Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, former IRA leader, dies at 74

Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, a former senior IRA member and commanding officer of IRA prisoners during the 1981 hunger strike, has died at the age of 74 after a short illness. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in a deadly bombing in 1975 and led a mass escape from the Maze Prison in 1983. Sinn Féin leaders, including Gerry Kelly and Mary Lou McDonald, paid tribute to McFarlane, highlighting his lifelong commitment to the struggle for a united Ireland and his significant role in the hunger strikes that claimed the lives of ten comrades. McFarlane was later cleared of charges related to a kidnapping case, which had been deemed excessively delayed by the courts. In addition to his political activism, he was known as a talented musician and a respected figure within the Republican community. His death has prompted an outpouring of condolences from friends and supporters who recognized his contributions to the Republican movement.