A LEADING Sinn Fein councillor, Mr Pat McGeown, was found dead in his home in Belfast last night. It is believed he died of natural causes.
Mr McGeown, who was in his early 40, was a member of the Sinn Fein National Executive and the party's spokesman on prisons.
He was on hunger strike with other H-Block prisoners in the Maze Prison, Long Kesh in the early 1980s, and there was speculation last night that his death was due to heart failure, the ultimate result of his 42 day fast.
Mr McGeown, who was originally from the Beechmont area of West Belfast, was a very active member of Belfast City Council. He was extremely active in local politics in recent years. He was a popular and very prominent figure in Sinn Fein leadership echelons.
Mr McGeown was in Long Kesh serving a 15 year sentence for IRA membership and for bombing the Europa Hotel in the 1975. After an escape bid in 1978, he was kept for 13 months in a cell without furniture as punishment. He began a blanket protest that year, and went on hunger strike in 1981.