Irish Freedom Committee NewsList- February 2003

IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
-----------------------------

Subject: Derry Journal - Support for Dissidents 'Growing Stronger'
Date: 02 27 03

For the Irish Freedom Committee Report of the Derry conference please go here

The Irish Freedom Committee®
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
************************************************

Derry Journal
Support for Dissidents 'Growing Stronger'
Feb 25 2003

DISSIDENT REPUBLICANS told a weekend conference in Derry that opposition to the Good Friday Agreement continues to grow stronger throughout Ireland.

The statement was made on behalf of republican prisoners serving sentences at Magaberry prison during a specially convened conference on the struggle for political status for dissident republican prisoners in Derry on Saturday.

The meeting, in the Ancient Order of Hibernians' building in Foyle Street, was attended by a number of leading dissident republicans, former prisoners and relatives of prisoners.

An American couple, understood to be high ranking members of the Chicago-based Irish Freedom Committee, a fundraising organisation which raises money to aid the families of jailed dissident republicans, were also in attendance.

The Good Friday Agreement has in the past been branded "a total and utter sham" by Irish Freedom Committee Secretary, Deirdre Fennessy, who has voiced opposition to Sinn Fein and its support for the treaty.

The republican prisoners' statement was read to the small attendance by Marian Price, who with her sister Dolours, was force fed for more than 200 days during a 1981 hunger strike in Brixton jail.

"Morale among the volunteers here remains high because our analysis has been totally vindicated by recent events which have only served to strengthen our determination.

"With great sadness we witnessed the departure from our ranks of many former comrades lured under false pretences into the service of those whom they once opposed.

"The movement has also been also been subjected to a pentheon of almost unprecedented viciousness by the Dublin Government, suggestive of a return to the civil war values of the 1920s," she read.

And this, according to the prisoners, has been in tandem with a media campaign of vilification and dirty tricks against those who oppose British rule in Northern Ireland.

"Despite all this we have survived and will continue to grow. The desire for freedom is a flame that cannot be extinguished. We have borne witness, not to the defeat of republicanism, but to the rise of a rejuvenated movement across the 32 counties."

The statement said that the causes of conflict in Northern Ireland remained in place and that the democracy in place was simply "an illusion".

"The political elite, their wealthy capitalist masters and their loyal servants in the mass media retain their stranglehold on power.

"The democracy that we staunchly oppose is nothing more than a smoke screen for the naked pursuit of self interest."To those who say we are despondent; we say you are mistaken: we remain unbound, unbroken and unrepentant and we shall be victorious in our certain and ultimate victory," said the prisoners.

Organiser Fionbarra O'Dochertaigh said conference was called as a result of a number of civil rights activists getting together to voice their opinion against the hurt caused by hunger strikes and "dirty protests".

"We want to see the situation resolved by political means, through lobbying, by appealing to the media, by every legitimate and political means possible. We don't want to go back to 1981 or 1980," he said.

He said everyone's voice must be acknowledged.

"Just because people are opposed to the Good Friday Agreement doesn't mean that they've stopped being human beings, or some how they've all been gagged, they are not gagged," he said.

A number of prisoners' relatives talked about their specific experiences while visiting jails, all alleging that the general treatment of republican prisoners was not acceptable.

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DEMAND THE RIGHT FOR POLITICAL STATUS TO IRISH REPUBLICAN POLITICAL
PRISONERS.

1. THE RIGHT TO SEGREGATION
2. THE RIGHT TO RECOGNITION AS A GROUP
3. THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR OWN SPOKESPERSON
4. THE RIGHT TO A WING OF THEIR OWN

Write to Irish Political Prisoners

************************************************

For more information go to the IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE at www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

************************************************
© The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates

IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
-----------------------------

Subject: IFC REPORT FROM MAGHABERRY PRISON
Date: 02 27 03

The following report was filed from Belfast this week.

The Irish Freedom Committee®
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
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IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE - REPORT FROM MAGHABERRY
Wednesday February 25, 2003
----------------------

The situation at Maghaberry Prison is now as bad or worse than
conditions were at Long Kesh before the hunger strikes of the 1980’s.
In addition, the prison is trying every method it can to break the
prisoners’ connection with their families through the fostering of a
hostile and threatening visiting environment. Families with fathers or
sons or husbands or brothers at Maghaberry must now bear the dual burden
of enduring daily fears for the safety of their loved ones in prison;
and the criminalization of their children and families as they are
terrorized on visits to the prison.

