Key Personality: BRENADETTE DEVLIN “Castro in a Mini-Skirt”

Bernadette Devlin was born in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone on 23rd April 1947. Her grandfather was a road sweeper, while her father could rarely find work. This was because not only was he a Catholic but he was also a Republican. The introduction of the British Welfare State, meant that Devlin had received free secondary and third level education. She attended Queen’s University Belfast, where she studied Psychology.

The People’s Democracy Devlin was a member of The People’s Democracy – a radical student group based at Queens University. She was very much influenced by Socialist thinking (more power to the workers), and by the student unrest in Paris, etc in 1968, as well as by the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. She also participated in the main Civil Rights marches organised by NICRA.

Burntollet Bridge The People’s Democracy (PD) organised a march between Belfast and Derry, which started on 1st Jan., 1969. Devlin was one of the main organisers. She said the march was intended to provoke confrontation with loyalists, and in so doing, expose the sectarian society that existed in N.Ireland.

The march was attacked in several places by loyalist groups The march was attacked in several places by loyalist groups. The worst incident was at Burntollet Bridge. Here some of the attackers were off-duty members of the B-Specials. The RUC did little to prevent the attacks. There were further attacks when the march entered Derry. This march was responsible for heightening tensions in N. Ireland but also exposed the sectarian nature of the security forces.

Election Devlin was elected as a “Unity” candidate in a by-election for the Westminster parliament in the constituency of Mid-Ulster in April 1969. She was just 21 years old, making her the youngest MP in over 200 years. And the youngest ever woman. In her maiden speech in the House of Commons she launched a stinging attack on the British and N. Ireland Governments policies in the North.

Devlin attacked during election

Devlin talks about the “real enemy”

http://news. google. com/newspapers http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19690423&id=ipxAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FqUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5118,4110848

Involvement Devlin was involved in the defence of the Bogside after the Apprentice Boys march in Aug. 1969. She used a loudspeaker, encouraging others to build up the barricades. This image of her became famous. In 1970 she was sentenced to 6 months in prison for her involvement in the Bogside riots.

Bloody Sunday Devlin was one of the leaders of the march in Derry on 30 Jan. 1972, which became known as Bloody Sunday. In the House of Commons the next day she sensationally slapped the face of the Secretary of State for N. Ireland, Reginald Maudling, when he suggested that the Parachute Regiment had only opened fire “in self defence” She married Michael McAliskey on 23 April 1973 Devlin lost her Westminster seat in 1974.

“I’m just sorry I didn’t get him by the throat” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EKx0wOFQP8

1974 onwards In 1974-75 she was involved in the foundation of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP). In 1979 she stood for election to the European Parliament. She failed to get elected but got a sizeable vote. She was later involved in organising support for the Hunger Strikers in 1981. She was seriously injured in an assassination attempt in Feb. 1981. She failed to get elected to the Dáil on 2 occasions in 1982 Devlin continued her involvement in left-wing politics, but with little support. She was critical of Sinn Fein’s involvement in the Peace Process.