But Pat’s mother was very concerned about his welfare, especially during storms, so he moved back to dry land. England beckoned, and he was employed in the Michelin plant at Stoke-on-Trent for two years, along with Joe Conway from Drumalane Park in Newry. Playing for the Staffordshire GAA side against Warwickshire one day, who should run on to the pitch but another `Neuk`, - Brendan McSherry. Simultaneously both shouted: “What are you doing here?” Brendan had played on the Abbey CBS side, which won the MacRory Cup for the first time.

Returning home, Pat was employed at the Bacon Factory on the Armagh Road in Newry for eight years. He also managed the factory side in the Carnbane League, including Tommy McCabe, Brian Keenan, Pat Kearney, Oliver and Larry Boyle. Meanwhile, he married Bridie Jennings from Chapel Street, later moving to Cronin Park.

Meanwhile, the civil rights movement was gathering strength, copying the tactics employed by the U.S. campaign in support of black people. Student protests were held in Belfast; a march was ambushed by loyalists at Burntollet; Derry was the scene of a famous demonstration, when TV cameras captured police chiefs attacking peaceful protesters, and a march took place at Dungannon.

The focus then moved to Newry, where the local Peoples Democracy organised a parade through the frontier town. Since there was no discrimination in jobs or housing, - unionist councillor Aubrey Wylie was in the front row, - the event was seen as solidarity with areas like the maiden city and Dungannon. However, the Minster for Home Affairs, William Craig banned the march from the route via Sugar Island, claiming that this was `a unionist sector.`

The parade, headed by John Hume, Gerry Fitt and local leaders, moved off along Monaghan Street towards the Savoy Cinema. A row of police vans had been parked on Merchants Quay, fronted by a steel barrier, behind which was the RUC Riot Squad, blocking access to the forbidden route.

Appeals for no violence were made at the flash-point by the MP’s, as well as Michael Farrell and Turlough O’Donnell, later a Lord Justice. Confusion reigned among the demonstrators. Paddy O’Hanlon, MP for South Armagh, proposed a sit-down protest. But Pat McElroy has admitted that he was among the militants, who wanted more direct action.

Attempts were made to remove the barricade; and the Riot Squad withdrew. The abandoned police vehicles were seized, set on fire and pushed into the nearby canal. And Pat McElroy confirmed that he had been pictured in some Press photographs, including mine, helping to push one of the RUC lorries. I hopped off just in time! All civil rights marches were abandoned as a result of the violence.

When internment came in, Pat was `lifted’ from his home early one morning. Taken to Armagh military barracks, he was put on board an Armoured Personnel Carrier, hooded and driven around for what seemed like hours. Then he was placed in a helicopter, which took off. After a time he was pushed from the craft, and believed that he would be killed. However, the helicopter was hovering a few feet from the ground.

Still hooded, he was handcuffed to another internee and taken to Crumlin Road Prison. When the hood was removed, he realised that his companion had been another Newry resident, Cecil Stephens. They were taken to Long Kesh Prison, which also housed Gerry Adams, Martin Meehan, - who had escaped from the Belfast jail, - Paddy Joe McClean, Joe O’Donnell, Paddy Smith, Sean McKenna and Joe Conway, who was so ill-treated that he died prematurely.

Pat McElroy was finally released, 15 months later, due to the intercession of the president of St John Bosco Youth Club, Fr Anthony Davies, and the manager, Jack Macken. His wife and family had not known of his whereabouts for five weeks, and then by a message from the Newry Parochial House. His job as a bus-driver had been kept open, not having been charged or convicted of any offence. He later served as Transport Controller at Daisyhill Hospital for 17years.

Resuming his involvement with the civil rights movement, this had concentrated on the anti-interment campaign. When three young men were shot dead in Newry town centre, with subsequent rioting, he and the late Sean Hollywood escorted.

Bernadette Devlin, MP for Mid-Ulster, to the scene. Later, Pat came over to me and requested that a statement be published, “demanding that every Catholic resign immediately from the Ulster Defence Regiment,” on the basis that it was “a sectarian force, guilty of killing Catholics.”

Over the next few years, Pat McElroy was deeply involved with the community. Then, in 1980, at the suggestion of Paddy O’Hanlon, he joined the SDLP, was elected as a member of Newry and Mourne district council the following year, and became chairman in 1995/96. One achievement was the rule, banning drinking of alcoholin public places, also adopted by other councils. He will bow out at the next elections.

No doubt Pat will be badly missed by his fellow-councillors and officials, the community he has served so diligently, as well as the staff of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, which has been his second home. But, somehow, I cannot see this amiable and hard-working public representative spending his spare time watching `soaps` on the television. There is certainly enough material for a very interesting autobiography!

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