Michael Devine
Born
Michael James Devine

(1954-05-26)26 May 1954
Derry, Northern Ireland
Died20 August 1981(1981-08-20) (aged 27)
HM Prison Maze, Northern Ireland
Cause of deathHunger strike
Other names"Red Mickey"
Organization Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
Known forHunger strike of 60 days, from 22 June 1981
Political partyIrish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP)
MovementIrish republicanism, socialism
Criminal penalty12 years imprisonment
Criminal statusDeceased

Michael James "Mickey" Devine (Irish: Mícheál Ó Daimhín; 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

In July 1971, soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment fired into a crowd of approximately 70 people stoning them, fatally wounding two civilians, Dessie Beattie and Seamus Cusack. After this incident, Devine joined the James Connolly branch of the Republican Clubs in Derry.[4][5] The events of Bloody Sunday on 30 January 1972 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 Desmond Walmsley and John Cassidy 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. ^ a b c "Mickey Devine (Mícheál Ó Duibhinn)". Stailc.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  3. ^ 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. ^ a b c Fallen Comrades of the IRSM - Michael Devine Archived 2001-05-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ 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. ^ a b "The death of Michael Devine". AnPhoblacht.com. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2021.

External links

INLA and the IRSP
Official IRA and the Workers' Party
1981 Irish hunger strike
Categories