Former hunger striker dies

Former hunger striker and Sinn Fein activist Matt Devlin has died
in hospital after an illness.

The 55-year-old had been part of the H-Block hunger strike of
1981 in which ten Republican prisoners died, including Bobby
Sands.

Mr Devlin joined the protest on July 14 1981 before coming off on
September 5.

It is thought his body never recovered fully from the agony
suffered during the strike.

Mr Devlin died in Belfast City Hospital on Wednesday. He is
survived by his partner Geraldine, son Matthew and stepson
Declan.

He was born in Ardboe, County Tyrone but lived in Tang, Co
Westmeath, in recent years where he contested the last local
elections in the area for Sinn Fein.

Party general secretary and Foyle assembly member Mitchel
McLaughlin express-ed his sorrow at Mr Devlin's death last night.

"It is with deep regret that I learned of the death of Tyrone
Republican and hunger striker Matt Devlin today," he said.

"Matt was on both the blanket protest and the hunger strike in
the summer of 1981.

"On behalf of Sinn Fein I want to extend my deepest sympathy to
Matt's family and friends."