Secret papers on 1981 'strike' released

The documents released by the Northern Ireland Office show how Lynch along with Kieran Doherty - described as the two most determined hunger strikers - rejected overtures made by the Government but a week later were prepared to take part in a meeting aimed at clarifying what was on offer if the hunger strike ended.

However they suggest the Government's move foundered over the hunger strikers' demands for IRA leader in the Maze, Brendan Bik McFarlane to be present at talks.

After a priest in Dungiven called to say Lynch and relatives of Kieran Doherty wanted a meeting with an official, two men went to the prison. Although the documents show that the two prisoners denied wanting a meeting, they said they were happy for the officials to meet with the group of hunger strikers, though Doherty said McFarlane must be present.

After talks with relatives, the hunger strikers were approached to ask if they wanted to hold a meeting, even in the presence of relatives and clergy, but all five hunger strikers on the wing insisted McFarlane must be present, including Lynch who had earlier made no mention of the IRA leader.

As a result, no meeting took place.

The documents obtained by the Sentinel shed new light on the back-door bid by the Government to reach an arrangement by which the IRA would agree to end the 1981 hunger strike.

The papers were eventually released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Northern Ireland Office after the Sentinel launched an appeal and asked for a review into the original decision to continue keeping them secret.

The release of 32 previously unseen documents represents a major victory for the Sentinel. Last year, following a complaint to the Information Commissioner's office about the length of time being taken by the NIO to make a decision, the ICO issued a decision notice compelling the NIO to release papers or give a reason for not doing so.

The NIO then released a number of documents, saying that all of these had previously been released but withheld many others.

This prompted the request for an internal review of the decision, and after considering the Sentinel's arguments, the review panel has now decided that 32 of the documents being kept secret should be released to the newspaper.