The Five Demands

Si è tenuto la scorsa settimana l’incontro organizzato dal Sinn Fein a Gulladuff, Donegal, e che ha visto la partecipazione dei rappresentanti di 8 delle famiglie dei 10 ‘martiri’ dell’Hunger Strike del 1981.
La riunione è stata fortemente voluta dal maggior partito repubblicano, dopo essersi trovato  al centro di un’enorme polemica circa la sua responsabilità nella morte di 5/6 scioperanti della fame, che forse si sarebbero potute evitare accettanto un compromesso offerto in via ufficiosa dal governo britannico. Il Sinn Fein da parte sua ha sempre negato ogni accusa.
Presenti alcuni dei fiori all’occhiello della leadership del Sinn Fein quali, Gerry Adams, Danny Morrison e Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane (officer commanding all’epoca dell’hunger strike).
Come già sottolineato, non tutte le vittime dello sciopero della fame sono state rappresentate dai propri familiari, i congiunti di Bobby Sands e Kevin Lynch hanno preferito infatti declinare l’invito. Il figlio di Mickey Devine, ha lasciato l’incontro prima del termine.
Nessun comunicato ufficiale è stato rilasciato dagli organizzatori nei giorni seguenti l’incontro, come nessuno è stato l’accordo sul come procedere in relazione alle nuove rivelazioni. Infatti, come dichiarato da William Gallagher dell’IRSP, non vi è stata la comune volontà da parte dei familiari di emttere un comunicato e di richiedere una nuova ed imparziale inchiesta sull’accaduto.
Sembra infatti che tutti i partecipanti, ad eccezione di Tony O’Hara (fratello di Patsy O’Hara), abbiano espresso profonda rabbia e frustrazione a causa del dolore riportato a galla già a partire dal 2005 con il libro Blanketmen di Richard O’Rawe, chiedendo di placare le polemiche attualmente in corso.

Vi ricordo The Truth Behind the 1981 Hunger Strike, la sezione che The Five Demands ha dedicato all’intera questione.

Son walks out of Sinn Fein Hunger Strike event (The Irish News)
A highly emotional meeting of families of the 1981 Hunger Strikers has failed to reach agreement over how to deal with recent controversy about the protest. Hight of the 10 Hunger Strikers’ families accepted an invitation to attend the meeting, organised by the Sinn Fein leadership. The families of Bobby Sands and Kevin Lynch did not attend the discussion in Gulladuff, Co Donegal. The meeting was addressed by Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams and former Sinn Fein publicity officer, Danny Morrison as well as Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane, who was officer in command of IRA prisoners at the time of the Hunger Strike. Michael Devine whose father, Derry man Mickey Devine was the last hunger striker to die, left the meeting early. Mr Devine claimed afterwards he did so because he could not put his point across. The meeting was organised in response to recent claims that a deal was offered by the British government in the hours before Joe McDonnell died. Mr McDonnell was the fifth of the 10 hunger strikers to die. Richard O’Rawe, who was publicity officer for the prisoners at the time, claimed in his 2005 book that the deal was turned down by the Sinn Fein committee outside the prison. He claimed Sinn Fein wished to capitalise on the political gains available through the Hunger Strike. He claimed the deal was sanctioned by then British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher and would have met three and possibly four of the hunger strikers five demands. Sinn Fein has always rejected his claims. Sinn Fein declined to comment on this week’s meeting but insiders said it was “highly emotional” with family members visibly upset. IRSP spokesman William Gallagher – who was not allowed to attend the meeting – said the whole debate had brought back painful memories for the families. “There was a call for a united statement from the families to end the recent controversy and there was also a counter-call for an independent inquiry into what happened and both failed to get full support,” Mr Gallagher said.

Hunger strike families reject O’Rawe claims (The Irish News)
The families of the majority of the 1981 hunger strikers have asked people to stop claiming a deal could have saved their loved ones’ lives. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, former publicity officer Danny Morrison and former IRA prison OC Brendan McFarlane met eight of the hunger strike families on Wednesday to discuss the claims. The meeting was organised following claims the British government offered a deal which met most of the strikers’ demands hours before the 1981 death of Joe McDonnell. In 2005 former prisoner Richard O’Rawe said the deal was rejected by the leadership outside the prison. He said this could have been for a number of possible reasons, including an effort by Sinn Fein to make political gains. Following the meeting, IRSP spokesman Willie Gallagher said not all of the families agreed to make a united statement or call for an independent inquiry. But this was rejected by the Hughes, McCreesh, McDonnell, Hurson, Doherty and McElwee families last night. “All of the family members who spoke with the exception of Tony O’Hara (brother of Patsy) expressed deep anger and frustration at the ongoing allegations created by O’Rawe,” they said. While members of the extended family of Michael Devine supported yesterday’s statement, his son Michael Og told the Irish News he had not seen the statement nor added his support.