Patsy joined the republican hunger strike on 22 March 1981 in a fight for political status. After sixty-one days without food, Patsy died at 11:29 p.m. on Thursday, May 21st. He was twenty-three years old.

Patsy fought against British tyranny for many years, believing that Ireland would not be free until the birth of a united 32 county socialist republic. Before the hungerstrike began, Patsy declared: "We stand for the freedom of the Irish nation so that future generations will enjoy the prosperity they rightly deserve, free from foreign interference, oppression and exploitation. The real criminals are the British imperialists who have thrived on the blood and sweat of generations of Irish men." The heroic sacrifices of Patsy and nine other hungerstrikers, including fellow INLA volunteers Kevin Lynch and Micky Devine, displayed to the world the commitment and strength of those engaged in the Irish struggle against British imperialism and oppression.

As we pay tribute to Patsy today, and remember in our hearts the sacrifices so many of our comrades have made in the quest for Irish freedom, we must also acknowledge that the struggle continues. There will be no true and lasting peace in Ireland without freedom and justice for the Irish working class. Despite constitutional nationalists' attempts to make deals with the British government, many retain Patsy's ideals and his passion for freedom. As a result, as republicans and socialists we believe that agreements and concessions are not enough to bring about Ireland's liberation, and rededicate ourselves to the ongoing struggle.

In 1998 the battle against injustice may take on different forms but nonetheless, as Patsy said in his dying words to his mother, "Let the fight go on!"