The wing in Maghaberry does not belong to the IRPWA.

From the first protest in Maghaberry in 2002 the CIRA prisoners were to the forefront of all protests and so was Gabriel during the present phase of the prison struggle.

When CIRA POWs had 17 POWs they never victimised any other POWs. In fact Cabhair-supported POWs defended the right of those that were in the minority. It was our view that everyone on the landing were Republican POWs. Unfortunately this goodwill has not been reciprocated when it has come to Gabriel. These threats are coming from the very same group that purport to promote unity, they are showing the Republican people their version of unity but it has to be on their terms. This latest move should not come as any surprise as they have used this same policy not so long ago when they removed Liam Campbell from the wing because he dared challenge certain criminal behavior.

It is not so long since the dirty protest when fellow Cabhair-supported POWs took the lead in that protest and welcomed newly incarcerated POWs. It seems the old saying EATEN BREAD IS SOON FORGOTTEN never rang so true.

To have any Republican POW removed from the wing to face criminalisation or isolation is simply wrong.The threats against Gabriel must be withdrawn, Cabhair-supported POWs will always work under their own structures.

Críoch/ENDS

With many thanks to: RSF Dublin

RSF supports Gabriel Mackle in his defence of his Republican identity.

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton
28ú Márta/March

Republican Sinn Féin salutes Gabriel Mackle on his courageous defence of his distinct identity and autonomy as an Irish Republican POW within the Maghaberry prison. Irish Republican POWs have historically had to run the gauntlet of British and 26-County state attempts to criminalise them and deny them their identity, shamefully on this occasion this latest injustice comes at the hands of those purporting to be fellow Irish Republicans. To compound the injustice is the fact that it was the CABHAIR supported prisoners who won the right of Republican prisoners to have their separate identity accepted by the prison regime. The CABHAIR supported prisoners led the dirty protests which resulted in the August 2010 Agreement.
This attempt to deny Gabriel Mackle his own political identity and autonomy brings only shame to those who have a hand in it. By cloaking their actions in the name of Republicanism they sully that noble banner. A statement issued under the name of “Republican Prisoners, Roe 4” in Maghaberry prison by the group styling itself Saoradh is quite simply a tissue of lies and calculated smear, designed to hide what is really happening here.

In an attempt to smear Gabriel Mackle the statement cites his previous membership of the British Army’s Royal Irish Regiment. This is a matter of public record. Irish Republican history is littered with instances of Irish patriots who having served in the British Army subsequently gave honourable and heroic service to the cause of Irish freedom, James Connolly, Michael Mallin and Tom Barry are notable examples.

This statement cannot disguise the reality of what is going on in Maghaberry. Gabriel Mackle’s right, a right inherent to all Republican POWs, to maintain his own political identity is being attacked. Historically this right has always been respected by Republican prisoners regardless of organisation. However, this latest move to deny Gabriel Mackle this right echoes the actions of the Provisionals who in 1986 forced Republican prisoners who refused to renounce their Republican principles and abandon their allegiance to the All-Ireland Republic off prison landings.

Today it seems similar tactics are being employed by a grouping that it seems will not tolerate any alternative views. When these people speak of unity we now can see what they really mean. They are simply Provo – lite, aping the tactics and mindset of the Provisionals. They will be no more successful in their attempts to intimidate faithful Irish Republicans than the reformist Provos were before them.
We will not be intimidated or deflected from our work. Over the decades we have seen many such groupings styling themselves as Republican come and go. Republican Sinn Féin and the Republican Movement long predate them and will long outlast them. This year we mark 100 years since the historic 1917 Ard Fheis at which Sinn Féin adopted a Republican constitution. We are proud of our history of unbroken continuity of principle and organisation. Over the course of that century faithful Irish Republicans have defended that constitution from those who have attempted to subvert it, in 1921, 1926, 1946, 1969/70 and 1986. We will remain steadfast in our allegiance to the All-Ireland Republic of Easter and determined in our pursuit of our Republican goals. Once more we salute Gabriel Mackle and pledge him our continued solidarity and support. Maith thú Gabriel.

Críoch/Ends.

With many thanks to: Des Dalton, President Republican Sinn Féin.

SUPPORT OUR P.O.W’s : UPDATE by Lilian Fitzsimmons.

Image via Wikipedia

Wall Photos

SUPPORT OUR P.O.W‘s. UPDATE: on the beating of Harry Fitzsimons
.by Lilian Fitzsi…mons on Monday, 30 May 2011

Harry had a visit yesterday Sunday 29th may, Myself his partner Paula and his 4yr old daughter and 5yr old son, After being verbally abused by loyalist screws on the way in, we then had to wait 30 minutes in the visiting room for them to bring Harry in last, as all the other p.o.w’s were brought in first.

