Kieran Doherty (hunger striker) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kieran Doherty
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| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1981 – 2 August 1981 |
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| Constituency | Cavan–Monaghan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 October 1955 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 2 August 1981 (aged 25) Maze, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Anti H-Block |
| Other organisations | Provisional IRA volunteer |
Kieran Doherty (born 16 October 1955 – died 2 August 1981) was an Irish republican who became a hunger striker. He was also a politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD), which is like a member of parliament in Ireland. He represented the Cavan–Monaghan area from June to August 1981. He was also a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Contents
Early Life and Interests
Kieran Doherty was born in Belfast. He was the third of six children in his family. He went to St. Theresa's Primary School and Glen Road Christian Brothers School. Kieran and his brothers were well-known in their area for cycling and sports. Kieran even won a medal for Gaelic football in 1971.
Joining Fianna Éireann
In 1971, Kieran joined Fianna Éireann. This was a youth movement linked to Irish republicanism. The British Government held him without trial, a process called internment, from February 1973 to November 1975. His brothers, Michael and Terence, were also interned earlier, between 1972 and 1974.
Imprisonment and Conviction
In August 1976, Kieran Doherty was involved in activities linked to the Provisional Irish Republican Army. He was in a van that was chased by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), which was the police force at the time. He managed to leave the van and later was found about 1 mile (1.6 km) away. He was arrested and later found guilty. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for having firearms and explosives, and an additional four years for another related incident.
The 1981 Hunger Strike
While in prison, Kieran Doherty began a hunger strike on 22 May 1981. A hunger strike is when someone refuses to eat as a form of protest. He was protesting for political status for prisoners. He died at the age of 25 in the Maze Prison. This prison was also known as Long Kesh by republicans. Kieran Doherty lasted 73 days on hunger strike. This was the longest time among the hunger strikers of 1981. It was only one day less than Terence MacSwiney, another famous Irish hunger striker.
Election to Parliament
While he was on hunger strike, Kieran Doherty was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD). A TD is a member of Dáil Éireann, which is the main part of the Irish parliament. He was elected for the Cavan–Monaghan area in the 1981 Irish general election. This election happened in Ireland on 11 June 1981.
He received 9,121 votes, which was 15.1% of the first choice votes. He was officially elected after several counts. Kieran Doherty served as a TD for only two months. This makes him the shortest-serving TD ever. His election, along with another Anti H-Block candidate, meant that the leader of the main party, Charles Haughey, could not easily form a government. Instead, a different government was formed by the Fine Gael and Labour Party parties.
Remembering Kieran Doherty
Kieran Doherty is remembered in several ways. There is a memorial for Irish martyrs at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney, Australia. Interestingly, another hunger striker, Joseph Whitty, also died on 2 August, but many years earlier in 1923. In October 2016, a painting of Kieran Doherty was put on display in Leinster House, the building where the Irish parliament meets. This painting was unveiled by the Sinn Féin political party.
See also
- List of members of the Oireachtas imprisoned since 1923
