There had been hunger strikes by Irish republican prisoners since 1917, and twelve had previously died on hunger strike, including Thomas Ashe, Terence MacSwiney, Seán McCaughey, Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg.
Hungerstrejker från irländska republikaners sida hade förekommit sedan 1917, och tolv män hade tidigare dött under andra hungerstrejker, inklusive Thomas Ashe, Terence MacSwiney, Seán McCaughey, Michael Gaughan och Frank Stagg.