Focus on: Bernadette Devlin

Bernadette Devlin was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in 1947. She faced early personal tragedy, losing her father when she was eight years old and her mother when she was just ten. Despite these hardships, Devlin excelled academically and attended St Patrick's Girls Academy before studying psychology at Queen's University Belfast. It was during her time at university that she became deeply involved in the civil rights movement, which was gaining momentum in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s.

Radical Activist

• Devlin quickly became a prominent figure in radical student politics and was instrumental in founding People's Democracy, a new socialist and largely student-led civil rights group.

  
  • Her involvement in the movement led to her being excluded from Queen's University due to her participation in activities deemed controversial, particularly during the violent attacks from loyalists at Burntollet Bridge in January 1969, which was a significant breach of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) truce.

• This incident marked People's Democracy as a more radical and confrontational group compared to other civil rights organisations. Throughout the 1970s, People's Democracy became increasingly associated with far-left politics, eventually aligning with the broader movement for a socialist republic.
• Its shift toward a more militant stance, however, caused it to lose support among moderate nationalists, who were wary of the group's hardline tactics.

Election Success and Arrest

• Devlin's political career took off when she successfully ran as a People's Democracy candidate in the 1969 general election, contesting the same seat as future Prime Minister James Chichester-Clark.
  • At just 21 years old, she became the youngest-ever female MP at Westminster. Devlin quickly made a name for herself with her outspoken and passionate speeches, particularly on civil rights issues.
  • Her election symbolised the growing influence of the Northern Ireland civil rights movement and the deep frustrations within the nationalist community.
  • Shortly after being elected, Devlin played a prominent role in the Battle of the Bogside in August 1969, where she supported the local residents in their defence against the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and loyalist mobs.
  • Her involvement led to her being charged with incitement to riot and subsequently serving a short prison sentence. Despite her imprisonment, Devlin continued her political activism and maintained her seat in Parliament.

Suspension from Westminster

• In the aftermath of Bloody Sunday in January 1972, where British soldiers shot and killed 14 unarmed civil rights protesters in Derry/Londonderry, Devlin requested to address the House of Commons.
• When she was denied the opportunity, she famously crossed the floor of the House and slapped the Home Secretary, Reginald Maudling, after he claimed that the British Army had fired in self-defence.
• This act led to her suspension from Westminster, further cementing her reputation as a fiery and uncompromising politician.
• In 1973, Devlin married Michael McAliskey. Together, they helped found the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), a breakaway group from Official Sinn Féin.
• The IRSP was aligned with the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), a paramilitary group that pursued more militant tactics.

Subsequent Career

• Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Devlin remained active in Irish politics and social issues. She was a vocal supporter of the 1981 hunger strikes and became a spokesperson for the campaign.
• In January 1981, both she and her husband were seriously injured in a failed assassination attempt by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), which was later revealed to have involved collusion with elements of the British security forces.
• Despite this, Devlin continued her activism, running for both the European Parliament and the Dáil, although she was unsuccessful in both attempts.
• Devlin also became a critic of the peace process in the 1990s, particularly denouncing Sinn Féin's involvement, which she viewed as a betrayal of the republican cause.
• In more recent years, she has continued to advocate for civil rights and community issues, maintaining her role as a significant figure in Northern Irish political history.

What was the contribution to Northern Irish affairs of Bernadette Devlin?

• Devlin was a leading figure in the civil rights movement, helping to bring attention to the plight of Catholics in Northern Ireland.
• She became the youngest-ever female MP at Westminster, symbolising a new generation of radical and outspoken Irish politicians.
• Her involvement in the Battle of the Bogside and her subsequent arrest highlighted the growing unrest and resistance within the nationalist community.
• Devlin's suspension from Westminster after Bloody Sunday underscored the deep divisions and anger felt by nationalists toward the British government.
• She co-founded the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), aligning herself with more militant strands of Irish republicanism.
• Devlin's continued activism, even after surviving a UDA assassination attempt, demonstrated her unwavering commitment to civil rights and justice.
• Her criticism of the peace process and Sinn Féin's role in it reflected her belief in a more radical approach to achieving Irish unity and social justice.

How did Bernadette Devlin influence events in Northern Ireland?

• Devlin played a crucial role in the civil rights movement, helping to organise protests and bring international attention to the issues facing Northern Ireland.
• Her election to Westminster at a young age brought a fresh and radical voice to the British Parliament, challenging the status quo.
• Devlin's participation in the Battle of the Bogside and her vocal support for the nationalist community highlighted the escalating conflict in Northern Ireland.
• Her actions following Bloody Sunday, including her slap of Reginald Maudling, made her a symbol of nationalist anger and defiance against British rule.
  • The founding of the IRSP and her alignment with the INLA marked a shift towards a more militant form of republicanism, influencing the broader nationalist movement.
  • Devlin's survival of an assassination attempt and continued political activism inspired many within the nationalist and republican communities.
  • Her ongoing involvement in civil rights and social justice issues, even after her time in Parliament, ensured that her influence remained strong in Northern Irish politics.