Lesley Stock with the third in  series arising from the discussion with Richard O'Rawe. 

The period of time during, and subsequently after the Hunger Strikes, was a particularly difficult period in the lives of all the citizens of Northern Ireland. By the end of 1981, 110 people had lost their lives on the streets of Northern Ireland. For the prisoners, the constant beatings and suffering continued, and it was hell on earth for them. I can’t imagine what life must have been like and to be honest, I know that I could not, and probably would not, have been able to cope. But, as I’ve stated in last week's piece, my brain was never really wired to endure such torment for a ‘cause’. I have only ever valued my family, kids, animals and friends over everything else. As long as those four departments in my life were healthy, happy and content, that was all I really cared about.

The strike had started with Bobby Sands, with one man starting to refuse food every two weeks thereafter. Ricky says, that as PRO he was constantly under pressure and says he has never had a headache that wouldn’t go away, defiantly refused to be staved off, as one after the other hunger striker succumbed to their fate. The British Government refused to bow to anything, and on Bobby Sands’ death they made a statement saying that they were committing suicide and put the blame squarely with the IRA leadership. 

I suppose that was true in part, dependent on your background. At this time, Ricky says that it was thought amongst the men, that this was a precarious strategy. The British Government had thus far, continued with their refusal to accept that these were indeed political prisoners, and the leaders within the H Blocks were in turmoil, trying to second guess what the Government may do if more and more prisoners died. They were getting mixed thoughts and it was a real dilemma as to what to do for the best. Ricky’s description of those times were actually quite heart-breaking: here are men - forget the reasoning behind why - who were ready to die for their cause, ready to become skin and bone, go blind, hallucinate, and die in unbearable agony, and the rest of their comrades weren’t even certain that it wouldn’t be in vain. Indeed, Ricky says, there were times when there were periods of biting despair:  when told by The Dark he wasn’t sure they were even going to win this battle, such was the resolve of Maggie Thatcher.

After 66 days, Bobby Sands MP died of starvation and no doubt all the other complications that that brings. After the death of Bobby Sands, there was horrendous rioting and mayhem on the streets of Belfast and Derry. The men inside heard on their smuggled radios that a whopping 100,000 had attended Sands’ funeral. Maybe it was all worth the pain for them? Certainly it seemed to them that the outside Nationalist citizens were very much behind them! The positive thinking however was yet again dashed, after a further 3 men died and Joe McDonnell was critical.

On 30th June 1981,the British Government issued another statement. Throughout all this, The Irish Commission for Justice and Peace, a negotiating body made up of clerics and Catholic politicians were in negotiations with the British Government. Were these negotiators accepted as such by prisoners and Adams? No, at one stage it was actually thought that they would scupper any true negotiations made by the prisoners and Adams. They had come back and said that the British Government were ready to negotiate certain terms. The atmosphere in the Blocks was one of despondency and confusion. Some prisoners were saying that they felt the strike should be called off before another of their comrades died. Others insisted that to force the British Government to act, the only way was to allow more deaths, in the hope that the Government could be seen to the rest of the world as intransigent and callous. However, the leaders (Bik in particular) were worried that if they didn’t accept an offer if it came from the British Government, the IRA could be seen in public opinion as willing to let comrades die unnecessarily and sent a comm to the outside leadership. It seemed there was a game of ‘dare’ in operation between the IRA leadership and the British Government. The leadership on the outside, never gave any indication back as to what way they should carry on. The statement issued by the Government was still without conciliation and insisted they would not bow to the prisoners demands.

Ricky had said that it was imperative to reply to this and so, he struggled with the wording of this statement for two days. His dead friends never left his conscience. Ricky states that the 4th of July 1981 statement was a departure from the usual statements issued by the prisoners. He never mentioned the term ‘political status’ and in fact, says it was veering towards the conciliatory, expressing a proposition to give the five demands, not just to themselves as political prisoners, but to all incarcerated. Word came back that the Government were willing to negotiate, and Ricky sighed in relief. No more were going to have to die.