When they finally brought him in,We were shocked at the state of his face multiple cuts an bruises, when i gently hugged him he was in pain he said his ribs were so sore, his jaw an chin is swollen also his wrist, we cant say they’r broken because he hasnt had any medical attention, no xrays no painkillers, nothing.

He said they entered his cell and forced him to the ground, kicking and punching him to the face and body smashing his glasses into his face causing the cuts and bruising, they held his arms behind his back while covering his mouth an nose so he couldn’t breath and pass out, still kicking him and punching him, they trailed him over to the radiator by the hair whilst naked, to bash his face off it, this went on for full 20 minutes non-stop, whilst trailing his clothes off his body and all through the ordeal they were screaming into his face ‘your nothing’ ‘dirty bastard’ and ‘no good scumbag’

Harry said this was an unprovoked attack, other pow’s confirmed this on the visit yesterday.

I phoned maghaberry prison yesterday morning before the visit and was put through to Roe house, I enquired about the reports that were coming out of the prison about Harry getting a beating from the riot squad and laughily they told me ‘They dont beat their prisoners and no ones been beaten in here’ and ‘sure you can see him yourself when you come up to visit him today’ and hung up.

As we all seen for ourselves not surprisingly, They were lying once again.

I found out an hour after the phonecall it was actually the riots sqaud i was conversing with.

The p.o.w’s visitors were outside after the visit and each of them, appaulled and disgusted they were not surprised at this brutal assault on our p.o.w’s and agreed to fill out a complaints form for Pauline Mc Cabe the ombudsman for maghaberry to say how they witnessed the injuries Harry sustained from this vicious attack.

I as his sister plead with anyone who reads this to please get in touch with their local councillor, human rights and anyone else who they think may be of some help to get the 12th of August agreement implimented.See more

by: Friends Of Irish Freedom Inc.

Information Evening Regarding Ongoing Struggle for POW Status in Maghaberry

 

 

 

POW public meeting, N Belfast

NORTH BELFAST FRIENDS & FAMILIES OF MAGHABERRY POWSmInvite you to a public meeting in the Shamrock Club on Thursday 26th May @ 7pm

…
The purpose of the meeting is to inform our community about what is really happening in HMP Maghaberry.In attendance and speaking will be ex H Block POWs.

Today in Maghaberry Irish Republicans are being brutally stripped searched by LPOA thugs.

This is contrary to an agreement reached on 12th August 2010, when technology was introduced that made it unnecessary.

Also in recent weeks HMP Maghberry has been readied for more Irish Republicans, The latest being Marian Price.

Marian has been interned by the British Secretary of State because she held a piece of paper.

WHOS NEXT?

In 1981 ten brave men died so that their comrades to follow may have political status.

In 2011 the British Government are still trying to criminalize us.

DON’T LET THEM.

PLEASE ATTEND THIS MEETING AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE MAGHABERRY POWs.

Time	26 May · 19:00 – 22:00
Location	Shamrock Club, Ardoyne
Created by:	Dee Fennell

 

 

 

 

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST REPUBLICAN WOMEN PRISONERS

 

Republican Women Prisoners

 

A policy of discrimination against Republican women prisoners has been blatently and systematically exercised since the opening of Maghaberry prison in 1986.

Lock-Ups

In recent years the NIO [Northern Ireland Office] abolished lock-up [confinement to cell] for ALL prisoners in Long Kesh and for male prisoners in Lagan House, Maghaberry. More recently, lock-up was also done away with for two women on A2 in Mourne House in Maghaberry. The ending of lock-up has not been extended to Republican women prisoners who continue to be locked from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm and from 8.30 pm to 8.00 am, a total of 12.5 hours daily.

The official reason given by NIO for ending lock-up in Long Kesh was the lack of jail sanitation there. However there are toilets in all cells in Maghaberry, and yet the NIO went on to abolish lock-up for many prisoners here. The NIO have set out published criteria which they say a prisoner must meet in order to have the lock-up ended although this applies only to prisoners Maghaberry. The first criteria is that a prisoner must have been in prison for at least 8 years. Several Republican women prisoners meet this condition and yet have not had lock-up ended. The second criteria is that the prisoner must be on low or medium as opposed to a `High risk’ security classification. We believe that the imposition of this particular criteria is designed to exclude Republican women from having their lock-up ended because Republicans are generally kept on high security classifications until they are released from prison. Added to this, many of the men who are in Lagan House, Maghaberry, and thus have no lock-up, were `high risk’ security until entering Lagan house but then this classification was conveniently lowered to medium or low risk to suit the criteria set out by the NIO.

Also, some prisoners have been kept in Lagan House who did not meet the criteria at all. Paul Kavanagh for example, was a category A’, maximum risk prisoner and yet he was held in Lagan House during his stay in Maghaberry. All of this demonstrates how useless the criteria set out by the NIO is and why it is that Republican women should not be prevented from having their lock-up ended on the basis of such criteria.

