THE daughter of a West Belfast man who became the first 'blanket man' says she is "so proud" that his legacy lives on.
Kieran Nugent was the first IRA prisoner to be sentenced and sent to Long Kesh after Special Category Status was removed, meaning prisoners could no longer wear their own clothes.
When sentenced to three years in the H-Blocks on September 14, 1976, Nugent refused to wear the prison uniform in protest and reputedly told the prison guards they would have to “nail it to my back”.
Within weeks others joined the blanket protest and eventually it escalated to the no-wash protest which culminated in the 1981 hunger strikes when ten republicans died in the H-Blocks. The prison protests would see the prisoners winning the right to wear their own clothes amongst other concessions.
Kieran passed away in 2000 after suffering a heart attack.
This weekend a series of events will take place to mark the 50th anniversary of Kieran Nugent beginning the blanket protest, when he and the prisoners who followed him refused to be criminalised.
Speaking to the Andersonstown News, Kieran's daughter Eileen, said she had only turned 17 when he died.
"There were a lot of things I didn't get to ask him," she said. "He was a very private person really.
"For me, there are two Kierans. First and foremost, he was my daddy. He gave me so much strength and he taught me so much.
"The other side is the Kieran most people knew, as a republican and the first blanket man. He stood up for his community who had had enough. He was a normal family man.
"I am glad his legacy lives on, especially for his grandchildren. They are proud of him and some of them are into their history and stuff. We are all so proud of him.
"It is overwhelming to know so many people still talk about him today. I think he will always be spoken about, long after I have passed.
"This weekend, I will be at all of the events organised. We will all be there as a family. It will be tough and emotional.
"It is actually his birthday on Saturday. He will be looking down on us laughing at all the fuss.
"I still miss him every day."
