Matt Devlin

For other people named Matt Devlin, see Matt Devlin (disambiguation).

Matt Devlin's grave in Ardboe Old Cross graveyard

Matt Devlin (30 April 1950 — 28 December 2005) was a Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer who took part in the 1981 Irish hunger strike and was later a leading member of Sinn Féin in County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland.

Background

Matt Devlin was born in Ardboe, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, on 30 April 1950. He was arrested in 1977, and was taken to Cookstown and Omagh Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) barracks and interrogated for four days.^[1] He was charged with the attempted murder of members of the security forces.

Devlin became the 15th republican prisoner to join the hunger strike in HMP Maze, when he replaced Martin Hurson who died after 46 days on hunger strike on 13 July 1981. He had been involved in the prison protests from the blanket protest right through until the hunger strikes ended, when families began to take their sons off the protest.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Electoral politics

In 2004, despite serious illness he stood in local elections in the Republic of Ireland and although failing to get elected is credited for building up the Sinn Féin party in County Westmeath.^[5]

He died on 28 December 2005 at the age of 55, in Westmeath, Republic of Ireland.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Martin McGuinness said: "It was a testament to Matt’s determination and courage that even when seriously ill he still put himself forward to stand for Sinn Féin in the last Southern elections. Matt continued to play a key role organising and building the party in Westmeath right up until his untimely death a few days ago."^[6]

He was buried on 31 December 2005 in his hometown of Ardboe.^[7] A monument and tombstone to commemorate him were unveiled on 1 April 2007. The ceremony was attended by thousands.

References

↑ "Remembering 1981 Devlin replaces Hurson. Riot at British embassy". An Phoblacht. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
↑ Unknown (30 December 2005). "Maskey discharged after heart attack". UTV. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
↑ Unknown (5 January 2006). "Fógraí bháis: Matt Devlin". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
↑ Irish Hunger Strikes Chapter 45
↑ Matt Devlin - Electoral History
↑ Unknown (December 31, 2005). "Martin McGuinness Pays Tribute To Former IRA Hunger Striker Matt Devlin". Sinn Féin. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
↑ Unknown (December 29, 2005). "Mitchel McLaughlin expresses regret at death of former hunger striker Matt Devlin". Sinn Féin. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-04.

1981 Irish hunger strike

Participants who died	Bobby Sands Francis Hughes Raymond McCreesh Patsy O'Hara Joe McDonnell Martin Hurson Kevin Lynch Kieran Doherty Thomas McElwee Michael Devine

Participants who survived	Brendan McLaughlin Paddy Quinn Laurence McKeown Pat McGeown Matt Devlin Liam McCloskey Patrick Sheehan Jackie McMullan Bernard Fox Hugh Carville John Pickering Gerard Hodgkins James Devine

Political and religious figures	Margaret Thatcher Garret FitzGerald Charles Haughey Humphrey Atkins James Prior Bernadette Devlin McAliskey Owen Carron Tomás Ó Fiaich Basil Hume Denis Faul John Magee

Key events	Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, April 1981 Irish general election, June 1981 Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, August 1981

Provisional Irish Republican Army

General

Organisation

Attacks

Insurgency, 1969–1977	Battle of St Matthew's Scottish soldiers' killings Balmoral showroom bombing Abercorn bombing Donegall St bombing Battle at Springmartin Bloody Friday Claudy bombing Coleraine bombings M62 coach bombing Guildford pub bombings British Airways bombing attempt Birmingham pub bombings Bayardo Bar attack Drummuckavall ambush Balcombe Street siege Kingsmill massacre

Long War, 1977–1988	Jonesboro Gazelle downing La Mon restaurant bombing Warrenpoint ambush Dunmurry train explosion Lough Foyle attacks Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings Harrods bombing Brighton hotel bombing Newry mortar attack Ballygawley attack

Peace Process, 1988–1998	Corporals killings Lisburn van bombing Ballygawley bus bombing Jonesborough ambush Deal barracks bombing Derryard attack Derrygorry Gazelle downing RFA Fort Victoria bombing Proxy bombings Downing St mortar attack Mullacreevie ambush Glenanne barracks bombing Teebane bombing Cloghoge attack 1992 Manchester bombing South Armagh sniper campaign Warrington bomb attacks Cullaville occupation Bishopsgate bombing Battle of Newry Road Shankill Road bombing Crossmaglen Lynx downing Drumcree conflict Docklands bombing 1996 Manchester bombing Osnabrück mortar attack Thiepval barracks bombing Coalisland attack July 1997 riots

Chiefs of Staff

Seán Mac Stíofáin (1969–72)
Joe Cahill (1972–73)
Seamus Twomey (1973)
Éamonn O'Doherty (1973–74)
Seamus Twomey (1974–77)
Gerry Adams (1977–78)
Martin McGuinness (1978–82)
Ivor Bell (1982–83)
Kevin McKenna (1983–97)
Thomas "Slab" Murphy (1997–2005)

Personalities
(Volunteers)

Associates

Derivatives

Prominent killings

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