16 Facts About Francis Hughes

Francis Joseph Sean Hughes was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army from Bellaghy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Francis Hughes was one of 22 Irish republicans who died on hunger-strike between 1917 and 1981.

Francis Hughes was born in Bellaghy, County Londonderry on 28 February 1956 into a republican family, the youngest of four brothers in a family of ten siblings.

Francis Hughes left school aged 16 and started work as an apprentice painter and decorator.

Francis Hughes was returning from an evening out in Ardboe, County Tyrone when he was stopped at an Ulster Defence Regiment checkpoint.

Francis Hughes' father encouraged him to see a doctor and report the incident to the police but Francis Hughes refused, saying he "would get his own back on the people who did it, and their friends".

Francis Hughes initially joined the Official Irish Republican Army, but left after the organisation declared a ceasefire in May 1972.

Francis Hughes then joined up with Dominic McGlinchey, his cousin Thomas McElwee and Ian Milne, before the three decided to join the Provisional Irish Republican Army's South Derry Brigade in 1973.

Francis Hughes led a life perpetually on the move, often moving on foot up to 20 miles during one night then sleeping during the day, either in fields and ditches or safe houses; a soldierly sight in his black beret and combat uniform and openly carrying a rifle, a handgun and several grenades as well as food rations.

Francis Hughes was arrested on 17 March 1978 at Lisnamuck, near Maghera, County Londonderry, after an exchange of gunfire with the British Army the night before.

Francis Hughes was wounded and was arrested nearby the next morning.

Francis Hughes was tried for, and found guilty of, the murder of one British Army soldier and wounding of another in the incident which led to his arrest, as well as a series of gun and bomb attacks over a six-year period.

Francis Hughes was involved in the mass hunger strike in 1980, and was the second prisoner to join the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike in the H-Blocks at the Maze prison.

Francis Hughes's death led to a surge in rioting in nationalist areas of Northern Ireland.

Francis Hughes is commemorated on the Irish Martyrs Memorial at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney, Australia.

Francis Hughes is portrayed by Fergal McElherron in the film H3.