Did this plane have a history of damage from a tail strike?
Yes. It had a tail strike in 2001 in Cairo.
“Geoffrey Thomas, the Perth-based editor of Airlineratings.com, said he believed damage from a “tail-strike” during a heavy landing in Cairo 14 years ago was the most likely cause of Saturday’s crash that killed 224 people.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-04/evidence-points-to-tail-damage-being-likely-cause-of-plane-crash/6913122
“The aircraft, last registered as EI-ETJ (and on lease from ILFC to Kogalymavia, operating under the Metrojet brand) had been involved in a tail strike on November 1, 2001, when it flew as F-OHMP for Lebanese carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA). In what looked like an unstable approach to Cairo International Airport’s runway 5R, the aircraft suffered severe rear fuselage damage upon landing. The aircraft was subsequently repaired and returned to service in early 2002, no details about the repair have become public so far.”
http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/metrojet-airbus-a321-inflight-break-emerges-likely-scenario