Robert Gerard Sands (Erse: Roibeárd Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh;[1] 9 Mairch 1954 – 5 May 1981) wis a member o the Proveesional Erse Republican Airmy who died on hunger strike while imprisoned at HM Prison Maze efter bein sentenced for firearms possession.

He wis the leader o the 1981 hunger strike in which Erse republican prisoners protested against the removal o Special Category Status. During Sands's strike, he wis elected tae the Breetish Pairlament as an Anti H-Block candidate.[2][3] His daith an those o nine ither hunger strikers wis followed bi a new surge o Provisional IRA recruitment an activity. Internaitional media coverage brocht attention tae the hunger strikers, an the Republican movement in general, attracting baith praise an criticism.[4]

References eedit

  1. "Legacy of Cage Eleven". Nuzhound.com. Archived frae the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 26 Apryle 2010.
  2. "Hunger Strike 1980–82". BBC News. Retrieved 26 Apryle 2010.
  3. "CAIN: Politics: Elections: Westminster By-election (NI) Thursday 9 April 1981". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. 9 Apryle 1981. Retrieved 26 Apryle 2010.
  4. "CAIN archive at the University of Ulster". Cain.Ulst.ac.uk. 5 Mey 1981. Retrieved 26 Apryle 2010.