Hunger Strikes of 1981

The H-Block Hunger Strikes

• The H-Block hunger strikes represented a pivotal moment in the Northern Ireland conflict, highlighting the deep divisions between the British government and Irish republicans.

• Despite ongoing protests from IRA prisoners, who had been demanding the restoration of Special Category Status since it was phased out in 1976, Margaret Thatcher's government continued to ignore their demands.

  • The first hunger strike in 1980 ended after 53 days without achieving its goals, but the prisoners remained determined.
  • In March 1981, led by Bobby Sands, the prisoners initiated a second, more strategic hunger strike to demand the reinstatement of their political status.

• This time, the prisoners staggered their protest to maximise its impact; each participant began their strike two weeks apart, ensuring sustained media attention and public pressure.

• The hunger strikers knew that their protest might lead to death, but they were resolute in their demand for recognition as political prisoners rather than criminals.

The Hunger Strikes and Their Impact

• The 1981 hunger strike quickly gained significant public attention, especially after Bobby Sands decided to run for election while still imprisoned.
• When the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone died on 5 March 1981, Sinn Féin asked Sands to contest the seat in his place to draw attention to the prisoners' cause.
• Sands won the election on 9 April, becoming a Westminster MP and highlighting the possibility that political campaigns could achieve republican goals. Despite his newfound political status, Sands maintained his hunger strike and died on 5 May 1981.
• His death was seen as a massive propaganda victory for the republican cause, exposing what many saw as the inhumanity of the British government's stance. Over 100,000 people attended his funeral, a testament to the impact his protest had on public opinion.
• The hunger strikes caused widespread outrage both in Northern Ireland and internationally. During the hunger strike period, 61 people were killed, including 34 civilians, making it one of the bloodiest periods of the Troubles.
• Ten prisoners died before the strike ended in October 1981, drawing further attention to the ongoing conflict. The death of the hunger strikers also mobilised religious figures, including Pope John Paul II, to call for an end to the suffering.
• Unionists, on the other hand, supported Thatcher's decision not to yield to the strikers' demands, seeing it as a necessary stand against terrorism.
• However, Thatcher's steadfast refusal to negotiate led to her being viewed with intense animosity among Republicans, culminating in an IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton in 1984 during the Conservative Party conference.
• In the aftermath of the hunger strikes, Sinn Féin and the IRA adopted a dual strategy, often referred to as the "Armalite and ballot box strategy."
• This approach aimed to increase Sinn Féin's political influence in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland while continuing the armed struggle against British rule.
• Sinn Féin's political wing saw increased electoral success, securing two seats in the 1981 general election in the South and 35% of the nationalist vote in the May 1983 local elections in the North, threatening to overtake the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) as the largest nationalist party.
• The hunger strikes also reinvigorated the Provisional IRA's military campaign. By the end of 1980, 80 people had been killed, and the violence escalated further, with over 110 deaths in 1981 and 1982.
• The strikes placed immense pressure on the British government's bi-partisan approach to Northern Ireland.
• The Labour Party began advocating for a united Ireland with the consent of the people of Northern Ireland.
• The strikes also heightened demands within the Irish nationalist community for fairer treatment under British governance, underscoring the ongoing struggle for political and social rights in Northern Ireland.

Who were the Hunger Strikers? A Snapshot

• The hunger strikers of 1980 and 1981 were Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland who protested against the British government's refusal to grant them Special Category Status—a designation that would have recognised them as political prisoners rather than ordinary criminals.
• These prisoners were primarily members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), both of which were paramilitary organisations fighting to end British rule in Northern Ireland and to reunite Ireland.

Key Hunger Strikers

1. Bobby Sands - The most well-known of the hunger strikers, Bobby Sands, was a member of the IRA who became a powerful symbol of the republican cause. Sands led the 1981 hunger strike, and his election as a Member of Parliament (MP) while on strike drew international attention. He died on 5 May 1981 after 66 days without food, sparking widespread outrage and furthering the cause of Irish nationalism.
2. Francis Hughes - Another prominent figure, Hughes was an IRA volunteer known for his involvement in several armed operations against British forces. He joined the hunger strike shortly after Sands and died on 12 May 1981 after 59 days without food.
3. Raymond McCreesh - An IRA member from South Armagh, McCreesh was arrested in 1977 during an ambush on a British Army patrol. He joined the hunger strike alongside Sands and Hughes and died on 21 May 1981 after 61 days of fasting.
4. Patsy O'Hara - A member of the INLA, O'Hara was also part of the 1981 hunger strike. He had been involved in several militant activities before his arrest and subsequent participation in the protest. O'Hara died on 21 May 1981, the same day as McCreesh, after 61 days without food.
5. Joe McDonnell - McDonnell joined the hunger strike after the death of Sands, taking up the cause with determination. An IRA volunteer from Belfast, McDonnell died on 8 July 1981 after 61 days of hunger strike.
6. Martin Hurson - lesser-known figure, Hurson was an IRA member from Tyrone who also joined the hunger strike in 1981. His health deteriorated rapidly, and he died on 13 July 1981 after 46 days without food.
7. Kevin Lynch - Another member of the INLA, Lynch joined the hunger strike in June 1981. He was known for his strong commitment to the republican cause and died on 1 August 1981 after 71 days of fasting.
8. Kieran Doherty - A member of the IRA, Doherty joined the hunger strike in May 1981. His dedication to the protest was unwavering, and he died on 2 August 1981 after 73 days without food. Doherty had also been elected as a Teachta Dála (TD), a member of the Irish Parliament, while on hunger strike.
9. Thomas McElwee - McElwee, a cousin of Francis Hughes, was also an IRA member who participated in the 1981 hunger strike. He died on 8 August 1981 after 62 days without food.
10. Michael Devine - The last hunger striker to die, Devine was a member of the INLA. He joined the hunger strike in June 1981 and died on 20 August 1981 after 60 days of fasting.

The Legacy of the Hunger Strikers

• The hunger strikers became martyrs for the republican cause, their deaths symbolising the depth of their commitment to Irish nationalism and their willingness to sacrifice their lives for what they believed was a just cause.
  • Their actions not only drew international attention to the conflict in Northern Ireland but also revitalised the republican movement, leading to increased support for Sinn Féin and a more prominent role for the party in Irish politics.
  • The hunger strikers' legacy continues to be a powerful force in Northern Ireland's political landscape, remembered for their role in the broader struggle for Irish independence.