Whether through it never being introduced in the first place (Whitelaw later wrote of his regret in putting it in place) or it never being rescinded by Rees, Special Category Status remains alive and well around the time of the Hunger Strikes IOTL (1977-1981). Or maybe the strikers take the advice of the IRA leadership and drop the strikes before they can catch on. Whatever works.
It's actually fairly hard to discuss this POD because of how severe the ramifications are for Northern Irish politics. The 1981 Hunger Strike helped the popularity of the IRA and contributed greatly to the rise of Sinn Féin, with Gerry Adams winning West Belfast in 83 against Gerry Fitt, the former SDLP leader who criticised the strikers.
But even earlier than that was the Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election. Without Sands it's incredibly likely the nationalist vote would be divided between the SDLP's Austin Currie, Bernadette McAliskey, and Noel Maguire (the brother of the deceased MP). The possible Victor may be former UUP leader Harry West, at the time plotting a comeback, which in itself also has ramifications for unionist politics.
So - how does Northern Irish politics go forward without this?
It's actually fairly hard to discuss this POD because of how severe the ramifications are for Northern Irish politics. The 1981 Hunger Strike helped the popularity of the IRA and contributed greatly to the rise of Sinn Féin, with Gerry Adams winning West Belfast in 83 against Gerry Fitt, the former SDLP leader who criticised the strikers.
But even earlier than that was the Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election. Without Sands it's incredibly likely the nationalist vote would be divided between the SDLP's Austin Currie, Bernadette McAliskey, and Noel Maguire (the brother of the deceased MP). The possible Victor may be former UUP leader Harry West, at the time plotting a comeback, which in itself also has ramifications for unionist politics.
So - how does Northern Irish politics go forward without this?