Irish Republican POW Kevin Murray (48) had been serving a 12 year sentence at Portlaoise Prison, Ireland; when early in 2001 he began to complain of severe headaches and dizziness.  Repeated visits to the prison doctor did not alleviate his increasingly severe headaches, or lead to proper medical attention to his very rapidly deteriorating physical health.  

In mid-September of 2001, after a great deal of protest by fellow POWs and family and friends outside of the prison, Kevin was finally moved to an outside hospital to receive desperately needed medical attention for what was found at that late stage to be a massive brain tumor.  By this time, however, his condition had become inoperable; and he was transferred almost immediately from Beaumont Hospital to a hospice care facility near his family in Dundalk.  Kevin was administered last rights in early October after suffering a stroke which left him blind.  Several weeks later, on Tuesday, November 13th, Kevin lost his long struggle for life.  

Kevin Murray died a few short weeks after finally being released from Portlaoise prison for the emergency hospital care which had been requested by himself, his family, and his fellow prisoners for several months prior to his death.  

The Irish Freedom Committee will continue to demand a full inquiry into why this criminal and inhuman neglect was encouraged and permitted by an institution of the Irish Free State, resulting in an easily preventable loss of life.