I.R.A. jail hunger strikers deteriorate

Press, 22 April 1977, Page 6

I.R.A. jail hunger strikers deteriorate

NZPA-Reuter Dublin I An Irish Republican Army hunger striker protesting against jail conditions would rather die than return to the prison, his wife said after visiting him in a Dublin hospital. Her husband. David O’Connell, is one of 14 I.R-A. men now in the fortyfifth day of a fast to draw attention to conditions in Portlaoise high security i prison south-west of Dublin. Six of the 20 original hunger strikers have given up their fast. The condition of those remaining was stated yesterday to be deteriorating. O’Connell has only one kidney, and his

wife said that he was quite weak.

The number of prisoners refusing food dropped to 14 yesterday when one more hunger striker gave up his protest. He was not named. Token hunger strikes in support of those still fasting have taken place today in (two Northern Ireland prisons. Official sources declined Ito say how many were involved.

In Belfast on Wednesday, a youth, aged 16, was killed and 30 people injured in a 'car-bomb blast which happened as a funeral procession was forming at the ‘west Belfast home of another teenager, said to be ,a junior I.R.A. member, shot; by the British Army.