Former hunger striker dies
Irish News
20/12/2008
FORMER IRA hunger striker Sean McKenna has died at the age of 56.
Originally from Newry, Mr McKenna spent 53 days on the first hunger strike in the October 1980 protest.
Against the wishes of the IRA army council Mr McKenna went on the fast with six other republican prisoners including Brendan Hughes, Tommy McKearney and Raymond McCartney.
He had slipped into a coma but before he died, the strike was called off and he was revived.
Before he lost consciousness Brendan ‘The Dark’ Hughes, OC in the Maze at the time, had promised that he would not let him die.
It is believed Mr McKenna suffered ill health since his release from prison, in particular he never fully recovered his eyesight.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands