NEWS: Book launched at Queen’s claims hunger strikers not told of British offer

Richard O’Rawe launched his second book, Afterlives, this evening in front of a Queen’s Bookshop filled to capacity. This sequel comes fives years after his bestseller Blanketmen. In his book the former hunger striker claims efforts to reach a settlement between republicans and the British government in July 1981 were thwarted by Gerry Adams and his five-man committee. Guest speaker at the event was Liam Clarke, journalist and co-author of Martin McGuinness: From Guns to Government.

BY CONNOR DALY

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NEWS: Students of Ireland take to Dublin streets

An estimated 40,000 students marched in protest against the Irish government’s intention to increase the university registration fee in the Republic of Ireland. A bus load of students and student representatives from Queen’s University joined the demonstrators in opposition to the potential hike.

BY CONNOR DALY

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NEWS: Students protest at Stormont as MLAs debate Browne (updated)

Over 300 students travelled to Stormont this afternoon to pressurise local politicians into keeping the cap on tuition fees. Despite pouring rain, students from Queen’s, University of Ulster, St. Mary’s and Stranmillis College turned out to make their voice heard. A petition with 10,000 signatures was presented to the local Assembly this afternoon by SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey and motion calling for the rejection of the Browne report is to be debated at 4.30pm.

BY BEN FINCH

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NEWS: Deaths “the unfortunate reality of struggle,” says Gerry Kelly at Queen’s

Addressing the annual Sheena Campbell commemoration at Queen’s Students’ Union, Sinn Féin MLA  Gerry Kelly said deaths were “the unfortunate reality of struggle” during the Troubles. Throughout the course of the Troubles, he said ordinary people led extrordinary lives, and it is impossible to do his comrades justice. Sheena Campbell, a Sinn Féin activist and Law student at Queen’s University, was shot dead in October 1992, aged 29. The Sinn Féin branch at the university has since been renamed the Sheena Campbell Cumann.

BY CONNOR DALY

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