Michael Stone was born on April 2, 1955. He grew up alongside five non-biological siblings: John, Rosemary, Colleen, Sharon, and Shirley. At the age of fourteen, he joined the Army Cadet Force, where he received basic firearm training. His time in the cadets was short-lived, however, as he was expelled approximately eighteen months later following repeated incidents of fighting.
Shortly after leaving the cadets, Stone began working as a “hammer boy” in a shipyard—an entry-level position involving manual labor. His tenure ended following a suspension resulting from an altercation with a coworker.
In the early 1970s, Stone became involved with local street gangs in Northern Ireland. In 1970, he helped form a group known as the Hole in the Wall Gang, identified by their blue jeans and Dr. Martens boots. By 1971, Stone had joined a so-called “Tartan Gang,” which was known for attacking Catholic youths and vandalizing Catholic properties during the height of the Troubles.
Through this subculture, Stone connected with Tommy Herron, a senior figure in the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), specifically the East Belfast Brigade. During this period, Stone engaged in theft and received a six-month prison sentence for stealing firearms and ammunition from a sports shop, as well as stealing a car.
Following Herron’s death in 1973, Stone distanced himself from the UDA. However, he rejoined the organization in 1984, this time under the leadership of John McMichael. McMichael provided Stone with firearms and a list of high-profile Irish republican targets. On November 16, 1984, Stone murdered Patrick Brady, marking the beginning of his involvement in targeted killings. He also killed Kevin McPolin in November 1985. Although he initially denied involvement in the 1987 murder of Dermot Hackett, Stone later confessed to the killing—allegedly to protect another member of his group.
Michael Stone gained notoriety for the Milltown Cemetery attack on March 16, 1988. During a funeral for three IRA members, Stone launched a grenade and gun attack that killed three people and injured over sixty. He was quickly apprehended and later convicted for the attack, receiving multiple life sentences.
In July 2000, Stone was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, which facilitated the early release of prisoners linked to paramilitary activity. Following his release, he pursued art and briefly worked as an artist. However, continued threats against his life prompted him to leave Ireland and relocate temporarily to France.
