Michael Devine
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- For the baseball player see Mickey Devine.
| Michael Devine Mícheál Ó Duibhinn |
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| Paramilitary organisation | INLA | |
| Date of birth | 26 May, 1954 | |
| Place of birth | Derry | |
| Hunger strike started | 22 June, 1981 | |
| Died | 21 August, 1981 | |
| Days on strike | 62 | |
Michael James (Mickey) Devine (Irish name: Mícheál Ó Duibhinn;[1] (May 26, 1954–August 21, 1981) was a member (volunteer) of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) who died on the 1981 Irish hunger strike.
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[edit] 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. Springtown Camp was a former Second World War American army base which Devine described as the "slum of all slums".
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 leaving school Michael worked at Hill's furniture store on the Strand Road, Sloan's store in Shipquay Street and Austin's in Derry's Diamond.
After British Army soliders shot dead two unarmed civilians, Dessie Beattie and Raymond Cusack, Devine, then joined the James Connolly Republican Club in Derry in July 1971.[2][3]
[edit] Paramilitary activities
Soon after in August 1971, Devine became a Volunteer in the Official IRA and in 1974 left the Officials and joined the INLA. He was also a founding member of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) in Derry.
On 20 September 1976, Devine along with Desmond Walmsley and John Cassidy, were arrested in Lifford, County Donegal and charged with the theft of rifles, shotguns and possession of 3,000 rounds of ammunition they had in their possession. For this Devine was sentenced to 12 years on 20 July 1977.
Upon imprisonment, in the H-blocks of the Maze Prison, Devine joined the blanket protest in order to obtain political status. Devine became the Officer Commanding of the INLA prisoners in the Maze when Patsy O'Hara began his hunger strike.
[edit] 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".[4]
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.[5]
[edit] Family life
Devine was married in 1973, to Margaret but they were separated at the time of Devines death. He had one daughter, Louise, and a son, also called Michael/Mickey, who himself became active in the IRSP.
[edit] References
- ^ Ag bunadh Gaeltachta. An Phoblacht (3 May 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ (2002) Tírghrá. National Commemoration Centre, p. 244. ISBN 0-9542946-0-2.
- ^ Fallen Comrades of the IRSM - Michael Devine
- ^ Link to full text of letter to Cardinal Hume
- ^ "A typical Derry lad" Biography from Lark Spirit
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