On a visit to the prison last week, the Irish Freedom Committee found
the following:

QUAKER VISITOR’S CENTER CLOSED
The Quaker Visitors Center, open since the days of Internment in 1971,
has been closed within the past week without any warning or explanation.
The Quaker Center provided child care and a welcome cup of tea and a
resting place for families who must drive great distances to their
visits. A small sign on the building now advises that the Center is
closed until further notice. The Quaker Center also provided bus
service from the visitor’s parking lot up to the gates, an uphill
distance of about 300 yards. Families with very young children or
elderly and infirm relatives must now make this long walk in all
weather, to stand outside the prison until the gates are opened.

FAMILY MEMBERS LOCKED IN HOLDING AREAS FOR OVER ONE HOUR
Recently a large group of visitors, including many young children, was
locked in a small holding area for over one hour while guards strolled
about outside. Repeated complaints were made over the intercom as young
children became terrified, but the families were told the prison was on
“lockdown” despite the fact that guards were seen strolling leisurely
outside. The room was small and unventilated and many people began to
experience difficulty breathing and dizziness. Visiting IRPWA
Chairwoman Marian Price, also trapped inside the tiny room, demanded to
be sent a police officer as she and all present were being held hostage
against their will. After more than 75 minutes had passed the doors
were opened and all were released with no apology and no explanation.

SNIFFER DOGS – PSYCHOLOGICAL INTIMIDATION OF FAMILIES
After passing through a search visitors are brought into a waiting room
and then stood in a long tunnel to be inspected by a sniffer dog. The
dog is lead across visitors by a guard controlling the leash. If the
dog is made to sit down, or sits down on a cue, the visit is cancelled
and all persons traveling with the “marked” individual also lose their
visit. The dog is quite large and this would be a terrifying experience
for anyone who is afraid of dogs, or small children. Guards have been
seen more than once visibly yanking at the leash to make to dog sit down
and thus deny the entire group their visit. Republican prisoners do not
use drugs and are utterly opposed to them, and prison guards would be
aware that the use of the sniffer dogs is an unnecessary scare tactic
simply designed to frighten and intimidate family members.

CHILDREN UNSAFE FROM PEDOPHILES AND SEX OFFENDERS
The visiting area is open and often family members are not aware of the
backgrounds of other prisoners seated in booths beside their loved ones.
An existing children’s crèche has been closed, so now young children
roam freely in a room where sex offenders and pedophiles may be taking
visits at the same time. Family members and republican prisoners have
lodged numerous complaints regarding this unhealthy and dangerous
environment for children with no result.

“CARROT AND STICK” APPROACH – PUNISHMENT FOR PRIVILEGES
Recently after prolonged pressure by republican prisoners, Sunday Mass
was reinstated at Maghaberry Prison. However immediately following the
announcement that Mass would be allowed, republican prisoners were
locked in their cells for 36 hours and guards moved in to wreck them.
In the process one prisoner was made to watch as prison screws tore up
Valentines he had received from his wife and children. A scrapbook
containing news reports of a recent death in the prisoners’ family was
taken away from him with no explanation, and has not yet been returned
to him. Newspaper reports detailing the Bloody Sunday Tribunal were
similarly confiscated and removed from a prisoners’ cell.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE – SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Some republican prisoners are being housed on wings with loyalist
prisoners who freely use ecstasy tablets and stay awake blasting rave
music for days at a time. Lights are kept on and guards do not
acknowledge complaints from republican prisoners regarding constant
noise and drug use by loyalist prisoners. This is viewed as a tactic
to break men’s spirits and morale by preventing normal sleep and
psychologically torturing them over time.

MEDICATION DENIED – MEDICAL NEGLECT ALLOWED
Within the past two days a 54-year-old prisoner with high blood pressure
and a serious heart condition has been denied his medication for a
second time since being imprisoned. Previously this man was denied his
medication for 3 days before the prison returned it to him after
numerous complaints by his family. This week his prescription was
allowed to run out and prison doctors would not refill it, even though
the chemist is five minutes away in Lurgan. The prison nurse told the
prisoner on Tuesday that he could “do without” his heart and blood
pressure medication. In a conversation with this prisoner on Wednesday
night he was distraught, dizzy, and suffering massive headaches. The
prison had promised solicitors that the medication would be given to him
by teatime but at the last conversation late on Wednesday night he was
still suffering without it.

