Joe McDonnell | |
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| Born | Joseph McDonnell (1951-09-14)14 September 1951 |
| Died | 8 July 1981(1981-07-08) (aged 29) HMP Maze, Northern Ireland |
| Burial place | Milltown Cemetery |
| Organization | Provisional IRA |
| Known for | Hunger strike of 61 days, from 9 May 1981 |
| Spouse | Goretti (1970–1981; his death) |
| Children | 2 |
Joseph McDonnell (14 September 1951 – 8 July 1981) was avolunteer in theProvisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) who died during the1981 Irish hunger strike.
Joseph McDonnell was born on Slate Street in the lowerFalls Road ofBelfast as fifth of eight children.[1][2] He attended a nearbyRoman Catholic school. He married Goretti in 1970, and moved into her sister's house at Horn Drive in theLenadoon area.[2] Their house, being one of only two Catholic households on an otherwise loyalist street, was attacked on numerous occasions before they were forced to move into Goretti's mother's house.[2]
McDonnell was arrested inOperation Demetrius, and along withGerry Adams and others was interned on theprison shipHMSMaidstone. He was later moved toHM Prison Maze for several months. Upon release, he joined theProvisional IRA Belfast Brigade. He metBobby Sands during the preparation for afirebomb attack on the Balmoral Furnishing Company's premises inDunmurry.[3] During the ensuing shoot-out between the IRA and theRoyal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) andarmy, both men, along with Séamus Finucane and Seán Lavery, were arrested. McDonnell and the others were sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession of a firearm. None of the men recognized nor accepted thejurisdiction of the court.[2] Following sentencing, he was returned to HMP Maze and imprisoned in the H5 Block.[4]
McDonnell agreed with the goals of theIrish hunger strike, namely: the right not to wear a prison uniform; the right not to do prison work; the right of free association with other prisoners; the right to organise their own educational and recreational facilities and the right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week.
Although McDonnell was not involved in the first (1980) hunger strike, he joined Bobby Sands and the others in the second (1981) hunger strike.[2] During the strike he stood as anAnti-H Block candidate in the1981 general election in theRepublic of Ireland for theSligo–Leitrim constituency, receiving 5,639 votes and only being eliminated on the second last count.[2][5] His hunger strike lasted for 61 days before dying on 8 July 1981.[2][6] He had two children. His wife Goretti, and daughter Bernadette,[7] took an active part in the campaign in support of the hunger strikers.[2]
McDonnell was buried in the same grave as Bobby Sands atMilltown Cemetery.[8]John Joe McGirl, McDonnell'selection agent in Sligo–Leitrim, gave the oration at his funeral.[9] QuotingPatrick Pearse, he stated: "He may seem the fool who has given his all, by the wise men of the world; but it was the apparent fools who changed the course of Irish history".[10]
In March 2006, former prisonerRichard O'Rawe alleged that three days before McDonnell's death the British government made a firm offer to the prison leadership substantive enough to end the protest. O'Rawe alleges that while the leadership inside the prison were prepared to go for the deal and end the protest to save the lives of McDonnell and the others who died after him, the leadership outside told them to continue.[11][12]
The IRA commander inside Long Kesh at the time,Brendan McFarlane, has publicly disputed this version of events. Only one other prisoner on the prison wing O'Rawe and McFarlane were on,Anthony McIntyre, has backed up O'Rawe's version of events in relation to the 1981 hunger strike.[13]
McDonnell was one of 22 Irish republicans (in the 20th century) who died on hunger-strike.[14]
Joe McDonnell is also commemorated in theWolfe Tones song, "Joe McDonnell".[15] His family is also recognized in the Irish Brigade's "A Father's Blessing",[16] and is one of the 10 hunger strikers mentioned in "Roll of Honour".[17]
After the blessing, conducted by Father Matthew Wallace, John Joe McGirl, Chairperson of Leitrim County Council and election agent for Joe McDonnell in the 26-County general election, gave the oration.
In 2014 then Football Association of Ireland chief John Delaney was criticised after he was filmed singing a Wolfe Tone's song, The Ballad of Joe McDonnell, about the death of an IRA hunger striker in 1981.
This song is a tribute to Joe McDonnell (1951–1981) who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh Prison.
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