Categories: Special Interest, Hunger Strikes, Myths and Lies
When's A Democracy Not A Democracy?
by beano on 18 Feb 2007 at 13:43. Categories: Northern Ireland, Sport, Business & Economy, Myths and Lies, Education
Ah this ever-so-democratic Labour government, which has gone to war in the interests (in part at least) of "spreading democracy" to the middle-east. While I've never been particularly pro-war or anti-war, I do find the way the government have been acting… more »
Commemorations "Another weapon"
by beano on 30 Aug 2006 at 11:32. Categories: Sinn Fein, IRA, Republicans, Dissident Republicans, Hunger Strikes
An MLA has claimed that "hunger strike commemorations are only being used as another weapon in what republicans would describe as 'the struggle'". Commenting on the use of a parish centre near Dunloy, Co. Antrim, for a hunger strikers commemoration DUP a… more »
Hunger Striker Profile 10: Michael Devine
Conviction: Theft and possession of firearms
Sentence: 12 years
Joined Hunger Strike: 22nd June
Suicided: 20th August
Michael (or Micky) Devine was born in Springtown, a former US army camp In Londonderry, in 1954 where the family lived until they… more »
Hunger Striker Profile 9: Thomas McElwee
Conviction: manslaughter, possession of explosives
Sentence: 20 years (reduced from life)
Joined Hunger Strike: 7th(?) June
Suicided: 8th August
Thomas McElwee was born the 5th of 12 siblings to a family in Bellaghy. The previous year McElwee's fat… more »
Hunger Striker Profile 8: Kieran Doherty
Conviction: Possession of firearms and explosives, hijacking a car
Sentence: 18 years
Joined Hunger Strike: 22nd May
Suicided: 2nd August
Born in Andersonstown in west Belfast in 1955, Kieran/Ciaran Doherty was the third of 6 children in his family… more »
Hunger Striker Profile 7: Kevin Lynch
Sentence: 10 years
Joined Hunger Strike: 23rd May
Suicided: 1st August
Born in Park, near Dungiven, Co. Londonderry in 1956, Lynch was the youngest of 8 children. He grew up well known for his strong desire to win and while a good sportsman (particu… more »
Hunger Striker Profile 6: Martin Hurson
Conviction: possession of landmines, conspiracy to kill members of the security forces, IRA membership, causing an explosion
Sentence: 20 years
Joined Hunger Strike: 29th May
Suicided: 13th July
Hurson was the 8th of 9 children born to a farming fa… more »
EU Mythbuster: No. 3 - Political Prisoners
The hunger strikers were political prisoners. I love how this little gem goes so unquestioned in Irish America (and even by many in Northern Ireland). Kate McCabe is obviously a classic Irish American who begins her story with this quote from a Guantanam… more »
Hunger Striker Profile 5: Joe McDonnell
Conviction: possession of a weapon
Sentence: 14 years
Joined Hunger Strike: 9th May
Suicided 8th July
Born on the Falls Road as the youngest child in a family of 10, Joe McDonnell is claimed not to have been involved with the paramilitaries in th… more »
Hunger Striker Profile 4: Patsy O'Hara
Conviction: Possession of a hand grenade
Sentence: 8 years
Went Hungry: 22nd March
Suicided: 21st May
Born in Londonderry in 1957, O'Hara joined the INLA and was sentenced to 8 years in January 1980 for possession of a hand grenade.
O'Hara's gr… more »