The sigh was a bit too premature however. The anonymous Foreign office negotiator ‘The Mountain Climber’, was in indirect contact with Gerry Adams, via Brendan Duddy from Derry. Out of the 5 demands, the only sticking point really was free association, and the leaders inside decided that this really wasn’t the biggest let down. They had managed to throw off the uniform of criminality, the main reason for the hunger strike and were euphoric in what they saw as the best outcome they could ever have hoped for, given the turmoil of the previous weeks. All that was needed now was for Adams ‘kitchen cabinet’ on the outside world to agree and the months of excruciating hardship was over.

Gerry Adams came back stating that it was imperative that free association was necessary, so no deal. Bik and Ricky were devastated. Remember, none of the other prisoners were aware of the terms of the negotiations so as far as they were concerned, it was all still gloom and doom. The IRA operated on what was a strictly ‘need-to-know’ basis. Was Adams holding out for a better deal? It is still unclear as to why Adams never returned with an acceptance of that offer, and Adams himself, has never explained his position. The undeniable fact though is, that the refusal to accept the terms at that time meant that Joe McDonnell died the harsh and excruciating death the rest of the strikers had succumbed to. And the IRA waited for the communication and negotiations between them and The Mountain Climber to resume ... 

As the strikers waited, another man died. Martin Hurson died after only 46 days after contracting a stomach infection and dying an even worse death than the others if that was at all possible. This came as a major blow to Ricky and Bik. By now, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty and Laurence McKeown were in a bad way. Laurence was to write, ‘Death appears inviting, more or less a release.’ The mood in the Blocks was one of helplessness and desperation. But a lifeline was to present itself, with the British Government opening up the lines of communication again, on the 19 July 1981. Adams however, seemed to be still intent on securing all the demands, before any end would be in sight. Meanwhile inside, Ricky was all too aware that more men were going to die.

The British Government weren’t for offering more, so Adams gave the leadership inside (Bik and Ricky) only two options 1) End the hunger strike without taking any of the concessions, or 2) carry on until the government broke and offered all concessions for the demands. It was, in effect, a lose-lose scenario. I listened to this piece of information with complete shock, that Adams ( ‘I was never in the IRA’) basically was morally alright with men, comrades, dying in agony whilst he sat pretty on the outside, not even really having to make the really hard decisions the guys on the inside were having to make. For they really Had No Choice - to call off the strike now, was not even an option. 

To the world, to their comrades, it was Bik and Ricky who were sitting pretty, not on the strike yet allowing their friends to die. The guilt and anger that Ricky felt towards the ‘kitchen cabinet’ for the lack of guidance and support, bore a hole in his very soul. At this stage Seanna Walsh withdrew his name from the hunger strike, basically saying what Ricky was thinking – to carry on was merely to prevent the 5 guys beforehand not dying in vain, but that was not the only reason, he would not be dying for political status, for it was surely lost already ..

At this stage, Father Dennis Faul had contacted some of the families and wanted a swift end to the strike. So they met with Adams. Whilst he agreed that the hunger strike was at a critical stage, gave them some platitudes about how they were all to be commended and their family member was a ‘hero’, he omitted to tell the distraught families that a deal had been offered And accepted by prison leadership which would save their loved ones. I found myself welling with anger and disgust at this revelation, this man who has been treated like a hero in Republican circles – had in effect created another ‘noble cause corruption’ in order to get what he wanted, whilst not being the one to be making the sacrifices.

At the end of July – Paddy Quinn’s mother intervened and took him off the strike, followed soon by another two families. To make matters worse, another 3 hunger strikers came off the strike themselves. They knew,as well as Ricky, that all hope was gone and that they were going to be dying purely not to let their dead colleagues down. Bik sent a comm out to the Army Council and they agreed, end the strike!

Ricky sent out a statement ‘Our comrades have lit with their very lives, an eternal beacon, that will inspire this nation ...’ Within a short space of the cessation of the strike, all the prisoners were given their own clothes. Were the British Government going to waiver and give them more concessions now that the strike was over? Bik sent a comm out suggesting that perhaps following the strike the prison regime to an extent would get them more. The word came back – No. Yet again, Bik who was indoctrinated to obey, obey, obey obliged and obeyed. 