PRISONERS HELD IN ISOLATION IN HOSTILE LANDINGS – DEATH THREATS
Republican prisoners are being held in isolation amongst hostile and
threatening loyalist paramilitary prisoners. Loyalists have threatened
to murder “any one” of the republican prisoners at Maghaberry – all of
whom are held alone in individual cells apart from other republican
prisoners. Republican prisoners housed alone on loyalist landings have
already reported several incidences of brutal attacks by gangs of
loyalist paramilitaries, resulting in severe injuries and
hospitalization for a number of of them. Republican prisoners are not
permitted to take recreation with one another and must eat meals alone
in their cells, being allowed out for only one to two hours a day into
their landing. A republican prisoner who spoke with us told us he is
having difficulty with his voice due to prolonged periods of total
silence. The return of the right to a Sunday Mass will allow a
once-weekly respite from a desperately dull and repressive existence.

NO RIGHT TO RECOURSE
Republican prisoners are in addition being denied the right to a
spokesperson who could address these and dozens of other violations of
human rights experienced on a daily basis by these prisoners.
Complaints are going unrecognized and the prison has become openly
vindictive to both prisoners and their families.

As the situation inside escalates almost daily, very real concerns are
being aired that prisoners will take matters into their own hands and
enter a drastic course of action as we have seen in the 1970’s and
1980’s with the blanket and dirty protests, and worse yet the deadly
hunger strikes which led to ten deaths by starvation. Some of the men
at Maghaberry have spent up to half their lives in jail already and have
been on the blanket before. We cannot sit idly by and allow this
situation to go on silently without raising our voices in protest
alongside them and their families on the outside.

The Irish Freedom Committee encourages all concerned human rights
activists to contact your elected officials regarding this emergency
situation, and to remain vigilant as this urgent situation continues.
DON’T ALLOW MORE BLANKET PROTESTS OR DEADLY HUNGER STRIKES!!

DEMAND THE RIGHT FOR POLITICAL STATUS TO IRISH REPUBLICAN POLITICAL
PRISONERS.

1. THE RIGHT TO SEGREGATION
2. THE RIGHT TO RECOGNITION AS A GROUP
3. THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR OWN SPOKESPERSON
4. THE RIGHT TO A WING OF THEIR OWN

Write to Irish Political Prisoners

************************************************

For more information go to the IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE at www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

************************************************
© The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates

IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
-----------------------------

Subject: Derry Civil Rights Conference on Political Status
Date: 02 27 03

The following report was filed from the Civil Rights Conference on
Political Status hosted in Derry this past weekend.

The Irish Freedom Committee®
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

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Derry Conference on Political Status
Monday February 24, 2003

Hunger strike fears, brutal conditions at Maghaberry Prison addressed
---------------------

At a conference in Derry this weekend organized by the October Fifth
Civil Rights Veterans and the Full Status Now Campaign, relatives of
political prisoners and human rights activists from Ireland, Britain and
the United States addressed the escalating crisis for republican
prisoners at Maghaberry Jail; and voiced unified concerns that the
gravely worsening situation at the prison not be allowed to return to
the black days of the Hunger Strikes.

Speakers at the human rights event included Civil Rights veteran
Fionbarra O'Dochertaigh, prisoners’ representative and spokesperson
Marian Price, and Diarmuid Breatnach of the Irish Political Status
Committee in London. Greetings from chapters of the Irish Freedom
Committee across the United States were read expressing heartfelt
solidarity to political prisoners and their families, and the solemn
hopes that the tragic deaths of prisoners be avoided at all costs.

Attendees heard that republican prisoners at Maghaberry are being held
isolated on loyalist landings, outnumbered up to eleven to one in some
cases. Several republican prisoners have already been brutally
attacked by gangs of loyalist prisoners, resulting in severe injuries
and hospitalization for several men. Republican prisoners are under
virtual lockdown as a result, and many men go days without speaking to
anyone in the prison. Recently Sunday Mass privileges were returned to
the men but the following day cells were attacked and demolished by
prison guards who tore apart personal correspondence and confiscated
personal objects such as scrap books.

