Bobby Sands

**Robert Gerald "Bobby" Sands** (9 March 1954-5 May 1981) was an Irish Activist and politician who was a member of the Provisional IRA and a member of Parliament from April 9, 1981 - May 5, 1981, succeeding Frank Maguire and preceding Owen Carron.

## Biography

Sands was born on March 9, 1954 in Whiteabbey, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland to John and Rosaleen Sands, Sands was the eldest of the couples 4 children, having two younger sisters and a younger brother. During Sands' childhood his family experienced harassment from Protestant neighbors for Sands' family's Catholic faith. Due to this the family would move to the Rathcole development in Newtownabbey where Sands and his siblings would attend Catholic schools. During his time in school, Sands would play football at a local football club, playing the left-back position.

In 1966 violence had erupted in Ireland and Sands' former friends whom had been Protestant would not speak to him, following this, Sands would only associate with Catholics.

#### Joining the IRA

In 1969 at the age of 15, Sands left school and enrolled in Newtownabbey Technical College where he began working as an apprentice bus builder. This would not last long however because in January of 1971 after constant harassment from protestant co workers, Sands was held at gunpoint and was told he could not work at his job anymore or he would be harmed. Following this, Sands joined the IRA.

#### IRA Activity

In 1972, Sands began working with the IRA, that same year in October, Sands was arrested for possession of four handguns that were found in the house he was staying at and was convicted in 1973 and sent to prison on a 5 year sentence though he only served 3, being released in 1976.

Once he returned to Belfast he began immediately working with the IRA again. In October of 1976, Sands and Joe McDonnell planned the bombing of the Balmoral Furniture Company in Dumurry. The bombing was successful, leaving the showroom destroyed, but as they were leaving, the IRA members were caught in a gunfight with the  Royal Ulster Constabulary, which left 2 men wounded, Seamus Martin and Gabriel Corbett. The other 4 men attempted to flea by car but were caught and arrested. In 1977, the four men were sentenced to 14 years in prison.

#### Prison Activity

Following his sentence, Sands was sent to Crumlin Road Prison where Sands was involved in a fight during one of his first days in prison. In 1980, Sands was chosen as Officer Commanding of the Provisional IRA prisoners at the Maze Prison, succeeding Brendan Hughes who was participating in the First Hunger Strike. Sands and the other IRA prisoners began protesting, demanding they regain their Special Category Status they had held in the past, which would free them from regular prison rules. This would begin the "Blanket Protests" where Sands and the other prisoners would wear blankets rather than regular prison uniforms. Sands would begin participating in a 66 day long hunger strike in March of 1981, he would continue until the day he died. During this time and his time in prison he became a heavy media figure in Ireland and even in the United States.

#### Memeber of Parliament

On April 9, 1981, Sands narrowly won the seat of Frank Maguire, a member of Parliament who had suddenly

died of a heart attack earlier in 1981. Sands was a member of the Anti H Block Party.

## Death

Sands died on May 5, 1981, less than a month after being elected to Parliament from starvation in Maze Prison at the age of 27