For Ricky, this was a step too far and was moved to H1, known as a ‘conforming block’, a block with mixed loyalist and republican prisoners. Ricky asked to speak to the leader of the UVF in the Block, after already having spoken to the UDA, in order to ask them to remain in their cells and not come out. This was to try to force the segregation of the prisoners. So – at 5.00 pm, the loyalists prisoners went into their cells and wrecked them! Yip – the tactic worked; the loyalists were almost immediately moved to another block. Another demand had been won!

When Ricky was released in 1983, Bernie his long-suffering wife, gave him an ultimatum. You are with me and wee Bernie, or you’re with the IRA, not both. How could he have put her through the last few years? And he says it was an easy choice to make. Bernie and he are still together, and I’m not sure, in fact I know, I wouldn’t have been so patient throughout those years alone with a young baby.

Next week – Life after Lockup and thoughts on the era from a Protestant perspective.

⏩ Lesley Stock is a former PSNI and RUC Officer currently involved in community work. 

From The Eyes Of An Adversary ➖ The Dilemma Of The Dying

Lesley Stock with the third in  series arising from the discussion with Richard O'Rawe. 

The period of time during, and subsequently after the Hunger Strikes, was a particularly difficult period in the lives of all the citizens of Northern Ireland. By the end of 1981, 110 people had lost their lives on the streets of Northern Ireland. For the prisoners, the constant beatings and suffering continued, and it was hell on earth for them. I can’t imagine what life must have been like and to be honest, I know that I could not, and probably would not, have been able to cope. But, as I’ve stated in last week's piece, my brain was never really wired to endure such torment for a ‘cause’. I have only ever valued my family, kids, animals and friends over everything else. As long as those four departments in my life were healthy, happy and content, that was all I really cared about.

The strike had started with Bobby Sands, with one man starting to refuse food every two weeks thereafter. Ricky says, that as PRO he was constantly under pressure and says he has never had a headache that wouldn’t go away, defiantly refused to be staved off, as one after the other hunger striker succumbed to their fate. The British Government refused to bow to anything, and on Bobby Sands’ death they made a statement saying that they were committing suicide and put the blame squarely with the IRA leadership. 

I suppose that was true in part, dependent on your background. At this time, Ricky says that it was thought amongst the men, that this was a precarious strategy. The British Government had thus far, continued with their refusal to accept that these were indeed political prisoners, and the leaders within the H Blocks were in turmoil, trying to second guess what the Government may do if more and more prisoners died. They were getting mixed thoughts and it was a real dilemma as to what to do for the best. Ricky’s description of those times were actually quite heart-breaking: here are men - forget the reasoning behind why - who were ready to die for their cause, ready to become skin and bone, go blind, hallucinate, and die in unbearable agony, and the rest of their comrades weren’t even certain that it wouldn’t be in vain. Indeed, Ricky says, there were times when there were periods of biting despair:  when told by The Dark he wasn’t sure they were even going to win this battle, such was the resolve of Maggie Thatcher.

After 66 days, Bobby Sands MP died of starvation and no doubt all the other complications that that brings. After the death of Bobby Sands, there was horrendous rioting and mayhem on the streets of Belfast and Derry. The men inside heard on their smuggled radios that a whopping 100,000 had attended Sands’ funeral. Maybe it was all worth the pain for them? Certainly it seemed to them that the outside Nationalist citizens were very much behind them! The positive thinking however was yet again dashed, after a further 3 men died and Joe McDonnell was critical.

On 30th June 1981,the British Government issued another statement. Throughout all this, The Irish Commission for Justice and Peace, a negotiating body made up of clerics and Catholic politicians were in negotiations with the British Government. Were these negotiators accepted as such by prisoners and Adams? No, at one stage it was actually thought that they would scupper any true negotiations made by the prisoners and Adams. They had come back and said that the British Government were ready to negotiate certain terms. The atmosphere in the Blocks was one of despondency and confusion. Some prisoners were saying that they felt the strike should be called off before another of their comrades died. Others insisted that to force the British Government to act, the only way was to allow more deaths, in the hope that the Government could be seen to the rest of the world as intransigent and callous. However, the leaders (Bik in particular) were worried that if they didn’t accept an offer if it came from the British Government, the IRA could be seen in public opinion as willing to let comrades die unnecessarily and sent a comm to the outside leadership. It seemed there was a game of ‘dare’ in operation between the IRA leadership and the British Government. The leadership on the outside, never gave any indication back as to what way they should carry on. The statement issued by the Government was still without conciliation and insisted they would not bow to the prisoners demands.

