Rose Dugdale, a former English debutante, IRA militant and Sinn Féin activist, has died in a Dublin nursing home aged 83.
In January 1974, Dugdale partnered with Ballybofey man Eddie Gallagher to hijack a helicopter and drop homemade bombs on an RUC base in Strabane. The bombs, housed in two milk churns, failed to explode. The couple went on the run into the Republic.
Dugdale was pregnant with Gallagher’s child at the time of her capture. She was sentenced to nine years in prison, and her son Ruairi was born in Limerick Prison in December 1974.
Dugdale was also involved in the 1974 Russborough House heist in Wicklow and led a gang to steal £8 million worth of paintings.
Ms Dugdale has been described as a ‘Republican legend’ in tributes from Sinn Féin members today.
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said: “Rose was a committed republican and was unflinching in her beliefs, and Ireland has today lost a committed republican and activist, and Sinn Féin a valued comrade.
“Rose for many decades lived in Dublin, in the south inner-city, Drimnagh and in recent years in a nursing home in Chapelizod, and was an active member of Sinn Féin. She was extremely committed to her community, both in her work for Sinn Féin, where she was a hugely popular figure locally and nationally, but also in a wide variety of community groups.”
Sinn Féin’s Fiachra McGuinness, the son of deputy first minister Martin McGuinness, posted a photo of Dugdale on X, saying “Very sad to hear the passing of Republican legend Rose Dugdale. My thoughts are with all her family and friends. RIP.”
