Marian Price Release A Welcome Move.

The long overdue release of Marian Price is certainly a welcome move, not only for her and her family given the deterioration in her health, but for all who have campaigned and highlighted the injustice of her incarceration which was tantamount to internment.
Her incarceration has raised serious questions which remain unanswered in relation to whether or not the then Secretary of State Owen Patterson had the power to order her imprisonment given the fact she had been pardoned; and then to tell the world they lost, mislaid or shredded the documentation. Governments do not loose such documentation, and even if mislaid, I’m certain there would be more than one copy for various departments.
Her incarceration was victimisation and the attempt to criminalise her is contemptible.
Marian Price has spent two years in gaol for no offence, she has not been sentenced on the spurious charges against her. These are years of her life lost because of the injustice committed against her.
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement extend good wishes to Marian and her family and wish her a speedy recovery.
Marian now needs the space and time with her family in a stress free environment and we hope this will be respected by all in the months ahead.

Cork I.R.P.W.A highlight the internment of Marian Price.

The  Cork I.R.P.W.A have been putting up large placards and banners highlighting the internment of Marian Price throughout cork amid calls for her release. They have been erected at highly visible areas and have been getting a great response. We urge all republican minded people to do anything you can, either make your own banner, contact elected representatives, media outlets, organize a protest, write to the 'Northern Ireland' secretary of state Theresa Villiers (details on cork blog) or any other thing you can do, to highlight her case and that of other republican political prisoners.

MI5/RUC Collusion in psychological torture of remand prisoner.

Gary McDaid finds himself placed in a criminal wing in Maghaberry gaol, deliberately isolated by the British crown, suffering numerous clandestine incursions by British MI5 in collusion with the RUC/PSNI and the MagHaberry regime. Gary was rammed off his motorbike by crown forces, arrested and taken to Antrim interrogation centre where he was questioned by British state forces having already suffered trial by media. Since his arrest he has been targeted no less than 5 times by British MI5 agents. The majority of these approaches occurred whilst he was in police custody at Antrim Serious Crime Suite and occurred in the absence of his nominated legal representatives.  The agents of the British state have been able to gain free access to his cell at any given time. They demonstrated an ability to have him returned to Strand road barracks in Derry to face supposed questioning over a quite separate offence but soon became quite apparent that they had no real questions to put to him with regard to this. His removal to Strand road was simply another blatant attempt to enable mi5 agents to have another go at him, offering him a deal to turn informer under a SOCPA Agreement.
The British appeared to have identified Gary as a vulnerable individual and placed him in a cell in Maghaberry on a criminal wing where Loyalists appear to have free reign to bang on his cell, shouting threats and such like, with constant intimidation an ever present. He had immediately asked to be placed into the Republican wing on Roe 4 and at first was told by the Governor that this shouldn't be a problem until it was stated to him some time later that there was information that he was under threat from Republican prisoners on the wing. This was quickly identified as a non existent threat and merely another manipulated ploy by the British state to give them more time to inflict more mental torture, Fearing for his safety following Loyalist threats within Bann house, he has been forced to undergo a dirty protest as he feared attack during mealtimes and now takes his meals in his cell. The British regime recognise that the only threat he faces is from the Loyalist remand prisoners and are using it as more leverage in targeting Gary for their ongoing psychological torture. He has been put under considerable threat by MI5 agents who appear to have the run of the gaol, Antrim serious crime suite and Strand road barracks. He has been told that they will make him look like an informant whilst also making reference to his children. The ease of which MI5 could gain access to a remand prisoner in the absence of legal representation, putting him in fear of his life should be ringing alarm bells everywhere following the death of Republican John Brady which took place in Strand road barracks, Derry, under extremely dubious circumstances in October 2009. Gary Mc Daid is suffering daily as a result of a a British strategy of enforced isolation whilst enduring blackmail and threats out of sight of legal representation. They appear to think they have recognised an emotional vulnerability and are determined to enforce their psychological torture with complete disregard to the Human rights of a remand prisoner. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty does not come into the equation where remand prisoners are thought to be Republican minded. The ongoing psychological torture of Gary McDaid is intolerable. All right thinking people who hold Human and civil rights to the fore need to oppose the ongoing and accelerated regression of these rights and demand an end to British torture both physical and psychological.

