1 00:02:47,958 --> 00:02:52,708 Temperature-wise, fairly cold. Six, seven degrees, which is... 2 00:02:52,833 --> 00:02:56,417 What is it in Fahrenheit? I don't know. Forty something? 3 00:02:56,542 --> 00:03:01,917 anyone has a nice formula then they can write in and tell me, after this. 4 00:03:03,417 --> 00:03:06,250 How to transform Fahrenheit into centigrade... 5 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,500 ...dirty protest and the blanket protest has been going on for years, 6 00:04:32,625 --> 00:04:35,625 all in support of the same demand: Political status. 7 00:04:35,750 --> 00:04:40,417 That is to say, different treatment for people who commit crimes, 8 00:04:40,542 --> 00:04:43,708 hideous crimes, for what they claim to be a political motive. 9 00:04:43,833 --> 00:04:45,875 And that is what the government will not grant. 10 00:05:33,125 --> 00:05:36,708 About an hour later there's a painful cry coming from the granny's room. 11 00:05:36,833 --> 00:05:38,708 So the Da walks up and opens the door, 12 00:05:38,833 --> 00:05:41,708 and there's the wee fella having a go at the granny. 13 00:05:41,833 --> 00:05:45,708 And he turns round and goes, "It's not so fucking funny when it's your Ma!" 14 00:09:01,375 --> 00:09:04,583 There is no such thing as political murder, 15 00:09:04,708 --> 00:09:08,042 political bombing or political violence. 16 00:09:08,167 --> 00:09:12,583 There is only criminal murder, criminal bombing and criminal violence. 17 00:09:14,333 --> 00:09:17,750 We will not compromise on this. 18 00:09:17,875 --> 00:09:20,958 There will be no political status. 19 00:09:53,708 --> 00:09:56,250 I will not wear the uniform of a criminal. 20 00:09:57,333 --> 00:09:59,875 I demand to wear me own clothes. 21 00:14:35,125 --> 00:14:36,792 What? 22 00:14:41,375 --> 00:14:43,417 Say what your surname is again. 23 00:14:45,417 --> 00:14:47,292 - Gillen. - Gillen? 24 00:14:47,417 --> 00:14:48,917 Aye. 25 00:14:49,667 --> 00:14:51,375 Fancy Quinn. 26 00:14:53,458 --> 00:14:56,167 Falls Road. Fancy Quinn. Do you know him? 27 00:14:58,958 --> 00:15:00,458 - No. - No? 28 00:15:06,292 --> 00:15:10,167 - How long did you get? - Twelve years. 29 00:15:13,625 --> 00:15:15,375 You? 30 00:15:20,250 --> 00:15:21,667 Six years. Six. 31 00:15:21,792 --> 00:15:24,958 - Six? - Aye. 32 00:15:28,417 --> 00:15:30,000 You lucky bastard. 33 00:20:50,667 --> 00:20:52,542 All right? 34 00:20:52,667 --> 00:20:54,583 - How are you? OK? - Yeah. 35 00:20:54,708 --> 00:20:56,917 How's Ma? 36 00:22:55,667 --> 00:23:00,333 ...engineering union. It's by the political advisor to Merlyn Rees, 37 00:23:00,458 --> 00:23:03,167 when he was at the Home Office, Roger Darlington. 38 00:23:03,292 --> 00:23:05,625 He rejects the official line on phone taps, 39 00:23:05,750 --> 00:23:08,125 that there's only been a modest overall increase, 40 00:23:08,250 --> 00:23:11,917 and says Parliament has no way of knowing how much tapping goes on, 41 00:23:12,042 --> 00:23:14,583 because the Prime Minister and other senior ministers 42 00:23:14,708 --> 00:23:18,125 Don't even have to get warrants to get a tap put into effect. 43 00:26:05,625 --> 00:26:07,042 What? 44 00:26:08,750 --> 00:26:10,875 Get ready. 45 00:27:31,208 --> 00:27:33,250 Fuck! 46 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,458 ...she sends her very, very best to you. 47 00:31:02,458 --> 00:31:04,542 Are you all right, Bobby? 48 00:31:04,667 --> 00:31:06,750 I'm grand, Ma. 49 00:31:07,792 --> 00:31:10,375 Are they giving you treatment for that? 50 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:12,708 It's being looked after. 51 00:31:15,583 --> 00:31:17,417 And the young fella? 52 00:31:18,583 --> 00:31:20,583 He's a handful, I'll tell you that. 53 00:31:22,542 --> 00:31:25,375 - Are you eating all right? - I'm grand, Ma. 54 00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:29,250 - Are they feeding you all right? - Don't yous be worrying about me. 55 00:31:31,583 --> 00:31:33,375 Five minutes. 56 00:31:34,875 --> 00:31:36,417 Five minutes. 57 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,042 - You eating all right? - Aye. 58 00:31:41,167 --> 00:31:44,167 - Tastes like shit though doesn't it? - You get used to it. 59 00:31:49,917 --> 00:31:51,625 You're looking well. 60 00:31:53,792 --> 00:31:55,708 So are you, son. 61 00:31:55,833 --> 00:31:57,750 So are you. 62 00:32:03,708 --> 00:32:06,250 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. 63 00:32:06,375 --> 00:32:09,333 And his ears are attentive to their cries. 64 00:32:09,458 --> 00:32:12,292 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 65 00:32:14,292 --> 00:32:17,542 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them. 66 00:32:17,667 --> 00:32:21,083 He delivers them from all their troubles. 67 00:32:21,208 --> 00:32:24,083 The Lord is close to the broken-hearted 68 00:32:24,208 --> 00:32:27,333 and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 69 00:32:27,458 --> 00:32:30,000 The righteous man has many troubles. 