McDonnell's life hung by a thread.
He, and the now dead hunger strikers, MP, Frankie Hughes, kaymond Creesh and Patsy O Hara had waited three long tortuous months for the Tory government of Margaret hatcher to make move to Irish political prisonels Now, Thatcher has entered into negotiations strikers. At point Socialist Challenge has no way ot knowing how sincere the cover lucil In negotiations, been offered prisoners, or reaction of the prisoners will De.
But a number of things are obvious. The British government has been forced to at least appear to be because of the world-wide disgust at Thatcher's transigence over the Block issue, and by mass support for prisoners in both parts of divided Ireland. Waited Also, by negotiating AS Socialist Challenge went to press Joe By Tueswith the prisoners through Bobby the Irish Commission for Peace and Justice, Mc- government have acknowPledged that the H Block inare indeed llales 'special category. has any British government ever negotiated with 'mere criminals' in ton, Strangeways or Dartmoor prisons?
Thirdly, that British have waited so long GUCC underlines the callousness the of Thatcher and this Incy demanded their pounds of dead flesh snaoe Sands and the before they would agree to LINC has talk. the the Heroic those talks produce it is up prisoners themselves decide their attitude. It is uncy wie nave borne the brunt of the suffering, the pain and the death of these four months.
H have earned the right to the say what is a satisfactory the outcome to their heroic struggle.
The best, most longlasting and just settlement would be Britain to the of the prisoners their When clothes, associate freely work, have full remission Brix- sentences. the and TRADE UNIONS AND SOCIALISM 18 July, Central Hall Westminster Information from LCC (TU conference), 9 Poland St, London WI a conference for trade unionists Tony Benn, Bernard Dix, Audrey Wise (real value £3.15!) For new readers we are offering TEN ISSUES of Socialist Challenge for the incredibly low price of f2 With 12 month subscriptions we are giving away a FREE COPY of The British Economic Disaster by Glyn and John Harrison, published by and rush your order to:
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would not die. Reaction
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day, Joe had been on hunger strike 59 days in the prison camp of Long Kesh in the north of
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