Final act of Barbarity carried out on Harry Fitzsimons by Sectarian Riot team on Harry's release from MagHaberry.

The prison system did not miss the opportunity to inflict a final act of degradation upon Harry Fitzsimons today. As a routine part of his release he was subjected to a forced strip search by his old friends in the Riot team, or whatever acronym it goes by today. Despite him being moved no further than from Roe House to the reception and being in contact with only his captors, they saw fit to humiliate him one last time. Republicans will never accept the British penal system's attempt to degrade and brutalise us.

I.R.P.W.A statement on international prisoners day.

The IRPWA extends solidarity greetings to revolutionary Prisoners of War across the world on this International Prisoners Day.
We extend particular greetings to Irish POW’s incarcerated in gaols here in Ireland and we call for an end to the abuse of prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol with strip searching and controlled movement.
We extend greetings to Marian Price who is now almost two years interned and call for her immediate release given the detriment to her health being held in isolation.
In extending the hand of friendship at an international level we reinforce our position that only an end to the violation of Irish National Sovereignty will allow the Irish people to determine their future free from external interference.

 

REPUBLICAN PRISONERS, ROE 4, EASTER STATEMENT, 2013.

On November 21st 2012, Republican Prisoners of Roe 4 announced an end to our dirty protest in opposition to forced strip searching and controlled movement within Maghaberry Gaol. We launched a “unilateral initiative” designed to provide the space required to find an acceptable resolution to the issues affecting Republican Prisoners and in doing so created an opportunity for the prison administration to introduce the necessary measures required to fully implement the August 2010 agreement. We stated that our initiative was genuine and should be viewed as a sincere attempt to create the conditions in which a conflict free environment can flourish whereby all are treated with respect, and dignity is guaranteed. We believe that we have been upstanding in our efforts as Republicans to maintain this. However, over the course of the last 4 months it has become increasingly evident that those in power inside and outside this prison are intent on bringing this process to its knees. Obvious and deliberate attempts to impose their own agendas and destabilise potential progress are constant. We called for a “dialectical process of engagement” aimed at resolving all existing issues but have instead been met with an apparent refusal to work together towards a mutually acceptable conclusion. Any communication that has taken place has proven to be under graded and without substance. The Gaol administration's lack of willingness to engage with this process in a way that is genuine and effective only further poisons the atmosphere and re-creates the conflict fuelled environment that existed in the past. This is a situation that no-one wishes to re-establish but it should be made clear that Republican Prisoners will remain unflinching in our efforts to create acceptable and humane living conditions within this prison compound.

In the period since the announcement of our initiative, there has been no effort by the administration to move forward in terms of creating normality and aiding a solution to the issues that exist. In response to the call for the ending of the degrading and brutal forced strip-searches of Republican POWs we have been met with silence and subterfuge. Those in power have embarked on a time wasting exercise in the guise of applying for a licence and trialling of an x-ray machine. This is both unnecessary and absolutely unacceptable – a fact that has been explicitly and consistently made clear to everyone involved, including all political parties, NIPS, facilitators and David Ford’s representatives in the assessment team. Talk of trialling or bringing in X-ray machines is not necessary or acceptable. There already exists technology acceptable and sufficient that, in conjunction with acceptable searching techniques already in place absolutely caters for the security needs of the prison. The facilitators and David Ford’s own assessment team pointed to this as a solution. We believe that this is still the basis for a solution.

Daily life on the Republican wing is constantly overshadowed by problems cultivated as a result of the regime that is currently imposed, a regime that is not in line with that envisaged in the August 2010 Agreement. The culture of controlled movement is a problem that has been recognised by many independent reports into prison conditions, including the Anne Owers report which stated that the regime on the Republican separated unit is “unnecessarily restrictive”. Recommendations were made through the prisoners’ ombudsman office and accepted by the Gaol administration; however changes have never materialised, an all too common occurrence. Republican POWs believe that the structure of any social institution should be devoid totally of violence or force but each day we are faced with the DST (riot squad) operating as landing staff (on Roe 4 only), a group of bullies who are grounded on tactics which are moulded through force and brutality, a trait demonstrated on many occasions in attempts to dehumanise and demoralise Republican POWs; as they enforce their draconian measures upon us at the behest of their faceless, unaccountable superiors. 

