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TE$TIMONY OF A PAID AGENT - News updates from McKevitt Trial HERE
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Maghaberry searched for gun used in attack Date: August 27, 2003 No great revelation is expected from these searches as without much doubt the gun has been secreted safely in the hands of whoever smuggled it in in the first place. Maghaberry prison guards have already demonstrated their great “objectivity” in previous attacks against republican prisoners by “looking the other way” as groups of loyalists single out a lone republican for a brutal beating at exercise-- and have apparently also recently allowed for loyalist “summit” meetings to organize further assaults upon protesting republican prisoners. Maghaberry prison guards have also made enormously convenient “accidental” security breaches such as the recent incident in which a loyalist paramilitary prisoner was left unlocked in his cell overnight to prowl a landing housing a lone republican prisoner, taunting and threatening him all night. Now apparently live ammunition and guns are being supplied to loyalist paramilitary prisoners under the noses of these guards. No other conclusion can be drawn but that the British government and the entire institution of Maghaberry Prison is fully intent on delivering the death of a republican prisoner. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ UTV News WEDNESDAY 27/08/2003 10:22:59 NI jail searched for gun after attack "It is a matter of grave urgency that a gun is in the hands of loyalist prisoners and they are prepared to use it" - Marion Price ---- Prison staff searched a top security Northern Ireland jail for a gun today amid fears that loyalist inmates have smuggled a weapon inside. ---- By:Press Association All visits to the Bann House section of Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim, were suspended as warders hunted the cells. Dissident republicans claimed a firearm was pulled during a brutal attack on two men by a gang of loyalists held in the same wing. Seven men were involved in the beating, which left one of the victims with head gashes. As tensions inside the jail deepened, police were also called in to investigate the assault. Both republicans and loyalists have been demanding segregation from their sworn paramilitary enemies. Dissident terrorists linked to the Real IRA and Continuity IRA are also staging a so-called dirty protest, smearing their cells with excrement in a bid to force the authorities to separate them. The government has refused to buckle, but it has set up a special review team to examine safety measures inside Maghaberry, which houses some of Northern Ireland`s most dangerous criminals and paramilitaries. A Prison Service spokeswoman today confirmed all visits to Bann House were cancelled today to allow staff to carry out a search. The decision followed claims that a weapon was produced during the attack on Monday. She confirmed the beating took place at the Bann House wing of the Co. Antrim jail early on Monday. It is understood five of the suspects are affiliated to loyalist paramilitaries. One of those beaten is believed to be a 27-year-old republican from Co Fermanagh who is serving a 14-year sentence for possession of a so-called barrack buster, a bomb made up of a large amount of explosives, usually packed into a large gas cylinder. According to Marion Price of the Real IRA-linked Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association, the loyalists went into his cell and tried to strangle him. ``They beat him about the head with tins of food and then tried to shoot him, but the gun jammed,`` she claimed. ``Another prisoner ran to help him but he was then beaten too. ``It is a matter of grave urgency that a gun is in the hands of loyalist prisoners and they are prepared to use it.`` ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Murder attempt on republican prisoner’s life Date: Wednesday August 27, 2003 New revelations continue to emerge regarding the deadly environment at Maghaberry, with loyalist prisoners now clearly running the prison under the evident complicity of prison guards. In a statement released to the media today, prisoners’ rights spokesperson Martin Mulholland said; “This weeks murder bid on the republican prisoner’s officer commanding, John Connolly, must surely be the last attack before the NIO grant segregation. “The incident occurred on Monday morning as Connolly was returning to his cell after phoning his family. The republican prisoner was rushed in his cell by seven loyalist prisoners who proceeded to beat Connolly to the ground with tins of food in socks and pillow cases. “The loyalists produced a pistol and placed it against John Connolly’s head and pulled the trigger but fortunately the gun jammed. “Another republican prisoner, Gearoid Mag Uaid, ran into the cell on hearing the commotion and was also badly beaten. The loyalists tried to strangle John Connolly before they ran off. The two republican prisoners received severe bruising and gashes to their heads while the loyalists involved in the attack have been placed in the special supervision unit. “No weapon has been recovered yet although many republicans would not be surprised if the weapon has already been smuggled out by the people who smuggled it in. “(We) have information that a loyalist grouping held a meeting in the prison on Sunday night where this and other attacks on republicans were discussed and planned, we are also aware that some of the prison staff knew that this meeting took place yet took no measures to ensure that something like this didn’t happen. “We call for an immediate inquiry into the events of Monday morning and demand that someone is held to account. The Prison Service can no longer deny these events are taking place and avoid public scrutiny as they have done up to now. “The NIO and the Prison Service have some serious questions to answer regarding this incident and must surely now agree that the only common sense solution to the crisis in Maghaberry is immediate segregation. “It is only by sheer good luck that the republican community is not making plans for a funeral today, something that no side in this dispute should welcome.” PLEASE HELP TODAY!!! The Irish Freedom Committee is making a renewed appeal today that all of our Members and supporters in the United States and around the world please take the time today to PHONE, E-MAIL or WRITE to the Northern Ireland Office and the Prisons Service to demand IMMEDIATE SEGREGATION to Republican political prisoners as a HUMAN RIGHT and SAFETY CONCERN. This latest brutal attack now puts the lie to the Prisons Service’s repeated claims that segregation will make things “more dangerous” by allowing prisoners to have more control over their environment. Clearly under the present circumstances this has been the actual result. Loyalist paramilitaries are holding secret “summit meetings” at the prison; roaming the landings in gangs, armed with smuggled weapons probably now in the hands of sympathetic screws; and orchestrating a campaign of violence and death attempts upon republican prisoners’ lives from within the prison. DEMAND IMMEDIATE SEGREGATION FOR IRISH REPUBLICAN POLITICAL PRISONERS AT MAGHABERRY PRISON. RESTORE POLITICAL STATUS NOW!!! The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ LETTER FROM J.J. CONNOLLY - Republican Prisoners Officer Commanding http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/august_2003.htm#letter_jj_maghaberry ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Loyalist paramilitaries taking over Maghaberry Date: Wednesday August 27, 2003 Stories below from today’s news: · UDA Opens Up New Front In Jail Conflict - The NewsLetter · Republicans to be caught up in loyalist prison feud – Andersonstown News ·