70 00:32:30,125 --> 00:32:32,792 But the Lord delivers him from them all. 71 00:32:32,917 --> 00:32:34,958 He protects all his bones, 72 00:32:35,292 --> 00:32:37,917 and not one of them will be broken. 73 00:32:40,542 --> 00:32:42,708 Evil will slay the wicked. 74 00:32:43,583 --> 00:32:46,667 The foes of the righteous will be condemned. 75 00:32:46,792 --> 00:32:50,000 The Lord redeems his servants. 76 00:32:50,125 --> 00:32:53,833 No one will be condemned who finds refuge in him. 77 00:33:01,333 --> 00:33:02,833 Let us pray. 78 00:36:18,542 --> 00:36:21,417 Fucking shoes matches the wall. 79 00:37:03,833 --> 00:37:05,750 Fucking dirty bastards! 80 00:37:05,875 --> 00:37:09,375 - Fucking bastards! - Fucking dirty bastards! 81 00:37:30,958 --> 00:37:33,875 I... I... IRA! 82 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:37,125 I... I... IRA! 83 00:37:37,250 --> 00:37:38,500 Fucking bullshit! 84 00:38:28,542 --> 00:38:30,208 Everything in order? 85 00:38:30,333 --> 00:38:32,208 Yes, sir. In order, sir. 86 00:38:32,333 --> 00:38:33,875 Very good. 87 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:26,375 Gerry! Gerry! 88 00:40:33,958 --> 00:40:35,458 Gerry! 89 00:40:54,333 --> 00:40:57,583 Get the fuck off me! 90 00:41:02,542 --> 00:41:05,375 Shit. Shit! 91 00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:08,875 Gerry! Gerry! 92 00:41:47,833 --> 00:41:50,458 Get off me, you fucking... 93 00:43:52,875 --> 00:43:55,750 Tea with two sugars, please. 94 00:44:01,750 --> 00:44:03,833 Hi, Mum. 95 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:19,083 What are you doing sitting in here? 96 00:44:47,042 --> 00:44:48,458 Daisies. 97 00:45:02,333 --> 00:45:06,208 Out! Out! Everybody! 98 00:45:42,125 --> 00:45:44,000 You can sit down anytime you like. 99 00:45:44,125 --> 00:45:47,125 Priest etiquette. Never sit before you're asked. 100 00:45:47,250 --> 00:45:48,875 Sit down, then. 101 00:45:49,000 --> 00:45:51,083 I don't want to come over too eager. 102 00:45:51,208 --> 00:45:53,667 What, best to hover at the door? 103 00:45:53,792 --> 00:45:57,208 You learn that in your first week in the seminary, Bobby. 104 00:46:02,500 --> 00:46:05,625 - Cig? - Come on. 105 00:46:08,958 --> 00:46:11,667 Bit of a break from smoking the Bible, eh? 106 00:46:11,792 --> 00:46:13,833 Oh, aye. 107 00:46:16,833 --> 00:46:19,917 Anyone work out which book is the best smoke? 108 00:46:20,042 --> 00:46:22,083 We only smoke the Lamentations. 109 00:46:22,208 --> 00:46:24,667 A right miserable cigarette. 110 00:46:24,792 --> 00:46:26,875 Nice room. 111 00:46:27,000 --> 00:46:29,000 Very clean. 112 00:46:29,125 --> 00:46:32,083 - Where is it you're from again, Dom? - Born, you mean? 113 00:46:32,208 --> 00:46:35,083 - Bally-go-backwards. - Oh, the city dog. 114 00:46:35,208 --> 00:46:36,708 Ballyroberts. 115 00:46:36,833 --> 00:46:40,125 A wee place south of Ballymoney. Kilrea. 116 00:46:41,375 --> 00:46:43,792 I remember a homily you did at Mass one time. 117 00:46:43,917 --> 00:46:45,625 Oh, will you listen to it? 118 00:46:45,750 --> 00:46:49,375 - The men hold you in very high esteem. - I can feel a dig coming on. 119 00:46:49,500 --> 00:46:51,583 - You're very quick. - Right. 120 00:46:51,708 --> 00:46:54,167 Nah, you're respected, you know that. 121 00:46:54,292 --> 00:46:57,167 But I like those stories you tell about the countryside. 122 00:46:57,292 --> 00:47:00,917 A childhood of poaching, robbing apples, stampeding cattle. 123 00:47:01,042 --> 00:47:04,917 - A fine education for a priest. - A priest working West Belfast, it is. 124 00:47:05,042 --> 00:47:07,292 Stampeding comes in handy down the Falls Road. 125 00:47:07,417 --> 00:47:09,708 - hate me. - You miss it, though? 126 00:47:09,833 --> 00:47:11,833 - What? - Countryside. 127 00:47:11,958 --> 00:47:15,417 Ah, sure I get home to see my wee brother every month or so, but... 128 00:47:15,542 --> 00:47:19,292 Aye, I miss the usual. Clean air. Space. All that. 129 00:47:19,417 --> 00:47:23,208 - Feels closer to who you are. - Aye, well, it is. No question. 130 00:47:25,042 --> 00:47:27,917 Like a fish out of water, working in a big city like Belfast, 131 00:47:28,042 --> 00:47:29,958 but it's a job, isn't it? 132 00:47:31,333 --> 00:47:33,583 You stop looking at your surroundings quick enough 133 00:47:33,708 --> 00:47:37,208 when you figure your business is the business of the soul and all. 134 00:47:37,333 --> 00:47:39,875 - Business of the soul? - Ah, you know what I mean. 135 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:44,333 - Learn that in the seminary, too? - Aye. You can use that free of charge. 136 00:47:44,458 --> 00:47:46,458 Go on. 137 00:47:46,583 --> 00:47:50,875 Well, I suppose what I'm saying is... you get on. 138 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:52,833 Kilrea can wait till I'm an old man. 139 00:47:52,958 --> 00:47:55,542 Too many scoundrels to be saved in Belfast, anyway. 