Sixth guerrilla begins hunger strike in Belfast

June 16, 1981

A sixth Roman Catholic nationalist guerilla began a hunger strike at the Maze jail in Northern Ireland as part of a campaign for political prisoner status. A British government spokesman said Patrick Quinn, serving 14 years for attempted murder, possession of firearms, and membership in the outlawed Irish Republican Army, refused breakfast Monday. The IRA said Quinn would join five collegues in the Maze already on hunger strtke for up to 36 days to maintain pressure on the government to concede political status. Four prisoners have already starved themselves to death, and over 30 people have died in violence stemming from the hunger strike campaig n.