West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Hunger Strike commemoration night to take place in Whiterock Leisure Centre

Published: 10 August, 2009

Leading Belfast Republican Padraic Wilson is to speak at a Belfast Hunger Strike Commemoration night in the Whiterock Leisure Centre on Sunday, 16 August.

Padraic, from the Andersonstown area, has been involved in the Republican struggle for almost 40 years.

The former blanketman was in jail at the time of the hunger Strikes and knew many of the Hunger Strikers personally.

Padraic's involvement began in 1972 when he joined Na Fianna Eireann. In 1976 he was arrested and charged with possession of explosives and was remanded to Crumlin Road Jail.

He was sentenced to six years in 1977 and went straight on the blanket, spending the period of the Hunger Strike in the H-Blocks.

Released in 1982, he became active again immediately and was Sinn Fein's West Belfast organiser for a number of years in the 1980s.

Padraic was arrested again in 1989 and charged with possession of information. The charges dropped in 1990.

He was again arrested in 1991 and charged with the false imprisonment of the two British soldiers who attacked the funeral of IRA Volunteer Caoimhin Mac Bradaigh in the aftermath of Gibraltar.

While on bail for this charge, Padraic was arrested in late 1991, with Jim 'Flash' McVeigh and Tony O'Neill, and was charged with possession of explosives and conspiracy to murder.

He was sentenced to 24 years.

He was Officer Commanding the H-Blocks from 1996 to 1999, during which a tunnel escape was narrowly averted and Republican prisoner Liam Averill escaped dressed as a woman.

Padraic was released to attend the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis and a number of briefings in the run up to the 1998 Agreement.

After being released in 1999 he became active again in Sinn Fein and currently holds the position of Director of International affairs.

Doors open for the commemoration night in the Whiterock Leisure Centre at 7pm on Sunday, 16th August, and admission is £5.

Live music will be provided by Tuan folk, which will be followed by a disco.

There will be a full bar in place.

People are advised to come early to avoid disappointment.