Michael Devine (hunger striker)

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Michael Devine
Mickey Devine SMC.jpg
Born
Michael James Devine

(1954-05-26)26 May 1954
Derry, Northern Ireland
Died21 August 1981(1981-08-21) (aged 27)
HM Prison Maze, Northern Ireland
Cause of deathStarvation
OrganizationINLA
Known forHunger strike of 60 days, from 22 June 1981

Michael James "Mickey" Devine, also known as Red Mickey, (26 May 1954 - 20 August 1981) was a volunteer in the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). He was the last hunger striker to die in prison during the 1981 Irish hunger strike.

Background[]

Devine, also known as Red Mickey because of his red hair,[1] was born into a family from the Springtown Camp, Derry, Northern Ireland.[2]

In 1960, when Devine was six years of age, the Devine family including his grandmother, sister Margaret and parents Patrick and Elizabeth, moved to the then newly built Creggan estate to the north of Derry city centre.[2][3] Devine was educated at Holy Child Primary School and St. Joseph's Secondary School, both in the Creggan.[2][3]

Political activities[]

After British soldiers shot dead two unarmed civilians, Dessie Beattie and Raymond Cusack, Devine joined the James Connolly branch of the Republican Clubs in Derry in July 1971.[4][5] Bloody Sunday had a deep impact on Devine.[6] In the early 1970s, Devine joined the Irish Labour Party and Young Socialists.[7]

Paramilitary activity[]

Devine helped found the INLA in 1974.[5] On 20 September 1976, after an arms raid in County Donegal of the Republic of Ireland, Devine was arrested along with and in Lifford, County Donegal.[3] He was charged with the theft of rifles, shotguns and possession of 3,000 rounds of ammunition.[3] On 20 July 1977 Devine was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison.[3] He joined the blanket protest before joining the hunger strike.[5]

Hunger strikes[]

Devine participated in a brief hunger strike in 1980, which was called off without fatalities.[6] On 22 June 1981, Devine joined the 1981 hunger strike at the Maze Prison. He became the INLA prisoners' Officer Commanding in Maze Prison when his friend and comrade Patsy O'Hara began his hunger strike.[3] Devine died on 20 August 1981,[8] the tenth and last of the hunger strikers to die.[6][9] The funeral took place two days later, on 22 August, in his native city of Derry. He was buried in a grave next to Patsy O'Hara, who died three months before.[10] After the Requiem offered in St Mary's chapel, the funeral took place from Devine's sister's home, in Rathkeele Way, to the cemetery.[10]

References[]

Mural depicting Mickey Devine
  1. ^ Hayden, Tom. "Between Hope and History", Los Angeles Times, 19 August 2001
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Mickey Devine (Mícheál Ó Duibhinn)". Stailc.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Michael Devine (26 May 1954–20 August 1981)". Irish Republican History. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  4. ^ Tírghrá. National Commemoration Centre. 2002. p. 244. ISBN 0-9542946-0-2.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Fallen Comrades of the IRSM - Michael Devine Archived 2001-05-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Cowan, Rosie (1 April 2001). "Why I had to let my brother die". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. ^ Boddy Sands Trust. "Mickey Devine", Belfast, 2012
  8. ^ Melaugh, Martin. "Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN), University of Ulster". Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  9. ^ Beresford, David (1987). Ten Men Dead: The Story of the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike. ISBN 9780871137029.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "The death of Michael Devine". AnPhoblacht.com. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2021.

External links[]

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