PRC-UTE
1st January 2007, 01:33
Hunger Striker's Death Provoked Firm Response
www.irishnews. com
Cabinet Papers - Compiled By Eamon Phoenix
By Eamon Phoenix
The hunger strike and death of IRA prisoner Frank Stagg, a
native of Co Mayo, in a British prison is highlighted in
the files.
Stagg, on his 35th day on hunger strike, was demanding two
concessions - that he would not be re-turned to solitary
confinement and that he would not have to do prison work.
Pressure on Liam Cosgrave's government mounted with a
torrent of letters and telegrams from the public and county
councils as well as 700 employees of the Tarbert ESB power
station in Co Kerry, accusing the government of "a complete
lack of interest".
The workers warned that Stagg's death would "almost
certainly lead to more deaths".
When he died on February 12 1976 the prospect of an IRA
funeral dominated the thinking of the Irish government. The
following day the minister for justice, Patrick Cooney,
noted that "gardai on the route of the proposed military-
style funeral have been alerted".
"Every effort will be made to en-sure that there will be no
firing of shots over the coffin," he said.
However, it was not seen as feasible to arrest people in
paramilitary uniform.
A Dail deputy conveyed to the government the fears of
people in Ballina at an IRA funeral.
The government faced a difficult decision after news that
some members of Stagg's family had agreed to a paramilitary
funeral from Dublin to Ballina.
On February 19 1976 the government announced that it was
diverting the plane carrying the remains from Dublin to
Shannon airport "in the interests of the security of the
state" and the protection of life.
The government said it was aware of "the intention of
subversives to exploit the situation for their own ends"
and so the funeral would follow a route mapped out by
gardai to Hollymount, Co Mayo.
www.irishnews. com
Cabinet Papers - Compiled By Eamon Phoenix
By Eamon Phoenix
The hunger strike and death of IRA prisoner Frank Stagg, a
native of Co Mayo, in a British prison is highlighted in
the files.
Stagg, on his 35th day on hunger strike, was demanding two
concessions - that he would not be re-turned to solitary
confinement and that he would not have to do prison work.
Pressure on Liam Cosgrave's government mounted with a
torrent of letters and telegrams from the public and county
councils as well as 700 employees of the Tarbert ESB power
station in Co Kerry, accusing the government of "a complete
lack of interest".
The workers warned that Stagg's death would "almost
certainly lead to more deaths".
When he died on February 12 1976 the prospect of an IRA
funeral dominated the thinking of the Irish government. The
following day the minister for justice, Patrick Cooney,
noted that "gardai on the route of the proposed military-
style funeral have been alerted".
"Every effort will be made to en-sure that there will be no
firing of shots over the coffin," he said.
However, it was not seen as feasible to arrest people in
paramilitary uniform.
A Dail deputy conveyed to the government the fears of
people in Ballina at an IRA funeral.
The government faced a difficult decision after news that
some members of Stagg's family had agreed to a paramilitary
funeral from Dublin to Ballina.
On February 19 1976 the government announced that it was
diverting the plane carrying the remains from Dublin to
Shannon airport "in the interests of the security of the
state" and the protection of life.
The government said it was aware of "the intention of
subversives to exploit the situation for their own ends"
and so the funeral would follow a route mapped out by
gardai to Hollymount, Co Mayo.