Frank Durkan

Who was Frank Durkan?

Frank Durkan was an Irish-American attorney best known for having represented numerous members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, including avowed gun-runner and pivotal North American member of the IRA George Harrison, who stood trial, and was acquitted, in 1982.

In another prominent case, which occurred the previous year, Durkan convinced a federal magistrate to deny the United Kingdom's request that Desmond Mackin - accused of shooting a British soldier- be extradited to British custody.

Born in Bohola, County Mayo, Durkan immigrated to the United States in 1947, aged 17. He stayed with his uncle, William O'Dwyer, the eldest brother of his mother, Mary. "Bill" O'Dwyer was the Mayor of New York City at the time, while his uncle, Paul O'Dwyer, was an influential activist who would later become president of the New York City Council. "The kid" was quickly whisked away to a small apartment in the Bronx to earn his way. In the mean time, he worked as a liquor store clerk, janitor and car park while being encouraged to follow in the "legal" familial footsteps.