140 00:47:55,667 --> 00:47:58,375 - Busy work. Aye. - God will reward you in Heaven. 141 00:47:58,500 --> 00:48:02,292 And I'll be thankful, once there's wine involved. 142 00:48:04,583 --> 00:48:07,083 So what does your wee brother do back home? 143 00:48:09,417 --> 00:48:11,375 He's a parish priest. 144 00:48:13,708 --> 00:48:16,375 He's a sneaky wee bastard. You know the sort, Bobby. 145 00:48:16,500 --> 00:48:19,125 - Still goes poaching? - Poaching jobs. 146 00:48:19,250 --> 00:48:21,875 And he's younger than me by eight years all right. 147 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,250 Go on. 148 00:48:24,375 --> 00:48:28,375 Well, as a cleric I work in a parish beside Kilrea. 149 00:48:28,500 --> 00:48:30,833 A wee hole of a place. I'm working me arse off. 150 00:48:30,958 --> 00:48:33,875 House calls to the elderly, mobile confessions. 151 00:48:34,000 --> 00:48:36,000 - The glamour stuff. - Oh, aye. 152 00:48:36,125 --> 00:48:40,042 - So... a position comes up at Kilrea. - Right. 153 00:48:40,167 --> 00:48:43,292 And I'm passed over for some reason or other. No reason probably. 154 00:48:43,417 --> 00:48:45,917 - Too much cake off the old ladies? - Probably. 155 00:48:46,042 --> 00:48:47,583 So? 156 00:48:47,708 --> 00:48:51,708 So about five years later, the position again comes up back home in Kilrea. 157 00:48:51,833 --> 00:48:56,458 And my brother Michael waltzes right into it. 158 00:48:56,583 --> 00:48:58,000 Fuck. 159 00:48:59,292 --> 00:49:01,708 He's made parish priest at 28. 160 00:49:01,833 --> 00:49:04,958 More spiritual probably. Less lippy than you. 161 00:49:05,083 --> 00:49:08,458 He worked the Bishop. He's a golfer. 162 00:49:08,583 --> 00:49:10,583 He's a pushy little twerp is what he is. 163 00:49:10,708 --> 00:49:13,208 - At least you're not bitter. - No, I couldn't be that. 164 00:49:13,333 --> 00:49:15,833 Parish priest at 28? Fantastic. 165 00:49:15,958 --> 00:49:19,083 Hmm. He has two cars. 166 00:49:19,208 --> 00:49:21,333 And the house he has is massive. 167 00:49:21,458 --> 00:49:23,292 He has a maid, a cook. 168 00:49:23,417 --> 00:49:25,333 I'm stuck in a two-up-two-down, 169 00:49:25,458 --> 00:49:28,750 with a fat Kerry man who drones on and on about Gaelic football. 170 00:49:28,875 --> 00:49:32,542 - Can we stop talking about this? - Jesus, you're the one who's talking. 171 00:49:35,167 --> 00:49:37,250 - How's your smoke going? - Grand. 172 00:49:37,375 --> 00:49:39,083 Hmm. Filthy habit. Disgusting. 173 00:49:39,208 --> 00:49:41,417 Oh, aye, awful. Lovely, though. 174 00:49:41,542 --> 00:49:43,500 Aye. Praise the Lord. 175 00:49:47,333 --> 00:49:51,167 - 28... My God! - Oh, stop it. 176 00:49:53,167 --> 00:49:55,250 So what happened to your eye, Bobby? 177 00:49:55,375 --> 00:49:56,833 What? 178 00:49:56,958 --> 00:49:59,625 - Get a dig? Your eye? - Difference of opinion. 179 00:49:59,750 --> 00:50:03,542 - Hmm. How's the other fella? - A lot worse, believe me. 180 00:50:05,083 --> 00:50:06,875 So. What did you call me here for? 181 00:50:07,000 --> 00:50:11,042 - Why, is that the idle banter over? - Priest etiquette. Small talk first. 182 00:50:11,167 --> 00:50:13,333 I'm learning a lot about the priesthood. 183 00:50:13,458 --> 00:50:15,792 - You'd make a fine priest. - Oh, aye. 184 00:50:15,917 --> 00:50:18,000 Good talker. Man of principle. Leader of men. 185 00:50:18,125 --> 00:50:21,708 - Political terrorist. - The church loves a reformed crook. 186 00:50:21,833 --> 00:50:23,500 Aye. 187 00:50:24,958 --> 00:50:28,208 I always felt that thief next to Jesus got off lightly. 188 00:50:28,333 --> 00:50:30,458 Ah, but he recognised his sins. 189 00:50:30,583 --> 00:50:32,625 - Did he, though? - Aye. Said as much. 190 00:50:32,750 --> 00:50:35,417 When you're hung from a cross, you'll say anything. 191 00:50:35,542 --> 00:50:38,708 Jesus offers him a seat next to daddy in a place called paradise. 192 00:50:38,833 --> 00:50:41,792 You're always gonna put your hand up for piece of that. 193 00:50:41,917 --> 00:50:44,125 Even when it's nailed to your cross. 194 00:50:44,250 --> 00:50:46,583 Jesus Christ. That's sacrilegious. 195 00:50:46,708 --> 00:50:49,833 Sacrilegious? No, no, no, he was a dirty thief. 196 00:50:52,333 --> 00:50:55,417 So. What do you want to tell me? 197 00:50:55,542 --> 00:50:57,667 Where are you at? 198 00:50:57,792 --> 00:51:00,542 Been driven mad by that governor yet? 199 00:51:00,667 --> 00:51:02,958 See this negotiating lark? 200 00:51:03,083 --> 00:51:05,833 It's been a sideshow. I'll tell you that for nothing. 201 00:51:05,958 --> 00:51:08,000 But you understand why you need to do it? 202 00:51:08,125 --> 00:51:10,292 Because we're no longer good propaganda. 203 00:51:10,417 --> 00:51:12,625 According to who? The leadership? 204 00:51:14,167 --> 00:51:16,042 The time has come. 205 00:51:16,167 --> 00:51:18,417 A decision had to be made. 206 00:51:19,667 --> 00:51:22,000 You think that's what the leadership think? 