Changing Republican Strategy

• In 1973 250 people were killed
• In 1974 216 were killed
• In October, 5 were killed by the IRA in a Guilford pub bomb
• In winter 1975 the IRA continued their bombing campaign on the British mainland
• Brian Faulkner resigned from politics in 1976
• Roy Mason introduced criminalisation in March 1976


  This removed special category status for those convicted of terrorist offences
• The IRA saw themselves as soldiers fighting for Ireland freedom.
• In March 1979 the INLA assasinated Aiery Naeve
• On the 27th August 1979 the IRA bombed the boat of Lord Mountbatten, killing him
• Republican Prison Strikers had 5 demands

  1. Right not to wear a prison uniform
  2. Right not to do prison work
  3. Right to one visit, parcel, and letter a week
  4. Right to freely associate with other prisoners and organise prison activities
  5. Right to appeal
• The blanket protest started in September 1976
• In March 1978 the No Wash and Dirty Protest started.
• Public demonstrations in support of the strikers were held
• Special category status ended for all in March 1980
• Between the 27th October 1980 and the 18th Decemeber 1980 33 republicans went on hunger strike
• On the 1st March 1981 there was a second Hunger Strike, started by Bobby Sands, IRA commander in the Maze Prison
• Bobby Sands was elected to Westminster as Minister for Fermanagh and west Tyrone on the 9th April 1981
• Bobby Sands died on the 5th May 1981. Over 100,000 attended his funeral
• Sinn Féin adopted the slogan 'Ballot box in one hand, armalite in the other'
• The Hunger strikes ended the 3rd October 1981
• On the 6th October, James Prior granted 4 of 5 of the demands
• Between September 1976 and October 1981 15 RUC officer were killed by IRA
• The hunger strikes were a propaganda victory for the PIRA, who saw an influx of members as a result
• Nationalist reactions to Hunger Strikes


  Belief that government had been heavy-handed while force feeding strikers. Owen Carron, Sands' election agent, was elected to Westminster after Sands' death. Sinn Féin continued contesting elections. In 1983 Sinn Féin gained one third of the nationalist vote. Gerry Adams took Gerry Fitt's west Belfast seat. The Irish government was pushing for a political solution to the troubles.
• Unionist Reactions

  • Had little sympathy and urged Thatcher not to give in to them
  • Shocked at support for strikers
  • alarmed at growing IRA and decreased troops and police
  • glad government had not given into criminals
  • Worsened relationships with nationalists