Gerry Adams and Kieran Doherty, 29 July 1981
Writing on his blog, Gerry Adams relates an anecdote from his 29 July 1981 visit with Owen Carron to the hunger strikers in Long Kesh. This anecdote is sourced from his autobiography, Before the Dawn. It is important to put the account of this conversation into context, in order to fully appreciate its meaning. Firstly, Kieran Doherty’s condition was dire; he was nearly blind, had considerable difficulty hearing, and was demonstrably ‘delirious’, hallucinating and unaware of his surroundings. At this stage, when he was conversing with Adams, he was in no position to be making any strategic decisions. He was hardly fit to process any information about the negotiations with the British, had he been fully informed, being conducted on his behalf by Adams. As told by Adams, Kieran Doherty was blind and confused, despite being described as ‘firm’ on the five demands; he lost track of who was in the room with him, greeting Bik McFarlane only to ask not much later where Bik was, and to ask after the boys repeatedly, even after his questions had already been answered. Yet it seems today Adams is holding up this conversation as some sort of defense against the charge that the hunger strikers were sacrificed for Sinn Fein’s political gain.
What is really significant about this piece is that it shows the hunger strikers were unaware that they had already broken Thatcher. From at least early July and possibly before, if some accounts are to be believed, she was offering Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness four of the five demands and by the time Gerry Adams was sitting with Kieran Doherty, the offer from the British that Adams had been negotiating was what the prisoners got when the hunger strike ended in October.
Although already having won the concession of letters and parcels, only 10 days before the 29 July meeting with the hunger strikers Adams was still stalling the British, seeking clarification over what could be in the parcels. (“Association during leisure hours was not enough and in addition they would need specific assurances as to what they would be allowed to receive in parcels.” Beresford, Ten Men Dead, pg 325.) The hunger strikers’ commitment was used by Adams as leverage in the negotiations with the British, although by this point the hunger strikers, according to Pat McGeown, whom Bik McFarlane was striving mightily to keep in line and silenced, were more committed to each other and those who had preceded them in death than they were tied down to the details of the five demands. “When Gerry was in I didn’t say anything to him,” [McGeown] says. “Bik had already said to me, ‘Don’t make your opinions known,’ to which I had given my commitment. I just accepted [the situation].” (O’Malley, Biting at the Grave, pg 83.)
To Brownie from Bik Sun 26.7.81
“…had a long yarn with Pat Beag [McGeown] this morning and impressed upon him the necessity of keeping firmly on the line. I explained that independent thought was sound, but once it began to stray from our well considered and accepted line that it became extremely dangerous. He accepted what I said alright. Also I stressed the need for all of us to have confidence in you lot.” (Comm quoted in Beresford, Ten Men Dead, pg 333.)
By August, after having had the visit from Adams and Carron, McGeown and Devine were discussing coming off the strike; neither wanted to be seen as saving himself but both recognised the futility of carrying on – except for one strategic gain: the election of Owen Carron. “I [McGeown] said to him [Devine], ‘Hold out for ten days. After the Fermanagh-South Tyrone by-election, I don’t see any political point in us continuing the hunger strike and I’ll be saying that quite openly.’ To say to him [Devine] to come off it before it [the by-election], politically I did think we needed to stay until the whole process had been completed with Owen Carron.” (O’Malley, Biting at the Grave, pg 84.) Devine died the day of the election; he was the last hunger striker to die.
An Bean Uasal from Bik 28.7.81
“…Was up in hospital tonight. [...] Doc was able to talk, but became delirious and told me he was ‘talking to Bik earlier on and had a yarn with Bobby’. He’s practically blind and has great difficulty in hearing. His spirit is strong and he is very determined.” (Comm quoted in Beresford, Ten Men Dead, pg 338.)
Gerry Adams, Leargas blog:
I thought of the last time I saw Kieran. In the prison hospital in the H Blocks of Long Kesh. By this time he was the TD for Cavan Monaghan. It was the 29 July 1981. Kieran died on August 2.
‘I’m not a criminal.’ He said
.
‘For too long our people have been broken. The Free Staters, the church, the SDLP. We won’t be broken. We’ll get our five demands. If I’m dead … well, the others will have them. I don’t want to die, but that’s up to the Brits. They think they can break us. Well they can’t.’ He grinned self-consciously: Tiocfaidh ar lá.’
We shook hands before I left, an old internee’s hand-shake, firm and strong.