Maghaberry visits suspended – BBC News |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE®
NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Republican prisoner brutally attacked for second time Date: Wednesday August 27, 2003 Please send your e-mails, letters and faxes TODAY to the NIO and NIPS – demand IMMEDIATE SEGREGATION for Republican prisoners away from loyalist death squads!! The prison continues to propagate the lie that these attacks do not happen and that there is no threat to the lives of Republican prisoners under its sick policy of forced integration. Clearly this is not the case and in fact the prison now seems intent upon facilitating the brutal death of a Republican prisoner. In a statement yesterday to the press, prisoners’ rights advocate Martin Mulholland said he following: “Yesterday in Maghaberry gaol the O/C (Officer Commanding) of the IRA prisoners, John Connolly was badly beaten by loyalist inmates. Connolly has been beaten on several occasions in the past as have most if not all of the republican prisoners. “As O/C of the republican prisoners, John Connolly is probably the most high profile republican prisoners in Maghaberry and as such is under constant threat from loyalists. Added to this is the fact that Connolly is the only republican on his wing which can include up to sixteen loyalists. It is evident from their past behaviour towards republicans and their families that the prison officers are unwilling to stop these attacks and will lose very little sleep if republicans are beaten. “A loyalist source has stated recently that loyalist prisoners are about to begin a campaign of beating republicans on sight in order to get segregation. (We) are convinced that the assault on the O/C is the beginning of that campaign. Republicans have little or no ability to defend themselves against attack isolated as they are in different parts of the prison. “In the past fortnight UDA leaders in the gaol have been intimidating ordinary Catholic prisoners in an attempt to stop them siding with republicans, this in to ensure that when the beatings start the IRA prisoners are on their own. (We) salute the courage of a number of ordinary prisoners who have refused to be intimidated and have continued to help and support the Protesting prisoners. Mr. Mulholland continued; “(We) call for immediate segregation of republican prisoners before anyone else is beaten or killed. We have no reason to believe that loyalists will not try to kill a republican and if this happen we may well be entering dark days indeed. The situation in Maghaberry could be resolved very easily with a bit of flexibility and common sense. (We) urge the NIPS and the NIO to act now before a situation develops that is harder to resolve.” Please MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Please see the links below for more on what YOU CAN DO and a letter to the IFC from Republican Prisoners Officer Commanding J.J. Connolly. More news to follow – we apologize for any repeat postings as the IFC NewsList has been down for several days. The IFC website has been updated with more news from Maghaberry as well. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ LETTER FROM J.J. CONNOLLY - Republican Prisoners Officer Commanding http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/august_2003.htm#letter_jj_maghaberry IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Marian Price challenges Provo Sinn Fein over death threats Date: August 25, 2003 ---------------------------- Irish Times August 25, 2003 Prominent Dissident Challenges SF Over Death Threat Claims Suzanne Breen A prominent dissident republican is calling on Sinn Féin to state if her life is in danger from the Provisional IRA. Ms Marion Price said the Police Service of Northern Ireland had twice visited her west Belfast home and advised her of a threat from mainstream republicans. Security sources confirmed police contacted her. She was advised to improve her personal security. A former IRA hunger striker, Ms Price is now a spokeswoman for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement which security sources say is the political wing of the "Real IRA", a claim the group denies. There has been speculation recently about a feud between dissident republicans and the Provisional IRA. Ms Price called on Sinn Féin to state if her life was under threat. "I am taking the situation seriously. Sinn Féin has the ear of the Provisionals and I want them to confirm or deny the threat. I know Gerry Adams and I'd like a personal response from him. If the threat is genuine, I'd like to ask why it is there. "If it isn't genuine, then someone is trying to muddy the waters and provoke a republican feud." Ms Price, her sister Dolours, and Sinn Féin's Mr Gerry Kelly, were jailed for life for the 1973 Old Bailey bombing. They later embarked on a hunger strike in English jails. Ms Price is now a critic of the Sinn Féin leadership and claims the peace process is a sell-out of traditional republicanism. Speculation about a feud between the Provisional IRA and dissidents began earlier this month when Mr Adams was told his life was in danger from the "Real IRA". (c) The Irish Times ------------------------------------- The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: RUC deliver Provo death threats to prisoners spokeswoman Marian Price Date: Sunday August 24, 2003 The Irish Freedom Committee has learned that republican prisoners spokesperson and human rights activist Marian Price has been visited by security forces in Belfast and warned that a "very serious" threat on her life has been issued by pro-Treaty Provisionals. In statements to the press today, Belfast human rights campaigner Andy Martin said the following: "In the early hours of Friday morning several (anti-Treaty Republicans) in Belfast were visited by the RUC/PSNI and warned that they were being actively targeted by members of the (pro-Treaty) Provisional IRA. "Among those visited was ... prisoners spokesperson Marion Price. Ms Price was visited again at lunch time the same day when details of the nature of the threat were repeated. Ms Price was advised to step up her security and warned that she should take the threat extremely seriously. "(We) condemn this threat and call on Sinn Fein and PIRA to publically withdraw the threat and if it is non-existent they should investigate its source. It is possible, in light of recent revelations of high level infiltration, that the guiding hand of the British state is at work. "At a time of crisis in the political process and increasing support for the continuing protests in Maghaberry it may be that these threats are a ruse to intimidate and silence anti-agreement republicans. Elements within the media have, for a number of weeks been talking up the possibility of an Oglaigh na hEireann/Provisional feud. "Differences within republicanism should not be settled at gun point but through open and honest debate. "It is with this in mind that (we) challenge the leadership of Sinn Fein to a debate on the issue of national sovereignty and how it can best be restored and maintained." The Irish Freedom Committee echoes the calls for Provisional Sinn Fein to come clean on ongoing death threats, abductions and brutal attacks against republican activists opposed to the British Stormont Treaty. The jackboot is an easy fit indeed for these new “Broy Harriers”. