Pat died in front of his children o.t.d. 1989

On this day in 1989, human rights lawyer Pat Finucane was murdered by paramilitaries in front of his family, whilst eating sunday dinner. Pat was said to have represented Irish republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands. No further details.
In 1973 Catholic families were being driven out of Belfast. The Rathcoole housing estate, Newtownabbey, County Antrim was reportedly built to house displaced families. John and Rosalene Sands moved there with their four children Bobby, Marcella, Bernadette and John. Demographics, believed to be 30% Catholic. Sectarian violence was reported to be on the increase. According to reports, employment opportunities were monopolised by supporters of Britain.
Due to an attack on their home by an as called loyalist mob, the family moved again, to west Belfast. Bobby, the oldest son was accused of joining the as called Provisional IRA around 1972 when four handguns were reportedly found in a place he was staying. No further details. He spent three years in prison. On release, he was suspected of being a co-plotter of a bombing of a furniture company. There was reportedly a gun battle at the scene involving the then ruc, leaving two men behind injured. Bobby was one of four men in a car which was stopped by police who reportedly found one of the revolvers used in the attack. Bobby was imprisoned. Human rights abuses began straight away. He was chosen as a representative of IRA prisoners in Long Kesh. Accused of protests, there have been accusations concerning prison conditions. Excrement apparently was smeared on prison walls leading to unsanitary conditions, and hunger strikes. Bobby was elected a member of parliament while on hunger strike. He was among ten prisoners who died of starvation in 1981. His funeral was said to have been attended by 100,000 people.