Francis Hughes

Francis Joseph Sean Hughes (28 February 1956 – 12 May 1981) was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) from Bellaghy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

[1] At his trial, he was sentenced to a total of 83 years' imprisonment; he died during the 1981 Irish hunger strike in HM Prison Maze.

[5] Hughes was returning from an evening out in Ardboe, County Tyrone when he was stopped at an Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) checkpoint.

[4][6] Hughes initially joined the Official Irish Republican Army, but left after the organisation declared a ceasefire in May 1972.

[10] Another IRA member described the activities of Hughes: He led a life perpetually on the move, often moving on foot up to 20 miles during one night then sleeping during the day, either in fields and ditches or safe houses; a soldierly sight in his black beret and combat uniform and openly carrying a rifle, a handgun and several grenades as well as food rations.

[10][12] The IRA members attempted to escape by performing a u-turn, but lost control of the car which ended up in a ditch.

[12] Hughes was arrested on 17 March 1978 at Lisnamuck, near Maghera, County Londonderry, after an exchange of gunfire with the British Army the night before.

[13] British soldiers manning a covert observation post spotted Hughes and another IRA volunteer approaching them wearing combat clothing with "Ireland" sewn on their jackets.

Memorial to 22 Irish Hunger Strikers Deaths Glasnevin Cemetery
Gravestone erected to Thomas McElwee and Francis Hughes.