Michael Devine (26 May 1954–20 August 1981)
Michael James Devine was born on 26th May 1954 in Springtown, just outside of Derry city. He grew up in the Creggan area of Derry, where he was raised by his sister Margaret and her husband after both parents died unexpectedly when he was age 11.
Devine, also known as "Red Mickey" on account of his red hair,was educated to a primary level at Holy Child Primary School, Creggan, and at secondary level in St. Joseph's Secondary School also in the Creggan. After leaving school, he worked at Hill's furniture store on the Strand Road, Sloan's store in Shipquay Street and Austin's in Derry's Diamond.
Devine was witness to the civil rights marches of the late 1960s in Derry in which civilians were often brutally attacked and the trauma of Bloody Sunday. In fact,he was hospitalised twice because of police brutality. In the early 70s, he joined the Labour Party and the Young Socialists. Then in 1975, he helped form the INLA.
On 20 September 1976, Devine along with Desmond Walmsley and John Cassidy, were arrested in Lifford, County Donegal and charged with the theft of rifles, shotguns and possession of 3,000 rounds of ammunition they had in their possession. For this Devine was sentenced to 12 years on 20 July 1977.
Upon imprisonment, in the H-blocks of the Maze Prison, Devine joined the blanket protest in order to obtain political status. Devine became the Officer Commanding of the INLA prisoners in the Maze when Patsy O'Hara began his hunger strike.
In May 1981, Devine sent an open letter to Cardinal Basil Hume (Archbishop of Westminster and Roman Catholic primate of England) in which he responded to Cardinal Hume's assertion that the hunger strike was a "form of violence against one's own body".
On 22 June 1981, Devine joined the 1981 Irish hunger strike, and died on 20 August after 60 days without food. On the same day Owen Carron was elected Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Michael Devine was the last of the Hunger Strikers to die in 1981. His funeral took place on Saturday, 22 August in his native Derry city.He is buried next to his friend and comrade Patsy O'Hara, who died the previous May.
Devine, also known as "Red Mickey" on account of his red hair,was educated to a primary level at Holy Child Primary School, Creggan, and at secondary level in St. Joseph's Secondary School also in the Creggan. After leaving school, he worked at Hill's furniture store on the Strand Road, Sloan's store in Shipquay Street and Austin's in Derry's Diamond.
Devine was witness to the civil rights marches of the late 1960s in Derry in which civilians were often brutally attacked and the trauma of Bloody Sunday. In fact,he was hospitalised twice because of police brutality. In the early 70s, he joined the Labour Party and the Young Socialists. Then in 1975, he helped form the INLA.
On 20 September 1976, Devine along with Desmond Walmsley and John Cassidy, were arrested in Lifford, County Donegal and charged with the theft of rifles, shotguns and possession of 3,000 rounds of ammunition they had in their possession. For this Devine was sentenced to 12 years on 20 July 1977.
Upon imprisonment, in the H-blocks of the Maze Prison, Devine joined the blanket protest in order to obtain political status. Devine became the Officer Commanding of the INLA prisoners in the Maze when Patsy O'Hara began his hunger strike.
In May 1981, Devine sent an open letter to Cardinal Basil Hume (Archbishop of Westminster and Roman Catholic primate of England) in which he responded to Cardinal Hume's assertion that the hunger strike was a "form of violence against one's own body".
On 22 June 1981, Devine joined the 1981 Irish hunger strike, and died on 20 August after 60 days without food. On the same day Owen Carron was elected Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Michael Devine was the last of the Hunger Strikers to die in 1981. His funeral took place on Saturday, 22 August in his native Derry city.He is buried next to his friend and comrade Patsy O'Hara, who died the previous May.