Recent reports and investigations into the everyday running of Maghaberry have confirmed that securocratic elements, including a built in mechanism, designed by and incorporating MI5 is in operation throughout the compound; creating blockages and stumbling blocks for change and progress. The most recent example was when four Republican Prisoners were dragged from their cells/beds by DST (riot squad) and forcibly transferred to another cell on a different landing. After stating that they were not resisting the prisoners were forced to the floor, where up to 8 members of the DST (riot squad) imposed “secure” arm locks and unnecessarily aggressive techniques to fulfill their barbaric orders. These actions prove to be in stark contrast to those envisaged by the Republican POWs when we embarked on our recent initiative and the deliberate re-current practice of non-engagement in regards to these issues is nothing less than a signpost to the failed procedures of the past. These “officers” work as a militia on behalf of the British State, their very existence on this wing is an instrument of brute-force intimidation……designed to break the spirit of the Republican Prisoners, a spirit that cannot be broken.

We stand in the face of all that is thrust upon us, we remain committed to the process of change; we will do whatever is necessary to move forward and we will constantly assess our position and alter out tactics/strategies if necessary. It is our belief that the August 2010 Agreement is the basis for the change that is required. However the prison administration must now move in a more progressive direction. 

Republican POWs are realistic and we are conscious of the growing numbers at Maghaberry as a result of internment by remand currently in practice across the occupied 6 counties. The Republican wing is full at present and there are no available cells. Republican POWs who have been isolated for periods of up to two years and who continue to be incarcerated on the CSU landing; on dirty protest and in lock down for 23 hours per day must be transferred to Roe House. The days of innuendo and false promises are over. We will not stand idly by while Republicans enter this prison and are forced to live in the cauldron of hate and hostility currently imposed upon them. Prison chiefs now need to act. They need to step up to the plate and deal with these important unavoidable issues head on and create the space required to allow all Republican POWs to avail of the separated facilities we are entitled to.

Republican Prisoners, Roe 4, Maghaberry

Interned 700 days and counting.

Marian Price 700 days of Illegal Internment and isolation today..You'll not see that on the British news channels nor the date acknowledged by the British quislings and cohorts..Martin Corey,a man in his 60's, 5 days off being Interned for 3 solid years without charge and suffering the brutality and violations of the Sectarian screws in MagHaberry Torture camp..Censorship and overtly blatant sectarian Apartheid still implemented on behalf of Westminster by culpable quislings in a puppet parliament.

Marian's pardon has been admittedly destroyed by the British. The destruction of this document has meant that Marian has remained Incarcerated where the admitted criminal destruction of evidence should have seen Marian released immediately and those responsible for the destruction of evidence dragged before the courts.

May 13th will see 2 years since Marian was taken into custody.. April 16th will see 3 years since Martin Corey has been taken into custody.

The British have criminalised an ideology and thousands of men and women are at risk from this very British strategy of using license revocation to quell a unification credo.

Stand against British Criminalisation and British Internment!

Free Irish Internees!

Fr. Mc Manus Visits Marian Price

County Fermanagh. Northern Ireland. Friday, February 22, 2013 –

Marian Price was today visited by Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Washington-based Irish National Caucus. He spent  ninety minutes with her, accompanied by her husband Jerry Mc Glinchey and her attorney Peter Corrigan.

Fr. Mc Manus said: I have been raising Marian’s case with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Congress, and I wanted to visit her to show both personal and Irish-American solidarity. My heart was broken and my soul outraged by how this heroic Irishwoman has been treated. This seriously ill, lovely, soft-spoken woman should not be in prison. Her persecution – yes, persecution – makes a mockery of the Irish peace-process, questions the whole judicial system, and raises doubt as to whether there has, indeed, been a “ new beginning” to policing in Northern Ireland. Surely Peter Robinson, Martin Mc Guinness, David Ford and the NI Secretary of State must know that there is something rotten with their government’s treatment of Marian.”

