Bobby Sands

Criminal

Birthday March 9, 1954

Birth Sign Pisces

Birthplace Ireland

DEATH DATE May 5, 1981 (27)

About

Irish Republican Army revolutionary whose death at age 27 in the HM Prison Maze caused a surge of IRA activity and recruitment.

Before Fame

He joined the IRA in 1972, and was soon afterwards arrested for possessing four handguns. After being convicted, he served three years of a five-year sentence.

Trivia

He died of self-inflicted starvation on day 66 of his hunger strike, which he led to remove Special Category Status from IRA prisoners.

Family Life

He married Geraldine Noade in 1972. He had a child named Gerald Sands and a sister named Bernadette Sands McKevitt.

Associated With

Nelson Mandela, who was influenced by Sands, carried out a hunger strike while on Robben Island.