Joe McDonnell was born on Slate Street in the lower Falls Road of Belfast as fifth of eight children.

[2] McDonnell was arrested in Operation Demetrius, and along with Gerry Adams and others was interned on the prison ship HMS Maidstone.

He met Bobby Sands during the preparation for a firebomb attack on the Balmoral Furnishing Company's premises in Dunmurry.

[3] During the ensuing shoot-out between the IRA and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and army, both men, along with Séamus Finucane and Seán Lavery, were arrested.

[10][11] The IRA commander inside Long Kesh at the time, Brendan McFarlane, has publicly disputed this version of events.

[14] His family is also recognized in the Irish Brigade's "A Father's Blessing",[15] and is one of the 10 hunger strikers mentioned in "Roll of Honour".