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Hunger strike fear as jail protests continue Date: Sunday August 24, 2003 Please see the link below the news item – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ The Observer Sunday August 24, 2003 Hunger strike fear as jail protests continue Mike Browne --------------- Republicans refuse to end their 'dirty' campaign until they are segregated from loyalist inmates -------------- Republican prisoners yesterday refused to 'make a gesture' to the Steele prison review body, which is examining security at Maghaberry Prison. In a statement to The Observer, the prisoners declared that they were 'willing to see the protest through', and would not end their dirty protest until their demand of segregation from loyalist prisoners was met. This will come as a serious blow to government hopes of averting a prisons crisis, and evokes fears of the 1980-1 hunger strikes, when 10 republican prisoners, led by Bobby Sands, starved themselves to death in pursuit of their political demands, and seriously destabilised the province. The review body was set up by the Secretary of State under the chairmanship of Sir John Steele, a former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and NIO security chief, to consult and report before the end of August on the safety of staff and prisoners in the high-security prison. He has consulted widely, with prison management, staff, interested groups, and some one hundred prisoners, including leading paramilitary figures such as the Shoukri brothers, and the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), linked to the UDA. Tensions have reportedly escalated to 'boiling point' inside the prison, as the numbers of prisoners affiliated to or awaiting trial in connection with paramilitary offences have grown. This summer has seen rooftop protests, fights between some prisoners, hoax devices in the visitors' car park, and even pipe-bomb attacks on prison officers' homes. One republican source confirmed that the panel had asked the republican prisoners for a 'gesture'. But in a call to The Observer yesterday, a statement on behalf of the republican prisoners' leader said: 'Reports of republican prisoners being about to make a gesture by ending their protest is a lie. The protest is ongoing, the men are very determined and willing to see the protest through, as far as it needs to go, until their demands are met.' The authorities see segregation as a return to the 'H-Block' era of the Maze prison, when prisoners on both sides controlled access to their areas, effectively stripping prison staff and authorities of their power to run those areas of the prison. They have insisted that, as the conflict has largely ceased and normality has returned to Northern Ireland post-Good Friday Agreement, so prison authorities should be able to run the prisons normally, and so have attempted to accommodate prisoners from all factions together. Critics, including ex-paramilitaries turned politicians, see this as 'forced integration', an unworkable policy, given paramilitary rivalries, and something totally at odds with segregated society beyond the prison. There are also concerns over manpower shortages, with staff overstretched in supervising ordinary criminals, loyalist and republican prisoners and remand prisoners, and asylum-seekers. One source claimed: 'There are 120 staff on sick leave, so there is no way they can segregate prisoners. It takes three days for staff to answer a phone to arrange a visit.' Marion Price, spokesperson for the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association (IRPWA), has previously predicted that the protest would spread to the other main northern prison, Magilligan, near Derry, which has happened. She has also said the Maghaberry prisoners may escalate their protest, and embark on a hunger strike, a highly emotive policy within republican areas. She told The Observer recently: 'They have to segregate, and nothing short of that. The men have the resolve to see this through.' Now Sinn Fein, at odds politically and militarily with the republican prisoners, has added its voice to the prisoners' demands for segregation. Just last week a senior Sinn Fein delegation, including ex-PIRA hunger-striker Raymond McCartney, met with the Steele panel and called for segregation as a matter of safety. In a statement they accused the prison authorities of double standards, segregating rival loyalist factions but forcibly integrating republicans and loyalists. Loyalists linked to the UDA have also begun a poster and flyer campaign demanding 'separation'. But Tommy Kirkham, UPRG spokesperson, stressed any loyalist campaign was 'non-violent', and that prison staff had nothing to fear from UDA-linked protests. He said: 'We don't want to return to the bad old days, where prisoners ran their own areas in prisons. 'But we are asking for a common-sense approach, on health and safety, environmental health and human rights for our prisoners, and given a guarantee our campaigns will be peaceful. We are not looking for special category status.' A group of approximately 20 republican prisoners began a dirty protest at the prison on 2 July, smearing their cells with their own excrement, in protest at being forced to share wings with loyalist prisoners in the jail. They are then moved to 'special supervision units' while their cells are cleaned, but in the units are reported to be keeping their cells clean. However, one informed source said the republican prisoners may have made a mistake: 'The make-up of the panel shows the Government wants off the hook on the issue. They are coming under pressure from Sinn Fein, who could apply sufficient pressure to resolve this. 'The Government knows this is easily resolved. They tend to take their lead from the prison authorities, and don't get involved. But the prisoners may be making a mistake here - it's not like sufficient momentum has developed on the outside, that would be lost by making a "time-limited, conditional" gesture, to prevent themselves being dragged into meaningless negotiations. 'They should make such a move, but make it clear they will not be forced back onto the wings in forced integration, and the only time they would go on the protest is when the authorities try to integrate them. If they come off the dirty protest, they should be allowed to remain where they are, in the special supervision units, to create a hiatus.' In a statement, the NIO said last night: 'The Secretary of State appointed the review team to look at safety in Maghaberry. John Steele chairs the team carrying out the review, which is continuing. 'It is expected the review team will report to the Secretary of State before the end of the month.' ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Segregation for republican prisoners - LETTER Date: Thursday August 21, 2003 One of many letters sent by IFC members and supporters on behalf of political prisoners rights to immediate segregation. Please MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TODAY. Links at bottom of page to a short sample letter and contact info for the Northern Ireland Office and the Prisons Service. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED URGENTLY. Please don't let this situation ESCALATE into possible HUNGER STRIKES. Please forward this email widely and please take the time today to write or email the offices listed below. Please don’t let these men struggle alone!! For further help in WHAT YOU CAN DO please contact us. