Oct. 1948 - 16, February 2008

Brendan "Darkie" Hughes. Known as "The Dark" to many. Was a lifelong Irish Republican who never wavered from the true principles of the Cause as many of his comrades later did. Born into a family from the Falls Road in Belfast, a very Nationalist neighborhood, he joined the IRA in 1969. He was arrested in 1973 at a house in Belfast with 2 other members, escaping shortly afterwards by hiding in a rolled up mattress being taken to be thrown away. He successfully eluded capture for a time but was re - arrested and sent back to prison. He was interred at the Long kesh prison, which would later be known as the Maze prizon. Transferred to the H-Blocks in 1977 he joined those on the 'blanket' protest; fellow IRA members fighting for POW status. The english have never wanted to allow their Irish prisoners to be known as Prisoners of War. The Irish Republican prisoners of the Maze refused to wear a prison uniform, however; allowing themselves to be clothed only in their blankets. In 1978 Brendan, acting as Officer Commanding, ordered his men to begin a 'dirty protest'. Prisoners refused to leave their cells to use the toilet, and would not even allow their chamber pots to be taken and emptied. Eventually they even smeared the excrement on the walls of their cells.

In 1980 the prisoners went on hunger strike. 7 prisoners in the Maze, including Brendan, were soon followed by 3 prisoners in Armagh womens gaol. After 53 days the british pretended to agree to a deal, and the hunger strike was called off. It was not realised right away that the british had no intention of honouring what the Republicans had been led to believe. Brendan suffered from damaged eyesight and other physical ailments throughout the remainder of his life as a result. The next year however, saw 10 brave men die as the prisoners began another hunger strike. This time refusng to give in until they were certain they had been heard.

He was released from prison in 1986 and immediately got back into Republican politics. He did not like however the path that the Provisional movement was taking and publicly criticised it's leadership, despite having been close friends with many members at one time. He stayed true to his Republican principles to the very end.