| POW GRAVELY ASSAULTED AT MAGHABERRY PRISON | |
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easy-to-use form letters note contact information has been updated to reflect April 2010 elected officials |
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POW GRAVELY ASSAULTED AT MAGHABERRY PRISON --------- Gravely worsening situation at Maghaberry Prison - ACTION NEEDED --------- Tuesday, May 11, 2010 The Irish Freedom Committee has spoken with the partner of Harry Fitzsimmons, an Irish Republican political prisoner at Maghaberry Prison who was viciously assaulted in his cell last Thursday by prison guards. Harry's partner Paula tells us, "Last Thursday, Harry was dragged from his cell, battered, bruised, kicked, and stamped on his chest by several screws. They danced on his chest. He was able to ring home right afterward to our 16-year old daughter. He was breathless and could barely talk or breathe. He had no doctor, and no water." "Harry was dragged into SSU (isolation) where he had his clothes cut off his body. He was handcuffed and chained to a bed. We've had no word from him since." The day following the attack Paula went to the jail for a scheduled visit, where she went through the lengthy procedure of being searched, passed through the dogs gauntlet, and finally let onto the visiting area; where she and her two youngest children ages 3 and 4 waited 20 minutes in the booth before she was told Harry "didn't want a visit". Further news has left Paula distraught. Over the weekend, Harry's solicitor told her there is "nothing he can do" to reach Harry. The solicitor told her the prison has now refused any phone calls, family visits, or legal visits for the remainder of Harry's sentence, which is three years. On hearing this news, Paula told us, "I slid down the wall in fear and fright". The solicitor has filed for a judicial Review which will take place Thursday. A prison chaplain has contacted Paula with little other news other than that Harry is apparently being "singled out" and held separate from other prisoners on the SSU. New entries to the SSU, which had been coming in two per day as consequence of prison reprisals to the POW's Easter takeover at the jail, have stopped. Harry is being held in virtual isolation from any other prisoners and the outside world, a seriously injured man who at last contact with his family could barely breathe. In other news another POW, Turloch McAllister, was also badly beaten by screws last week after going to the cell of another POW to borrow a newspaper. He was left with a black eye. Afterwards, his cell was ransacked by screws and his few belongings destroyed with water and urine. He has been left with a bucket to use as a toilet. POWS RANSACK CELLS In response to these assaults, and gravely worsening conditions at Maghaberry, all 30 republican prisoners at Roe House have embarked on their second protest since their takeover of the jail on Easter Sunday and have wrecked their cells, destroying prison property inside including sinks and toilets. Prisoners have not been allowed use of other sinks and toilets and are using plastic bags and buckets to relieve themselves in. They are not being permitted `slop out' and dirty bags are being tossed back into cells by screws. The next step, a dirty protest, seems inevitable now. POWs are also being denied fresh water, and are complaining of illness after eating prison food. Family visitors to republican prisoners at Maghaberry are being turned away at the rate of one to two a day. Prisoners are being required to undergo strip search or take a box visit, which republican prisoners refuse. The families are left without any certainty of if, or when, they will see their loved ones again. ACTION NEEDED The Irish Freedom Committee finds these developments highly troubling and we are asking all supporters to immediately contact the government offices below with letters and emails. Let these offices know YOU ARE WATCHING and you demand an immediate end to the intolerable abuse of human rights to republican prisoners at Maghaberry. The families of the republican prisoners whom we spoke with today thank each and every one of you for your continued support. Please send your letters to each of the persons listed below. Use link above to send emails also. note contact information has been updated to reflect April 2010 elected officials |
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David Ford, Justice Minister Department of Justice, Block B Castle Buildings Stormont Estate Belfast, Northern Ireland BT4 3SG |
Owen Paterson, Secretary of State Northern Ireland Office Stormont House, Stormont Estate Belfast, Northern Ireland BT4 3SH
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Hugo Swire, Minister of State Northern Ireland Office Stormont House, Stormont Estate Belfast, Northern Ireland BT4 3SH |
Monica McWilliams, Human Rights Commissioner NIHRC Temple Court, 39 North Street Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 1NA |
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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
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