‘Thanks for coming in, I’m glad we had that wee yarn. Tell everyone, all the lads, I was asking for them and … ‘ He continued to grip my hand.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll get our five demands. We’ll break Thatcher. Lean ar aghaidh.
Talking later to Kieran’s father Alfie, his eyes brimming with unshed tears, in the quiet cells in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh, I felt a raw hatred for the injustice which created this crisis.
I am glad to say that I still feel the same today 28 years after Kieran’s death.
Gerry Adams, Before the Dawn, pages 308-310:
“Brendan [McFarlane] arranged for us to go and see Kieran Doherty. I told the lads that I wouldn’t tell Doc of their position.
‘He knows it anyway,’ someone said.
‘We saw him last night after Father Crilly’s visit.’
‘I know,’ said I.
Doc was propped up on one elbow; his eyes, unseeing, scanned the cell as he heard us entering.
‘Mise atá ann,’ (‘It’s me’) said Brendan McFarlane.
‘Ahh Bik, cad é mar atá tú?’ arsa Doc. (‘Ahh Bik, how are you?’ Doc said.)
‘Nílim romh dhona, agus tú féin?‘ (‘I’m not too bad, and yourself?’)
‘Tá mé go hiontach; tá daoine eile anseo? Cé…?‘ (‘I’m great; are there other people here? Who…?’)
‘Tá Gerry Adams, Owen Carron agus Seamus Ruddy anseo. Teastaíonn uatha caint leat.‘ (‘Gerry Adams, Owen Carron, and Seamus Ruddy are here. They want to speak with you.’)
‘Gerry A’, fáilte.‘ (‘Gerry A’, welcome.’) He greeted us all, his eyes following our voices. We crowded around the bed, the cell much too small for four visitors. I sat on the side of the bed. Doc, whom I hadn’t seen in years, looked massive in his gauntness, as his eyes, fierce in their quiet defiance, scanned my face.
I spoke to him quietly and slowly, somewhat awed by the man’s dignity and by the enormity of our mission.
He responded to my probing with paitence.
‘You know the score yourself,’ he said, ‘I’ve a week in me yet. How is Kevin [Lynch] holding out?’
‘You’ll both be dead soon. I can go out now, Doc and announce that it’s over.’
He paused momentarily and reflected, then: ‘We haven’t got our five demands and that’s the only way I’m coming off. Too much suffered for too long, too many good men dead. Thatcher can’t break us. Lean ar aghaidh. I’m not a criminal.’
I continued with my probing. Doc responded.
‘For too long our people have been broken. The Free Staters, the church, the SDLP. We won’t be broken. We’ll get our five demands. If I’m dead…well, the others will have them. I don’t want to die, but that’s up to the Brits. They think they can break us. Well they can’t.’ He grinned self-consciously. ‘Tiocfaidh ár lá.‘ (‘Our day will come.’)
‘How are you all keeping? I’m glad you came in. I can only see blurred shapes. I’m glad to be with friends. Cá bhfuil Bik? (Where is Bik?) Bik, stay staunch. How’s the boys doing?’
We talked quietly for a few minutes. Owen got another ribbing about the election. We got up to go. I told Doc to get the screw to give us a shout if he wanted anything.
We shook hands, an old internee’s handshake, firm and strong.
‘Thanks for coming in, I’m glad we had that wee yarn. Tell everyone, all the lads, I was asking for them and…’ He continued to grip my hand.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll get our five demands. We’ll break Thatcher. Lean ar aghaidh.’
Outside Doc’s cell, the screw led us in to speak to Kieran’s father, Alfie, and brother, Michael, who had just arrived to relieve Kieran’s mother.
We spoke for about five minutes. I felt an immense solidarity with the Doherty family, broken-hearted, like all the families, as they watched Kieran die. Yet because they understood their son, they were prepared to accept his wishes and were completely committed to the five demands for which he was fasting.
Talking to Alfie, his eyes brimming with unshed tears, in the quiet cells in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh, I felt a raw hatred for the injustice that created this crisis. Alfie, concerned for us, had a quiet word with Bik McFarlane and left to sit with Kieran.”
Note: Kieran Doherty died 4 days later.
Earlier on Slugger:
Prolonging the Hunger Strike: The Derailing of the ICJP
Updated Timeline and Upcoming Discussion Brian Rowan and Brendan Duddy to speak at Feile
Gulladuff: More Heat Than Light Gerry Adams meets with some of the families of some of the hunger strikers.
