IRISH REPUBLICAN POLITICAL PRISONERS
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TERRY McCAFFERTY FREE!
Monday
March 29, 2010
Terry McCafferty RELEASED
The Irish Freedom Committee is pleased to pass along greetings from
a FREE, released Terry McCafferty, who is home tonight with his very
happy family. The sound of Terry's voice with his boys in the
background was welcome music indeed.
Terry asked us to pass along his sincere thanks to all for the
letters and cards he received over the past 27 months he has been
interned - the bulk of which was handed to him today when he was
released. The pettiness of screws withholding Terry's mail was not
lost on us.
WELCOME HOME, TERRY!
On Monday December 22nd 2008, in the
early hours of the morning at Belfast airport, recently released POW Terry McCafferty
was returning
with his wife from a long awaited honeymoon in Spain, when they were
surrounded by a group of British police and pulled apart. As
his wife begged to be told what was happening to her husband, police
took Terry away WITHOUT EXPLANATION OR CHARGE and told his
wife that his
license was revoked; meaning he would next return to prison for six
more years.
This wholly unwarranted internment of
a father of five young boys, just days before his first Christmas home in six
years, is a vicious attempt at outright harassment criminalizing
both Terry and his family at a time when security forces knew full
well that his
solicitors' offices would be closed for well over a week due to
holidays.
The Irish Freedom Committee asks; how is it
that police can make this determination, where no crime whatsoever has been
committed?
With the recent acquittal of the Derry
Four, this assault on Terry's rights and freedom can only be viewed
as poorly directed and bitter retribution on a family and a
movement. There is no reasonable cause for Terry's arrest and
revocation of his license. Internment of Innocents- 1970
meet 2009.
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IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE NEWSLIST
http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
Thursday December 25, 2008
TERRY McCAFFERTY INTERNMENT HIGHLY SUSPECT
The Irish Freedom Committee has received further information regarding
the December 22 arrest of Terry McCafferty, confirming our early
suspicions that this is merely the final step in an on-going campaign
of harassment and persecution by British security forces since his
November release.
As Terry and his wife Martine returned to Belfast airport in the early
hours of Monday morning, from a long-awaited holiday to the Canary
Islands, they were confronted and surrounded by police - one of whom
audibly said "this is them here". Without explanation, Terry was led
away as five police surrounded Martine, refusing to allow her to go
with him as he was taken away. After repeated appeals to find out why
her husband was being detained, Martine was bizarrely told by police
that Terry's "license was revoked" – meaning that he would be sent
back to prison to serve six more years of his full sentence. When she
asked why, police told her "we don't have to explain that to you"; and
that he was being taken to Antrim police barracks to be sent back to
Maghaberry prison in the morning.
The Irish Freedom Committee asks; how is it that police can make this
determination, where no crime has been committed? We can only view
this arrest as highly suspect, considering the pointedly unusual
circumstances and timing of these events.
Terry was taken on Monday to Maghaberry Gaol, where he had been
finally discharged after over six years' internment only weeks before.
Instead of being returned to Roe House, where he had been housed with
other Irish republican political prisoners; on Monday he was put in
with the criminal population. Terry immediately refused food,
demanding to be housed with political prisoners. After many efforts
outside the prison, Terry was moved to Roe house at the end of the day
on Monday.
Since his release, Terry has lived an exemplar life trying to catch up
on missed time with his family of five boys and Martine. As she told
us, "He goes to bed at 8:00, that's what he's used to inside. He's
taken a course with ex-POWs. He's spending time with the kids."
On his last Christmas home, while on early release, police repeatedly
knocked at their door after one in the morning; well after he and his
family were asleep. Martine tells us, "He was tortured. It was
mental abuse."
Yet since his release only weeks ago, "Terry's watched 24-7; peelers
are parked outside the door".
This month several family members were stopped and cars searched while
driving on errands, including a young son who had just earned his
drivers certificate. Martine tells us, "They are trying to break the
family." Anyone who knows Martine and McCaff, knows this is next to
impossible.
On this being Terry's first chance out in over six years to have a
normal Christmas with his family of five young boys, only the most
base and perverse reasons apply to this kind of security forces
harassment.
"This was well planned to mess up Christmas", Martine tells us. "It's
a kick in the teeth. It's a form of internment – back to the 60's and
70's."
The Irish Freedom Committee views the circumstances and timing of
Terry's arrest as highly suspect. On what 'information' and with what
powers can police revoke the license of a released republican
prisoner, where no crime has been committed? Is this merely a sick
ploy to take this man away from his family for another Christmas,
knowing full well that his lawyers' offices will be closed throughout
the Christmas and New Years' holidays?
Martine has told us, "If I have to travel to every county of Ireland
to tell this story, I will."
Please watch for more details, and recommended actions for US
supporters, in coming days.
IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE NEWSLIST
http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
DECEMBER 22, 2008
TERRY McCAFFERTY JAILED
The Irish Freedom Committee condemns the arrest last night of recently
released republican POW Terry McCafferty while returning from holiday
with his wife.
With only days to Christmas, this heavy handedness by security forces
can only be seen as outright harassment.
We are most concerned for Terry's welfare as he has been put on a
criminal landing at Maghaberry and has refused food since being
arrested.
We will forward further details as we get them.
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