Hunger Strikes

Question 1

What were the key definitions in policy under Merlyn Rees and Roy mason.

Answer 1

Changes in policy under Merlyn Rees and Roy Mason: key definitions
- Ulsterisation: Reduction of the number of British army personel in NI, and increasing the size of the UDR and RUC.
- Criminalisation: removal of special category status for those convicted of terrorist offences.
- Special category status: those convicted of terrorist offences during the troubles could live as PoWs (prisoners of war). For example, they could wear their own clothes.

Reactions to Criminalisation
- Anger amongst IRA prisoners: saw themselves as freedom fighters fighting for Ireland.

Question 2

What were the reactions to criminalisation

Answer 2

Reactions to Criminalisation

• Anger amongst IRA prisoners: saw themselves as freedom fighters fighting for Ireland.
• Initial reactions: the blanke protests. Prisoners refused to wear prison issued uniforms and instead covered themselves in blankets.
• This then escalated to the dirty protests in 1978: prisoners smeared their cell walls with excrement. Over 340 of the 837 republican prisoners were involved by late 1980.
• Public protests and attacks on prison wardens

Question 3

What were the key dates in hunger strikes

Answer 3

• In late 1980 the a group within the IRA began a hunger strike. This first strike was called off in December as the prisoners believed they had reached a deal allowing them to wear their own clothes again.
• One 1st March 1981 the second hunger strike began. This was led by Bobby Sands, the IRA inmates Commanding Officer. Prisoners would join at intervals to maximise the impact of this hunger strike.
• The hunger strikes gained sympathy but failed to change government policy (British PM is now Margaret Thatcher). When Fermanagh-South Tyrone’s MP died, Sands ran as a candidate and was successful.

Question 4

Key dates on the Death of Bobby Sands

Answer 4

• Sands died on the 5th May, despite huge international pressure on Thatcher to cut a deal with the prisoners on hunger strike. Over 100,000 attended his funeral.
• By the end of the strike on 3rd October 1981, 9 other prisoners had died.
• In the same time period, 61 people died as a result of violence stemming from the events in the Maze Prison

Question 5

What were Concessions Granted

Answer 5

Prisoners can wear their own clothes.

50% sentence reduction restored for those involved in protests.

Increased prison visits.

More association amongst prisoners.

Question 6

What were the Resulting Problems

Answer 6

• Alienisation of nationalists as a result of Thatcher’s heavy handed approach.
• Increased support for the IRA
• Unionists supported Thatchers reactions to the hunger strikes but were concerned about the rising IRA membership and the weaknesses of the state’s reactions to this rise.
• Irish government was pushing for a new political incentive to end the Troubles.

Question 7

What was the Rise of Sinn Fein

Answer 7

Two main nationalist parties at the time:
• SDLP
• Sinn Fein
Sinn Fein saw an increase in popularity following the hunger strikes, and in 1983 their president, Gerry Adams, beat Gerry Fitt in the Westminister general election.

Concerns about the growth of Sinn Fein: republican links.

SDLP support from Dublin and Westminister.

Increased violence: republican bomb killed 17 (11 army) on 6th December 1982.

Question 8

What happend on 1972 in the troubles

Answer 8

1972: The
Worst Year
of the troubles

496 people died in 1972.

20 bombs set off by the IRA in the space of an hour in Belfast (21st July). Nine people died and this became
known as Bloody Friday.

Nine people died in Claudy (Derry/Londonderry) from an IRA bomb on 31st July. No warning was given.

Question 9

What was operation Motorman

Answer 9

OperationMotorman

31st July 1972

Aim: allow British army to regain control of ‘no-go’ areas that were controlled by paramilitaries, mostly in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.

Largely a success and led to talks in late 1972 over how to re-establish a
government in Northern Ireland.

Question 10

What is Power Sharing?

Answer 10

Government power is shared by two parties from separate communities.

Following conditions were applied:

In Northern Ireland this will be between Catholics and Protestants.

Power must be shared between Catholics and Protestants.

Politicians would be elected through proportional representation.

Stormont would not have control over security and justice.

A Council of Ireland would be established, recognising the Irish dimension and giving Dublin a say in relation to common issues.