207 00:51:22,125 --> 00:51:24,875 - Maybe. I don't know. - Bit paranoid there, Bobby. 208 00:51:28,292 --> 00:51:32,167 Ten thousand people marched for the seven hunger strikers last October. 209 00:51:32,292 --> 00:51:34,708 - International pressure on the Brits. - Busy time. 210 00:51:34,833 --> 00:51:37,375 Even the Pope's having a say. Getting involved. 211 00:51:37,500 --> 00:51:40,750 The whole world, trying to get Thatcher to give us our demands. 212 00:51:40,875 --> 00:51:43,625 - But it all came to nothing. - Right. 213 00:51:43,750 --> 00:51:47,083 Hunger strike failed. We're on the front line. 214 00:51:47,208 --> 00:51:50,792 We created the protest. It's our responsibility. 215 00:51:50,917 --> 00:51:53,250 Leadership have been very clear to me, Dom. 216 00:51:53,375 --> 00:51:55,625 Four and a half years of the no-wash protest, 217 00:51:55,750 --> 00:51:58,083 as much as it's highlighted Republicanism, 218 00:51:58,208 --> 00:52:01,125 it's also distracted from the development of the organisation. 219 00:52:01,250 --> 00:52:03,167 Because your needs are specific. 220 00:52:03,292 --> 00:52:04,708 Of course they are. 221 00:52:04,833 --> 00:52:07,667 Some woman bringing up three children in West Belfast 222 00:52:07,792 --> 00:52:12,375 shouldn't care about civilian clothing or whatever they call these clown outfits. 223 00:52:12,500 --> 00:52:17,042 Honest to God. We were promised our own clothes. It's childish skulduggery. 224 00:52:17,167 --> 00:52:19,750 So the leadership have had enough of you? 225 00:52:21,417 --> 00:52:23,542 In the ideal world, 226 00:52:23,667 --> 00:52:26,875 we'd be fighting our battles independently, but we're tied. 227 00:52:27,000 --> 00:52:30,208 Nothing's changed in here. The leadership are stuck with us 228 00:52:30,333 --> 00:52:34,583 until there's some realistic chance of political status, that's the hard truth. 229 00:52:34,708 --> 00:52:37,958 See, to get me to negotiate with these lying, reneging monkeys 230 00:52:38,083 --> 00:52:40,708 when there's never nothing on the table, it's pure crap. 231 00:52:40,833 --> 00:52:42,875 I'm not gonna be marched into this Governor's office 232 00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:46,750 and get caught up in some pointless dialogue with that pompous bastard. 233 00:52:46,875 --> 00:52:49,875 - Well, he's a big fan of yours. - Thick as two short planks. 234 00:52:50,000 --> 00:52:53,000 Can you believe they made him Governor? Bloody insult to humanity! 235 00:52:53,125 --> 00:52:55,792 Mother of Jesus, where do you get your energy from? 236 00:52:56,917 --> 00:52:59,000 I was a cross-country runner as a boy. 237 00:52:59,708 --> 00:53:02,542 I could have guessed it. Big engine on you. 238 00:53:03,250 --> 00:53:08,250 Cross-country running. Explains a lot about you, Bobby. 239 00:53:08,375 --> 00:53:11,917 Why, I loved it, so I did. That's the whole country thing for me. 240 00:53:12,042 --> 00:53:15,958 Jesus, they to hold me back at the finishing line or I'd keep on running. 241 00:53:16,083 --> 00:53:18,917 Little scraps. We were mongrels from out of the city. 242 00:53:19,042 --> 00:53:21,583 Frightened of cattle and all. It was a funny time. 243 00:53:21,708 --> 00:53:24,333 - Frightened of cattle? - Aye, terrified of them. 244 00:53:24,458 --> 00:53:28,708 Think you could get milk and burgers from them monsters? Jesus Christ! 245 00:53:31,417 --> 00:53:35,208 The next time round I'll be born in the countryside. Guaranteed. 246 00:53:35,333 --> 00:53:37,417 Wildlife. Birds. 247 00:53:37,542 --> 00:53:39,792 I love all that. Paradise. 248 00:53:39,917 --> 00:53:43,542 Aye, and you could learn to relax, too. 249 00:53:43,667 --> 00:53:46,500 Aye. Maybe. You never know. 250 00:53:46,625 --> 00:53:48,750 Never tried it before. 251 00:53:49,958 --> 00:53:52,792 I'm starting a hunger strike on the first of March. 252 00:53:54,792 --> 00:53:57,792 That's why you're here. That's what I'm telling you. 253 00:53:57,917 --> 00:54:00,208 Aye. I heard that. 254 00:54:03,875 --> 00:54:06,958 - Does your family know? - I got word out to them, aye. 255 00:54:07,083 --> 00:54:10,583 - Have you spoken with them? - Got a visit in two weeks. Talk then. 256 00:54:10,708 --> 00:54:15,500 - How do you think they'll take it? - What do you think, Dom? 257 00:54:15,625 --> 00:54:17,667 And your wee boy? 258 00:54:36,125 --> 00:54:39,792 So, what makes it different from the last time? 259 00:54:41,917 --> 00:54:45,292 The last hunger strike was flawed. It became emotional. 260 00:54:45,417 --> 00:54:47,667 Seven men started at the same time. 261 00:54:47,792 --> 00:54:50,208 They got weak and couldn't let the weakest die, 262 00:54:50,333 --> 00:54:54,042 which left us susceptible to be conned by the Brits, and that's what we were. 263 00:54:54,167 --> 00:54:55,583 Conned. 264 00:54:55,708 --> 00:54:59,083 This time out, the men will start consecutively, two weeks apart. 