JENNIFER McCann (47) was once one of the most senior IRA women in the North. She joined the republican movement as a schoolgirl and was arrested five times before she was 18.

She grew up in Twinbrook and was once friends with Bobby Sands and his sister, Bernadette.

She experienced extreme loyalist sectarianism. When she was a child, the McCanns, like the Sands' family, were forced from their home in loyalist Rathcoole in north Belfast.

Even travelling to school had been tortuous: "The intimidation got so bad we had to wear our own clothes to school rather than our uniforms so they couldn't be identified [religiously], " she has said.

McCann joined Cumann na gCail�n�, the republican organisation for girls, selling Republican News and taking part in parades. At 17, she joined the IRA. Bobby Sands was prominent: "He was a great role model and great with young people.

He always had time for everybody and brought himself to your level. He was never arrogant and treated everybody with respect."

At 20, McCann was arrested for shooting an RUC man. She was injured in the attack and was beaten in Castlereagh. She wouldn't recognise the court, declaring Bobby Sands - who had just started his hunger-strike - and his comrades were political prisoners and so was she. In his diary, Sands wrote he was "touched and proud" she was his comrade.

She was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. McCann is married to ex-IRA prisoner, Rabb Kerr. They have three children. On release from jail, she rejoined the republican movement in a prominent position.

She has worked on a community drugs' programme.

McCann is a strong supporter of the Sinn F�in leadership's strategy.

"This conflict has been a long and hard one and I have seen a number of close friends and comrades die long before their time, " she has said.