King's plea for life of IRA man ignored

KING George V made a personal plea to save the life of an IRA hunger striker and was turned down by the government, according to documents kept secret for more than 80 years.

Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, died in Brixton Prison on October 25, 1920 after 73 days without food. His death became a symbol of martyrdom to Republicanism.

The Home Office file has been released early at the Public Record Office after a review by the Lord Chancellor’s department.

MacSwiney had been found guilty by a court martial of possessing a secret cipher to decode police messages, and Republican propaganda.

He began his hunger strike in mid-August after being sentenced to two years in jail and, as international outrage gathered momentum, the King felt obliged to intervene.

He sent a telegram on 25 August from Balmoral saying: "Were he to be allowed to die in prison, results would be deplorable from every point of view. His Majesty would be prepared to exercise clemency if you could so advise and believes this would be a wise course."

But Prime Minister, David Lloyd George was on holiday abroad and most of his senior ministers were out of contact, leaving Home Secretary Edward Shortt to make a decision.

He consulted Winston Churchill, minister for war, and Arthur Balfour, the former Conservative Prime Minister. They wavered, deciding to consult General Sir Nevil Macready, head of security in Dublin. The King, meanwhile, was furious he had been ignored and sent another message, ending with: "The Government know my views and while appreciating difficulty of their position I still advocate clemency."

Unaware of the King’s pleading, Lloyd George told reporters in Lucerne there would be no change of policy and no release for hunger strikers. The King was informed and Alderman MacSwiney’s fate was sealed.