Pat Sheehan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sheehan in 2023 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly forBelfast West | |
| Assumed office 7 December 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1958-05-28)28 May 1958 (age 67)[1] Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | Siobhán O'Hanlon (2006; her death) |
| Children | Cormac Sheehan |
| Other organizations | Provisional Irish Republican Armyvolunteer (formerly) |
Pat Sheehan (born 28 May 1958) is an IrishSinn Féin politician, and formerProvisional Irish Republican Army member andhunger striker at theMaze Prison.[2]
Sheehan was born inBelfast, Northern Ireland. He attendedSt Malachy's College and gained several O-levels before dropping out of full-time education.[3] In his youth he was a member of Fianna, the IRA youth wing.[4]
In 1978—aged 19—Sheehan took part in the bombing of cash-and-carry.[5] He was sentenced to 15 years.[6]
Sheehan was the 17th republican inmate at theMaze Prison to join the1981 hunger strikes, which was aimed at gaining political status forProvisional IRA andIrish National Liberation Army prisoners. Sheehan began fasting on 10 August – after nine prisoners had already died – and ended when the hunger strike was officially called off on 3 October. He survived 55 days without food.
Sheehan was released in 1987. In 1989, he was convicted and sentenced to 24 years for attempting to booby trap a Belfast security checkpoint with a bomb.[7] Sheehan spent his first two years at Crumlin Road Gaol, before being moved to H-Block, sharing a cell with Danny Morrison.[8] He was released under the terms of the 1998Belfast Agreement.
He picked up his education again on his release and in 1992 began to study Social Sciences and Philosophy withThe Open University. He graduated with a first class honours degree in 1998.[9]
On 7 December 2010, he succeededGerry Adams asMLA forBelfast West, Adams having resigned to contest the2011 Irish general election. Sheehan retained the seat for Sinn Féin at the2011 Assembly election.
Sheehan has provoked anger and controversy by describingthe Troubles as "probably quite civilised" and saying the IRA "could have left a 1,000lb car bomb on the Shankill" if it wanted to kill Protestants.[10]
As at August 2015, he is a Political Member of theNorthern Ireland Policing Board.[11]
Pat Sheehan is the widower of Sinn Féin activist Siobhán O'Hanlon who died from cancer in 2006. He has a son.[12] Pat is also a keencricket fan.[13]
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
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| Preceded by | MLA forBelfast West 2010–present | Incumbent |
| Participants who died | ||
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| Participants who survived |
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| Political and religious figures | ||
| Key events | ||
