Mar 4th 2013, 5:47 PM

    Completely agree with you on this one, Dave!

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    Mute sid
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:07 PM

    @ dodge

    I figure its a very big deal , nobody has any idea where what horses were used, could have used anything to bolster up the weight

    6
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    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
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    Mar 4th 2013, 5:21 PM

    “FSAI” IS STILL WORKING ON CONTAMINATED MEAT PRODUCTS ???, WHILE THERE IS POISONOUS MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS RAPIDLY SPREAD ACROSS IRELAND! Disgrace!

    2
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