Gerry Adams to meet Hunger Strikers Families; Inquiry Sought Families of the hunger strikers call for a public inquiry; Adams arranges meeting
“This is a huge opportunity and I feel there’s a potential here to end this” Bik McFarlane miraculously recovers his memory and completely backtracks on every denial he had made previously, while also making up new, contradictory details never before mentioned
“I will not be attending and will not send a representative” Gerry Adams refuses to attend public meeting about the hunger strikes; extremely revealing discussion in the comments section
1981 Hunger Strike Truth Commission Includes text of British document of July offer and transcript of Willie Gallagher’s speech at the Derry meeting
The Truth is a Heartbreaking Thing Initial summary of Derry meeting
Upcoming Debate: “What is the Truth Behind the Hunger Strike?” Announcement of public meeting and note of Radio Foyle debate between Raymond McCartney and Richard O’Rawe (also discussed on The Pensive Quill: A Shifting Narrative)
When in a hole… Contrasts between Danny Morrison’s position and previously published accounts of the time
What were the hunger strikers told? Questions emerge that cast doubt on what the hunger strikers knew when about what negotiations were being conducted on their behalf by the Adams subcommittee.
“Let’s have the whole truth” – Danny Morrison and Richard O’Rawe statements
Did Thatcher Kill All 10 or Only 4? – contains statements and interview excerpts
John, it seems like you spent the entire morning here scowling people on Slugger. I think that there’s an important question here for you to address:
have you gone to Mass this weekend son (of God)?
Also, if and when you go to Mass, do you receive Communion? If you do, isn’t that just cannibalism and does it hurt whenever a priest turns bread into your body?
John
I spoke to God this morning. He had some startling revelations. Indeed, he informs me that, contrary to your repeated assertions, that you are [b]not[/b] his son. In fact, he says he’s never heard of you.
John, David Icke called, he said the mothership has broken down.
Rusty:
I looked at this topic with interest, epsecially when I saw there had been so many posts. Before I scrolled down to see who had pencilled it, I guessed it was you.
What are you trying to do here. I was involved in that period. I was arrested many times and voted for Herr Sands many times. As the summer dragged on, in fact, even as the first four died, it was obvious there was no strategy.
To say Adams etc used the hunger strikers is repeating old rope. Adams’ son, for example, never did a day and Adams didn’t do many either. Politicians always use others and with IRA stuff, the used often pay a big price.
The IRSP/INLA are particularly important here. They paid big and got zip. SSo where does all this get us?
That Adams is a kunt? I think so. Most Prods think so. And?
BTW: kiss of death but Dave again makes the best points from the sundered brethern side.
Instead of going on about the victims or whatever, try to penetrate the minds of the perpetrators/leaders – without calling them vacuous, old rope names.
This is a genuine question to those who claim Rusty Nail should shut up.
How is writing or speaking about this controversy harming the families of the dead hunger strikers? Just because some members of the families says this does not make it so, for as someone has already posted they are just one of countless families who lost loved ones due to the war; and who sadly have had to learn to tolerate publicity and debate.
The one certain thing about Rusty Nails blogs here is they do not denigrate any of the ten men. The hunger strikes were a massive event that had an impact way beyond the walls of that wretched prison or the shore of Ireland. Surly history demands we at least look at it with an inquiring mind.
In truth I doubt any individuals long term reputation will be changed much by what we have learnt so far.
Rusty should re-title his weekly threads ‘Move along, no story here…’
I see Seamas Ruddy visited Doherty. Any sign of his body yet?
Also, I doubt Adams and Doherty exchanged a firm internee’s handshake when Doherty was literally on his death bed. And Adams speaks of his still burning hatred. Hatred of his paymasters?
“Keep taking the Paranoid Pills, Cynic.”
I am not the one desperate to close down any discussion. if you dont like what’s said post on another topic or another site.
But on this issue you are starting to look desperate
RepublicanStones
John, David Icke called, he said the mothership has broken down.
I’m dealing in sacred texts coming forward from the first century that are meant to tell us something in particular circumstances and time period. Isn’t it time to accept that that time has come, the circumstances have arrived, and the time for jokes is long gone?
‘if you dont like what’s said post on another topic or another site.’
Now, now, cynic -remember your own advice from earlier-’Just who do you think you are to tell us what we can or cannot think or say or listen to?’-lol
Now Joxter… perhaps I was a little harsh but my point was clear.
If we find opinions that we dont like then ignore them and look elsewhere or debate them. Dont however tell them to s top saying them just because you disagree, no matter how strongly
‘Joxter?! s top saying them?’
