Derry Hunger Striker Remembered

[Danielle Ni Dhighe <danielle@xxxxxxxx>]

Derry Journal
27 May 2003

Derry Hunger Striker Remembered

A large crowd attended a ceremony in Derry City Cemetery on Sunday to
mark the 22nd anniversary of the death of H Block hunger striker
Patsy O'Hara.

Patsy O'Hara died on May 21 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike and
was the fourth protesting prisoner to die.

Speaking at the ceremony Vincent Kelly of the Ard Comhairle of the
IRSP said that Patsy O'Hara had witnessed first hand the violence
against civil rights marchers and the Battle of the Bogside.

He said: "He was a young teenager when these events were occurring
and they obviously had a massive impact on his maturing mind.

"He like hundreds of young people became politically aware of why
these events were happening and he couldn't just sit back and watch
as their community was under relentless attack."

Mr. Kelly outlined Patsy O'Hara's time in the Official IRA,
internment in Long Kesh and his subsequent joining the IRSP.

Referring to Patsy O'Hara's republican socialist politics Mr. Kelly
said that it was these that "help sustain the republican socialists
of today."

He added: "They sustain and inspire us because we know that we are on
the correct political path.

"As republican socialists we care about what happens to our people.

"We care when they are attacked and abused by the RUC/PSNI. We care
when the bosses exploit their labour for their greed or drug dealers
flood our areas with addictive poison.

"The Irish Republican Socialist Party stands shoulder to shoulder
with the oppressed of this city and throughout Ireland and we pledge
to help our community rid itself of these problems."

Mr. Kelly also paid tribute tot he work of the republican socialist
memorial Committees throughout the North.

He revealed that plans were at an advanced stage for the erection of
a memorial to Volunteer Colm McNutt, Hessy Phelan and Dermot McShane.