IRA hunger strike

[Dom Tuk]

What diplomatic pressure was brought upon the British government during the IRA prisoners hunger strike led by Bobby Sands. Which foreign govt (other than nthe Irish) made reps to the British govt if at all?

[Octavius]

Lots here + further links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Irish_Hunger_Strike

[gary baldy]

I seem to remember Bernadette Devlin making a nuisance of herself at the European Parliament and getting some support.
There was also a lot of disquiet when Bobby Sands (a democratically elected MP) died after his hunger strike.
As you can imagine the main representations came from The USA but i think this was on an individual level by certain senators and not directly from the US government.
As i said i think any representations were expressed as concerns and not as direct diplomatic disapproval.

[noxlumos]

The European Commision for Human Rights "critised" the British Govt over the blanket protests which preceeeded the hunger strikes during I think it would be summer 1980, and in April 1981, 3 Teachta Dail (Irish Ministers) appealed for talks to end the strike without success.Not long after, the Pope's private Secretary visited with Bobby Sands and appealed to the British Govt to negociate a compromise on catagory status. The Govt declined his attempts. Ronald Reagan expressed his "deep concern" at the situation round about the same time.By July 1981 the International Comittee of the Red Cross was lobbying the Govt and America were also urging compromise by both sides.In September of the same year the Labour party passed a motion to actively campaign for a united Ireland by concensus in light of the hunger strikes.In October after the deaths of 10 men the British Govt finally allowed prisoners some of their requests. To my knowledge only the Reupblic of Ireland, the Vatican and the USA officially brought any significant pressure to bear on the British Govt but they were widely condemed after the death of Bobby Sands by the majority of Europe and the ECHR had endless fruitless dealings with them over it.Hope this helps.

[gary baldy]

Thought you might come up trumps noxy!

My best mate in Belfast is the nephew of Bernadette Devlin - which i didnt know until we were looking through his wedding photos and i asked who that woman was i am standing next to in the pictures!

[Dom Tuk]

The reason i asked was an Irish friend told me that India (with its sympathies lying firmly in favour of non violent protest a la Gandhi) had withdrawn its diplomats from London. i could not find anything to back that up.

[gobshyte]

apparently the street in tehran in iran which the british embassy is situated is called bobby sands street. the iranian government called it this to get up the british governments nose.