Ricky had said that it was imperative to reply to this and so, he struggled with the wording of this statement for two days. His dead friends never left his conscience. Ricky states that the 4th of July 1981 statement was a departure from the usual statements issued by the prisoners. He never mentioned the term ‘political status’ and in fact, says it was veering towards the conciliatory, expressing a proposition to give the five demands, not just to themselves as political prisoners, but to all incarcerated. Word came back that the Government were willing to negotiate, and Ricky sighed in relief. No more were going to have to die.

The sigh was a bit too premature however. The anonymous Foreign office negotiator ‘The Mountain Climber’, was in indirect contact with Gerry Adams, via Brendan Duddy from Derry. Out of the 5 demands, the only sticking point really was free association, and the leaders inside decided that this really wasn’t the biggest let down. They had managed to throw off the uniform of criminality, the main reason for the hunger strike and were euphoric in what they saw as the best outcome they could ever have hoped for, given the turmoil of the previous weeks. All that was needed now was for Adams ‘kitchen cabinet’ on the outside world to agree and the months of excruciating hardship was over.

Gerry Adams came back stating that it was imperative that free association was necessary, so no deal. Bik and Ricky were devastated. Remember, none of the other prisoners were aware of the terms of the negotiations so as far as they were concerned, it was all still gloom and doom. The IRA operated on what was a strictly ‘need-to-know’ basis. Was Adams holding out for a better deal? It is still unclear as to why Adams never returned with an acceptance of that offer, and Adams himself, has never explained his position. The undeniable fact though is, that the refusal to accept the terms at that time meant that Joe McDonnell died the harsh and excruciating death the rest of the strikers had succumbed to. And the IRA waited for the communication and negotiations between them and The Mountain Climber to resume ... 

As the strikers waited, another man died. Martin Hurson died after only 46 days after contracting a stomach infection and dying an even worse death than the others if that was at all possible. This came as a major blow to Ricky and Bik. By now, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty and Laurence McKeown were in a bad way. Laurence was to write, ‘Death appears inviting, more or less a release.’ The mood in the Blocks was one of helplessness and desperation. But a lifeline was to present itself, with the British Government opening up the lines of communication again, on the 19 July 1981. Adams however, seemed to be still intent on securing all the demands, before any end would be in sight. Meanwhile inside, Ricky was all too aware that more men were going to die.

The British Government weren’t for offering more, so Adams gave the leadership inside (Bik and Ricky) only two options 1) End the hunger strike without taking any of the concessions, or 2) carry on until the government broke and offered all concessions for the demands. It was, in effect, a lose-lose scenario. I listened to this piece of information with complete shock, that Adams ( ‘I was never in the IRA’) basically was morally alright with men, comrades, dying in agony whilst he sat pretty on the outside, not even really having to make the really hard decisions the guys on the inside were having to make. For they really Had No Choice - to call off the strike now, was not even an option. 

To the world, to their comrades, it was Bik and Ricky who were sitting pretty, not on the strike yet allowing their friends to die. The guilt and anger that Ricky felt towards the ‘kitchen cabinet’ for the lack of guidance and support, bore a hole in his very soul. At this stage Seanna Walsh withdrew his name from the hunger strike, basically saying what Ricky was thinking – to carry on was merely to prevent the 5 guys beforehand not dying in vain, but that was not the only reason, he would not be dying for political status, for it was surely lost already ..

At this stage, Father Dennis Faul had contacted some of the families and wanted a swift end to the strike. So they met with Adams. Whilst he agreed that the hunger strike was at a critical stage, gave them some platitudes about how they were all to be commended and their family member was a ‘hero’, he omitted to tell the distraught families that a deal had been offered And accepted by prison leadership which would save their loved ones. I found myself welling with anger and disgust at this revelation, this man who has been treated like a hero in Republican circles – had in effect created another ‘noble cause corruption’ in order to get what he wanted, whilst not being the one to be making the sacrifices.

