This time 23 years ago:

The failure of the shaky agreement reached between POWs in Long Kesh prison and British officials following the 1980 hungerstrike sent the prisoners to decide on the 1981 strike
In response to the destruction, the British prison officials refused the POWs water and blankets. It was not until many prisoners threatened to contact their solicitors concerning the matter that they received water. These refusals were in direct violation of the rules that the British prison officials long cited as the reason for not allowing the Republican POWs to have their five demands.

This series of incidents was followed by a campaign of intensified hatred by the screws towards the POWs. Beatings were handed out without warning for talking and not walking fast enough to suit the Brits orders. This scenario, typical of the British prison system regarding Republicans, only helped to reinforce the upcoming hungerstrike.
  ¶ 3:23 a.m.