265 00:54:59,208 --> 00:55:01,125 Somebody dies, they'll be replaced. 266 00:55:01,250 --> 00:55:04,333 There's no shortage of us. Seventy-five men have signed up. 267 00:55:04,458 --> 00:55:06,708 Oh, for Christ's sake... 268 00:55:06,833 --> 00:55:09,333 The announcement's being made today. 269 00:55:12,542 --> 00:55:17,125 So what makes this protest different is that you're set to die, Bobby? 270 00:55:17,250 --> 00:55:19,208 It may well come to that. 271 00:55:19,333 --> 00:55:22,417 You start a hunger strike to protest for what you believe in. 272 00:55:22,542 --> 00:55:26,708 You don't start already determined to die, or am I missing something here? 273 00:55:26,833 --> 00:55:31,792 It's in their hands. Our message is clear. They're seeing our determination. 274 00:55:31,917 --> 00:55:35,167 So it'll take a couple of deaths, do you think? Maybe five or six? 275 00:55:35,292 --> 00:55:37,333 But sure, there's seventy-five of you. 276 00:55:37,458 --> 00:55:39,542 Aye well, it won't come to that. 277 00:55:39,667 --> 00:55:43,208 All right, maybe the Brits will buckle after twenty or so. 278 00:55:43,333 --> 00:55:46,625 But why should you care, cos you're already dead, right? 279 00:55:56,250 --> 00:55:59,750 Have you thought about what you'll put these boys through? 280 00:55:59,875 --> 00:56:03,250 Putting aside what's going to happen to these poor men's families. 281 00:56:03,375 --> 00:56:07,125 You're up against a British government who clearly despises Republicanism, 282 00:56:07,250 --> 00:56:09,167 who are unshakable. 283 00:56:09,292 --> 00:56:12,750 Who can easily live with the deaths of what they call terrorists. 284 00:56:12,875 --> 00:56:14,833 The stakes are much higher this time. 285 00:56:14,958 --> 00:56:16,375 I know that. 286 00:56:16,500 --> 00:56:20,292 And if you're not willing to negotiate, you want them to capitulate? 287 00:56:20,417 --> 00:56:23,792 - Right. - So failure means many dead men. 288 00:56:23,917 --> 00:56:25,958 Families torn apart. 289 00:56:26,083 --> 00:56:28,333 And the whole Republican Movement demoralised. 290 00:56:28,458 --> 00:56:33,458 Worse case scenario, it might well mean all that. But short term, out of the ashes. 291 00:56:33,583 --> 00:56:37,625 Guaranteed there'll be a new generation, even more resilient, determined... 292 00:56:37,750 --> 00:56:39,833 - Look who you're talking to. - There's a war going on. 293 00:56:39,958 --> 00:56:42,458 I thought you might understand. You're talking like a foreigner. 294 00:56:42,583 --> 00:56:45,125 You're talking to me like one. You think I don't know Northern Ireland? 295 00:56:45,250 --> 00:56:47,167 - I live here, man. - Then support us. 296 00:56:47,292 --> 00:56:51,583 I supported the first hunger strike on the basis it was a protest. 297 00:56:51,708 --> 00:56:55,042 Not some predesign to die and balk at negotiation, 298 00:56:55,167 --> 00:56:59,208 other than surrender from Thatcher. That's ridiculous, Bobby, it's destructive. 299 00:56:59,333 --> 00:57:03,375 What's happening here for the last four years? The brutality, humiliation. 300 00:57:03,500 --> 00:57:06,583 Our basic human rights taken away. All of this has to stop. 301 00:57:06,708 --> 00:57:08,417 Through talking. 302 00:57:08,542 --> 00:57:12,208 So what? We take their offer, put their uniform on? 303 00:57:12,333 --> 00:57:14,708 Cos the last four years have meant nothing? 304 00:57:14,833 --> 00:57:18,333 We could do that, Dom, or we could behave like the army we proclaim to be 305 00:57:18,458 --> 00:57:20,500 and lay down our lives for our comrades. 306 00:57:20,625 --> 00:57:23,167 Is there not even a small part of you hoping for a breakthrough? 307 00:57:23,292 --> 00:57:25,292 That could find you negotiating again? 308 00:57:25,417 --> 00:57:27,917 - That won't happen. - Right, forget about that. 309 00:57:28,042 --> 00:57:32,167 I want to know whether your intent is just purely to commit suicide here. 310 00:57:36,167 --> 00:57:39,208 You want me to argue about the morality of what I'm about to do 311 00:57:39,333 --> 00:57:42,875 and whether it's really suicide or not? 312 00:57:43,000 --> 00:57:45,875 For one, you're calling it suicide. I call it murder. 313 00:57:46,000 --> 00:57:48,292 And that's just another wee difference between us. 314 00:57:48,417 --> 00:57:50,667 We're both Catholic men. Republicans. 315 00:57:50,792 --> 00:57:53,083 But while you were poaching salmon in lovely Kilrea, 316 00:57:53,208 --> 00:57:55,125 we were being burnt out of our house in Rathcoole. 317 00:57:55,250 --> 00:57:59,208 Similar in many ways, but experiences focussed our beliefs differently. 318 00:57:59,333 --> 00:58:01,042 - Understand me? - I understand. 319 00:58:01,167 --> 00:58:05,083 I have my belief. And in all its simplicity that is a most powerful thing. 320 00:58:07,042 --> 00:58:09,583 So, what's your statement by dying? 