Pat Sheehan (born 28 May 1958) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician, and former Provisional Irish Republican Army hunger striker at the Maze Prison.[2]
Pat Sheehan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sheehan in 2023 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast West | |
| Assumed office 7 December 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 May 1958[1] Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | Siobhán O'Hanlon (2006; her death) |
| Children | Cormac Sheehan |
| Other organizations | Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer (formerly) |
Hunger strike edit
Sheehan was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He attended St Malachy's College and gained several O-levels before dropping out of full-time education. [3] In 1978 he was convicted of causing an explosion and sentenced to 15 years.[4]
Sheehan was the 17th republican inmate at the Maze Prison to join the 1981 hunger strikes, which was aimed at gaining political status for Provisional IRA and Irish National Liberation Army prisoners. He began fasting on 10 August – after nine prisoners had already died – and ended when the hunger strike was officially called off on 3 October. He survived 55 days without food.
By the time Sheehan began fasting, the strike had already begun to break. Another protester, Paddy Quinn, was taken off the hunger strike on 31 July after his mother called for medical intervention when her son was close to death following 47 days without food. This action – and calls by the Catholic Church to end the strike – prompted other relatives to do the same. The last prisoner to die was Michael Devine, who died on 20 August after 60 days. The hunger strike was ultimately called off after it had become clear that nearly all the prisoners' families would intervene to stop their sons from dying.
He was released in 1987, but was convicted again in 1989 for more bombing offences and sentenced to 24 years, sharing a cell with Danny Morrison.[5] He was released under the terms of the 1998 Belfast Agreement.
He picked up his education again on his release and in 1992 began to study Social Sciences and Philosophy with The Open University. He graduated with a first class honours degree in 1998.[6]
On 3 October 2006, Sheehan marked the 25th anniversary of the end of the hunger strike by reading the prisoners' statement that ended the protest outside the gates of the now closed Maze Prison.
Political career edit
On 7 December 2010, he succeeded Gerry Adams as MLA for Belfast West, Adams having resigned to contest the 2011 Irish general election. Sheehan retained the seat for Sinn Féin at the 2011 Assembly election.
Sheehan has provoked anger and controversy by describing the Troubles as "probably quite civilised" and saying the IRA "could have left a 1,000lb car bomb on the Shankill" if it wanted to kill Protestants.[7]
As at August 2015, he is a Political Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.[8]
Personal life edit
Pat Sheehan is the widower of Sinn Féin activist Siobhán O'Hanlon who died from cancer in 2006. He has a son.[9] Pat is also a keen cricket fan.[10]
References edit
- ^ "MLA Details: Mr Pat Sheehan". niassembly.gov.uk.
- ^ "Pat Sheehan picked to succeed Gerry Adams at Stormont". BBC. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ https://www.open.ac.uk/library/digital-archive/person/per:3e52cddbe019afd3f1818d1be3528948
- ^ "Sinn Fein members with IRA links". newsletter.co.uk.
- ^ "Pat Sheehan: I'm humbled to be following Gerry Adams". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ https://www.open.ac.uk/library/digital-archive/person/per:3e52cddbe019afd3f1818d1be3528948
- ^ "Sinn Féin brands Pat Sheehan insult claim 'ridiculous'". The Belfast Telegraph. The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "The Board". Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ "Pat Sheehan MLA". Sinn Féin. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ "Profile of new Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan". BBC News. 17 November 2010.