The Nightmare Continues

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Saturday May 15, 2010 22:14

by Séan Ó Murchú - Sinn Féin Poblachtach - Cork

15ú Bealtaine/May 2010

Statement from Mac Curtáin / Mac Suibhne Cumann of Sinn Féin Poblachtach

Sinn Féin Poblachtach Cork in solidarity with the Maghaberry POWs.

The Mac Curtáin / Mac Suibhne Cumann of Sinn Féin Poblachtach condemn the continuing abuse of the prisoners in Roe House in Maghaberry prison.

The Nightmare Continues

15ú Bealtaine/May 2010
Statement from Mac Curtáin / Mac Suibhne Cumann of Sinn Féin Poblachtach

Sinn Féin Poblachtach Cork in solidarity with the Maghaberry POWs.

The Mac Curtáin / Mac Suibhne Cumann of Sinn Féin Poblachtach condemn the continuing abuse of the prisoners in Roe House in Maghaberry prison.

These men are on 23 hour lockdown and denied recreation and association. This is a situation that has left the men isolated and vulnerable. The prison officers have also continued in the tradition left to them by H Block screws by assaulting republican prisoners.

The latest prisoner victim of these brutal tactics was savagely assaulted by a number of wardens and has now been left with only a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms to wear, with a bucket to relieve himself. This degrading treatment of political prisoners does not go unnoticed nor will it go unchallenged.

In recent years the P.O.W’s held a semi-successful protest which resulted in all Republicans being held on the same wing. Political status has not been granted since Provisional Sinn Fein signed it away through the Good Friday agreement, and now more than ever its necessity is recognised as Republican P.O.W’s are being returned to living conditions which mirror the conditions endured by republicans in the H-blocks during the Hunger strike of 1981 which is ironically commemorated at this time of year.

We urge all republicans to stand behind our comrades in Maghaberry at this time. The process of criminalization has not gone away and just as it was fought against by the blanket men and hunger strikers so too must we take a stand in defence of the rights of these men. Our solidarity is also extended to the republicans prisoners incarnated in Portlaoise prison.
To highlight the plight of these men, Sinn Féin Poblachtach Cork and other Republicans staged a protest in Daunt Square, Cork City on Saturday May 15th.

Sinn Féin Poblachtach