In other words, hunger strike bv the Irish Republican prisoners ended, just in time to save the life of Sean McKenna, the first hunger striker to approach The prophesied confronLalOu DCLWCON Republican community and the British state was thereby avoided, at least for the moment. Towards the end of the hunger strike may start afresh on New Year's Dav In one way that sums up Ireland in 1980. It was a year in which more questions were asked than answered; a year when foundations were laid, but few are clear whether the building will be built, or what it will look like if it is. NO BOMBS exploded in London at Xmas; no British soldiers were shot in Belfast; there were no riots in the streets of Derry. the ded. Democratic Unionist leader lan Paisley saw the settlement weakening' from the government's previous position. Official Unionist Molyneaux disagreed, claiming Wal une chaing or the strike represented 'a rebuff to the hunger strikers. Another Official Unionist, Powell, saw the outcome as *a draw'.
The Republicans were not equivocal. At a rally', held in Belfast on the Sunday before Xmas, Adams, vice-president Sinn Fein, maintained: "The has been forced by the deter mination women Armagh Block give the political recognition the meet has The British government been forced prisoners feel meet of the demands.' The Message But Gerry Adams went on to warn that not everything had been settled, that much still depended on a responsible attitude from the British government', and message today is to be vigilant and alert. The weeks ahead are the most crucial since the blanket protest began.' The possibility of another police (right). (Photo: Joanne O'Brien) considerable leader James EnC Enoch "victory „Cry government and and H prisoners BRENDAN to HUGHES hunger strike the re- words added importance Whatever views are held the Peoples this page balanced questionable victories in the campaign.
One was the emphasis on mass action; another was the 'the that action. Not for years had there been the шишу, ана дос ror ycars пас that community applied such Scenes at one of the last hunger strike demonstrations: Bernadette McAliskey speaks to marchers during a sit-down in Armagh (left) after being stopped by TOMMY McKEARNEY LEO GREEN SEAN • McKENNA TOM McFEELEY
----- pull-quotes -----
about the strike that just end- ed