321 00:58:10,792 --> 00:58:14,000 Just highlighting British intransigence, so fucking what? 322 00:58:14,125 --> 00:58:16,000 Everyone knows what the Brits are like. 323 00:58:16,125 --> 00:58:19,125 - Good. - It is good and nothing to do with you. 324 00:58:19,250 --> 00:58:21,833 The Brits have been fucking up everything for centuries. 325 00:58:21,958 --> 00:58:23,625 I can feel your hatred, Dom. 326 00:58:23,750 --> 00:58:25,958 - Are you looking for martyrdom? - No. 327 00:58:26,083 --> 00:58:27,583 - Are you sure? - Aye. 328 00:58:27,708 --> 00:58:31,833 Cos I've heard you eulogising Wolfe Tone, Connolly, MacSwiney... 329 00:58:31,958 --> 00:58:35,625 I can't help think you're writing your name for all them history books. 330 00:58:35,750 --> 00:58:38,250 - Cos you think that matters to me? - I know it does. 331 00:58:38,375 --> 00:58:40,542 Well, you're wrong. 332 00:58:41,792 --> 00:58:46,833 You say you're soldiers, it's all about the freedom. 333 00:58:46,958 --> 00:58:50,000 But you've got no appreciation of a life, Bobby. 334 00:58:50,125 --> 00:58:53,208 You no longer know what a life is, you men. 335 00:58:53,333 --> 00:58:56,958 Four years living in these conditions, no one expects you to be normal. 336 00:58:57,083 --> 00:58:59,417 There's nothing normal about you. 337 00:59:00,833 --> 00:59:04,542 Right now, the Republican Movement has talked itself into a corner. 338 00:59:04,667 --> 00:59:08,667 You IRA are standing right behind it looking into that corner. 339 00:59:08,792 --> 00:59:13,375 All that history, all them dead men and women. You're still seeing nothing. 340 00:59:13,500 --> 00:59:16,833 When your answer's to kill everything, you've blinded yourselves 341 00:59:16,958 --> 00:59:19,875 and you're scared to stop it. 342 00:59:20,833 --> 00:59:24,000 Afraid of living. Afraid of talk and peace. 343 00:59:24,125 --> 00:59:28,125 Sure, what would Ulster be if it wasn't tearing itself to shit? 344 00:59:29,292 --> 00:59:31,417 And this situation here. 345 00:59:31,542 --> 00:59:35,125 That the future of the Republican Movement is in the hands of you men 346 00:59:35,250 --> 00:59:38,292 who've lost all... all sense of reality. 347 00:59:39,583 --> 00:59:42,792 You think your head's on right? 348 00:59:42,917 --> 00:59:45,833 Locked up in here twenty-four hours a day in piss and shit, 349 00:59:45,958 --> 00:59:49,042 and you are making decisions that could see so many men die. 350 00:59:49,167 --> 00:59:51,708 Build a statue to Bobby Sands! 351 00:59:51,833 --> 00:59:54,500 You're joking me. Freedom Fighter? 352 00:59:55,750 --> 00:59:59,125 They're the men and women working out there in the community. 353 00:59:59,250 --> 01:00:02,292 And that was you, once upon a time, am I right? 354 01:00:02,417 --> 01:00:05,208 All that work you did in Twinbrook. 355 01:00:05,333 --> 01:00:09,375 That's where we need you, Bobby. And you know I'm right. 356 01:00:10,833 --> 01:00:13,833 That I'm deluded... you want me to answer that? 357 01:00:13,958 --> 01:00:16,000 They're beating you. You're playing into their hands. 358 01:00:16,125 --> 01:00:19,417 - The strategy's in place. - Then stop it. Just say stop. 359 01:00:19,542 --> 01:00:23,333 - You don't understand a thing. - You're in no shape to make this call. 360 01:00:23,458 --> 01:00:26,083 It's done. It won't be stopped. 361 01:00:26,208 --> 01:00:29,292 Then fuck it, life must mean nothing to you. 362 01:00:30,667 --> 01:00:33,250 God's going to punish me? 363 01:00:38,625 --> 01:00:44,083 Well, if not just for the suicide, then he'd have to punish you for stupidity. 364 01:00:46,208 --> 01:00:50,125 Aye. And you for your arrogance. 365 01:00:50,250 --> 01:00:54,042 Cos my life is a real life, not some theological exercise, 366 01:00:54,167 --> 01:00:57,958 some religious trick that's got fuck all to do with living. 367 01:00:58,083 --> 01:01:02,208 Jesus Christ had a backbone, but see them disciples, every disciple since, 368 01:01:02,333 --> 01:01:06,125 you're just jumping in and out of the rhetoric and dead-end semantics. 369 01:01:06,250 --> 01:01:10,958 You need the revolutionary, the political soldier, to give life a pulse, direction... 370 01:01:11,083 --> 01:01:14,250 - That's stupid talk. You're deluded. - Aye, so you say. 371 01:01:14,375 --> 01:01:17,333 - And what's your wee son going to say? - Fuck off. 372 01:01:17,458 --> 01:01:19,292 Doesn't that interest you? 373 01:01:19,417 --> 01:01:23,042 You're going to attack me with sentiment? Typical priest. 374 01:01:23,167 --> 01:01:25,750 - What's your heart saying? - I thought you'd me all figured out. 375 01:01:25,875 --> 01:01:28,250 What's it saying? Tell me. 376 01:01:32,292 --> 01:01:36,208 My life means everything to me. Freedom means everything. 377 01:01:36,333 --> 01:01:39,875 I know you don't mean to mock me, Dom, so I'll just let all that pass. 378 01:01:41,292 --> 01:01:44,125 This is one of these times when we've come to a pause. 