Secret hunger strike records now online

Previously secret records relating to the 1981 Hunger Strike are now available online. The documents have been added to the Conflict Archive on the INternet (CAIN) website as part of ongoing work between the University of Ulster and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, yesterday (Thursday) visited the Belfast campus of the University of Ulster, where she launched the latest collection of material.

Staff from the University and PRONI have worked together to make the records freely available on http://cain.ulster.ac.uk/proni

In October 2010 an initial selection of records for the years 1968 to 1979 was made available.This was made up of hundreds of government records, formerly classified as restricted or secret.

Yesterday’s additional selection of material deals with the year 1981 and covers such topics as the 1981 Republican Hunger Strike, Anglo-Irish relations as well as ongoing political and security matters relating to Northern Ireland.

The new items will provide a valuable online digital resource for researchers looking for information on 1981, one of the most traumatic years of the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’.

A total of ten IRA and INLA prisoners died during the protest.

Minister Ní Chuilín was welcomed to the Belfast campus by University of Ulster, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Alastair Adair; Director of INCORE, Professor BrandonHamber; Deputy Director of CAIN, Dr Brendan Lynn; Director PRONI, Aileen McClintock and PRONI staff David Huddleston and Graham Jackson.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Ní Chuilín said: “This additional material covers a wide range of records relating to 1981, and focuses particularly on the Hunger Strike.

“These documents provide valuable additional research material for students, citizens and researchers. It is important that technology and partnerships are utilised in this way so that some of the Public Record Office’s key documents on 1981 can be analysed online anywhere in the world.

“In the period ahead, I wish to see even greater access to public records since this can only help to enhance our understanding of the past.”

Dr Brendan Lynn, CAIN Deputy Director, added: “We are pleased to have been able to continue our cooperation with PRONI and to update the existing section with material dealing with the year 1981.

“The information is easily available and free of charge. We believe it will of great use to students, researchers, teachers and lecturers or to anyone with an interest in the political and social history of Northern Ireland.”

Related topics: