Ó Brádaigh - Hunger Strikers Were Not Sacrificed for Political Gain

[picador]

In a recent interview with the Irish News out-going RSF President Ruairí Ó Brádaigh refutes the suggestion that the lives of six of the 1981 hunger strikers were sacrificed for electoral gain. Ó Brádaigh, who was both President of Sinn Féin and a member of the IRA Army council at the time decribes northern opposition to involvement in the June 1981 southern election that saw two prisoners, Kieran Doherrty and Paddy Agnew elected to the Dáil. It is Ó Brádaigh's view that British dirty tricks were responsible for the prolongation of the protest. Ó Brádaigh's intervention in the on-going debate about a supposed deal that might have saved the lives of the men is significant given his longstanding enmity with Gerry Adams, Danny Morrison et al.

H/T nuzhound.com

[Catalpa]

In a recent interview with the Irish News out-going RSF President Ruairí Ó Brádaigh refutes the suggestion that the lives of six of the 1981 hunger strikers were sacrificed for electoral gain. Ó Brádaigh, who was both President of Sinn Féin and a member of the IRA Army council at the time decribes northern opposition to involvement in the June 1981 southern election that saw two prisoners, Kieran Doherrty and Paddy Agnew elected to the Dáil. It is Ó Brádaigh's view that British dirty tricks were responsible for the prolongation of the protest. Ó Brádaigh's intervention in the on-going debate about a supposed deal that might have saved the lives of the men is significant given his longstanding enmity with Gerry Adams, Danny Morrison et al.

H/T nuzhound.com

Well if Ruairí Ó Brádaigh gives his support to the refutation of any cynical use of the Hunger Strikers by others in the SF leadership, esp North of the Border, then that is pretty well it.

He would have plenty of motive to remain silent on appearing to back up the current head of PSF & his lieutenants over this if he wished to.

Being the kind of man he is and the respect his word has through out the wider Republican Movement then this is a powerful endorsement of those who deny these allegations.

[Rocky]

Well if Ruairí Ó Brádaigh gives his support to the refutation of any cynical use of the Hunger Strikers by others in the SF leadership, esp North of the Border, then that is pretty well it.

He would have plenty of motive to remain silent on appearing to back up the current head of PSF & his lieutenants over this if he wished to.

Being the kind of man he is and the respect his word has through out the wider Republican Movement then this is a powerful endorsement of those who deny these allegations.

O Bradaigh was a member of the Army Council and although he was already shafted to an extent by Adams by this stage, he was still a leading member of the IRA and involved in the decision making process and had the IRA rejected a deal which would have saved the lives of the men, then it would be a massive blemish on his record as well.

[Captainchaos]

Wouldn't expect anything less from RSF.....they will continue to view their nefarious deeds as heroic!

They cynically manipilated many events in NI to suit their needs and no doubt allowed those hunger strikers to die for the so called bigger picture!

[Catalpa]

O Bradaigh was a member of the Army Council and although he was already shafted to an extent by Adams by this stage, he was still a leading member of the IRA and involved in the decision making process and had the IRA rejected a deal which would have saved the lives of the men, then it would be a massive blemish on his record as well.

It certainly would - if it were true!

[Catalpa]

Wouldn't expect anything less from RSF.....they will continue to view their nefarious deeds as heroic!

They cynically manipilated many events in NI to suit their needs and no doubt allowed those hunger strikers to die for the so called bigger picture!

And how would you know?

[bogtrotter]

And how would you know?

He dosen't know but is just doing his usual bit of republican/SF bashing.....A lot of it going on currently, must be elections coming up soon.

[topcat4]

This is actually a significant development, I believe there was no deal on offer to save the hunger strikers lives. You have to remember Maggie Thatcher was in power at the time, in my view she murdered those ten volunteers.

[discosunbeams]

If there was a deal that was refused WHY would the Brits not come out and say..we offered them something, they refused full stop. it would make no sense for them to have not said anything. There was no life saving deal offered.

[picador]

I was coming round to the view that there was some truth in the cynical sacrifice theory but for me this blows it out of the water. Though I disagree fundamentally with Ruairí Ó Brádaigh I believe he is a man of some considerable personal honour and integrity. Having been personally shafted by Adams and crew and then seen (in his view) republican principles betrayed he might well have been tempted to allow these rumours fester. But to his credit he has come out and told his side of the story. He was President of Sinn Féin and a member of the IRA Army Council at the time. I believe what he has to say.