24 hour protest fast by Republican prisoners

 

Geraldine McNamara PRO of Republican Sinn Fein said that there has been a decision by republican prisoners in Maghaberry Jail to commence a 24 hour fast tomorrow January 23, 2012 in protest of the decision by David Ford and the Prison Administration to refuse compassionate Parole for POW Damien McKenna to attend his Fathers funeral on Thursday 19th January.

Damien from Lurgan applied for compassionate parole to attend his father’s funeral in Lurgan on January 19 and was refused on the grounds that he is a protesting prisoner. Damien, along with his comrades in Maghaberry prison, is engaged in a protest against strip-searching and in defence of the historic right of Republican prisoners to political status.

All these issues could have easily been resolved Geraldine said and would have been resolved but for the fact that the prisoners are Political prisoners and like their comrades of 30 years ago who died on hunger strike, the British establishment in Ireland will do everything in its power to break the prisoners both mentally and physically.

Being allowed parole to go to a family member’s funeral is a basic human right and should not be denied to anyone Geraldine said.

The prisoners saw no option but to go on a protest solidarity fast with Damien to highlight this inhuman decision.

Republican Sinn Féin asks that everyone concerned with Human Rights abuses and prisoner welfare support this action.Geraldine McNamara PRO of Republican Sinn Fein said that there has been a decision by republican prisoners in Maghaberry Jail to commence a 24 hour fast tomorrow January 23, 2012 in protest of the decision by David Ford and the Prison Administration to refuse compassionate Parole for POW Damien McKenna to attend his Fathers funeral on Thursday 19th January.

Damien from Lurgan applied for compassionate parole to attend his father’s funeral in Lurgan on January 19 and was refused on the grounds that he is a protesting prisoner. Damien, along with his comrades in Maghaberry prison, is engaged in a protest against strip-searching and in defence of the historic right of Republican prisoners to political status.

All these issues could have easily been resolved Geraldine said and would have been resolved but for the fact that the prisoners are Political prisoners and like their comrades of 30 years ago who died on hunger strike, the British establishment in Ireland will do everything in its power to break the prisoners both mentally and physically.

Being allowed parole to go to a family member’s funeral is a basic human right and should not be denied to anyone Geraldine said.

The prisoners saw no option but to go on a protest solidarity fast with Damien to highlight this inhuman decision.

Republican Sinn Féin asks that everyone concerned with Human Rights abuses and prisoner welfare support this action.

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