However in a strong statement read by Marian Price, the republican
prisoners at Maghaberry expressed high spirits and an unshaken
commitment to the pursuit of a United Ireland.

“Despite all this we have survived and will continue to grow. The desire
for freedom is a flame that cannot be extinguished. We have borne
witness, not to the defeat of republicanism, but to the rise of a
rejuvenated movement across the 32 counties.”

Addressing false media allegations of a standing-down or loss of morale,
the republican prisoners firmly stated:

“To those who say we are despondent; we say you are mistaken: we remain
unbound, unbroken and unrepentant and we shall be victorious in our
certain and ultimate victory,”

Organizer Fionbarra O'Dochertaigh likened conditions at Maghaberry to
those prior to the 1980’s hunger strikes at Long Kesh, and addressed the
concerns of every one in the hall when he said:

“We don’t want to see any more body bags coming out of the jails. We
want to find ways on the outside to avoid this, through lobbying and
political pressure. These are not political concerns, but basic human
concerns. You have to take a stand.”

To rousing and sustained applause he continued;

“We on the outside are determined to do all we can, day in and day out,
week in and week out, year in and year out if necessary; to make sure no
more bodies come out of the prisons.”

In a question-and-answer session before the media, relatives expressed
grave conditions for their loved ones at Maghaberry Jail and described
the ongoing harassment and threats faced by families on visits.

Attendees heard that the Quaker Visitor’s Center, opened since the days
of Internment in 1971, has recently been closed without any explanation.
Without the bus service the center provided to and from the visitor’s
parking lot, small children and elderly or inform relatives must now
walk almost 300 yards up a long hill to reach the gates.

Family members also described attempts at psychological intimidation
with sniffer dogs deciding who may or may not get a visit. Large
trained dogs are paraded beside visitors, and guards have been seen
visibly pulling on the leash to make the dog sit down beside guests of
particular prisoners, thus barring all present from a visit. One group
of male visitors has been consistently turned away from every visit to
the prison. Many relatives in the hall had endured traumatic
experiences with the use of these dogs, particularly young children;
some of whom are now too traumatized to return.

Once inside the visiting block small children are placed at additional
risk of being in close proximity to sex offenders and pedophiles who may
be taking visits concurrently. These are men who should not be exposed
to children at any time. A children’s crèche or nursery that was
previously provided to families has been closed, and small children are
now roaming in the visitors area unprotected from the proximity of sex
offenders and pedophiles.

Attempts are being made at every turn to demoralize the prisoners,
already isolated in a hostile and threatening environment. One mother
of several children described how her husband’s cell was ransacked
within the past few days by prison guards who tore up valentines he had
received from his family. A scrapbook of newspaper clippings of a
recent death in the man’s family and other personal possessions was
taken away from his cell with no explanation.

In light of the combined threats of violence and assassination by
loyalist paramilitaries, the lack of protection from compliant prison
guards, and the ongoing harassment and endangerment to the prisoners’
families; human rights activists and relatives at the conference made a
renewed call for immediate segregation of republican prisoners and the
immediate granting of a wing of their own. Political status, won by the
deaths of ten men in 1981, has been utterly revoked to these republican
prisoners at Maghaberry, who are now enduring the worst prison
conditions seen since the days before the hunger strikes commenced.

The family members present made an impassioned appeal to supporters on
the outside to be aware of the urgency of the situation for their loved
ones at Maghaberry Prison. Relatives expressed deep concerns that
things will deteriorate to the point of blanket protests or hunger
strike. The men inside are being pushed to the brink of endurance and
the families are being made to carry the heaviest burden outside.

The Conference ended on a positive note with families assured of greater
participation from human rights groups to expose the deadly situation
facing loved ones at Maghaberry.

PLEASE DON’T LET THEM DOWN. CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK OF THE DERRY
CONFERENCE.

The Irish Freedom Committee encourages all concerned human rights
activists to contact your elected officials regarding this emergency
situation, and to remain vigilant as this urgent situation continues.

DON’T ALLOW MORE BLANKET PROTESTS OR DEADLY HUNGER STRIKES!!

DEMAND THE RIGHT FOR POLITICAL STATUS TO IRISH REPUBLICAN POLITICAL
PRISONERS.

