Michael Gaughan (Irish republican) died at Parkhurst after a 64 day hunger strike. In December 1971, Gaughan was sentenced at the Old Bailey to seven years imprisonment for his part in an IRA bank robbery in Hornsey, north London, which yielded just £530, and for the possession of two revolvers. On 31 March 1974, Gaughan went on hunger strike demanding political status. British policy at this time was to force feed hunger strikers. Gaughan was force-fed 17 times during course of his hunger strike. The last time he was force-fed was the night before his death on Sunday, 2 June. After a hunger strike that lasted 64 days, he died on Monday 3 June 1974, aged 24 years old.