In June 1972 British secretary of state for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw told Cabinet colleagues that, after three years of conflict and almost 400 deaths, âit was inescapable that some understanding would have to be reached with the âProvisionalâ IRA; no solution seemed possible unless their point of view were representedâ.
The IRA leadership too apprehended from an early stage that the conflict could only be ended by a negotiated compromise; in 1975 key intermediary Brendan Duddy told his interlocutor from Britainâs Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) â[IRA] policy was directed initially to the military defeat of the English, but it became immediately apparent that this was impossible. More slowly it became apparent that the British Army couldnât militarily defeat the Provos. From the time that they accepted that, Provo violence was aimed at producing a negotiating situation.â
Analysis: The circumstances which led to Bobby Sands embarking on a hunger strike in Northern Ireland in 1981 all started with the move of the republican prisoners from Mountjoy Prison to Portlaoise Prison.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the hunger strikes in the H-Blocks of HMP Maze, Co Antrim. On 1st March 1981, Provisional IRA Volunteer Robert Bobby Sands embarked on a hunger strike. A series of hunger strikes by men in the H-Blocks and women in Armagh Women s Gaol had not brought the desired outcome in the previous autumn.
After 66 days, Sands died on 5th May. Nine more republican prisoners, three of whom were members of the socialist Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), died in the hunger strikes. While on hunger strike, Sands was elected as a republican candidate in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone by-elections.
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Brixton 40 years after it was rocked by riots: Gentrified borough of today with its hipster coffee shops and sky-high house prices is a world away from deprived area where black community s anger at being targeted by racist police exploded into violence
Brixton Riots in April 1981 were sparked amid growing concerns over unemployment and poor quality housing
Tensions boiled over when police ramped-up their use of controversial stop-and-search powers in the area
Crackdown viewed as racist among residents, who claimed laws were being used to target young black men
Hundreds of police and rioters were hurt in the clashes, which also left dozens of buildings gutted by fire