1. THE RIGHT TO SEGREGATION
2. THE RIGHT TO RECOGNITION AS A GROUP
3. THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR OWN SPOKESPERSON
4. THE RIGHT TO A WING OF THEIR OWN

Write to Irish Political Prisoners
-----------------------------------

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**Please watch this space for more news including Maghaberry statement in full.

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The Irish Freedom Committee – www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

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© The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates

IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
-----------------------------

Subject: An Appeal from Bernadette Sands-McKevitt
Date: 02 08 02

Please join the Irish Freedom Committee in protesting this outrageous travesty of justice. Michael McKevitt has been interned by the Irish Free State government for TWO YEARS now and counting -- and is imprisoned solely on the word of American criminal informant David Rupert, who was paid millions by the FBI and Britain's MI5 to testify against him.

The interview below was conducted by editorial staff at the Irish American News. Please forward widely.

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Irish American News - http://www.irishamericannews.com/
February 2003

An Appeal From Bernadette Sands-McKevitt

Bernadette Sands-McKevitt doesn’t give many interviews anymore, but in an appeal to citizens all over the world, she agreed to talk to Irish American News about her efforts to get a fair trial for her husband, Michael McKevitt who has been accused of masterminding the Omagh bombing.

Michael McKevitt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When asked by IAN about the effect that the death of her brother, Bobby Sands, had on her immediate family, she declined to comment, instead, she wanted the focus of our interview to be about Michael. When asked about the effect of events on her children, she also declined.

I.A.N. What is the trial coming up on February 11th about and what do you think is unfair about it?

Bernadette: Michael is charged with membership and direction of an illegal organization, namely the IRA. These charges carry a sentence of life in prison. The governments main plank in the case is an American, David Rupert. The defence have sought disclosure on documents held by both the FBI and MI5 that are relevant to the credibility of Mr. Rupert. As yet they have been unsuccessful in attaining these due to the fact that the Irish courts have opted to 'sit on the fence' by stating they have no jurisdiction to order an outside agency to hand over the documents. I find this frustrating and fear that Michael's defence will be severely handicapped as consequence. Of the documents that have been disclosed the vast majority have been heavily redacted ( blacked out) therefore are relatively useless. In my appeal I have emphasised that we want Michael to be awarded the same rights as any other Irish citizen - right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence.

It is important to understand the judicial system in Ireland. There is a two-tier system, a jury court where a jury of your peers decides your fate, and there is a separate special criminal court where a panel of three judges gets to decide your fate. The Special Criminal Court usually deals with cases that are political in nature. This system has been heavily criticized by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and Amnesty International.

I have contacted the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights about Michael's case, unfortunately they cannot do anything until all domestic processes have been exhausted. I am conscious of cases like the Birmingham Six and Guilford Four where many years had lapsed before justice was done. I do not want to see this repeated in my husband's case. That is why I am making this appeal. I want to avert a miscarriage of justice rather than correct one.

I.A.N. What is the political party you belong to?

Bernadette: I belong to the 32 County Sovereignty Movement which stands for the restoration of Irish National sovereignty and the right to self determination. Unfortunately, I have not taken an active part for some time now because I have concentrated all my efforts on Michael's trial.

I.A.N. Do you believe the peace agreement can accomplish that?

Bernadette: No. The agreement usurps national sovereignty given the fact that the British government claims sovereignty over a part of Ireland .

I.A.N. What do you think of Sinn Fein?

Bernadette: They are just like any other pro-establishment political party.They are not a "Republican" party. They are active members of a British establishment in Ireland.

I.A.N. What is the solution then?

Bernadette: The solution is to have national sovereignty restored. I believe we need to move to the position that the British accept the responsibility that they are not a peacekeeping or neutral force in this and that simply put, they disentangle themselves from Ireland the same way they did from Hong Kong.

The agreement did not provide for this. The agreement offered people an option of accept the agreement or continue with the Troubles - naturally people voted for peace, but this peace doesn’t give the option of freedom and independence merely the promise of being treated equally to any other British citizen!

Some people have made the comparison between Michael Collins and Adams, yes I would agree there are similarities, however I see one stark difference, which is when Collins walked into the Parliament in Dublin, the Irish Tri-Color flew above the buildings representing Irish rule . Whereas when Sinn Fein goes in to Parliament in Northern Ireland, the British Union Jack flies over the building representing British rule.

Below is her appeal.

