CAIN Web Service

The Hunger Strike of 1981

- List of Dead and Other Hunger Strikers

Page Compiled: Martin Melaugh



Names of Hunger Strikers (1981)

Those who died:

Bobby Sands (27)

Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Member of Parliament (MP)

began hunger strike on 1 March 1981 and died on 5 May 1981 after 66 days without food

Francis Hughes (25)

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 15 March 1981 and died on 12 May 1981 after 59 days without food

Raymond McCreesh (24)

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 22 March 1981 and died on 21 May 1981 after 61 days without food

Patsy O'Hara (23)

Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)

joined hunger strike on 22 March 1981 and died on 21 May 1981 after 61 days without food

Joe McDonnell (30)

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 8 May 1981 and died on 8 July 1981 after 61 days without food

Martin Hurson (29)

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 28 May 1981 and died on 13 July 1981 after 46 days without food

Kevin Lynch (25)

Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)

joined hunger strike on xx May 1981 (?) and died on 1 August 1981 after 71 days without food

Kieran Doherty (25)

Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Teachta Dáil (TD; member of the Irish Parliament)

joined hunger strike on 22 May 1981 and died on 2 August 1981 after 73 days without food

Thomas McElwee (23)

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 8 June 1981 and died on 8 August 1981 after 62 days without food

Michael Devine (27)

Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)

joined hunger strike on 22 June 1981 and died on 20 August 1981 after 60 days without food

Others Who Took Part in the Hunger Strike

Brendan McLaughlin

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 14 May 1981 and was taken off the strike on 26 May 1981 when he suffered a perforated ulcer and internal bleeding

Paddy Quinn

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 15 June 1981 and was taken off the strike on 31 July 1981 by his family after 47 days without food

Laurence McKeown

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike 29 June 1981 was taken off the strike on 6 September 1981 by his family after 70 days without food

Patrick McGeown

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 9 July 1981 was taken off the strike on 20 August 1981 by his family after 42 days without food

Matt Devlin

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 14 July 1981 was taken off the strike on 4 September 1981 by his family after 52 days without food

Liam McCloskey

Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)

joined hunger strike on 3 August 1981 and ended the strike on 26 September 1981 after 55 days without food when it became clear that his family would intervene to save his life if he became unconscious

Patrick Sheehan

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 10 August 1981 and ended the strike on 3 October 1981 after 55 days without food

Jackie McMullan

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 17 August 1981 ended the strike on 3 October 1981 after 48 days without food

Bernard Fox

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 24 August 1981 and was taken off the strike on 24 September 1981 when his medical condition deteriorated after 32 days without food

Hugh Carville

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 31 August 1981 and ended the strike on 3 October 1981 after 34 days without food

John Pickering

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 7 September 1981 and ended the strike 3 October 1981 after 27 days without food

Gerard Hodgkins

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 14 September 1981 and ended the strike on 3 October 1981 after 20 days without food

James Devine

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

joined hunger strike on 21 September 1981 and ended the strike on 3 October 1981 after 13 days without food



