Member of Parliament Bernadette Devlin meets the world press for the first time since her release from Armagh jail.
On 21 October 1970, having served four months of a six-month sentence for her part in the 'Battle of the Bogside', Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid-Ulster Bernadette Devlin was released from Armagh jail.
At a press conference in Omagh, the first since her release, she is asked about the impact of her time in jail on her political support. Bernadette Devlin feels it might go in her favour as,
People who go to jail tend to be martyrs.
On the other hand, she thinks her jail time could weaken her support, with people deciding she is nothing but a common criminal.
Bernadette Devlin's first public meeting after her release from Armagh jail took place in County Tyrone village of Carrickmore. Some people expressed disappointment with the size and enthusiasm of the crowd present. Bernadette Devlin points out that the event was not a homecoming,
It was essentially a political meeting and people stood and stayed and waited and people will go away and think about it.
She feels an event with singing, dancing and platitudes would not have furthered the cause of the Socialist Workers' Republic.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 October 1970.