May I through your publication appeal to your readers for assistance in ensuring that my husband obtains justice in his forthcoming trial in the Republic of Ireland. My husband, Michael McKevitt, has been held on remand in Portlaoise Prison for almost two years.

On March 28th 2001 my husband and I were arrested at our home. When in custody my husband was informed by a Detective Inspector that his arrest had been a political decision and that he was being “stitched up”. After being questioned for thirty-six hours I was released, however, my husband was charged with membership and directing an illegal organization – namely the I.R.A, the latter carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. These charges were levelled at my husband Michael Mc Kevitt on the word of one person – David Rupert who is an American citizen of dubious character.

At a recent preliminary court hearing it was disclosed that David Rupert worked for both the F.B.I and MI5. Mr. Rupert has been promised a “resettlement payment” of three million dollars from the F.B.I and an undisclosed amount from MI5 (believed to be in the region of £2.5million) on completion of his testimony. In addition to this, an outstanding IRS debt of 700,000 dollars was reduced and settled for 25,000 in November 2001. It was revealed that this self-confessed criminal had been deployed to the Republic of Ireland by the F.B.I and MI5 without the knowledge of the Irish authorities.

Prior to my husband’s arrest, my family were demonised and vilified on a continual basis by the media. It became commonplace that all sections of the media felt they could say what they liked about our family and my husband in particular. This trial by media included publishing front-page photographs with the intention of identifying our young children. This unprecedented, co-ordinated media onslaught, which continues to this day, has ensured that my husband’s name is constantly connected with the Omagh bomb. My husband has never been questioned nor charged with any offence relating to this tragedy.

It gives me great strength to know that there are individuals and human rights groups who are prepared to travel long distances to ensure that justice is seen to be done. The Irish Government has been a champion of human rights throughout the world, however, at a recent preliminary hearing, our legal team were refused important disclosure documents. This decision is a direct breach of Irish law and has ensured that my husband will not be able to defend himself and the court case will have a foregone conclusion.

In conclusion, my family asks for no more than that awarded to any other Irish citizen – the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.” We feel that the co-ordinated media attention and the failure of the authorities to disclose important information has seriously damaged my husband’s chances of getting a fair trial.

The trial is currently scheduled to be held in Dublin’s non-jury Special Criminal court on 11th February 2003.

We would urge your readers to write to their political representatives and human rights organisations requesting them to do all in their power to ensure his right to justice and a fair trial.

Yours faithfully
Bernadette Sands McKevitt

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IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
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-----------------------------

Subject: Area Irish protest British performance – Trenton NJ
Date: 02 05 03

The story below was published in the Trenton Times regarding a protest staged in Trenton, NJ on January 28th.

For further information on upcoming dates for the British Army Regimental Bands tour go to BRITISH ARMY BANDS PROTEST on the Irish Freedom Committee website for upcoming tour locations.

Protest BRITISH ARMY WAR CRIMES when the British Army Regimental Bands visit your town!

For more information about organizing band protests in your area please email us

The Irish Freedom Committee®
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

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Trenton Times
Tuesday, January 28, 2003

Area Irish protest British performance
By TOM HESTER JR.

TRENTON - Detailing decades-long alleged human rights violations by the British government, Irish groups took to the State House steps yesterday to protest tonight's Sovereign Bank Arena performance by a British military band.

Enduring yesterday's frigid temperatures, the groups railed against Great Britain's continued military presence in Northern Ireland, where nationalist Catholics support unification with independent Ireland but loyalist Protestants endorse British rule.

The Irish organizations deemed tonight's scheduled show by the Band of the Grenadier Guards part of British propaganda designed to divert attention from British atrocities in Northern Ireland. They cited reports from Amnesty International and the Helsinki Commission to support their argument.

"With an attack on Iraq on the horizon, Britain hopes Americans will not only feel good about the so-called special relationship, but will continue their complacency over British misdeeds in Ireland," said Sean Pender, president of the Trenton area Ancient Order of Hibernians division.

The Band of the Grenadier Guards, scheduled to perform tonight at the arena with the Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of the Scots Highlanders, is part of a regiment raised in 1656. The regiment's band performs ceremonial functions such as this year's American concert tour, but the regiment has served 11 tours of duty in Northern Ireland since 1969. The band members serve in the regiment as medics.