At the end of July – Paddy Quinn’s mother intervened and took him off the strike, followed soon by another two families. To make matters worse, another 3 hunger strikers came off the strike themselves. They knew,as well as Ricky, that all hope was gone and that they were going to be dying purely not to let their dead colleagues down. Bik sent a comm out to the Army Council and they agreed, end the strike!

Ricky sent out a statement ‘Our comrades have lit with their very lives, an eternal beacon, that will inspire this nation ...’ Within a short space of the cessation of the strike, all the prisoners were given their own clothes. Were the British Government going to waiver and give them more concessions now that the strike was over? Bik sent a comm out suggesting that perhaps following the strike the prison regime to an extent would get them more. The word came back – No. Yet again, Bik who was indoctrinated to obey, obey, obey obliged and obeyed. 

For Ricky, this was a step too far and was moved to H1, known as a ‘conforming block’, a block with mixed loyalist and republican prisoners. Ricky asked to speak to the leader of the UVF in the Block, after already having spoken to the UDA, in order to ask them to remain in their cells and not come out. This was to try to force the segregation of the prisoners. So – at 5.00 pm, the loyalists prisoners went into their cells and wrecked them! Yip – the tactic worked; the loyalists were almost immediately moved to another block. Another demand had been won!

When Ricky was released in 1983, Bernie his long-suffering wife, gave him an ultimatum. You are with me and wee Bernie, or you’re with the IRA, not both. How could he have put her through the last few years? And he says it was an easy choice to make. Bernie and he are still together, and I’m not sure, in fact I know, I wouldn’t have been so patient throughout those years alone with a young baby.

Next week – Life after Lockup and thoughts on the era from a Protestant perspective.

⏩ Lesley Stock is a former PSNI and RUC Officer currently involved in community work. 

25 comments:

  1. Another excellent piece, Lesley.

    "Next week – Life after Lockup and thoughts on the era from a Protestant perspective."

    This is a perspective that I eagerly look forward to reading.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I thought it was a good piece too. I admire the way the author tries to put herself in somebody else's shoes without ever trying to go native. For me, the thing of most interest is how the author thinks about the situation in which her adversary found himself. And she does it without reducing her writing to a touchy feely piece - the type of thing described by Henry Joy as saccharine.
    Good stuff Lesley - hopefully you will continue to grace the pages of TPQ for some time to come.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AM, tell Lesley I thought it was a well written piece too.
    Between it and having reread A Song For Paddy Joe Crawford – ‘Buried In Full View, But Disappeared’ earlier this afternoon I'm still processing and trying to integrate some of the more sordid and exploitive behaviours of certain people.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Really powerful, empathetic and honest piece, Lesley. You really convey the gut wrenching agonies and dilemmas that the prisoners were going through.

    Long may you continue writing for TPQ.


    Long may you continue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Barry. I have found that I can only write honestly.... as I see things. The fact that I am a former member of the police is irrelevant - certainly where this series was concerned. It was purely to educate myself and others. (Protestant community) many of whom do not know or understand that part of recent history. I hope that I did Ricky justice as he was so honest and candid with me about his innermost feelings during that time.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for your into what happened behind those walls I can remember those days though they seem a lifetime ago and they shaped my life which l still struggle to understand and at times wish l was brought up in a more normal place

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lesley

    This is a much more compelling and balanced piece than the last installment. The prison protests were not driven by some sort of self-inflicted (propaganda) stunts but "the constant beatings and suffering continued, and it was hell on earth for them." No version of history could be complete or accurate without recognizing the major driving force in transitioning the blanket protest to the dirty protest and finally hunger strikes.

    I think you have captured the sense of confusion, despair and distrust among the men that brings home how success was not certain and there was lacking confidence in the strategy but the unity of the men themselves prevailed.

    I also note your mention about RO'Rs marital dilemma -I touched on something similar in my reference to Alex Murphy. I think the Republican Leaderships seemingly no tolerance for personal family relationships among its volunteers is something that deserves a little more light should anyone be in position to shed more light on that aspect of an armed struggle. Women's role in the struggle has been looked at before but less so the men and women's struggle in trying to raise a kids.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christie
      What was the major driving force in the three protests?? As Ricky said himself - and my understanding from him was that it was primarily the prison uniform....