Stay off the sauce and get the head down, sin-ache.
”You are right, ASF. Rusty does not know what happened as he has no proof for his version of events. For those of you with the blinkers off, where is Rusty’s evidence to substantiate his suspicions?
Put up or shut up.”
Posted by the joxer on Aug 09, 2009 @ 01:05 PM
You can find more than enough evidence at http://www.longkesh81.com that challenges the SF narrative quite comprehensively. I would suggest J Kelly should also explore that site although I suspect he is as much interested in the truth about this subject as he is about MI5/6 controlling the provisionals from the early 80s.
I thought JOC had been warned off this behaviour already? At least a yellow no? I was interested, as always, to read about this subject, I’m not so sure that serious damage to Adams/SF is unlikely, if people come to accept that several men died for no reason other than the furtherance of GA’s career I could see a backlash coming for the party.
But having decided to look into Rusty’s post (the last one was fascinating) you can imagine my delight to find the contents of JOC’s website reproduced here, for convenience.
Every post the man makes is (at best and occasionally) designed to steer the conversation towards his theories, beliefs etc, and once he gets there the regular sluggerite gets to read yet again what he/she has read 100 fucking times before. It’s not the religious aspect (I respect religion, not practising much these days), or the plain crazy thing (cause that’s amusing in a good natured kind of way), it’s the repitition. Spamming is as good a word as any.
Take a hint John, you refer often enough to your own site, and the address is right there under your name, and if that’s not enough why not stick it on the end of your posts (as you have done many times), then we adults can decide whether or not to read your crazy shit or not, and stop repetitively posting the same fucking thing over and over again. It’s the website equivalent of being doorstepped by mentally ill Jehova’s Witnesses. It’s not nice.
Also: Adams gave Doherty a firm handshake (impossible from a dying man) as one ex internee to another. But Adams did not burn down his cages. Would a Judas kiss have been more appropriate?
Neil
the regular sluggerite gets to read yet again what he/she has read 100 fucking times before
religion is a reptitive business. Revelation is necessarily also repetitive.
Take a hint John, you refer often enough to your own site, and the address is right there under your name,
No its not. But thanks for the hint.
And for your information, I haven’t been warned at all. So get a grip and stop trying to conceal your Sinn Fein paranoia.
John did you ever watch Bill Maher’s ‘Religulous’?
RS
I’ve just seen a trailer. One of the things that we’re about is getting rid of the killing for religion. If Bill Maher thinks that its good to laugh at this stuff then he’s deluded. It can be funny but it can also be objectively the servant of evil.
John, do you enjoy aligning yourself with the views of individuals like Willie Gallagher?
Gallagher has said on many occassions that an attack on him is an attack on the Hunger Strikers’ families. It would then stand to reason that you guys are all in it together, a collaborative search to find out whether or not Adams is telling the truth. So, do you enjoy the company of the INLA/IRSP? And if so, how much?
Frankly
We have a common enemy. That’s all. But the angels tell me that Adams shafted the hunger strikers, so I know with certainty that it will come out in the wash.
Violence will be less of a currency when we have destroyed Adams.
Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn what name you post under, it’s the same ole nonsense anyway.
“Gallagher has said on many occassions that an attack on him is an attack on the Hunger Strikers’ families.”
Really Frankly? Could you point out one of the occassions where he said this? You really do seem fixated over this guy. I suspect you actually masterbate over him.
‘I suspect you actually masterbate over him.’
Slugger O’Toole-Notes on Northern Iteland Politics and Culture.Talk about a good site going down the tubes.
[i]Really Frankly? Could you point out one of the occassions where he said this?[/i]
Here you go, from [i]The Pensive Quill[/i], posted on 14 June 2009 by ‘Willie G’:
“This can be evidenced as recently as the demonisation of myself(and by extension the O Hara and Devine families) on Slugger yesterday from posters claiming to be from Strabane but with IP addresses from Derry…. PSF cannot openly attack the two families so will focus on their representative.”
Dixie and Willie seem to be quite fixated by the notion of IP addresses. In fact, Willie has also claimed, on another site, that he has “noticed a few posters [b]on slugger[/b], who were claiming to be from Strabane but [b]according to a mod from slugger[/b] has IP addresses from Derry…”
Very interesting stuff.
