On May 5, 1981, Bobby Sands died at the age of 27 in a prison hospital after a 66 day hunger strike. A member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, Sands was imprisoned in Northern Ireland's Maze Prison for firearms possession and became the central figure in a hunger strike protesting the British government's refusal to grant political prisoner status.
His death sparked international outrage and drew attention to the conflict in Northern Ireland. During the hunger strike, Sands was elected to the British Parliament, which intensified global pressure on the UK government.
Fun fact: Bobby Sands was the first of ten hunger strikers to die in 1981, and his funeral drew tens of thousands of mourners from around the world.
His death sparked international outrage and drew attention to the conflict in Northern Ireland. During the hunger strike, Sands was elected to the British Parliament, which intensified global pressure on the UK government.
Fun fact: Bobby Sands was the first of ten hunger strikers to die in 1981, and his funeral drew tens of thousands of mourners from around the world.