The Irish American Unity Conference contends the regiment's units while serving in Northern Ireland killed more than 150 civilians, including 14 boys and girls under age 16, 10 women and two priests. A March 2002 newsletter on a Grenadier Guards Association branch Web site detailed a three-month tour in Northern Ireland that included "the severest rioting in recent years. On Easter Monday, the Guardsmen lost count of the number of times they baton charged the crowds."

"The soldiers will hold drums and pipes instead of weapons but make no mistake about it," Pender said of tonight's show. "These bands are marching across America to serve the military and political objectives of the British."

Grenadier Guards spokesman Peter Bartlett refused to comment yesterday. He also refused to comment on Friday.

The Irish groups plan to rally today starting at 7 p.m. outside the arena at Route 129, Hamilton Avenue and South Broad Street. The show is slated to start at 8 p.m.

The protest is being organized by Irish Northern Aid and the Trenton Hibernians, whose Web site urges people to "protest the arrogance of the British Army in Trenton NJ!!!" and deems the band part of the "same British army that continues to illegally occupy Ireland."

The groups received support yesterday from two New Jersey congressmen, who sent written statements.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-Washington Township, blasted the British for suspending the Catholic-Protestant coalition government formed by the 1998 Good Friday peace accord. Smith said he will soon meet with nationalist leader Martin McGuinness to discuss ongoing talks to restore the government.

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-Long Branch, said he would register his statement protesting the Grenadier Guards performance in Trenton with the Congressional Record.

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TOUR NEWS – BRITISH ARMY REGIMENTAL BANDS TOUR INFO

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IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
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-----------------------------

Subject: 24-hr Lockdown at Maghaberry Intolerable- Marian Price
Date: 02 04 02

In statements released to the media today from Belfast, prisoners' rights activist Marian Price said that the situation at Maghaberry Jail has now become "intolerable" with up to 24-hours a day lockdown.

Marian Price continued;

"The latest news out of Maghaberry Prison is as bleak as the weather we are all experiencing. The authorities appear hell-bent on making life even more miserable for the Republican prisoners being held there. Not only are they being forced to share accommodation with loyalists, with all the inherent dangers that presents particularly at this very volatile time, but also the weather is now being used as an excuse to keep men locked up for almost 24hrs a day. The Republican prisoners are only being allowed out of their cells for the briefest of spells to make a short phone-call home and are then locked up for the rest of the day.

"The prison authorities need to look very closely at their contingency plans when a few inches of snow causes chaos with their staffing arrangements-staff shortages is NO excuse! It can be all too tempting to turn over in bed on a cold, snowy morning and not turn in for work but when the result is such inhuman treatment of vulnerable prisoners it is intolerable. We consider this treatment to be totally unacceptable and against these men’s human rights. We call on the Prison service to treat these Republican prisoners with the dignity and compassion they deserve."

The Irish Freedom Committee urges all of our members and supporters to stay vigilant as this situation worsens at Maghaberry.

The Irish Freedom Committee®
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Subject: McKevitt Trial Postponed
Date: 02 04 03

UTV News
TUESDAY 04/02/2003 12:07:53

McKevitt trial postponed
By: Press Association

The trial of the alleged leader of the Real IRA Michael McKevitt has been rescheduled at Dublin's anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court.

McKevitt`s trial had been due to start at the court next week but will not now go ahead until the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing.

The court was told today that McKevitt`s lawyers have appealed to the Supreme Court against a High Court decision last month refusing leave to seek a judicial review of an earlier court ruling.

Prosecuting counsel George Birmingham said that the Supreme Court is due to hear the appeal on February 19.

McKevitt`s lawyers had sought leave to seek a judicial review of a decision by the Special Criminal Court on the disclosure of documentation relating to the forthcoming trial.

McKevitt is the first person charged in the Irish Republic with directing the activities of a terrorist organisation under new laws brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing which was claimed by the Real IRA.

The Special Criminal Court last year refused McKevitt`s application for further disclosure of documentation relating to the chief prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, in advance of the trial.

Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, said today that the trial obviously could not go ahead next week. He said the court would provisionally fix June 18 as the trial date and McKevitt was remanded in custody until then.

Michael McKevitt, 51, of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth is charged that between August 29th, 1999 and March 28th, 2001, within the State, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann and that he directed the activities of the same organisation.

It is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under new legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing and anyone convicted of the offence faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

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