Background
Agate was born in Calcutta, West Bengal, India where his father, Carlton Agate, was employed as an engineer
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Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Agate
Edit ProfileCareer
During the Second World War, Agate saw active duty on HMS Devonshire as a Temporary Lieutenant (East) in the Royal Navy. In 1957, he joined DuPont as chief engineer at the Maydown plant. He was promoted to plant manager in 1962 and later became Managing Director.
Agate was a well-liked and respected figure in both DuPont and the Derry community.
Raymond McClean wrote in The Road to Bloody Sunday that "Jeff Agate was an honest and just human being of the highest calibre. His assassination by the Ireland Republican Army left me in total disbelief and disgust." Agate"s killing prompted an enormous outpouring of public grief that culminated in a mass protest at Guildhall Square in Derry and united people from all communities at a time of heightened sectarian tension.
Following his murder, Agate"s widow, Vera, (née Dand) returned to her native Newcastle upon Tyne where she lived in relative isolation until her death in 1994. The Agates had no children.
Agate"s murder was the first in a series of Ireland Republican Army attacks on businessmen.
The Ireland Republican Army claimed that "Those involved in the management of the economy serve British interests. They represent and maintain economic interests which make the war necessary."
In 1979, Raymond McCartney was convicted of Agate"s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The conviction was overturned in 2007.
Achievements
Membership
He was shot dead by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (Ireland Republican Army) outside his home at Talbot Park, Derry as he returned from work on the evening of February 2, 1977.
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Born
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Died
1977 (aged 58)