EAST COAST H-BLOCK COMMEMORATION held Saturday the 21st May at the Holy Redeemer Church,Main
Street,Bray,Co.Wicklow.
Street,Bray,Co.Wicklow.
WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE TEXT OF THE ORATION ADDRESSED BY SEAN DOYLE, BRAY,CO.WICKLOW
On behalf of The Socialist Republican Unity Committee.I'm delighted to
welcome you all here today.Old friends and new in a unity of purpose.To pay a
fitting tribute to our hunger strikers,who sacrificed their lives when confronted
with the British policy of criminalisation of our freedom struggle.
These young men were leaders in unity.They shared the single goal and cry for
freedom from the hell holes of Long Kesh and the H-Blocks.They equally suffered the
beatings,the humiliations of body searches at the hands of sadistic screws and the
ever relenting British methods to break their will.Today we pay tribute to Patsy
O'Hara and Raymond Mc Creesh who died after 61 days fighting criminalisation.
I am bursting with pride and enthuasism because I believe the
potential is enormous.If we are prepared to share our ideals and aspirations in an
agreed programme of action and atmosphere of mutual respect.
I can think of no better fitting tribute to these young martyrs while
we honour them we come together in a spirit of co-operation and pledge to explore
the prospects of a unified front to meet the challenges of greed and corruption that
is indemic in our country.The challenge we face is enormous but can be minimised
with a unified approach.When you consider the sacrifice of these 10 young men it all
started on the 8th of December 1980.
The first hunger strike led by Brendan Hughes ended with the
prisoners believing they had won a deal nearing their demands for political status
especially on the crucial issue of wearing their own clothes.The hunger strikes and
prison protests(blanket and no wash),had came about because of British policy to try
and criminalise the Irish freedom struggle.No more political status after the 1st of
March 1976.Now in December 1980 the British again began to renege on promises hence
no alternative but a 2nd hunger strike which began on March 1st 1981 five years to
the day since the abolition of political status and led by Bobby Sands.On April 9th
Bobby won a Westminster seat after a by election in South Tyrone with over 30,000
votes.The people had shown their support for the men and political status.But even
this stunning victory could not save the life of Sands and he died on May 5th
1981.He was to be followed by 9 other prisoners the last being Michael
Devine.Throughout the summer 1981 hopes were raised again and again only to be
quickly dashed in efforts to secure a just settlement for the prisoners.The
harshness of the British government led by Margaret Thatcher would not concede.
The H-Block Committee put forward candidates in the Free State Elections of June
1981.And 2 prisoners were elected Paddy Agnew blanket man and Kieran Doherty hunger
striker(later to die 2nd of August).Still no concessions and not much support from
the Dublin government.The hunger strike ended on October the 3rd 1981,without at
first sight an immediate victory for the protest.But the British policy of
criminalising Irish Republicans was in tatters,and in the months and years that
followed,all of the rights and more,for which the 10 men died were claimed and won.
For the future and past sacrifices.We must rise above
our egos and banners.Because on our own we can have self gratification.But together
we can have National Self Determination.
ORGANISED BY THE SOCIALIST REPUBLICAN
UNITY COMMITTEE.
Ad hoc committee:
Richard O'Carroll, Dublin
Sean Morressey, Bray
Sean Doyle, Greystones
Adrian O'Reilly, Wicklow
Brian Rees, Arklow
Rory Stafford, Wexford
