Paddy Agnew (Irish republican)

Patrick Agnew (born 8 March 1955) is a former Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteer who was elected to Dáil Éireann during the 1981 Irish hunger strike.[1]

Paddy Agnew
Teachta Dála
In office 11 June 1981 – February 1982
Constituency	Louth
Personal details
Born	8 March 1955 Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Anti H-Block

Agnew was born in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland in 1955. His grandfather was also an Irish republican and was an internee during the Irish War of Independence. Agnew was imprisoned at Portlaoise, Mountjoy, Crumlin Road and the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. He was involved in the blanket protest in the H-Blocks.

Although he was not on hunger strike, he was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency at the 1981 general election, topping the poll.[2] He did not take his seat.[1] The other successful Anti H-Block candidate was Kieran Doherty, who was elected in Cavan–Monaghan and died on hunger strike.

Agnew was released from prison in 2000 and joined the Gerard Halpenny Sinn Féin cumann in Dundalk, where he remains an active member of the party.[3]

See also

• List of members of the Oireachtas imprisoned since 1923

References

1. "Patrick Agnew". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
2. "Paddy Agnew". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
3. Ella O'Dwyer. "Remembering 1981 – Paddy Agnew interviewed". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 13 July 2007.