379 01:01:44,250 --> 01:01:46,625 It's a time to keep your beliefs pure. 380 01:01:46,750 --> 01:01:50,292 I believe that a united Ireland is right and just. 381 01:01:51,583 --> 01:01:54,917 Maybe it's impossible for a man like you to understand, 382 01:01:55,042 --> 01:01:58,458 but having a respect for my life, a desire for freedom, 383 01:01:58,583 --> 01:02:01,250 an unyielding love for that belief, 384 01:02:01,375 --> 01:02:04,333 means I can see past any doubts I may have. 385 01:02:05,708 --> 01:02:09,125 Putting my life on the line is not just the only thing I can do, Dom. 386 01:02:09,250 --> 01:02:11,667 It's the right thing. 387 01:02:16,000 --> 01:02:18,208 And this is why you've called me here? 388 01:02:19,500 --> 01:02:23,250 Needed a sounding board? Not a hundred per cent sure of yourself? 389 01:02:23,375 --> 01:02:25,333 Been doubting yourself maybe? 390 01:02:25,458 --> 01:02:28,583 Aye. Well, I'm only human. 391 01:02:28,708 --> 01:02:31,458 And I've made it clear for you, then? 392 01:02:33,167 --> 01:02:37,250 Man of guidance, Dom, "business of the soul". 393 01:02:48,375 --> 01:02:51,500 You've been to Gweedore in Donegal? 394 01:02:52,583 --> 01:02:54,083 Aye. 395 01:03:01,875 --> 01:03:04,083 I went there when I was twelve. 396 01:03:06,083 --> 01:03:08,333 Big cross-country race for the boys, 397 01:03:08,458 --> 01:03:12,542 and we're all in the back of a minibus headed towards Derry one morning. 398 01:03:13,792 --> 01:03:16,042 I mean, this is big time. 399 01:03:16,167 --> 01:03:18,292 This is like international athletics for us, 400 01:03:18,417 --> 01:03:21,500 cos we're racing against boys in the South 401 01:03:21,625 --> 01:03:24,292 and we have this thing to do Belfast proud. 402 01:03:26,250 --> 01:03:30,292 Two of the boys are Prods and the rest of us are Catholics. 403 01:03:30,417 --> 01:03:32,750 It's a cross-community event. 404 01:03:32,875 --> 01:03:36,125 I suppose the good people in the South think this is great stuff, 405 01:03:36,250 --> 01:03:40,292 let's get this wee team over from Belfast and all that patronising shite. 406 01:03:43,208 --> 01:03:47,125 Anyway, we're through the border... 407 01:03:49,375 --> 01:03:52,208 ...the boys are all singing pop tunes and all, 408 01:03:52,333 --> 01:03:55,750 but I'm just in the back of the bus looking out the window. 409 01:03:57,667 --> 01:03:59,833 We're going through them mountains, 410 01:03:59,958 --> 01:04:02,708 you know, where Mount Errigal is and everything? 411 01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:06,125 It's a beautiful sight, Dom. 412 01:04:07,333 --> 01:04:10,667 Donegal has to be the most beautiful place in Ireland, I reckon. 413 01:04:12,250 --> 01:04:14,000 Aye. 414 01:04:20,292 --> 01:04:21,708 Anyway... 415 01:04:23,958 --> 01:04:25,708 ...we arrive at Gweedore. 416 01:04:27,000 --> 01:04:30,292 What a place. And it's hopping with about two hundred boys 417 01:04:30,417 --> 01:04:33,542 and they're getting into their gear and limbering up. 418 01:04:34,167 --> 01:04:36,625 The whole event is run by Christian brothers 419 01:04:36,750 --> 01:04:39,542 and they're clipping young fellas around the ears, 420 01:04:39,667 --> 01:04:42,125 basically trying to retain some order. 421 01:04:43,167 --> 01:04:46,500 Our team goes off for a wee jog to stretch out the legs. 422 01:04:49,000 --> 01:04:51,292 We're surrounded by fields of barley... 423 01:04:53,417 --> 01:04:57,417 ...and they dip down into a wee valley where there's a stream and woods. 424 01:05:01,208 --> 01:05:03,417 The woods and stream are out of bounds, 425 01:05:03,542 --> 01:05:07,000 so naturally us Belfast boys have to go check them out. 426 01:05:07,125 --> 01:05:10,250 Woods and a stream, Dom. Sure, that's like the Amazon to us. 427 01:05:12,250 --> 01:05:15,417 And we come across these young fellas from Cork. 428 01:05:15,542 --> 01:05:19,208 There's some banter about our accents but they could barely talk, 429 01:05:19,333 --> 01:05:21,917 we couldn't understand a word they were saying. 430 01:05:22,750 --> 01:05:25,750 You get the idea that they're lording it over us a bit, you know? 431 01:05:25,875 --> 01:05:28,792 Looking down on us. I'm sensing it anyway. 432 01:05:30,167 --> 01:05:33,208 We're running along and we come up with this idea 433 01:05:33,333 --> 01:05:37,375 to go down to the stream and check it out for fish. 434 01:05:37,500 --> 01:05:40,167 So we're down by the river, Dom... stream... 435 01:05:40,292 --> 01:05:42,917 ...it was half a foot of water in there. 436 01:05:43,042 --> 01:05:45,708 Little silver fish but nothing substantial. 437 01:05:45,833 --> 01:05:48,708 Until one of their boys call us further down. 438 01:05:50,500 --> 01:05:52,667 Lying in the water is a wee foal, 439 01:05:53,708 --> 01:05:56,667 four or five days old, he's all skin and bone, 440 01:05:56,792 --> 01:06:00,417 a grey colour, and he's got flecks of blood on his coat 441 01:06:00,542 --> 01:06:03,708 cos he's cut himself up really badly on the sharp rocks. 