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IRISH PRISONER LIAM HANNAWAY ON 41ST DAY HUNGER STRIKE
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| IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE
NEWSLIST http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net Tuesday, May 25, 2010 IRISH PRISONER LIAM HANNAWAY ON 41ST DAY HUNGER STRIKE Irish republican political prisoner Liam Hannaway today is on his 41st day of hunger strike at Maghaberry Prison, just outside Belfast in Occupied north Ireland. Liam began his hunger strike six weeks ago to protest the prison’s refusal to move out of the hostile loyalist landing where he has been held for over a year, and to be housed with the political prisoners at Roe House. The prison has claimed that a “death threat” against Liam by the republican movement has blocked this move, however this claim has been widely refuted for several weeks both inside and outside the prison. Liam’s fiancée has told us that he was moved to a prison hospital wing on Monday, however the prison has said there are “no immediate concerns for his health” and the move is to enable medical staff to monitor his condition more closely. Liam’s fiancée Allison tells us today, “He has still a weight loss of just over 3 stone (42 pounds), he has blood in his urine, he also has great deal of trouble with his eyes. He is still holding strong.” ACTION NEEDED Please act today to ensure an immediate and constructive response from the British government regarding Liam Hannaway's now-critical state. The Irish Freedom Committee has been told by family members that our ongoing letters campaign has had a "100% impact" in recent days in drawing attention to the dire situation at Maghaberry prison. PLEASE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE. We are urging all to please copy and paste the text below and send an email AND hard copy letter to the adressees named below. A stamp from the US will cost .98 cents. Emails may or may not be read by these officials, but letters will. However emails serve a good purpose in that the sheer volume will get the attention we are looking for. Both forms of addresses are provided below. For more information on Liam Hannaway's hunger strike go to http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net/POWs/Situation_critical_Liam_Hannaway.htm ============ copy and paste ================ David Ford, Justice Minister Department of Justice Block B Castle Buildings Stormont Estate Belfast Northern Ireland BT4 3SG Hugo Swire, Minister of State NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE Stormont House Stormont Estate Belfast Northern Ireland BT4 3SH Northern Ireland Prisons Service Dundonald House Upper Newtownards Road Belfast Northern Ireland BT4 3SU Steve Rodford Governor, Maghaberry Prison Upper Ballinderry Road Lisburn, Co. Antrim Northern Ireland BT 28 2PT Tuesday, May 25, 2010 To whom it may concern, I am writing with my extreme concern regarding the current hunger strike by Liam Hannaway, a political prisoner in Glen House at Maghaberry Prison. As of this writing, Liam Hannaway has been on hunger strike for six weeks, and his health is gravely deteriorating. Six weeks without food is a critical stage at which he may die at any time, and I appeal to sense to have this man's quite reasonable demands met. Liam has repeatedly petitioned to be housed on the republican landing at Roe House. Officials at Maghaberry prison have denied this request, under the pretext that there is a `death threat' against him by the republican movement. No substantiation to this claim has been found by his family in the outside, and the republican prisoners have said they will welcome Liam "with open arms". Liam has repeatedly requested his right to sign a waiver that would legally absolve Maghaberry Prison of any culpability or claim by the courts should this `death threat' manifest itself after Liam's return to Roe House. He has been refused this right to a waiver, despite the fact that another republican prisoner Gary Donnelly, who similarly had an alleged `death threat' against him, was allowed to sign this waiver after three days in SSU and was returned to Roe House. I understand that on Friday May 7, Liam signed an advance medical directive stating that should he fall into a coma or become incapacitated during his hunger strike, not to revive him. I find it quite disturbing that while Liam is allowed to sign away his own life in an advance medical directive pertaining to his hunger strike, the government of Maghaberry Prison refuse to allow him his right to sign a waiver absolving the prison of any legal culpability; which would permit him his wishes to be housed on the republican landing at Roe House. I respectfully and urgently demand that Liam be seen by an outside medical doctor, which is his right, and not a prison medic; that he be immediately allowed to sign the prison waiver regarding the alleged `death threat'; and that steps be taken to move him as soon as possible into Roe House with the republican prisoners – who have stated they will welcome him `with open arms'. The favor of a reply is requested. Very sincerely, (Your Name/Address). =============== postage from U.S. = .98 cents for each letter=================== EMAIL ADDRESSES David Ford - david.ford@allianceparty.org - also web form at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/contact-us.htm (only allows short message) Hugo Swire - see web form for NIO below Stormont Ministers - ps.ministers@ofmdfmni.gov.uk Northern Ireland Prisons Service - info@niprisonservice.gov.uk Northern Ireland Office (note this is a web form) - http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/contact-us/enquiry-form.htm RESPONSES Please send any responses you may get to the Irish Freedom Committee at Saoirse@irishfreedomcommittee.net. Please watch our website and our NewsList for further updates. Thank you for all you do. - The Irish Freedom Committee, Inc. ++++++++++++++++++++++++
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