Tributes follow the death of Alice McElwee The mother of hunger striker Thomas McElwee has passed away. Reporter: '); Alice McElwee, mother of hunger striker Thomas McElwee, has passed away. Tributes have been paid online to the Bellaghy woman, who was last year the subject of the TG4 documentary 'Máthair'. Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said Mrs McElwee was an inspiration. "Very sorry to learn of the death today of Alice McElwee, mother of Hunger Striker Thomas McElwee," she said. "During the hunger strike and since then, Mrs McElwee and all of the mothers of the hunger strikers showed great courage, dignity and determination in the face of heart-breaking loss and suffering.