Early Life & Family
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Long Kesh
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Hunger Strike
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Roibeárd Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh, Robert Gerard Sands, was born on March 9th 1954 in Abbots Cross, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland into a Catholic family in a predominantly loyalist district of north Belfast.
His first sister, Marcella, was born in April 1955 and second sister, Bernadette, in November 1958. His parents, John and Rosaleen, had another son, John, in 1962.
Until 1960, when he was 10, he lived in a house in Doonbeg Drive, Newtownabbey (County Antrim, Northern Ireland) whereupon the family were forced to move to Rathcoole, Newtownabbey owing to loyalist intimidation.
His first sister, Marcella, was born in April 1955 and second sister, Bernadette, in November 1958. His parents, John and Rosaleen, had another son, John, in 1962.
Until 1960, when he was 10, he lived in a house in Doonbeg Drive, Newtownabbey (County Antrim, Northern Ireland) whereupon the family were forced to move to Rathcoole, Newtownabbey owing to loyalist intimidation.
On leaving school aged 16, he became an apprentice coach-builder and joined the National Union of Vehicle Builders and the ATGWU. In an article printed in ‘An Phoblacht/Republican News’ on April 4th, 1981, Bobby recalled: "Starting work, although frightening at first became alright, especially with the reward at the end of the week. Dances and clothes, girls and a few shillings to spend, opened up a whole new world to me.”
Bobby’s background, experiences and ambitions did not differ greatly from that of the average ghetto youth. Then came 1968 and the events which were to change his life. Bobby had served two years of his apprenticeship when he was intimidated out of his job. His sister Bernadette recalls: “Bobby went to work one morning and these fellows were standing there cleaning guns. One fellow said to him, ‘Do you see these here, well if you don’t go you’ll get this’ then Bobby also found a note in his lunch-box telling him to get out.”
In June 1972, at the age of 18, Bobby moved with his family to the Twinbrook housing estate in west Belfast, being obliged to leave Rathcoole due to loyalist intimidation. Bernadette again recalled: "We had suffered intimidation for about eighteen months before we were actually put out. We had always been used to having Protestant friends. Bobby had gone around with Catholics and Protestants, but it ended up when everything erupted, that the friends he went about with for years were the same ones who helped to put his family out of their home".
As well as being intimidated out of his job and his home being under threat Bobby also suffered personal attacks from the loyalists. So he joined the Republican movement. Bernadette remembers: .. "he was just at the age when he was beginning to become aware of things happening around him".
Bobby’s background, experiences and ambitions did not differ greatly from that of the average ghetto youth. Then came 1968 and the events which were to change his life. Bobby had served two years of his apprenticeship when he was intimidated out of his job. His sister Bernadette recalls: “Bobby went to work one morning and these fellows were standing there cleaning guns. One fellow said to him, ‘Do you see these here, well if you don’t go you’ll get this’ then Bobby also found a note in his lunch-box telling him to get out.”
In June 1972, at the age of 18, Bobby moved with his family to the Twinbrook housing estate in west Belfast, being obliged to leave Rathcoole due to loyalist intimidation. Bernadette again recalled: "We had suffered intimidation for about eighteen months before we were actually put out. We had always been used to having Protestant friends. Bobby had gone around with Catholics and Protestants, but it ended up when everything erupted, that the friends he went about with for years were the same ones who helped to put his family out of their home".
As well as being intimidated out of his job and his home being under threat Bobby also suffered personal attacks from the loyalists. So he joined the Republican movement. Bernadette remembers: .. "he was just at the age when he was beginning to become aware of things happening around him".
Personal Life
Bobby married Geraldine Noade shortly thereafter at the age of 18, and the couple had a son, Gerard Sands, on May 8, 1973. The marriage, however, was short-lived due to the intensive strain caused by Bobby's active participation in the Republican movement. After suffering a miscarriage during her second pregnancy, Geraldine left to live in England with their son.
When Bobby Sands died of a hunger strike at 27, his seven-year-old son, Gerard, was brought to the Sands family for a sad reunion with his grandparents. It had been over two years since they or Bobby had last seen him.
Mr Sands and Bobby’s younger brother John spaded some soil on to the coffin and then little Gerard was brought forward and given a hand with the heavy spade so that he too could help bury his murdered father.
When Bobby Sands died of a hunger strike at 27, his seven-year-old son, Gerard, was brought to the Sands family for a sad reunion with his grandparents. It had been over two years since they or Bobby had last seen him.
Mr Sands and Bobby’s younger brother John spaded some soil on to the coffin and then little Gerard was brought forward and given a hand with the heavy spade so that he too could help bury his murdered father.