      Delete
    2. NRH

      The Blanket protest would have continued as it had been, but for, the brutality meted out by the screws. The only protection the naked men had was in refusing to run the daily gauntlet of violent screws who out numbered and ganged up on each prisoner as they left their cells to wash and slop-out. While their urine could be poured out under their cell doors they had to deal with their excrement -thus it was spread on the walls because the men were sleeping on their cells floors. The screws became more sadistic and violent because they couldn't break the men or their families. It being the hell hole you now acknowledge -out of despair and last resort -most men saw hunger-strike as the only game changing option open to them. Your lack of knowledge or understanding of these crucial developments, particularly the significance of the brutality on naked men and the only means of resistance available to them is why I was so critical of your previous installment. The Blanket protest for political status could have continued indefinitely and might even have lost public interest. The brutality of the screws and the prison regime solidified Nationalist Ireland, and overseas solidarity, in full support of the men.

      Delete
    3. Christy,

      as reluctant as I am to disagree with you, I am of an opinion that in a conflict situation the tendency is. for the greatest part, that of escalation.
      It's highly unlikely that it could have remained static. The nature of conflict, either consciously or unconsciously, is to ramp it up.

      As you have pointed out NRH is reluctant to acknowledge neither the genesis nor the continuum of conflict.

      Delete
  7. I'm always a little surprised when I read about Republicans and Loyalists collaborating either in Gaol or outside as and when it suits. Fecking should be doing it all the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve
      It doesn't surprise me one jot! Dad was a taxi driver in the early '70's, he recalls many a time where he picked up someone from the Shankill - crossed Lanark into the Falls and picked up his counterpart - they then went to the Woodlawns Hotel in Lisburn. He overheard many a conversation where the IRA were to 'claim' responsibility for a Loyalist murder, but it was the loyalists who wanted shot of the guy belonging to their organisation.
      THe amount of 'collusion' was not just a loyalist thing, the IRA was rife with members giving information to the police regarding future attacks... The issue I have always had with republicans is the fact that they will state it was 'systemic' in the police, that the whole 12,000 officers were corrupt and sectarian and feeding information to loyalists..... I will continue to refute that til my dying day.

      Delete
    2. Leslie,

      I remembered after posting my Dad telling me he stopped a car in the 70's with Gusty Spence and senior Provos driving into the city. Many an eyebrow was raised then. Don't know what that was about but I don't believe they were away to play bingo.

      Delete
    3. Leslie,

      And I knew/know plenty of cops who hated the Loyalists as well, some of them related by blood. Were I grew up being a cop was a badge of shame too, and your family members were shunned, so they kept it very quiet.

      Delete
    4. Steve /NRH

      I have heard that there was some collusion between the Security Forces/IRA, where the IRA received the information on who to target. Scappaticci is one possible exampl where informers were exposed to the IRA for strategic interests

      Delete
    5. NRH states,

      "The issue I have always had with republicans is the fact that they will state it was 'systemic' in the police, that the whole 12,000 officers were corrupt and sectarian and feeding information to loyalists..... I will continue to refute that til my dying day."

      I can understand that you find it frustrating that every individual member is tarred with the same brush Lesley and I can also understand that you would wish to challenge that.
      In the same way as not every Catholic priest was a 'kiddie fiddler' not every cop was corrupt. There were decent priests and there were decent policemen and women.
      However, in the real and lived world rather than in any idealised one, the collective will generally tend to be judged on the behaviour of its worst members. You might think that unfair but the collective must respond; it ought act in a timely manner to flush out the deviants. If it fails in that then allegations of systemic failure will be made. They will be rightly made and alas they will rightly stand.