In addition, earlier in the year, the No.1 Governor here in Maghaberry suggested that if Republican women prisoners wanted to be treated the same as our male counterparts in Long Kesh, including having lock-ups ended, we would have to move to the H Blocks in order to receive that treatment. In response to this suggestion, we drew up a document inquiring about the nature of living accomodation women prisoners could expect to receive in the H-Blocks, as well raising questions about educational and other facilities there. The NIO have been in possession of this document since early February 1997 and in all that time not only have they not answered our queries, they have also failed to acknowledge receipt of the document altogether. Since the governor here offered to move Republican women prisoners to the H-Blocks where lock-up for us would be automatically ended, this makes ridiculous the notion that our security classifications are an all important factor in preventing our lock-up from being ended here. It also makes nonsense of the idea that we must be in prison a certain length of time before lock-up can be ended. The governor felt that our lock-up could not be abolished within Maghaberry because this would mean having to extend this facility to all prisoners in Maghaberry, something which the governor did not want to do. The fact though that Paul Kavanagh and others were situated in Lagan House despite not meeting the criteria there means that the NIO is unconcerned with appearing to favour some prisoners and not others. Also, the No. I governor of Maghaberry has stated that even if a prisoner meets all of the relevant criteria they may never enter Lagan House and have lock-up ended simply because their general conduct has given the governor reason for concern. Again, this further example of the criteria being side-stepped or ignored demonstrates that the criteria is senseless in the first place and should not be used to prevent lock-up for Republican women prisoners being abolished.

Telephones

The existence of 12.5 hours lock-up each day results in Republican women prison havone only limited access to telephones. Whereas the hundreds of prisoners with no lock-up can make calls any time day or night, Republican women prisoners find that they are unable to contact family members, friends and legal advisors simply by being unable make telephone calls after 8.30pm.

Education

Education facilities within the womens’ prison have always been inferior to those enjoyed on the male side.

The education wing in the male prison is available in the evenings and at weekends when staffing levels permit, but for women prisoners evening and weekend access is never an option, regardless of staffing levels. Republican women prisoners do not ask for special privilege status but demand parity of treatment. By allowing certain conditions and `privileges’ to some prisoners but not extending the same to Republican women, the NIO is guilty of operating a policy of discrimination for which there can be no justification. What seems ironic is that in those areas where women were viewed as having an advantage over male prisoners, such as having more items allowed in parcels and having tissues and deodorants supplied through prison stores, governors and the NIO moved quickly to relieve this situation. They cut down on womens’ parcels and stopped supplying tissues and deodorants to women prisoners. The Governor and NIO are keen to ensure that they do not appear to discriminate in favour of women prison, but do not seem at all concerned about their practice of treating women in an inferior way in important areas of life. When it was pointed out to the No 1 Governor that it is unfair to treat women in this way he simply stated that `life is not fair’.

October 1997

• Republican Women Prisoners
• Profile of Ailish Carroll
• Profile of Ella O’Dwyer
• Profile of Geraldine Ferrity
• Profile of Marie Wright
• Profile of Martina Anderson
• Profile of Rosa McLaughlin
• Profile of Rosaleen McCorley

Archive: Discrimination against women POWs in Maghaberry

Came across this and was trying to put into perspective the fact that a 57 year old woman political internee now sits isolated in an all male prison and no outward signs of empathy or indeed condemnation towards those who interned her from those who fought for what they would have considered justice.  

A policy of discrimination against Republican women prisoners has been blatently and systematically exercised since the opening of Maghaberry prisonin 1986. 

Lock-Ups

In recent years the NIO [Northern Ireland Office] abolished lock-up [confinement to cell] for ALL prisoners in Long Kesh and for male prisoners in Lagan House, Maghaberry. More recently, lock-up was also done away with for two women on A2 in Mourne House in Maghaberry. The ending of lock-up has not been extended to Republican women prisoners who continue to be locked from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm and from 8.30 pm to 8.00 am, a total of 12.5 hours daily. 

The official reason given by NIO for ending lock-up in Long Kesh was the lack of jail sanitation there. However there are toilets in all cells in Maghaberry, and yet the NIO went on to abolish lock-up for many prisoners here. The NIO have set out published criteria which they say a prisoner must meet in order to have the lock-up ended although this applies only to prisoners Maghaberry. The first criteria is that a prisoner must have been in prison for at least 8 years. Several Republican women prisoners meet this condition and yet have not had lock-up ended. The second criteria is that the prisoner must be on low or medium as opposed to a `High risk’ security classification. We believe that the imposition of this particular criteria is designed to exclude Republican women from having their lock-up ended because Republicans are generally kept on high securityclassifications until they are released from prison. Added to this, many of the men who are in Lagan House, Maghaberry, and thus have no lock-up, were `high risk’ security until entering Lagan house but then this classification was conveniently lowered to medium or low risk to suit the criteria set out by the NIO. 