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ Mr. Paul Murphy Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland Block B Castle Buildings Belfast BT43STGTN Dear Mr. Murphy, It appears that the growing alarm which many in Ireland and in Irish America feel about the Prison Service's policy of integrating republican prisoners with loyalist ones is still not felt by your office. These republican prisoners have repeatedly been attacked by their loyalist counterparts which has led to their current resistance. Their "dirty protest" which has now continued for weeks will not go away by itself, but will, more than likely, escalate into a malaise which no authority will be able to control. How do we know this? I was actively involved in the attempt to resolve the prison conflict in the late 70's and early 80's which led to the hunger strike, ten deaths and strife in the streets. I only hope that you become convinced that we are heading towards a similar and possibly more desperate situation now. Please use your influence to begin talks with prisoners' representatives and prisoners' families so as to avoid a catastrophe. Segregation of prisoners in Maghaberry and other gaols will lessen the tension and provide for an atmosphere in which negotiation and cooperation might flourish. The alternative is too deadly to ponder. I will use my own influence, in the Irish-American organizations I belong to, to support what we consider a logical and progressive change in policy. I only hope that in the weeks or months to come, I will not be standing outside the prison gates once again, more than twenty years after the H-blocks crisis, asking the Northern Ireland Office to use its common sense, fearful that it is already too late. Respectfully, George McLaughlin Providence, Rhode Island United States of America ************************************************ RELATED STORIES IFC NewsList - Maghaberry OC Meets NIO Sec’y State Paul Murphy – ACTION REQUEST http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/may_2003.htm#jj_oconnor_meets_nio Irish News – An old prison battle... and fears http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/august_2003.htm#oldprisonbattle_irishnews ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners as a HUMAN RIGHT. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Letter from Maghaberry Gaol Date: Wednesday August 20, 2003 Please see the URGENT REQUEST following the letter below – YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED. Don’t allow more body bags to come out of British jails –- demand an IMMEDIATE END to the senseless policy of FORCED INTEGRATION before a terrible repeat of history is the result!!!! The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ Open letter to the IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE from John James Connolly, Commanding Officer, Republican Prisoners, Maghaberry Gaol ++++++++++++++++++++++ Wednesday 13th August 2003 You are probably aware that we are now engaged in a Dirty Protest here in Maghaberry Prison over conditions and the jail administration along with the British Government’s failure to grant us a wing of our own as we are entitled to as Political Prisoners. All we have asked is to be moved away from the loyalist Death Squads and the non-political prisoners onto a wing of our own. We refute totally the tag of criminal with which the British have attempted to label us and our freedom struggle, and we must point to a divisive Partitionist institution of the Six Counties as the sole criminal aspect of the present struggle. My dearest American friends, all of us Republicans here were arrested and interrogated and often beaten and tortured in PSNI/RUC (police) barracks and then processed through special non-jury courts where we were then sentenced to lengthy terms of imprisonment. These attempts to criminalize us are designed to depoliticise the very core of the Irish National struggle, and my dear friends during this period many religious figures and political organizations both Nationalist and Unionist, Republican and loyalist; have condemned the authorities and government for letting it spiral out of control and into the situation that is now. Despite appeals from all sides for a solution to the problem here in Maghaberry, the British government has remained intransigent and has displayed an utter disregard and vindictive arrogance in dealing with the problem. The Brits refuse to treat this issue in a realistic manner, which is just another reflection of their whole attitude to the entire Irish question. I John Connolly on behalf of the (republican prisoners) leadership call on all our friends and supporters and comrades in America and Canada to rise up and give us your full support. We are faced with history repeating itself and we call on your support comrades! May God bless all who support us in America! Is meas le mea; JOHN JAMES CONNOLLY Commanding Officer - Republican Prisoners - Maghaberry Prison ++++++++++++++++++++++ YOUR HELP IS NEEDED URGENTLY. Please don't let this situation ESCALATE into possible HUNGER STRIKES. Please forward this email WIDELY and please take the time today to write or email the offices listed below. Please don’t let these men struggle alone!! For further help in WHAT YOU CAN DO please contact us. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ Please forward this urgent request – EVERY VOICE COUNTS!! IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the Northern Ireland Office and Prisons Service – Demand IMMEDIATE SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners as a HUMAN RIGHT. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: An old prison battle... and fears Date: Tuesday August 19, 2003 ----------------------------- Irish News August 19, 2003 An old prison battle... and fears Bimpe Fatogun With republican prisoners entering the fifth week of a dirty protest in Maghaberry determined to continue until segregration is won and prison authorities and staff equally insistent they will not return to the days of the H-blocks, Bimpe Fatogun investigates if there is any possible solution. The spectre of the republican hunger strikes looms over the sullen grey buildings that make up Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim, as inmates enter their fifth week of protest. On Wednesday July 2, a hardcore group of inmates aligned to dissident republican groups embarked upon a campaign of protest which has provoked unease among those familiar with prison history in Northern Ireland. Sixteen prisoners, ranging in age from their mid twenties to early thirties, continue to mount their ‘dirty protest’ – smearing their own excrement on the walls of their cells. Their demand for segregation from loyalist inmates, which has prompted a review of security by the Northern Ireland Office, began in earnest following an influx of high profile UDA men to the jail. The fallout from the bitter loyalist feud earlier this year saw former C-company ‘commander’ Johnny Adair returned to prison, to be followed shortly afterwards by rivals William ‘Mo’ Courtney and brothers Andre and Ihab Shoukri. It was a rumour – the origin of which remains a mystery – that a republican had been asked to share a cell with Courtney which sparked an outcry culminating in vandalism of cells and the start of the dirty protest. Their representatives claim that the protesters’ morale remains high and they are determined to continue their protest until they achieve their ultimate goal of segregation from loyalists. But the fear exists that the dirty protest represents the first step on a road which led to the deaths of Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Thomas McElwee and Michael Devine in 1981. As prison authorities insist there will be no going back to the days of segregation and the infamous H-blocks of the Maze, the prisoners insist they will not back down until they achieve an end to what they term “forced integration”. Marion Price, of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association, said they are focused on their objective. “The protest is continuing. The men are still on dirty protest and will continue with that until they get what they are looking for and achieve segregation. They are very determined and morale is very good,” she said. Ms Price, who was herself force fed in an English prison along with her sister Dolours after embarking on a hunger strike following their imprisonment for a London bombing in 1973, said the return of political status for republican inmates was non-negotiable. “With safety and political status, one follows from the other. The main thing, at the minute, the men want is segregation from loyalists. I don’t think that’s too much to ask,” she said. “Republicans are political prisoners. No matter what way the system tries to change, that’s not going to change. That’s just a fact of life. The sooner they wake up to that the better.” However, both prison authorities and officers warn that any change in the current system would endanger both inmates and staff. Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Northern Ireland Prison Officers Association, said wardens would oppose any return to segregation. “The Maze was a segregated system and it was very volatile for prison staff. There was no control of prisoners, prisoners had control of us,” he said. “The government gave in and we were piggy in the middle... that’s what this is all about – to try to get back to those days to implement old republican and loyalist houses in the Maze... Segregated areas were no-go areas for person officers.” On this issue the unions are in complete agreement with their employers. A senior prison source told the Irish News that integration was non-negotiable and was here to stay. “Segregation is no more, no less than power and control. Power and control for them to actually determine who comes into their area, for them to manage their own affairs,” the source said. “Once the Maze closed that was the end of segregation. We are supposed to be trying to get into a more normal society. That means staff in control of the situation. “In the Maze, staff couldn’t walk down wings without seeking permission of people in charge of that wing. Murders, beatings, bombs, people thrown out of windows, escapes, kangaroo courts. That’s the reality of segregation... Everyone in prison, including staff, become victims of segregation. This isn’t the way forward if Northern Ireland wants to move ahead. “People keep saying we should learn the lessons of the Maze and that’s exactly what we have done. Maghaberry and Magilligan has been open for nearly 20 years and has been run as an integrated prison for nearly 20 years. “We have never had problems or incidents on anything like the scale the Maze has. Segregation is inherently unsafe. Prisons now are about dealing with people as individuals.” But as far as Raymond McCartney, who took part in the 1980 hunger strike at the Maze, is concerned forced integration is an unworkable system. “I was doing some work for an ex-prisoners group as far back as 18 months/two years ago and with the increase in the number of people going into Maghaberry, it became clear that a policy of forced integration was never going to work and has just had no prospect of working in future. It comes down to the sheer volume of prisoners,” he said. He added that he sees parallels between today’s protest and the 1976-81 action. “I think obviously there are always parallels, whether or not they are direct... It is different but if people feel that their lives are in jeopardy no-one is in a position to predict what they will do,” Mr McCartney said. “It is best to listen to what the prisoners are saying. Despite people trying to approach a sort of process of dialogue, it seems to have stepped up when they took that direct action and it all of a sudden became very much the topic on the news. “The whole experience of 1981 is something no-one would ever want to see repeated, emotionally and every other way, but nobody can ever predict the future.” Professor Kieran McEvoy, who works in Queen’s University of Belfast’s Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, sees at the centre of the campaign for segregation a battle for power within the jail. “It is a complex issue, with both positive and negative associations for both prisoners and prison managers. It changes the power, the relationship shifts power from managers,” he said. “If you have a group of 50 prisoners and you can treat them as 50 individuals, you have power over them. However, suddenly an organised group can, with a command structure, shift that power. “It is too simplistic to say segregation is always a bad thing. In order to get things done staff need the co-operation of the prisoners and dealing with an organised collective can sometimes help to achieve that.” Prof McEvoy added that segregation does not inevitably lead to more violence within prisons. “Certainly on the question of the safety of prisoners, most people charged or convicted prefer to be segregated, feel more safe, less vulnerable to attack,” he said. “Often they are engaged in acts of violence for a particular motive. If that objective is achieved, prison staff are likely to be safer. You do not generally get wanton acts of violence. You get violence directed towards a particular objective.” Prof McEvoy believes that, despite some practical arguments in favour of segregation, prison authorities see it psychologically as a bridge too far – creating an “ideological battleground” within the jail. “Prison staff and managers saw a complete shift in the natural order of prison and are loathe to let that happen again, loathe to allow such a dramatic shift in power balance,” he explained. “However, the danger that history would teach is that to start to use prisons as a battleground for broader political issues can be very destabilising. “The segregation issue goes to the heart of whether people are regarded as politically motivated or not.” He believes only time will tell whether the prisoners will take the final step and embark on a hunger strike. “A lot will depend on the determination of prisoners involved. If dealing with determined prisoners willing to go on dirty protests it could progress to include hunger strikes,” he said. “A pragmatic approach to resolving this issue is the right way forward...The strategy of struggle is not a wanton act, one that in the past has been very self-defeating. The reason hunger strikes happened was that dirty protests were seen to have failed.” Marion Price maintains that hunger strikes “always remain a possibility”. “I have absolutely no doubt that these men are very determined and have the calibre to carry this through to the end. That’s a dangerous thing to get to that stage, the ante is upped very much for everything... It doesn’t become restricted to actual prison,” she said. “There’s great determination on behalf of these young men to take it the full way... I don’t want to see that happening but I know the calibre of people we are dealing with. They know exactly why they are in prison and are well capable of seeing this through. It is not on a whim. They sat for a long time and thought it out and planned what they were going to do.” Ms Price believes the authorities will eventually give in to prisoner demands. “They don’t have an option, there is no other way out of this,” she said. “I hope that they would see sense... With a bit of goodwill this can be sorted out very easily.” ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Maghaberry prisoners' legal bid denied - NO LEGAL ACCESS Date: Thursday August 14, 2003 ------------------------------- UTV News THURSDAY 14/08/2003 13:29:00 'Dirty' protest prisoners fail in legal bid Ten republican prisoners on a "dirty" protest at Maghaberry Prison lost a High Court action today against being denied access to their lawyers. The Lord Chief Justice Sir Robert Carswell said the prison authorities acted lawfully in suspending legal visits after the prisoners refused to clean their cells which they had smeared with their own excrement. Dismissing an application for a judicial review of the decision, the Chief Justice said standards of hygience, health and safety had to be maintained and the response by the prison authorities was "proper and necessary." But he said the situation had to be kept under review because of the difficulties that might arise for prisoners preparing a legal defence for their trials. Frank O`Donoghue, QC, said he anticipated receiving instructions to appeal as four of the prisoners were due to stand trial next month. The prisoners - seven are on remand awaiting trial and the other three are serving sentences - are now in the fifth week of their protest over demands for segregation from loyalists. Today`s hearing was told that some of them have been given up to five spells of solitary confinement arising out of their protest. On each occasion their cells were cleaned by contractors but when they returned they re-commenced their "dirty" protest. ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: UDA Leader moved to sentenced wing - Maghaberry Date: Tuesday August 12, 2003 The Irish Freedom Committee has learned that the prisons service has moved UDA leader Andre Shoukri onto the sentenced wing at Bann House, where up to ten republican prisoners are on their fourth week of dirty protest. Up to ten remand (unsentenced) republican prisoners are also on dirty protest at other houses at the prison. Prisoners’ rights spokesperson Martin Mulholland has said today that this move has caused tensions at the prison to rise even higher, “if that is possible”. Mulholland said that previously to being relocated, “Shoukri is alleged to have threatened all Catholics on the (sentenced) wing if they side with the republican prisoners during the on going no-wash/dirty protest. “Due to the fact that many prisoners are being refused regular visits and phone calls it is impossible for them to maintain regular contact with their families and our activists. “Many ordinary nationalist prisoners have volunteered to phone out messages on behalf of the republican prisoners and have provided newspapers so that the prisoners can see the growing support for them on the outside. “One such nationalist prisoner, Kevin Cassidy from the Ardoyne has been moved to the vulnerable prisoners unit as a result of these threats.” According to Mullholland and other observers this move by the prisons service indicates a further attempt by the prison to make the conditions for republican prisoners even more difficult-- and perhaps even deadly. Recently at Bann House a loyalist prisoner was left unlocked all night on the landing housing republican OC John James Connelly, where he spent the night taunting and threatening Connelly from outside his cell door. Andre Shoukri was arrested last year after being caught with a handgun and 30 rounds of ammunition. In a blatant contradiction to the type of Diplock “justice” given to republican prisoners, Shoukri was granted bail until his sentencing, enjoying his freedom until the case was heard; and was then sentenced by the court to six years. This is in marked contrast to sentences over twice as long given to republicans accused of being “caught” with weapons that were not even in their possession. The Irish Freedom Committee urges all of our members and supporters to please contact the Northern Ireland Prisons Service and the Northern Ireland Office TODAY at the contact addresses provided below. Use the short sample letter provided or your own words. Be direct, firm, and stress the urgency of the situation as a HUMAN RIGHTS concern. According to Mulholland, “(We) recognise that the regime in Maghaberry doesn’t just have a negative impact on republican POW’s but on ordinary prisoners as well, and so we call for a humane prison system for ALL prisoners and the immediate segregation for republican prisoners as the first step in the restoration of political status.” Please help the prisoners and their families have their voices heard before it’s too late!! Call, write or e-mail TODAY. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ IFC NewsList May 30, 2003 Security lapse endangers prisoner's life http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/may_2003.htm#jj_oconnor_security_lapse_threat ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH
FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Brutal beatings of visitors at Maghaberry Date: Monday August 10, 2003 This incident and its subsequent denials by the Northern Ireland Prisons Service have PUT THE LIE to numerous other “denials” issued in recent weeks, namely: that · Republican prisoners “have not” been beaten by prison staff during the present protests, · Republican prisoners “have not” been hosed down in their cells with water cannons; · Sniffer dogs “are not” selectively pulled down into seated position when male relatives of particular prisoners visit; · A republican prisoner “was not” put into the same cell as known loyalist paramilitary prisoner Mo Courtney; · Vicious attacks against republican prisoners by loyalists housed alongside them are “infrequent”; and · Innocent family members “are not” being criminalized by harassment and threats and now vicious brutality during visits---- · ALL LIES. Please write TODAY to the NIPS/NIO at the addresses provided below the following statements from Marian Price and Martin Mulholland, describing Sunday's brutal attacks in great detail. More news to follow soon. PLEASE HELP THE PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. ---------------------------------- Brutality against family members at Maghaberry August 11, 2003 In statements today addressing the brutal attacks against three men visiting loved ones at Maghaberry Prison, prisoners' rights advocates Marian Price and Martin Mulholland described the attacks as "almost unprecedented" and called for an immediate inquiry into the incident. According to statements released to them media Price and Mulholland said that: "
The brutality against republicans that is common place in Maghaberry
gaol was yesterday used against prisoner’s relatives and friends. In
an almost unprecedented incident three young men from the Tyrone area
were set upon by the prison riot squad after asking to see the governor,
following an attempt to stop one of their number from entering the
visiting area. A sniffer dog halted at two of the men indicating that
they could not progress into the main area for visits; other members of
the visiting party then made a complaint to the prison staff asking to
see the governor and were told that the governor didn’t want to see
them. The men told prison staff that they would not leave the area until
they had met the governor to complain about the use of the dog to
prevent visits with republican prisoners at which point they were told
f*** you and f*** the republican prisoners, the prison officer then hit
a panic button and seconds later the riot squad arrived and moved
everyone from the area and proceeded to assault the young men. The power
to the gaol was turned off and the members of the riot squad shouted to
the prison officer to turn of the cameras. All through out the incident
the riot squad repeatedly laughed and joked that it was a good job that
the cameras were turned off. The men were then taken to a different part
of the gaol were they were assaulted further and told that they had no
rights. One of the men was called “Fenian scum” while another was
told that there were 200 loyalists at the gate who would “tear him
apart like The Irish Freedom Committee continues to urge all of our members and supporters to contact the Prisons Service and the Northern Ireland Office to demand IMMEDIATE SEGREGATION to republican prisoners and for an immediate inquiry into this outrageous attack upon civilians visiting its jail.