[i]I suspect you actually masterbate over him. [/i]
“This can be evidenced as recently as the demonisation of myself(and by extension the O Hara and Devine families)…”
I have read that before, Frankly, In full and not out of context, but he only mentions two families, perhaps you could point to one of these other ”many” occassions where he refers to all the families that you have infered. Nothing like a bit of ole spin eh! The O Hara and Devine families have a cheek on them to align themselves to the IRSP. Perhaps you in all your righteousness should represent those two particular families and then maybe we’ll hear you debate the issues involved rather than your fixations under all your usernames.
[i]I have read that before, Frankly, In full and not out of context[/i]
Good for you. My cut and paste job was not, however, taken out of context despite your repeated attempt at smear.
[i]…perhaps you could point to one of these other ‘‘many” occassions where he refers to all the families that you have infered.[/i]
Perhaps you could point to just one occassion where I referred to “all the families.”
[i]Nothing like a bit of ole spin eh![/i]
[i]The O Hara and Devine families have a cheek on them to align themselves to the IRSP.[/i]
No they don’t. Their sons were in the INLA – it stands to reason that they’d have some sort association with the IRSP today
[i]Perhaps you in all your righteousness should represent those two particular families and then maybe we’ll hear you debate the issues involved rather than your fixations under all your usernames. [/i]
I’m having trouble actually deducting anything of worth within your contributions. If you’re not trying to slur me with your fixation with masterbation and Gallagher (a Freudian slip?) then you’re attributing comments made in my name or labelling me with certain traits which are patently false.
“All your usernames”
1. A lie and another baseless allegation on your part – maybe you could ask Dixie and Willie to trace my IP address and then get back to me.
2. Have you heard of the time when the pot called the kettle black, “PutUp”? Brilliant irony.
“I’m having trouble actually deducting anything of worth within your contributions.”
Touché!
Frankly your obvious attempts at posting under various names is all very Clouseau-esque, if you know what I mean? A false mustache and sunglasses sort of thing.
An apt name for your future use, if I might suggest one, is Willie Watcher.
Dixie, your repeated attempts to claim that you can trace IP addresses are all very full of shite, if you know what I mean? Like a septic tank sort of a thing.
An apt name for your future use, if I might suggest one, is Full of Shite.
[i]An apt name for your future use, if I might suggest one, is Willie Watcher. [/i]
By all accounts – including his own – I hear that the cops are doing a decent enough job at that.
Frankly, my dear chap thats not very nice now is it? Full of Shite indeed! Did I really bring on that outburst?
Psst!…Frankly I hear the IRSP are smuggling cheap Nicorette patches from Spain for people trying to stay off those cheap fags from Spain…
Northern Ireland is a very special place indeed to have two anti-Christs at the same time (on different sides of a dirty war no less!), eh John?
You’d think they show up in the countless other conflict taht have taken millions of live as opposed to one small one that has taken a few thousand. Maybe not
John, how many people besides yourself recognize you as a the Son of God? I’m putting the over/under at 1.
Brian
6.Northern Ireland is a very special place indeed to have two anti-Christs at the same time (on different sides of a dirty war no less!), eh John?
You’d think they show up in the countless other conflict taht have taken millions of live as opposed to one small one that has taken a few thousand. Maybe not
Christ came first to a small conflict.
John, how many people besides yourself recognize you as a the Son of God? I’m putting the over/under at 1.
The same number believe in me as believed in Jesus before he was crucified.
Two points John. One, yes you were warned about consistently hijacking threads and directing them towards your pet psychosis. I will post the link sometime when I get round to it (I have to work for a living, we can’t all sit around dicking about with our six times tables trying to square the circle so that Gerry (and Ian funny enough can’t remember the bit about two anti christs in revelations – you should get your da to fix that) come out as satan mwuh hahaha.
Two, my SF paranoia? Haven’t voted for them in years won’t be in the near future either, but that may not suit your SF paranoia.
LOL ROFL fuck me take a look in the fucking mirror man. Straw poll everybody, who is suffering from a ‘SF paranoia’? As suggested by Jesus O’Connell the thread hijacking tit that thinks anyone gives a fiddlers fuck about his little numerical sequence and his daft theories. You are a laughing stock, and if anyone has a paranoia based around SF and Adams it’s gotta be you. Personally couldn’t give a fuck about SF one way or the other, but you John, you’re a hoot. Totally priceless. Cough *ballbeg*.
Neil
Two points.
I was never warned anywhere. I would have remembered.
Two, angry are we? Shouldn’t go round insulting people. In any case, you are not the target audience for my posts. You’re just collateral damage.