H-Block death policy claims ninth victim
THE SUDDEN DEATH, last Saturday, on the 62nd day of his Hunger Strike, brought to nine the number of political prisoners who have lost their lives in the H-Blocks as a result of the callous intransigence of the British Governent.
Thomas McElwee died at about half-past eleven on Saturday morning, following an unusually quick deterioration in his health over the previous two days.
Up until Wednesday week, 5 August, Thomas had been surprisingly strong considering his length of time fasting. But from Wednesday onwards he experienced increasing weakness , needing a wheelchair to move about the H-Block hospital.
On Friday night, Thomas's fiancee, protest prisoner Dolours O'Neill, was brought from Armagh Jail to see him, but a room had not been made available for his family in the H-Block hospital.
At about ten o'clock on Saturday morning, Thomas's Hunger Striking comrades saw him sitting up in bed smoking a cigarette. About ninety minutes later he died, with none of his family beside him.
The condition of Mickey Devine has also started to deteriorate rapidly this week. From last Monday his have been permitted to visit him daily. On Tuesday they reported that his mouth was beginning to ulcerate and hi eyesight was fading.
By Wednesday, when Mickey Devine was 52 days on Hunger Strike his condition was increasingly giving grave cause for concern, although he was reported to have stabilised slightly. He was keeping down the spring water (a hopeful sign), which of late he had been vomiting.
On Wednesday, when visited by members of the National H-Block/Armagh Committee, Mickey - despite his poor condition and obvious difficulty with his eyes - was in good spirits, still retaining his sense of humour.
He also urged all Hunger Strike campaigners to keep going and not to be disheartened by continuing British intransigence.
Laurence McKeown, who on Wednesday last 45 days on Hunger Strike, is continuing to feel cold and weak, and has lost more than 25lbs weight. Pat McGeown, who on Wednesday was 34 days on Hunger Strike, was moved the previous Wednesday 5 August, to the H-Block hospital. Liam McCloskey, who on Wednesday was ten days on Hunger Strike is losing weight at a fast rate; by last Sunday after only seven days, he had already lost over 7lbs weight.
Phoblacht, 15 August 1981.
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