442 01:06:06,667 --> 01:06:10,292 We're just standing over him, and you can see his back leg snapped. 443 01:06:10,417 --> 01:06:13,708 And he's breathing, he's alive, but just about. 444 01:06:15,958 --> 01:06:18,417 So this big conversation gets started up 445 01:06:18,542 --> 01:06:21,833 between the boys who suddenly reckon themselves the leaders. 446 01:06:21,958 --> 01:06:25,917 They're deliberating what we should do. Someone says drop a rock on his head. 447 01:06:26,042 --> 01:06:30,083 But I'm looking in their faces. I can see they're either scared stiff or clueless. 448 01:06:30,208 --> 01:06:31,875 It's all bravado. 449 01:06:32,875 --> 01:06:35,917 And this foal on the ground, in real pain. 450 01:06:37,042 --> 01:06:39,667 All this chitchat going on, going nowhere. 451 01:06:41,750 --> 01:06:45,167 Next thing, one of the priests sees us, sees the foal, 452 01:06:45,292 --> 01:06:48,292 tells us not to move and we're done for, really done for. 453 01:06:48,417 --> 01:06:51,083 A group of boys will always get the blame for hurting a foal. 454 01:06:51,208 --> 01:06:54,375 A group of Belfast boys will get a hammering for sure. 455 01:06:54,500 --> 01:06:57,292 So it's clear to me in an instant, and I'm on my knees 456 01:06:57,417 --> 01:07:00,917 and I take the foal's head in my hands and I put him under water. 457 01:07:01,042 --> 01:07:03,000 He's thrashing around a bit to start, 458 01:07:03,125 --> 01:07:05,750 so I press down harder until he's drowned. 459 01:07:08,250 --> 01:07:10,958 Priest arrives, Dom. 460 01:07:11,083 --> 01:07:12,875 And he's grabbing me by the hair, 461 01:07:13,000 --> 01:07:16,500 dragging me through the woods, promising me a proper hiding. 462 01:07:16,625 --> 01:07:19,542 But I knew I did the right thing by that wee foal. 463 01:07:20,750 --> 01:07:23,292 And I could take the punishment for all our boys. 464 01:07:24,625 --> 01:07:28,417 I had the respect of them other boys now and I knew that. 465 01:07:35,042 --> 01:07:37,208 I'm clear of the reasons, Dom. 466 01:07:38,375 --> 01:07:41,500 I'm clear of all the repercussions. 467 01:07:41,625 --> 01:07:45,958 I will act and I will not stand by and do nothing. 468 01:08:23,500 --> 01:08:25,667 You can leave them there if you like. 469 01:08:26,583 --> 01:08:29,958 Don't want me rolling up the Letters of Saint John, do you? 470 01:08:34,958 --> 01:08:37,958 Couldn't have that on my conscience, no. 471 01:08:45,625 --> 01:08:48,292 I don't think I'm going to see you again, Bobby. 472 01:08:50,042 --> 01:08:52,250 There's no need, Dom. 473 01:12:27,875 --> 01:12:32,458 'And faced now with the failure of their discredited cause, 474 01:12:32,583 --> 01:12:36,375 'the men of violence have chosen, in recent months, 475 01:12:36,500 --> 01:12:40,250 'to play what may well be their last card. 476 01:12:41,333 --> 01:12:44,458 'They have turned their violence against themselves 477 01:12:44,583 --> 01:12:48,792 'through the prison hunger strike to death. 478 01:12:48,917 --> 01:12:55,000 'They seek to work on the most basic of human emotions, pity, 479 01:12:55,125 --> 01:12:57,833 'as a means of creating tension 480 01:12:57,958 --> 01:13:01,958 'and stoking the fires of bitterness and hatred. ' 481 01:13:33,500 --> 01:13:38,583 There's been a deterioration of liver, kidney and pancreatic function. 482 01:13:39,667 --> 01:13:42,250 Also the bone density decreases substantially 483 01:13:42,375 --> 01:13:45,125 due to calcium and vitamin deficiencies. 484 01:13:47,792 --> 01:13:50,708 The muscle of the heart is also undernourished, 485 01:13:50,833 --> 01:13:54,708 causing impaired function and eventually cardiac failure. 486 01:14:00,458 --> 01:14:04,625 The left ventricle could shrink to seventy percent of its normal size. 487 01:14:07,250 --> 01:14:11,250 He will have low blood sugar, low energy and muscular wasting. 488 01:14:13,583 --> 01:14:16,625 He'll be experiencing gastrointestinal ulcers 489 01:14:16,750 --> 01:14:20,958 with the thinning of the intestinal wall and sub-mucosal haemorrhaging. 490 01:14:22,750 --> 01:14:26,208 There will have been degenerative changes to the mucous membrane 491 01:14:26,333 --> 01:14:30,042 of the intestines and indeed all the organs in the body. 492 01:25:01,542 --> 01:25:04,708 - Name? - Rosaleen Sands. 493 01:25:08,167 --> 01:25:11,375 - Name? - John Sands. 494 01:27:25,333 --> 01:27:28,958 People always ask us, people always ask us 495 01:27:29,083 --> 01:27:32,833 - Who we are... - Bobby! Bobby! 496 01:27:32,958 --> 01:27:36,833 And where we come from, where we come from 497 01:27:36,958 --> 01:27:40,708 And we tell them, and we tell them 498 01:27:40,833 --> 01:27:44,375 We're from Belfast, we're from Belfast 499 01:27:44,500 --> 01:27:48,125 Mighty, mighty Belfast, mighty, mighty Belfast 500 01:27:48,250 --> 01:27:51,917 And if they can't hear us, if they can't hear us 501 01:27:52,042 --> 01:27:55,708 We shout a little louder, we shout a little louder...