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| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Visitors assaulted at Maghaberry Date: Sunday August 10, 2003 For more on the well-documented abuse by Maghaberry prison officers against visiting family members see the IFC Report from Maghaberry: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/february_2003.htm#REPORT_FROM_MAGHABERRY Republican prisoners at Maghaberry are now in their FOURTH week of dirty protest over demands for SEGREGATION. Please help by MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD – see the link at the bottom of this post. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ BBC News Sunday, 10 August, 2003, 16:06 GMT 17:06 UK Prison denies visitor assaults A safety review of the prison was announced this week It has been claimed that three visitors to the high-security Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland have been assaulted and detained by prison officers. Marion Price of the Irish Republican Welfare Association said the men, a brother and two friends of an inmate, were assaulted at the County Antrim jail on Sunday afternoon. The men were refused entry to the visiting room on Sunday because a sniffer dog sat down in front of one of them. When the men protested, Ms Price said they were assaulted by prison service staff. "Apparently the riot squad was sent for and immediately when they arrived they started to beat the three young men. "One visitor coming out of the prison said the men were 'beaten stupid', that was the term he used." The prison service confirmed that three visitors were removed from the prison to the reception area when they refused to comply with stafff instructions. However a statement issued by the service denied the men had been assaulted. "When they refused, the vistiors were removed by prison service staff to visits reception where they were detained by the police," the statement said. "The Prison Service absolutely refute any allegation of mistreatment of the visiotrs involved." ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Free State prisons service toying with Mick Kenny Date: Sunday August 10, 2003 Irish republican POW Mick Kenny needs your help. See the sample letter below – please send an email to Free State Department of Justice Minister Michael McDowell as soon as possible at the email address below to the DOJ know that YOU ARE WATCHING. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ Department of Justice Michael McDowell, T.D. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 72-76, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. Phone: (From US) 011 353 1 - 6028202 Fax: (From US) 011 353 1 - 6615461 E-mail: minister@justice.ie ************************************************ ****(Copy and paste text below into body of e-mail -- address above)**** Department of Justice Michael McDowell, T.D. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 72-76, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. Dear Minister Michael McDowell; I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the treatment of Mick Kenny at Mountjoy Prison. It is my understanding that Mick Kenny has been denied his right to an appeal for over two years now, and has seemingly been singled out for abusive and harassing treatment since his incarceration in 1999. I am aware that Mick was very severely beaten to unconsciousness at Portlaoise on his admittance there and his attackers were never identified. I am aware that he was then transferred to Wheatfield prison “temporarily” in July 2001 for what was to have been four to six weeks, but what instead became nearly one year. I am also aware that since his subsequent transfer to Mountjoy Training Unit in May of 2002, Mick has repeatedly applied to be sent to Shelton Abbey to complete his sentence, as is his right. However in the past week I have learned that the prison board at Mountjoy has been seemingly toying with this prisoner in a manner that can only be seen as deliberately malicious. I am writing to you to ask why, and to what purposes, would the prison governor at Mountjoy repeatedly over the past week inform Mick Kenny that he was to pack and be ready for immediate transfer to Shelton Abbey; and then tell him there was a “mistake” and he was to stay – and then repeat the same process again and again in following days? Minister McDowell, I am extremely concerned that Mick Kenny has being singled out for selective and abusive treatment. Clearly Mick’s legal right to an appeal has been thwarted for reasons unknown. While this alone is curious, it seems that the recent and deliberate attempts to harass and punish him are nothing short of cruel and unusual. The favor of a reply is requested. Thank you; (your name/country here) ************************************************ FOR MORE INFORMATION: Justice for Mick Kenny Discussion Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/justiceformickkenny/ IFC POW Dept- MICK KENNY http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/mick%20kenny.htm IFC NewsList – June 16, 2002 “Wheatfield Prison Tactics Exposed – POW Mick Kenny” http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/june_2002.htm#Wheatfield%20Prison%20Tactics%20Exp IFC Action Request – June 20, 2002 “Irish POW Mick Kenny - Ongoing Harassment” http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/action_request.htm#Mick%20Kenny ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Maghaberry Prison: Families denied visits, men under 24-hour lock-up Date: August 8, 2003 The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ Irish News August 8, 2003 Families claim inmates denied visiting rights Simon Doyle The mother of a republican prisoner at Maghaberry prison last night said demands for segregation must be met to ensure inmates’ safety. Dolores Dillon, whose son Sean is taking part in a ‘dirty protest’, criticised the Prison Service for preventing visits to the republican inmates taking part in the protest. And she said the jail could no longer house republican and loyalist prisoners in the same wings after her son received a loyalist death threat. However, last night in response a Prison Service spokeswoman would only say: “The Prison Service rejects these allegations.” Sean Dillon, who has been on remand since February 2001, is now in the fourth week of a protest aimed at gaining segregation from other inmates. Mr Dillon, from Roughan Way in Coalisland, Co Tyrone is denying charges of possessing a rocket launcher with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to murder members of the security forces. The charges relate to the discovery of an RPG22 rocket launcher and warhead close to a police station in Coalisland. His mother Dolores said last night that her son and other republican prisoners were being denied their visitation rights. “The families are not getting visits, prisoners are not allowed to make phone calls, there are no letters, they are not allowed their solicitors in. “There has been no communication whatsoever,” Mrs Dillon said. “Sean has received a death threat from loyalists. Police have been in to inform him of this. My main concern is the safety of my son and other prisoners. “His uncle was murdered by the LVF and I am too well aware of what can happen.” In 1997 Mr Dillon’s uncle, Seamus Dillon, was working as a doorman at the Glengannon Hotel, Dungannon, when he was shot dead by the LVF. The attack took place 12 hours after the killing of Billy Wright. Martine Patterson, whose partner Terry McCafferty is also on the ‘dirty protest’, also hit out at conditions at the Co Antrim prison. “They are not even allowed to see the chaplain in Maghaberry, or go to Mass. “It is 24-hour lock up. The only time they get out is when they get a visit which is very rarely. We have had only one visit out of five in the last two weeks,” she said. Secretary of State Paul Murphy appointed a panel this week to review prison safety at the jail. The three-man panel will review prison staff and inmates’ concerns. ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Civil Rights Veterans challenge HRC fact-finding at Maghaberry Date: August 8, 2003 The Civil Rights Veterans have told the Irish Freedom Committee that while they encouraged the fact-finding mission last week by Human Rights Commisioner Brice Dickerson to Maghaberry Prison, they were angered and disappointed to learn that that hospital records, detailing numerous attacks against republican prisoners, were not reviewed at the visit. Fionnbarra Ó Dochartaigh of the CRV told us that these records could have documenteded the “location, severity, and frequency of sectarian attacks against republican prisoners on a landing by landing basis”. The HRC Report is scheduled to be released on August 11. Its veracity will be questioned by the CRV if the hospital records are not taken into consideration in addressing ongoing violent attacks against republican prisoners. The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ Report from DERRY NEWS, by Darinagh Boyle, Thurs. 7 August 2003 HRC to report on Maghaberry crisis THE HUMAN RIGHTS Commission is to publicly report next week on the situation in Maghaberry Gaol where three Derrymen are among prisoners on dirty protest against the prison’s forced integration regime. The four-person fact-finding delegation, led by the Commission Chief Mr. Brice Dickson told Fionnbarra Ó Dochartaigh of the Civil Rights Veterans Association they would make a statement on August 11. The development follows an announcement* by the British Secretary of State Paul Murphy. The team visited the prison at the request of the CRV who specifically asked them to review their position on the prison authority’s “duty of care” to prisoners. Mr. Ó Dochartaigh said Prof. Brice Dickson assured him the Commission would report at length on their findings “having considered everything they saw and heard on their visit”. The delegation spoke to six protesting prisoners and six non-protesting prisoners. However it is understood that they did not ask to see the hospital records – which CRV claim would provide a more accurate record of assaults in the prison than those reported to prison services. In the prevailing jail culture prisoners tend not to report attacks by other inmates to the prison authorities – thus hospital records offer the most accurate record of injuries sustained on the wings. Ciaran McLaughlin, Seamus Doherty and Tony Friel are among around ten prisoners on the dirty protest. Families of the men are said to be living in fear of assaults on republican prisoners occupying wings where they are outnumbered by loyalist prisoners. And as tensions escalated further last week, fears of a hunger strike mounted if the crisis is not resolved. Flexibility needed Speaking last night to the Derry News, Mr. Ó Dochartaigh described the current situation as dangerous and he urged “flexibility” on the prison authorities and ultimately the British government. The CRV has lobbied dozens of politicians, agencies and individuals ‘to make their position clear’ on the integration issue. Mr. Ó Dochartaigh said, “We argued that the issue in the jail is primarily about safety and the human rights aspects around that. Enforced integration is putting prisoners’ at serious risk and in our view is contrary to their human rights. “Forcing prisoners to live cheek by jowl inside the prison when it can’t be done outside in the community – is an absurd and dangerous policy. “Specifically we have asked for access to the hospital records to highlight the number of attacks, how many of them have been sectarian and on what wings are they most frequent.” If assaults continue we will be asking the Human Rights Commission to return. Pickets highlighting the prisoners’ plight are expected out sidethe British Home Office at Queen Anne’s Gate London and in Coalisland this weekend. * Secretary of State John Murphy this week set up a team to review safety relating to both prison staff and prisoners. The CRV has urged the relatives of republican prisoners to make their voices heard to this “safety review” team, at the earliest possible opportunity. Mr. Ó Dochartaigh, a co-founder of the six county Civil Rights Assoc. in 1967, is an author and historian. Amongst his best known works is ULSTER’S WHITE NEGROES – From Civil Rights to Insurrection (AK PRESS 1994) ************************************************ IFC Action Request – MAGHABERRY PRISON Please send an email to the NIO and NIPS – Demand SEGREGATION for Irish republican political prisoners. Short SAMPLE LETTER and contact info HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/july_2003.htm#action_request_maghaberry ************************************************ © The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates |
| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST ----------------------------- Subject: Last day U.S. Senate PHONE BLITZ Date: Friday August 1, 2003 ===IFC ACTION REQUEST=== Special Attn: Residents of CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, INDIANA, KANSAS, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, and WYOMING ======================================================== ***Please foreword this message widely!**** Please phone your Senators TODAY - Residents of States above represented by a Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - Your help is especially needed!! As the one-month summer recess for the US Senate fast approaches at the end of this week, it is of vital importance that each and every Irish American activist, no matter on which side of the 1998 Agreement you stand, to contact your elected Senators to loudly protest the underhanded and secretive British Extradition Treaty currently set to be considered by the US Senate for ratification. This Treaty will affect anyone who has ever spoken out against British military rule in Ireland or against human rights abuses in occupied Ireland – the wording of the Treaty specifically removes any statute of limitations for “extraditable offenses”. Before this Treaty reaches the individual Senate members for consideration, it will be received by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; who will either pass it or reject it. If the Senate Foreign Relations Committee rejects it, it will in all likelihood go no further. Please look over the names of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee members listed below. We strongly encourage all of our Members and supporters to contact the Washington DC offices of these Senators as soon as possible, either by letter or by phone, to register your opposition to this outrageous decimation of the United States Constitution at the behest of a foreign government. If you are a resident of CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, INDIANA, KANSAS, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, or WYOMING, -- the states whose Senators make up the Foreign Relations Committee-- your help is especially needed. See the additional link for more local addresses to contact if you live in these states. Senators will place more value upon the issues that come from their own constituents, and will have a greater interest in your concerns if you are potentially someone who will vote for them. For more information about the US/UK EXTRADITION TREATY AND ASSETS SHARING AGREEMENT go HERE: http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/extradition_treaty_ACTION.htm Please act today before it’s too late! The Irish Freedom Committee® www.irishfreedomcommittee.net ************************************************ "Be proud that this is a nation of immigrants, but be even prouder to say, 'We are all Americans.'" — Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee; as quoted on his website intro =========================================== The SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE DEMOCRAT and REPUBLICAN members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Go HERE for full list and contact info
Find your Senators HERE: http://www.senate.gov/index.htm |