Ciara Durkin
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| Ciara M. Durkin | |
|---|---|
| July 6, 1977 – September 28, 2007 | |
 Ciara Durkin |
|
| Nickname | Ciara Weera Brat |
| Place of birth | Republic of Ireland |
| Place of death | Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 2005-2007 |
| Rank | Specialist |
| Battles/wars | Operation Enduring Freedom |
Ciara Durkin (July 6, 1977 – September 28, 2007) was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard who died under mysterious circumstances while deployed in Afghanistan.
Durkin was from the island of Eanach Mheáin, near Tourmakeady, Lettermore, in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. Her mother, Angela Cloherty, is a native of Eanach Mheáin while her father, Tommy, was a native of Tourmakeady, County Mayo. Following Tommy's retirment as a teacher, the family emigrated to Boston in 1986. The family were only in Boston a few months when her father died at the age of 55. Ciara returned to Ireland to attend primary school in Tuairín, Carroe, and secondary school in Scoil Phobail na Ceathrinín Rua, returning to Boston in her mid-teens.
Of her family, her mother, Angela, and siblings Fíona Canavan, Máire, Deidre and Pearse live in Boston, while her brother Tómas lives in New York. Her sister Angela lives in Eanach Mheáin and is married to Pádraig Ó Conghaile, a former footballer with Lettermore and now works in Galway VEC. Her brother, Eóin Durkan also resides in Eanach Mheáin, while another sister, Áine Durkan lives in Buncrana, County Donegal. She and her brother Pearse were very active members of the Boston gay community. Family members said Ciara was planning to marry her longtime girlfriend following the end of her tour of duty in Afganistan.
Her ashes were brought to Galway on Saturday October 13 and buried with her late father in Lettermore graveyard.
According to reports, Durkin had told her family that she'd uncovered information that "would upset other military officials." According to Durkin's sister, "She was in the finance unit and she said, 'I discovered some things I don’t like and I made some enemies because of it.' Then she said, in her light-hearted way, 'If anything happens to me, you guys make sure it gets investigated.'"[1] Family members have also noted that Durkin was a lesbian which may have posed a problem within the military.
Durkin died in a secure area[2] at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan of a single gun-shot wound to the head, and the Army has confirmed that Durkin's death was "non-combat"-related.[3]
[edit] Congressional involvement
US Senators John Kerry and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and US Representative William Delahunt are pressing for answers.[4] In a letter, Senator John Kerry urged US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates "to deploy your staff on this matter immediately, so that the answers and circumstances around Specialist Durkin's death are uncovered, expeditiously and thoroughly."[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Soldier once warned family: Investigate if I die
- ^ Mystery surrounds death of soldier: Quincy woman is called a noncombat casualty
- ^ Homicide is not ruled out in Quincy GI’s death
- ^ How Did Specialist Ciara Durkin Die?
- ^ Kin say soldier hinted at concerns: Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe
- Galway First, October 1, 2007, pages 1 and 2; and October 15, 2007, page 3.