      Delete
  8. Steve, can agree with that but unfortunately the level of collaboration between Loyalists and all branches of the Queens Forces ensured the continuance of the Conflict and brutal killings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christy,

      Not just the Loyalists, the Republican movement was riddled with collaborators at every level..

      https://academic.oup.com/bjc/article/52/1/32/368404#5351074

      Delete
  9. One of the most interesting exchanges I read about was in Long Kesh, when a republican prisoner shouted over to Gusty Spence; "Gusty! What the fuck are we doing here?"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And the same question is equally valid to each and everyone of us here (n.b. those engaging or answering can expect some push back from the gaffer).

      Delete
  10. Christie
    Can I ask you, just for my reference when I answer your comments regarding my 'lack of understanding' - where you ever inside? Did you participate in the Blanket protests? The Dirty Protests? Did you serve one day in those conditions?

    ReplyDelete
  11. NRH

    Even if I wasn't does nothing to negate historical fact about the brutality of the screws. But Yes I was but not in 70s-80s. Several weeks after the C-Wing bomb in 1991 the screws took all my clothes and I, along with other men, were paraded naked (no blanket) through The Crum. We were put in cells on the 2s on A-Wing where men above and below us swung us some clothes. Previously, in October I was remanded for 1 month back into Castlereagh Interogation Centre but habeas corpus was issued ordering my return the the Crum because I was beaten so severely with injuries to every part of my body. I was a frequent visitor to the solitary confinement cells. Due to controlled movement only 4 men were let out of their cells at a time. This meant it took an average of 4 day cycles when it was my turn to get out of jy cell to wash or slopout. With only a small puss pot in the cell we kept our piss pots on the ramp by the door so that it overflowed out onto the landing which was like a river if piss everyday.

    Henry Joy

    Good point and yes the protest probably would have escalated one way or the other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christie
      Of course you have your experiences, and I, for one do not intend to castigate what you say. I do believe being inside was a horrendous experience and that there were beatings etc. however, as you say
      'The prison protests were not driven by some sort of self-inflicted (propaganda) stunts but "the constant beatings and suffering continued, and it was hell on earth for them." I did not get that from Ricky, I got the impression from speaking to him and also from reading his book that the hunger strikes were in relation to 5 very specific demands... Top of the list being for prisoners to wear their own clothing and not to be classed as 'ordinary crims'..... I'm sure they wanted the beatings to stop, but it wasn't one of the famous 5 demands. So - again, I ask would it have continued based on the beatings? I'm sure they still got hammered AFTER the hunger strikes etc, so why not protest against it after the lads died and they got the demands... One point to raise though, the hunger strike in itself was a failure.... It crashed and burned and the prisoners only got concessions AFTER they came off the strike and 'conformed' to a certain extent.

      Delete
    2. NRH

      Political status was the objective of the Blanket Protest. But the the brutality was a major driving force in escalating the protest. I think you are missing the point -the 5 demands would for political status by default should bring an end to the ill-treatment.

      I have already stated that the protest for the 5 demands would have continued regardless of the beatings. Henry Joy corrected my assertion that the Blanket Protest might not have escalated without the beatings -he is right to say that something or other would have still escalated the protest.

      Why would you castigate me for answering your question??

      The Hunger Strike was a success and I never conformed to anything --I enjoyed every one of the five demands -I wore my own clothes -did not do prison work -I had 24 hour free association to leave my cell whenever I wanted -I got regular visits, food parcels and mail (and phone calls) -and had full remission of sentence.

      And as AM confirms some screws continued to beat prisoners -I suggest; until the they learned that it was counterproductive because they were being targeted and lost their lives until they stopped the beatings.




      So which of the 5 demands are you saying were not granted? And sure

      Delete
  12. The blanket protest would have continued with or without the prison staff violence. It might not have escalated to the no wash protest and hunger strikes had it not been for that violence. There was little staff violence after the hunger strikes - they simply would not have got away with it. The escape in 83 saw a lot of brutality but it was pretty much an isolated event.
    Nor did the hunger strike fail. By the time Prior came in with Gowrie, we knew what the outcome was going to be. And it was not that long until full blown political status was in play. Could it have happened without the hunger strike? I think so. But that hardly amounts to the hunger strike failing - it delivered the far reaching transformation that took place within the jail. Denis Faul had a point when he said Bobby was the greatest prison reformer of the 20th century. When he spoke of Bobby he was referring to the ten men who collectively delivered.

    ReplyDelete