Post by Wasp on Apr 3, 2008 22:59:44 GMT
Hunger Striker account 'vindicated"
Irish News Wednesday April 2, 2008
By Suzanne McGonagle
www.irishnews.com/sear...sid=584183
A FORMER IRA prisoner last night claimed that he had been "totally vindicated" after a man who shared a cell with him confirmed his account that republicans reject-ed a deal in 1981 which could have saved the lives of hunger strikers.
Richard O'Rawe said a former cell mate's confirmation that he had heard a conversation he shared with Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane to brief him on a British offer of a deal, "totally verifies my version of events". Mr O'Rawe attracted criticism from former colleagues for suggesting that some hunger strikers may have been sacrificed for political gain. His claims were made in his book The Blanketmen: An Untold Story of the H Block Hunger Strike, which claimed that a deal was offered by the British government to end the Hunger Strike before the fifth man had died.
He said that on July 5, after the first four prisoners including Bobby Sands had died, Danny Morrison, director of publicity for the republican movement at the time, visited the IRA commander in the Maze, Brendan McFarlane, to brief him on a British offer of a deal. Mr O'Rawe said Mr McFarlane returned to the block after his meeting and passed a communication to him detailing the oUer which they both then agreed to accept. In his book Mr O'Rawe alleged the IRA leadership outside the jail did not believe the deal was enough. Three days later a fifth hunger striker, .Joe O'Donnell, died. Five more men were to starve to death before the protest ended.
The claims caused controversy in republican circles and were denied by senior figures in the movement. Mr McFarlane strongly contested any such conversation took place or that any deal ever existed. However, a newspaper columnist said new evidence had become available from a former-prisoner who shared a cell with Mr O'Rawe and heard his exchange with McFarlane.
"Richard isn't a liar. He told the truth in his book. I heard what passed between Richard and Bik [McFarlane]," the former cellmate is quoted as saying, "I remember Richard saying, 'Ta goleor ann' [There is enough there] and the reply 'Aontaim leat' . There's just no question that that happened."
Last night Mr O'Rawe said the new. evidence was "total vindication" of his claims. "My cell mate says that its true and that he heard what I have said," he said. "As far as I'm concerned its done and dusted and we can't go back on that but I hope that more will come forward now and again verify what I have said in the past. "I'm no liar. This totally verifies my version of events, it removes all particles of contention." Mr O'Rawe said he believed those who rubbished his claims would "be keeping their heads down now".
Irish News Wednesday April 2, 2008
By Suzanne McGonagle
www.irishnews.com/sear...sid=584183
A FORMER IRA prisoner last night claimed that he had been "totally vindicated" after a man who shared a cell with him confirmed his account that republicans reject-ed a deal in 1981 which could have saved the lives of hunger strikers.
Richard O'Rawe said a former cell mate's confirmation that he had heard a conversation he shared with Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane to brief him on a British offer of a deal, "totally verifies my version of events". Mr O'Rawe attracted criticism from former colleagues for suggesting that some hunger strikers may have been sacrificed for political gain. His claims were made in his book The Blanketmen: An Untold Story of the H Block Hunger Strike, which claimed that a deal was offered by the British government to end the Hunger Strike before the fifth man had died.
He said that on July 5, after the first four prisoners including Bobby Sands had died, Danny Morrison, director of publicity for the republican movement at the time, visited the IRA commander in the Maze, Brendan McFarlane, to brief him on a British offer of a deal. Mr O'Rawe said Mr McFarlane returned to the block after his meeting and passed a communication to him detailing the oUer which they both then agreed to accept. In his book Mr O'Rawe alleged the IRA leadership outside the jail did not believe the deal was enough. Three days later a fifth hunger striker, .Joe O'Donnell, died. Five more men were to starve to death before the protest ended.
The claims caused controversy in republican circles and were denied by senior figures in the movement. Mr McFarlane strongly contested any such conversation took place or that any deal ever existed. However, a newspaper columnist said new evidence had become available from a former-prisoner who shared a cell with Mr O'Rawe and heard his exchange with McFarlane.
"Richard isn't a liar. He told the truth in his book. I heard what passed between Richard and Bik [McFarlane]," the former cellmate is quoted as saying, "I remember Richard saying, 'Ta goleor ann' [There is enough there] and the reply 'Aontaim leat' . There's just no question that that happened."
Last night Mr O'Rawe said the new. evidence was "total vindication" of his claims. "My cell mate says that its true and that he heard what I have said," he said. "As far as I'm concerned its done and dusted and we can't go back on that but I hope that more will come forward now and again verify what I have said in the past. "I'm no liar. This totally verifies my version of events, it removes all particles of contention." Mr O'Rawe said he believed those who rubbished his claims would "be keeping their heads down now".
