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10/04/2013
UUP Refutes Thatcher Hunger Strike Death Claims
East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has publicly condemned claims made by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams that Margaret Thatcher was responsible for the deaths of the 10 hunger strikers in 1981.
Mr Adams made the claims in a statement following news of the death of the former UK Prime Minister.
Ten republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands, Kieran Doherty and Joe McDonnell, died in the Maze prison, near Lisburn, County Antrim, while on hunger strike. The protest had been started as a means to gain politicial concessions and remove the prisoners' status as convicted criminals.
Mr Beggs said: "Gerry Adams was widely quoted as stating that Mrs Thatcher’s Irish policy failed miserably and that she would be remembered for her ‘shameful role’ during the epic hunger strikes of 1980 and 81.
"One of Adams closest colleagues during the time of the hunger strikes was Richard O’Rawe, who has publicly stated that 'Adams, not Thatcher, was culpable for the last six hunger strike deaths'," the UUP politician claims.
He continued: "Mr O’Rawe states "At that point there had been 4 deaths in the blocks but Mr Adams and Co. spurned the British Prime Minister’s offer, the hunger strikes continued, and accordingly six hunger strikers lost their lives."
"Sinn Féin is trying to rewrite history once more by attacking Baroness Thatcher on her death and by continuing to deny the Sinn Féin leadership role in the deaths in the Maze."
Gerry Adams has so far not publicly addressed Mr Beggs' statement.
(IT/CD)
Mr Adams made the claims in a statement following news of the death of the former UK Prime Minister.
Ten republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands, Kieran Doherty and Joe McDonnell, died in the Maze prison, near Lisburn, County Antrim, while on hunger strike. The protest had been started as a means to gain politicial concessions and remove the prisoners' status as convicted criminals.
Mr Beggs said: "Gerry Adams was widely quoted as stating that Mrs Thatcher’s Irish policy failed miserably and that she would be remembered for her ‘shameful role’ during the epic hunger strikes of 1980 and 81.
"One of Adams closest colleagues during the time of the hunger strikes was Richard O’Rawe, who has publicly stated that 'Adams, not Thatcher, was culpable for the last six hunger strike deaths'," the UUP politician claims.
He continued: "Mr O’Rawe states "At that point there had been 4 deaths in the blocks but Mr Adams and Co. spurned the British Prime Minister’s offer, the hunger strikes continued, and accordingly six hunger strikers lost their lives."
"Sinn Féin is trying to rewrite history once more by attacking Baroness Thatcher on her death and by continuing to deny the Sinn Féin leadership role in the deaths in the Maze."
Gerry Adams has so far not publicly addressed Mr Beggs' statement.
(IT/CD)
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