Patsy O'Hara (11 July 1957 - 21 May 1981)
Patsy O'Hara was born on July 11th, 1957 at Bishop Street in Derry cityIn 1970, Patsy joined na Fianna Eireann, drilled and trained in Celtic Park. Early in 1971, and though he was very young, he joined the Patrick Pearse Sinn Fein cumann in the Bogside, selling Easter lilies and newspapers. Internment, introduced in August 1971, hit the O'Hara family particularly severely with the arrest of Sean Seamus in October.Shortly after Sean's arrest Patsy, one night, went over to a friend's house in Southway where there were barricades. But coming out of the house, British soldiers opened fire, for no apparent reason, and shot Patsy in the leg. He was only fourteen years of age and spent several weeks in hospital and then several more weeks on crutches. On January 30th, 1972, his father took him to watch the big anti-internment march as it wound its way down from the Creggan. "I struggled across a banking but was unable to go any further. I watched the march go up into the Brandywell. I could see that it was massive. The rest of my friends went to meet it but I could only go back to my mother's house and listen to it on the radio," said Patsy.
Shortly after Bloody Sunday, Patsy joined the 'Republican Clubs' and was active until 1973.
From this time onwards he was continually harassed, taken in for interrogation and assaulted.
One day, he and a friend were arrested on the Briemoor Road. Two saracens screeched to a halt beside them. Patsy later described this arrest: "We were thrown onto the floor and as they were bringing us to the arrest centre, we were given a beating with their batons and rifles. When we arrived and were getting out of the vehicles we were tripped and fell on our faces".
In October 1974, O'Hara was interned in Long Kesh, and on his release in April 1975 he joined the IRSP and INLA. He was arrested in Derry in June 1975 and held on remand for six months. In September 1976, he was arrested again and once more held on remand for four months.
O'Hara went to live in Dublin for a number of months and was an active member of the IRSP's Ard Comhairle. On 10 May 1978, he was arrested on under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, and was released 18 hours later. He returned to Derry in January 1979 and was active in the INLA. On 14 May 1979 he was arrested and was convicted of possessing a hand grenade and sentenced to eight years in prison in January 1980. He went on the blanketin the Maze, where his brother, Tony was already on protest.
He became O.C of the INLA prisoners at the beginning of the first hunger strike in 1980, and he joined the 1981 strike on 22 March.
On Thursday, 21 May, at 11.29 p.m., he died after 61 days on hunger strike at the age of 23. His parents decided not to get him the medical intervention needed to save his life. His last words were "let the fight go on!"
Even in death his torturers would not let him rest.His corpse bore several burn marks inflicted after his death.
Shortly after Bloody Sunday, Patsy joined the 'Republican Clubs' and was active until 1973.
From this time onwards he was continually harassed, taken in for interrogation and assaulted.
One day, he and a friend were arrested on the Briemoor Road. Two saracens screeched to a halt beside them. Patsy later described this arrest: "We were thrown onto the floor and as they were bringing us to the arrest centre, we were given a beating with their batons and rifles. When we arrived and were getting out of the vehicles we were tripped and fell on our faces".
In October 1974, O'Hara was interned in Long Kesh, and on his release in April 1975 he joined the IRSP and INLA. He was arrested in Derry in June 1975 and held on remand for six months. In September 1976, he was arrested again and once more held on remand for four months.
O'Hara went to live in Dublin for a number of months and was an active member of the IRSP's Ard Comhairle. On 10 May 1978, he was arrested on under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, and was released 18 hours later. He returned to Derry in January 1979 and was active in the INLA. On 14 May 1979 he was arrested and was convicted of possessing a hand grenade and sentenced to eight years in prison in January 1980. He went on the blanketin the Maze, where his brother, Tony was already on protest.
He became O.C of the INLA prisoners at the beginning of the first hunger strike in 1980, and he joined the 1981 strike on 22 March.
On Thursday, 21 May, at 11.29 p.m., he died after 61 days on hunger strike at the age of 23. His parents decided not to get him the medical intervention needed to save his life. His last words were "let the fight go on!"
Even in death his torturers would not let him rest.His corpse bore several burn marks inflicted after his death.