Having said that, the book could have been written better as there were genuine sparks of emotional and quite beautiful prose around their deaths but most of it read almost like a history textbook. Though tempted to give up several times, I continued to the end as the subject matter was fascinating. Sinn Féin and Relatives’ Action Groups began a protest campaign, mostly confined to the Six-Counties, on the prisoner’s behalf. At the centre of Blanketmen lies the declaration that six of the ten men on hunger strike in the H-Block unit of Long Kesh Prison starved themselves to death in vain, as an offer from the British Government was on the table that could have ended the strike after four of them had died. I just did not particularly want to go along for the ride; I just could not agree to get down and dirty with him and his compatriots.

Not long after his funeral, I set about keeping my pledge to Gerry and, three years later, my book on his life, In the Name of the Son: The Gerry Conlon Story, was published to critical acclaim.Both of us were former Blanketmen, protesting republican prisoners, and we knew that we would be touching on the 1981 IRA/INLA hunger strike, in which ten of our comrades died. The blanket men and protesting women prisoners, totally exasperated, finally commenced hunger strike on October 27th, 1980. In this passionate, disturbing and controversial book, O'Rawe reveals the reasons and motives behind the negotiations and strategy changes that eventually brought about the Peace Process. They are locked in their cells for almost the whole of every day and some of them have been in this condition for more than a year and a half. The fanaticism that drove these men to their deaths is clearly articulated but one is left wondering if the participants and the author had lost touch with common sense.

He tells of the pressure he felt seeing his mates slowly starving themselves to death to uphold their principles and the fight for their right to political status. The writing is pretty dry before the narrative on the hunger strike really begins and this made it hard for me to get started at first. In 2002, World of Books Group was founded on an ethos to do good, protect the planet and support charities by enabling more goods to be reused. After 10 years, and the release of historical state and personal papers, Richard O'Rawe's assertions in Blanketmen have been vindicated.He explains the events that led to the dirty protest - where prisoners smeared excrement over their cell walls - and on ultimately to the hunger strike. In an attempt to create an atmosphere conductive to a settlement and to take pressure off the British administration, the IRA ceased its attacks on prison officials. In Armagh Jail, where women are allowed to wear their own clothes, George Scott the governor refused even to discuss with prisoners the question of self-education classes as outlined in the document.

But I am convinced that the truth should be told and that I have a duty to the dead hunger strikers to explain fully the events that led to their deaths. As their numbers increased and the blanket protest strengthened, news of beatings, deprivations and maltreatment began to leak out of the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and the women’s prison in Armagh. the story of the selfless sacrifice of the Irish Republican hungerstrikers needs to be known, as does their betrayal by the politicians who went on to capitalise from their suffering and deaths. Richard O'Rawe brings to the table in this book, the same truth and strength he brings to the table in his everyday life. In mid June 1943 a form of blanket protest was carried out by Irish Republican prisoners in Crumlin Road Jail when 22 prisoners went on a "strip strike' for political status.

By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. One told Jonathan that he was “within an inch” of taking it but had decided against taking the plunge because I wasn’t a big-named author. At the center of O'Rawe's book lies the disclosure that six of the ten H-Block hunger strikers starved themselves to death in vain, as an offer from the British Government was on the table that could have ended the strike after four of them had died.