Michael Devine (hunger striker)

Michael Devine
'''''
Paramilitary organisation	INLA
Born	26 May 1954 Derry, Northern Ireland
Died	21 August 1981
Strike began	22 June 1981
Days on strike	62

Michael James "Mickey" Devine (26 May, 1954–21 August, 1981) was a volunteer of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) who died on the 1981 Irish hunger strike.

Background

Devine, also known as "Red Mickey" on account of his red hair, was born into a family of only two children from the Springtown Camp, Derry, Northern Ireland.

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. Both of Devine's parents died soon after.

Devine was educated to a primary level at Holy Child Primary School, Creggan, and at secondary level in St. Joseph's Secondary School also in the Creggan.

After soldiers shot dead two unarmed civilians, Dessie Beattie and Raymond Cusack, Devine joined the James Connolly Republican Club in Derry in July 1971.^[1][2]

Paramilitary activities

In the early 1970s, Devine joined the Labour Party and Young Socialists, before helping found the INLA in 1975.^[2]

In 1976, after an arms raid in County Donegal, Ireland, Devine was arrested and sentenced to 12 years. He joined the blanket protest before joining the hunger strike.^[2]

Hunger strike

In May 1981, Devine sent an open letter to Cardinal Basil Hume (Archbishop of Westminster and Roman Catholic primate of England) in which he responded to Cardinal Hume's assertion that the hunger strike was a "form of violence against one's own body".^{[3][citation needed]}

On 22 June 1981, Devine joined the 1981 Irish hunger strike, and died on 20 August after 60 days without food. On the same day Owen Carron was elected Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.^{[4][citation needed]}

Mural depicting Mickey Devine.

References

1. ^ Tírghrá. National Commemoration Centre. 2002. p. 244. ISBN 0-9542946-0-2. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Fallen Comrades of the IRSM - Michael Devine
3. ^ Link to full text of letter to Cardinal Hume^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "A typical Derry lad" Biography from Lark Spirit^{[dead link]}

Persondata
Name	Devine, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	26 May 1954
Place of birth	Derry
Date of death	21 August 1981
Place of death