Also, some prisoners have been kept in Lagan House who did not meet the criteria at all. Paul Kavanagh for example, was a category A’, maximum risk prisoner and yet he was held in Lagan House during his stay in Maghaberry. All of this demonstrates how useless the criteria set out by the NIO is and why it is that Republican women should not be prevented from having their lock-up ended on the basis of such criteria. 

In addition, earlier in the year, the No.1 Governor here in Maghaberry suggested that if Republican women prisoners wanted to be treated the same as our male counterparts in Long Kesh, including having lock-ups ended, we would have to move to the H Blocks in order to receive that treatment. In response to this suggestion, we drew up a document inquiring about the nature of living accomodation women prisoners could expect to receive in the H-Blocks, as well raising questions about educational and other facilities there. The NIO have been in possession of this document since early February 1997 and in all that time not only have they not answered our queries, they have also failed to acknowledge receipt of the document altogether. Since the governor here offered to move Republican women prisoners to the H-Blocks where lock-up for us would be automatically ended, this makes ridiculous the notion that our security classifications are an all important factor in preventing our lock-up from being ended here. It also makes nonsense of the idea that we must be in prison a certain length of time before lock-up can be ended. The governor felt that our lock-up could not be abolished within Maghaberry because this would mean having to extend this facility to all prisoners in Maghaberry, something which the governor did not want to do. The fact though that Paul Kavanagh and others were situated in Lagan House despite not meeting the criteria there means that the NIO is unconcerned with appearing to favour some prisoners and not others. Also, the No. I governor of Maghaberry has stated that even if a prisoner meets all of the relevant criteria they may never enter Lagan House and have lock-up ended simply because their general conduct has given the governor reason for concern. Again, this further example of the criteria being side-stepped or ignored demonstrates that the criteria is senseless in the first place and should not be used to prevent lock-up for Republican women prisoners being abolished. 

Telephones 

The existence of 12.5 hours lock-up each day results in Republican women prison havone only limited access to telephones. Whereas the hundreds of prisoners with no lock-up can make calls any time day or night, Republican women prisoners find that they are unable to contact family members, friends and legal advisors simply by being unable make telephone calls after 8.30pm. 

Education 

Education facilities within the womens’ prison have always been inferior to those enjoyed on the male side. 

The education wing in the male prison is available in the evenings and at weekends when staffing levels permit, but for women prisoners evening and weekend access is never an option, regardless of staffing levels. Republican women prisoners do not ask for special privilege status but demand parity of treatment. By allowing certain conditions and `privileges’ to some prisoners but not extending the same to Republican women, the NIO is guilty of operating a policy of discrimination for which there can be no justification. What seems ironic is that in those areas where women were viewed as having an advantage over male prisoners, such as having more items allowed in parcels and having tissues and deodorants supplied through prison stores, governors and the NIO moved quickly to relieve this situation. They cut down on womens’ parcels and stopped supplying tissues and deodorants to women prisoners. The Governor and NIO are keen to ensure that they do not appear to discriminate in favour of women prison, but do not seem at all concerned about their practice of treating women in an inferior way in important areas of life. When it was pointed out to the No 1 Governor that it is unfair to treat women in this way he simply stated that `life is not fair’. 

October 1997 

http://irlnet.com/saoirse/maghconditions.html

 

NON-CONFORMING REPUBLICAN PRISONERS MAGHABERRY

The Forced Strip Search.

Another day has passed… in this Prison Hell,
I’m lying bruised and sore, in a lonely cell,
The only sound is of lock and key,
Although they try – they won’t break me.

Two more forced strips, I’ve had to endure,
My Clothes…I won’t take off – that’s for sure!
The Riot Squad think.. they’re brave men!
I stand on my own against six of them…

I’m pulled and pushed and pinned to the floor,
My defiance is growing more and more,
They strip me naked and hold me down,
Against my Will – on the Cold Ground.

I’m forced to squat.. while they degrade me,
For the Screws and Governors – I’ll never bend the knee
They are nearly finished, there’s one last thing..
To force my mouth open – the final sting.

I’m left there lying, as they all run out,
They stand staring in….I just want to shout!!
I get up on my feet and I get dressed,
I know in myself, I’ve done my best.

There’s only one problem of that I know!
This is only the first of a two part show..
I’m taken to court – its half past ten,
And when I come back – I’m for it again!!

This is my story of the Forced Strip Search,
It’s a degrading procedure – the Screws cannot defend,
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,
The Non-Conforming Republican Prisoners – WILL NEVER BEND.

 

Damien (DD) McLaughlin.  Republican Prisoner, Maghaberry Gaol. 21/04/11