CRISIS AT MAGHABERRY

March 22, 2003

ANOTHER REPUBLICAN PRISONER HAS BEEN VICIOUSLY ATTACKED AT MAGHABERRY.

John James Connolly, age28, was viciously attacked yesterday with scalding water thrown at his face while he was taking exercise in the prison yard.  Previously his life has been threatened by loyalist prisoners housed alongside him.  

This attack is the latest in a long string of vicious and brutal attacks against republican prisoners as a result of this failed "forced integration" policy by the British Government.

Please send an email to the NIO and the Northern Ireland Prisons Service HERE to protest this suicidal policy.  This forced integration of republican prisoners alongside loyalist  paramilitaries has resulted in many vicious attacks and death threats against Irish political prisoners and indeed seems designed solely to guarantee the violent death of any one of them.

SEND AN INSTANT E-MAIL TO THE NIO AND NIPS HERE!!! 

Mick Hegarty Appeal - MEDICAL NEGLECT TO IRISH PRISONER

March 05, 2003

In another appalling case of inhuman medical neglect to an Irish prisoner,  life-long republican Mick Hegarty is enduring seven hours a day of self-administered tube feeding under very unsanitary conditions at Portlaoise prison.  Until recently he was feeding himself in this way for twenty straight hours a day.  Mick's doctors have warned him that he must gain several stone immediately or he may not survive.  A recent visitor described his spirits as upbeat despite massive weight loss and incredible suffering. This man is extremely ill and does not belong in prison at all. Please write to the Dublin Justice Minister and voice your humanitarian concerns for the suffering and grave endangerment this man is enduring. 

Please go HERE for sample letter and instant e-mail access to the Dublin Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

REMEMBER KEVIN MURRAY – DON’T ALLOW ANOTHER IRISH POLITICAL PRISONER TO 
DIE NEEDLESSLY OF MEDICAL NEGLECT!!

Belmarsh Prison, London - Irish Prisoner's Leg to be Amputated due to Neglect!

July 5, 2002

In a case of outright medical neglect, Irish prisoner Aidan Hulme (25) is to lose half of his leg in an amputation by prison doctors at Belmarsh Prison, London.

Aidan was badly injured in an auto accident and was receiving medical care for his leg before he was interned at Belmarsh Prison.  Since he arrived there his pain medication has been denied him, and his injured leg has slowly worsened to the point that he must now undergo an operation to have the leg amputated below the knee.

Please write and telephone DAVID BLUNKETT, British Home Secretary:

Home Secretary David Blunkett MP
Home Office
Queen Ann's Gate
London.WC1
SW1H 9AT
Telephone (from US) 011 44 020 7219 4043

Ask him why such barbaric and sadistic "care" is extended to Irish prisoners in British jails.  Why was pain medication withheld from a man with a shattered bone?  Why were "anti-depressants" given instead?  Why was this man's seriously injured leg allowed to deteriorate to the point of amputation?

Read more

 Portlaoise Prison, Ireland - Asbestos Threat to Prisoners

June 28, 2002

Asbestos Threat at Portlaoise - please call and write the Dublin Government Justice Department minister today!

Asbestos is being removed covertly at Portaloise Prison in Ireland.  Many Irish Republican POWs held there have been complaining of a variety of illnesses recently.  With the utter neglect shown to POW Kevin Murray, who was allowed to die after months of complaints regarding his deteriorating health, Irish POWs at Portlaoise fear they will be allowed to become fatally ill before any action is taken at all.

Please call or write the Dublin Justice Minister TODAY at the addresses below.  

Ask why Irish Political Prisoners have not been moved to other locations while the prison is clearly engaged in removing hazardous materials from the building.

Don’t let another Irish Political Prisoner die due to Irish Government neglect!!!

PLEASE WRITE OR CALL THE IRISH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

Michael McDowell
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
72-76 St. Stephens Green
Dublin 2, Ireland

fax: (from US) 011 353 1 661-5461
tele: (from US) 011 353 1 602-8202
email: minister@justice.ie

IFC Letter to the Belfast Telegraph Sunday Life re "Cancer Timebomb" article

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Irish POW Mick Kenny - Ongoing Harassment

June 20, 2002

Irish Political Prisoner Mick Kenny has undergone a ceaseless campaign of harassment and abuse since being arrested; and is now being thwarted at every turn by the Irish Free State Justice Department in his legal right to petition for an appeal.  

Since being transferred one year ago to the notably repressive Wheatfield Prison for "four to six weeks", after a brutal and unprovoked beating by unknown assailants at Portlaoise Prison; Mick has been singled out for unrelenting abuse and harassment by the prison administration.  Mick's mail and telephone privileges are repeatedly withheld, he is not allowed access to his court documents for more than 10 minutes once a week, and attempts are repeatedly made to have scheduled visits by his fiancee and family "cancelled"  when his loved ones arrive at the prison; often after traveling great distances.

PLEASE WRITE OR CALL THE IRISH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

sample letter

Michael McDowell
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
72-76 St. Stephens Green
Dublin 2, Ireland

fax: (from US) 011 353 1 661-5461
tele: (from US) 011 353 1 602-8202
email: minister@justice.ie

Read more:

PETITION FOR MICK KENNY - PLEASE SIGN!

UDA Death Threats to Irish Political Prisoners at Maghaberry

May 23, 2002

Last month Loyalist paramilitary prisoners housed at Maghaberry Prison delivered a written letter to the prison administration, announcing that all Irish Republican Political Prisoners housed alongside them would be targeted for death.   Since then Republican Political Prisoners have been visited in their cells by the Maghaberry Prison staff and the RUC warning them of these threats but not changing any housing arrangements.

Due to the British Government's Criminalization Policy, Irish Republican POWs are housed alongside Loyalist paramilitary prisoners -- an action of governmental recklessness not matched in any other war zone in the world.   Loyalist paramilitary members have already brutally attacked several prisoners, including Ciaran McLaughlin, John Martin Swift, Tommy Crossan; and several others who cannot be named due to their Remand status.

This week another warning was delivered as bullets exploded inside a toaster while a meal was taking place.

Please write to the offices and officials listed below today demanding an immediate end to this senseless policy of housing opponents at war together.  Nowhere in the world is this senseless policy matched.  Ask that Republican POWs and Remand prisoners be given a separate wing immediately.  Remind them that you are aware of the brutal attacks that have already taken place, and that death threats have now been delivered to Irish Republican prisoners by UDA members housed alongside them.

PLEASE TELEPHONE, E-MAIL or WRITE the NIPS and the NIO today.

Sample Letter - copy and paste

NORTHERN IRELAND PRISON SERVICE
Room 321
Prison Service Headquarters
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
BELFAST BT4 3SU
E-Mail: info@niprisonservice.gov.uk
Phone: 028 9052 5065 - (General Enquiry Line)

-----------------

NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE

John Reid MP - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Adam Ingram MP - Minister of State
George Howarth MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Block B
Castle Buildings
Belfast BT4 3STGTN
Phone: 440 02890 520 700 (24 hours)
Fax: 02890 528473/528478/528482
Email: press.nio.@nics.gov.uk

Read More:

•  UDA Death Warnings Issued to Republican POWs at Maghaberry:  IFC NewsList 04 13 02

•  Bullets Found in Maghaberry Prison:  IFC NewsList 05 23 02