UTV News

SATURDAY 29/09/01 09:17:26

Loyalists claim journalist murder

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Loyalist terror group the Red Hand Defenders are claiming responsibility for the murder of Martin O'Hagan.

In a call to a Belfast newsroom the group they admitted to shooting the 51-year-old journalist for "crimes against the loyalist people".

He was walking home from the local pub with his wife when he was murdered.

A gunman pulled up beside him in a car in Wheatfield Gardens and shot him. He died at the scene.

Mr O`Hagan had been working for the northern edition of the Dublin-based Sunday World. He`d been living with loyalist death threats for years and there is speculation that the Loyalist Volunteer Force may have been responsible for the murder.

Its murdered former leader, Billy "King Rat" Wright, was behind earlier threats.

Mr O`Hagan was a key witness in a case over the controversial Channel Four programme The Committee, which alleged leading members of the security forces were involved in a secret ring linked to loyalist paramilitaries. 

Mr O`Hagan`s editor, Jim McDowell, says he is "devastated" by the murder. 

He said: "I was not aware he was under any threat at this time. He never talked about that. But, obviously, as a fearless journalist and a secretary of the NUJ in Belfast, an attack on someone of his stature is an attack on the freedom of speech and freedom of the press."

Mr O`Hagan leaves three daughters, including one engaged to be married.

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© The Irish Freedom Committee NewsList - IFC Updates

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Subject: POW SEVERELY ATTACKED IN MAGHABERRY PRISON

Date: 09 04 01

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A Republican POW being held on remand at Maghaberry prison has been seriously attacked by Loyalist prisoners, in a vicious assault using an electric iron. 

Sources say Republican POW John Martin Swift was "almost killed" in the attack, which resulted in seventeen metal staples to his head, fourteen stitches to his face, a broken wrist, and multiple injuries to the rest of his body. 

The injuries were too severe for treatment in the prison hospital wing, and he was moved at great physical discomfort to a hospital 90 miles from the prison. His wife was refused permission to see him at a subsequent court hearing.

The situation for Republican POWs at Maghaberry has long ago reached a crisis point, and it now appears to be open season on the dozen or more Republican prisoners held in custody there. 

Republican POWs held at Maghaberry are being DENIED Political Status, and are being housed individually, greatly outnumbered, amongst Loyalist paramilitary prisoners, who enjoy a co-operative relationship with their prison wardens. 

Attacks upon isolated Republican POWs have become a common occurrence at Maghaberry, with like-minded prison guards looking the other way as beatings, death threats, and physical attacks ensue; often going wholly unreported. Republican POWs are also being refused mail unless it is addressed to a prisoner ID number; a further attempt to degrade and demoralize Republican political prisoners. 

This situation has the tacit approval of the British Government and Northern Ireland Office, who are ultimately responsible for the safety and well-being of prisoners held in their facilities. The crisis at Maghaberry will not abate on its own, and will at this rate soon result in the death of a Republican prisoner at the hands of Loyalists. 

The British Government and NIO can and MUST restore safe conditions at the prison by reinstating hard-won Political Status, and by housing Republican and Loyalist prisoners separately. 

Please write to NIO Home Secretary David Blunkett, and Maghaberry Prison Governor Martin Mogg, demanding that steps be taken to ensure that Republican prisoners' lives are no longer put at risk by this policy of forced integration with hostile Loyalist paramilitary groups. Addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses for these offices follow the statement by Marian Price. 

D.Fennessy 

Irish Freedom Committee

P.O. Box 11417

Chicago, IL 60611

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PRESS RELEASE:  Issued on behalf of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

31st August 2001

The latest attack by Loyalists on a Republican prisoner in Maghaberry Gaol comes as no surprise given the conditions under which these Republican Prisoners are held. 

To disperse Republican Prisoners throughout a Gaol ensuring they are heavily outnumbered in all wings and force their integration with Loyalists and Criminals can clearly be seen for what it is- an attempt to criminalize them, it failed in the past, it will fail again. 

The restoration of Political Status to Republican prisoners is essential; we call on all true Republicans to campaign for its immediate return before a new tragedy occurs.

Marian Price (Chairperson)

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Home Secretary David Blunkett

NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE

Block B

Castle Buildings

Belfast

Northern Ireland

BT4 3SG

Tel: 028 9052 0700

Fax: 028 9052 8195

Email: press.nio@nics.gov.uk

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Martin Mogg

Governor, Maghaberry Prison

Room 321Prison Service HeadquartersDundonald HouseUpper Newtownards

RoadBELFAST BT4 3SU

Tel: 028 9052 5065(General Enquiry Line)

EMail: info@niprisonservice.gov.uk

© The Irish Freedom Committee NewsList - IFC Updates

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