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| Hughes had promised one of the hunger strikers, Sean McKenna, that if he slipped into a coma that he would end the hunger strike and as McKenna was on the verge of death, Hughes found himself in a dilemma. Hughes assumed that the compromise was in the good faith and end the hunger strike after 53 days. When the document outlining the details of the compromise at the prison was finally inspected by the prisoners in the Maze they realised that the had been duped and that the compromises not what they had hoped for.<ref> BBC Website. Retrieved on ].</ref><ref>Brendan Hughes. ] ]. Retrieved on ].</ref> | Hughes had promised one of the hunger strikers, Sean McKenna, that if he slipped into a coma that he would end the hunger strike and as McKenna was on the verge of death, Hughes found himself in a dilemma. Hughes assumed that the compromise was in the good faith and end the hunger strike after 53 days. When the document outlining the details of the compromise at the prison was finally inspected by the prisoners in the Maze they realised that the had been duped and that the compromises not what they had hoped for.<ref> BBC Website. Retrieved on ].</ref><ref>Brendan Hughes. ] ]. Retrieved on ].</ref> | ||
| After the hunger strike was over Hughes was in poor health and required an operation to save his eyesight. Then ] took |
After the hunger strike was over Hughes was in poor health and required an operation to save his eyesight. Then ] took over as leader of the republican prisioners in the Maze. | ||
| ==Criticism of Sinn Fein leadership== | ==Criticism of Sinn Fein leadership== | ||
Revision as of 22:08, 12 February 2007
Brendan "The Dark" Hughes (b. 1958, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is an Irish republican and former Operations Commander of the Belfast Bridge of the Provisonal Ireland Republican Army.
Background
Hughes was born into a well known republican family from the Lower Falls Road area of Belfast and was a cousin of Charles Hughes who was the OC of D coy in the Belfast Brigade during the Falls Curfew and was shot and killed by a member (volunteer) from the Official Irish Republican Army in March 1971.
Republican activity
Hughes, joined the IRA in 1969 and was "on the run" in Belfast by 1970. From 1970-1972, Hughes was involved in a number of attacks on Britsh soliders and bank robberies in order to raise funds for the republican movement.
Long Kesh and the Hunger Strikes
Hughes was the leader of the 1980 hunger strike. Against the wishes of the IRA Army Council, on 27 October 1980, Hughes along with six other republican prisioners, including John Nixon and Tommy McKearney, refused food and started a hunger strike.
During the second month of the hunger strike the British government lead by Margaret Thatcher, sent an intermediary to inform Hughes of a possibly compromise, despite previously having publicly rejecting any compromise.
Hughes had promised one of the hunger strikers, Sean McKenna, that if he slipped into a coma that he would end the hunger strike and as McKenna was on the verge of death, Hughes found himself in a dilemma. Hughes assumed that the compromise was in the good faith and end the hunger strike after 53 days. When the document outlining the details of the compromise at the prison was finally inspected by the prisoners in the Maze they realised that the had been duped and that the compromises not what they had hoped for.
After the hunger strike was over Hughes was in poor health and required an operation to save his eyesight. Then Bobby Sands took over as leader of the republican prisioners in the Maze.
Criticism of Sinn Fein leadership
Hughes, has been critical of the Sinn Fein leadership for allowing building firms in west Belfast to pay low wages to former prisoners and that the republican leadersip had sold out on there ideals in order to achieve peace in Northern Ireland.
References
- Unknown.“Brendan Hughes” Socialist Review 2006-09-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- Hunger Strikes and Death of Bobby Sands BBC Website. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- Brendan Hughes. “Risking the Lives of Volunteers is Not the IRA Way” Irish News 2006-07-13. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- David Sharrock. “Ex-IRA leader attacks Adams” The Daily Telegraph 2004-03-04. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- Malachi O'Doherty.“Hungry for a new Republican agenda” Belfast Telegraph 2001-02-06. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.