Fr. Mc Manus added : “ I was so impressed that despite all the inhumane treatment and judicial misconduct, Marian has maintained her dignity and self-respect.”

He concluded: “ When Peter Robinson and Martin Mc Guinness come to Washington for their annual St. Patrick’s Day visit, the hard truth will be  this: No matter how nice or encouraging their words, their message will be overshadowed by their government’s treatment of Marian. Her cruel mistreatment will mock their words, telling Washington there is still something rotten in Northern Ireland.”

END

Fr. Sean Mc Manus

President

Irish National Caucus

P.O. BOX 15128

Capitol Hill

Washington, DC 20003-0849

Tel. 202-544-0568

Fax. 202-488-7537

sean@irishnationalcaucus.org

A day in the life of a republican POW

Hello everyone. I’m just back from the court. I was twice subjected to forced strip searches today. That was my tenth forced strip in the last twelve weeks . I’m also out to court next Tuesday so that will be another two.

Today I was brought to the reception where the search team were waiting and forced into a 3ft x 3ft cubicle by two of them where I refused to strip. They laughed at me and said “He’s ready for it!”

I was then brought to a holding cell and kept in there for about 50 minutes with a governor coming in twice to tell me their so called prison rules. (He could talk all day, I wasn’t for stripping and won’t be at any stage while I’m incarcerated in this place)

All the while outside the cell the riot squad are getting ready. Suddenly the Cell door bursts open and in they come in full riot gear, Helmets, shields, body protection, the works.

They ram the shield into my face, 2 of them grab my arms, another grabs my head, I’m forced to the ground - Arms forced up my back, 2 knees forced into my head to hold it down , 2 knees in the back of my legs… Then another one of them starts to force off my shoes, socks and trousers off. I’m then moved into a forced position so that my boxers are ripped down and my frontal private parts can be seen by them. I’m then forced back into a position where my boxers are completely forced off me and a hand held metal detector is ran over my backside.

At this stage, it’s hard to breathe with their gloves covering my face and mouth. I’m still being held by four of them on the floor, my private parts exposed… Naked! Lying there!

They then grab my boxers and jeans and force them up, hurting me .. leaving my private parts still exposed – They then move me into another awkward position to take my t shirt off… I think my arms are about to break in two ! It’s agony at this stage.. My wrists are just numb... Being twisted the whole time this is going on.. My shirt is now off.. I’m lying now with both my arms are forced up my back towards the roof while the riot squad run out of the cell.. My arms just drop to the floor.. I try my best to get onto my feet using my elbows , trousers hanging off me, boxers still below my private parts.. I’m aching all over !

I try to get dressed as the riot squad stand smirking at me. I just stare back at them. I think of the other things they have done to me in the past.. Forced strips, cut my clothes off, broke my nose, stood on me, forced me into squat positions, forced my mouth open by trying to break my wrist… I could go on!

Well, that’s me on the way to court! As soon as I get to Laganside ( where I’m already an hour late because of the forced strip ) I’m brought straight to the court, cuffed, and haven’t seen my solicitor.. Adjourned again ! That’s me down now to a 6ft x 6ft cell to wait for a few hours.Then I’m brought back to the gaol where I go through the whole strip search ordeal again.

Sitting in my cell now – My wrists, knees, ankles, neck, back, head, shoulders are aching.. One image going through my head is the faces of my friends who were waiting patiently for me to come back.. Colly, Harry, Brendy, Gerard, Kevin … It’s hard to explain the look on their faces but I can tell you that it’s one of the worst feelings in gaol seeing one of your friends coming back from a forced strip search, seeing them in pain !

I would take all of their forced strip searches rather than see them in this agony.. pain .. and I know they would do the same for me.

That’s friendship that won’t be broken !

Well, slan for now, another Republican forcibly strip searched.

D.D McLaughlin, POW, Maghaberry gaol