Martin Hurson

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Martin Hurson
Máirtín Ó hUrsain

Paramilitary organisation	Provisional Irish Republican Army
Date of birth	13 September, 1956
Place of birth	Cappagh, County Tyrone
Hungerstrike started	28 May, 1981
Died	13 July, 1981
Days on strike	46

Edward Martin Hurson (Irish name: Máirtín Ó hUrsain; September 13, 1956 – July 13, 1981) was an Irish Republican hunger striker and a member (volunteer) within the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Contents 1 Background 2 Paramilitary career 3 Hunger strike 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Background

Hurson, from Cappagh, (near Dungannon) County Tyrone was one of 9 children born to Johnnie and Mary Ann Hurson. Hurson was educated to a primary level at Crosscavanagh Primary School in Galbally and at secondary level in St. Patrick's, Galbally.

After leaving school Martin worked as a welder for a while before going to England where he stayed for eighteen months with his brother Francis and worked in the building trade. Returning to County Tyrone at the end of 1974, both Martin and his brother Francis spent time in Bundoran, County Donegal, a known IRA training and supply centre.^[1]

[edit] Paramilitary career

In November 1976, Hurson together with Kevin O’Brien, Dermot Boyle, Peter Kane and Pat O’Neil were arrested. Martin Hurson was tried and convicted of involvement in three IRA landmine incidents, one at Cappagh in September and one at Galbally in November 1975 and a third at Reclain in February 1976 when several members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary narrowly escaped being killed. He was received concurrent sentences of twenty, fifteen and five years for these convictions.

[edit] Hunger strike

He became engaged to his long term girlfriend while in prison. He was part of the blanket protest and joined the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike on May 29 replacing Brendan McLaughlin, who withdrew following a perforated stomach ulcer.^[2]

He lost the ability to hold down water after around 40 days on hunger strike, and died of dehydration after only 46 days,^[3] considerably shorter than any other hunger striker. (The next shortest was Francis Hughes at 59 days, and he was not an entirely fit man when he started the hunger strike.) Near the end his family considered the possibility of intervening to save his life, but they were told that he would probably have permanent brain damage.

[edit] References

1. ^ Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.240
2. ^ AROUND THE NATION; Hunger Striker in Belfast Gives Up His Prison Fast. New York Times (16 August 1981). Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
3. ^ What happened in the hunger strike?. BBC News (5 May 2006). Retrieved on 2007-02-15.

[edit] External links

• Biography from IRIS, Vol. 1, No. 2, November 1981 (Sinn Féin publication)
• Timeline of 1981 Hunger Strike (from NYU Library)

Hurson's grave

Hurson monument

Hurson roadside memorial, County Donegal, Eire. Erected during the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike.