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Showing posts with label Maghaberry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maghaberry. Show all posts
    Alex McCrory ✒ The introduction of new visiting arrangements for political prisoners in Maghaberry is the straw that broke the camel's back.
Unless the decision is reversed, we are looking at a renewed round of protest inside the jail. Once the cells doors are slammed shut, who knows when they will open again. Protests are easy to start but notoriously difficult to end. Both sides become entrenched in their respective positions, making escalation inevitable. Where it will end is anyone's guess.

It is not to late to pull back from the brink. Structures exist to facilitate constructive engagement between both sides to the dispute. Resolution is preferable to conflict which will only serve to increase tensions inside and outside. Who's interest does this serve? 

Political prisoners have not had physical contact with their families for over two years now. Children are missing their fathers, wives their husbands, and mothers their sons. The situation is intolerable. An indifferent administration must be made to realise the real human suffering being caused by it's unnecessary interference with familial relations. Political prisoners have one simple request which is to have pre-Covid visits reinstated as soon as possible. Nothing less will do.

Alec McCrory 
is a former blanketman.

Warning Of Protest By Political Prisoners In Maghaberry

Family Of John Paul Wooton ✒ with an appeal to end what it feels is discrimination against their imprisoned loved one. 


Following recent protest action at Maghaberry Prison, the family of John Paul Wootton are now calling upon the current Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Ronnie Armour, to intervene to help end the ongoing acts of discrimination against their son, brother, uncle and miscarriage of justice victim, John Paul Wootton.

On behalf of John Paul, the family have launched a letter and email campaign which directly highlights the issues behind the ongoing acts of discrimination he faces on a daily basis, while being held within Maghaberry.

We, the family of John Paul Wootton, ask you to please support our call to demand that Ronnie Armour, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, immediately ends all acts of discrimination against John Paul.

Please sign the following letter of protest, email and/or write to:

Director General
Northern Ireland Prison Service
Dundonald House,
Upper Newtownards Road,
Belfast, BT4 3SU
niprisonservice@nics.gov.uk


For the attention to the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service:

It has come to my attention that John Paul Wootton, a person you hold in your custody is being subjected to discriminatory practices.

John Paul has attempted to avail of opportunities open to other prisoners however he has unfortunately been blocked without justification, this is wrong.

For example, he has been applied to take part in peers support and mentoring schemes, requested social activity and asked with regret to the prisons regimes, yet despite meeting appropriate criteria, these have not been facilitated.

Over the years and in an ongoing bases, John Paul has had to deal with harassment such as regular sleep disruption unfair punitive actions both formal and informal, and more recently restrictions on his communications with the outside world. Formal complaints about his treatment have been ignored.

A transfer to Magilligan prison has been identified as a solution to many of these problems, as well as opening up specific educational opportunities. However despite a two year wait, John Paul remains in Maghaberry.

I write to object to this treatment. John Paul should be given equitable access to any opportunities and all harassment should end. A move to Magilligan should be facilitated without delay.

I hope these matters could then be brought to a close.

Yours sincerely

Signed:________________________

Help End Discrimination Against John Paul Wootton

Alex McCrory ✒ lends his support to John Paul Wooton, the republican prisoner seeking an inter prison transfer. 

John Paul Wootton, one of two men wrongly convicted for the killing of a policeman in 2009, is threatening to take Maghaberry Prison to court in order to gain his transfer to Magilligan Prison.

Having had his personal security downgraded once he left Roe House, there should now be nothing standing in the way of his request to be transferred to another jail. However, anyone who has been to jail will be aware of the indifference shown whenever it concerns the needs of prisoners. 

The grounds being cited by Wootton for his transfer relate to issues that go to the heart of personal development such as education and mentoring programmes. He claims he is being discriminated against in these important areas by a vindictive regime. News that does not surprise me at all. 

I have no problem accepting his claims in light of my own personal experience of Maghaberry. I served more than two years on Roe House and witnessed the lack of educational opportunities and vocational activities for political prisoners there. 

During my time on Roe House, I got to know John Paul well. I was reminded of myself as a young teenager in jail all those years ago. He impressed me as an intelligent and thoughtful individual, if somewhat naïve to the ways of the world. 

Despite being the victim of a major miscarriage of justice in the Diplock courts, he has struggled daily to overcome adversity and deprivation in the most difficult conditions. A fair system would acknowledge his personal achievements and seek to encourage him further. 

I wish to lend my support to the campaign to gain a positive outcome to his transfer application. Having taken away his liberty, the least they can do is clear the way for his advancement towards a final release.

Alec McCrory 
is a former blanketman.

Transfer Request

AOH ✒ Throughout December, events have been taking place across Ireland in support of republican political prisoners. The following statement was issued by IRPWA-supported prisoners at Maghaberry.


 
We the Republican Prisoners of Roe 3 & 4 Maghaberry Gaol send Christmas greetings to all our imprisoned comrades in Hydebank, Dóchas Centre and E3 & E4 Portlaoise Gaols.

We also send greetings to all revolutionary POW’s incarcerated throughout the world in their struggle for freedom; we salute each and everyone of you.

We also take this opportunity to thank our families for their continued support to us throughout the year, no matter what obstacles you faced. You are the unsung heroes of this struggle and we commend you for your resilience while we are held captive.

It’s been nine months since family visits were halted due to the Covid virus, this another burden to our families on top of everything else.

We thank all our comrades in the IRPWA and Saoradh, and we send seasons greetings to all of you. All throughout the year you worked tiresomely for us while facing continued harassment by Crown Force and Free State lackeys, but still you never let this derail your activism.

We also want to thank our friends and supporters across the world who write and send cards, to those who make donations through raffles or buy prison craft. We urge you all to keep up the good work, it doesn’t go unnoticed by us.

This year has seen Republicans face an onslaught by British Crown Forces as they embarked on legitimate political activism. In the gaols an MI5 led prison regime has tried to quash Republican Prisoners through forced strip searches, controlled movement and isolation.

Earlier this year our Palestinian comrade, Dr Issam Hijjawi, found himself the victim of isolation. This led Issam to take action and he embarked on a hunger strike which resulted in over 50 Irish Republican Prisoners across Ireland taking part. It was the first time in gaol history that this has happened. Our unified approach in our hunger strike sent a strong message to our enemies. We will not bow down to your brutal regime, nor will we be found wanton in the face of it. We will be to the forefront of struggle and resistance in Maghaberry Gaol.

We have, time and again, stood up to the British occupation of Ireland whether in gaol or not.

We remain unbowed and unbroken.

Tiocfaidh ár lá

Victory to the Republican Prisoners!

Prisoners Issue Christmas Statement

Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC) Press Release @ 9-11-2020

Issam Hijjawi

A Palestinian man held on remand in Maghaberry Prison has been in severe pain for weeks and now needs crutches as a result of the prison's neglect of his medical needs. A friend has described his treatment as tantamount to "torture."

Dr Issam Hijjawi Bassalat is a medical doctor of Palestinian origin who is now settled in Edinburgh. He was arrested in August as a result of what his lawyer calls entrapment during a police and MI5 operation against the New IRA. He is being held on remand in Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland, where he awaits trial on a charge of "terrorism" arising from his attendance at an alleged New IRA meeting.

According to his lawyer, he was "pestered" by a man called Dennis McFadden into attending what he was led to believe would be a public meeting where he was to provide an analysis of the situation in Palestine. Dennis McFadden has now been revealed in court to be an MI5 agent. The meeting that he persuaded Dr Bassalat to attend is alleged to have been a New IRA meeting and was bugged by MI5.

Dr Bassalat's lawyer Gavin Booth has seen the transcripts of the bugged meeting. He believes that if they were made public his client would be vindicated. Speaking to Channel 4 News about Dr Bassalat's contribution to the meeting, he said:

Everything that’s contained within the transcripts and the recordings is about Palestine, is about peaceful and democratic change. There’s nothing in the transcripts from Dr Bassalat that would support violence in any way.

Dr Bassalat suffered a slipped disk in July, prior to his arrest. This has led to a neurological problem causing pain in his right leg. He attended hospital for an MRI scan on 15 September. On return to Maghaberry he was placed in isolation for 14 days in Foyle House as a covid19 prevention measure. As he had previously undergone 14 days of isolation on arrival at Maghaberry, this meant that he had to endure 4 weeks of isolation with only a short break. Foyle House is in a very run-down condition, does not provide adequate opportunities for the exercise that at that time still gave Dr Bassalat some relief from the pain, and is altogether unsuitable for someone with Dr Bassalat's medical problems. Dr Bassalat embarked on a hunger-strike in protest at his treatment, which caused around 50 Republican prisoners to go on hunger-strike in solidarity with him. The hunger strikes ended when Dr Bassalat was brought out of isolation.

Dr Bassalat's medical condition has subsequently continued to deteriorate. He has been in continuous severe pain for weeks despite taking painkillers. Exercise no longer gives him relief from the pain. He has difficulty dressing. And he now needs crutches in order to walk. It seems very probable that he will need surgery.

Dr Bassalat requested specialist medical care and was supported in this by a letter sent to the Governor of Maghaberry Prison on 27 September by SACC and other concerned organisations and individuals. He is now in contact with a neuro-surgeon. The neuro-surgeon needs access to medical records held by the prison before he can make a firm recommendation. The prison has so far failed to provide them. Its negligence is needlessly prolonging Dr Bassalat's suffering.

One of Dr Bassalat's Palestinian friends has described his treatment as tantamount to "torture". We believe that it is in any case a potential breach of the prohibition on torture or inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

SACC Chair Richard Haley wrote yesterday, 8 November, to the Governor of Maghaberry Prison asking him to ensure that Dr Bassalat is provided with prompt access to the medical care he needs.

The letter says:


Dear Mr Kennedy,

Thank you for your email of 28 October regarding Dr Issam Hijawi Bassalat, a remand prisoner at HMP Maghaberry. I am writing to you again because Dr Bassalat is continuing to experience difficulties in accessing the medical care that he needs.

Dr Bassalat suffers from a neurological problem resulting from a disk prolapse. His condition continues to deteriorate. He is experiencing continuous severe pain and now needs crutches in order to walk. It seems probable that he will require surgery.

Dr Bassalat's neuro-surgeon needs access to medical records held by HMP Maghaberry in order to decide on the best course of action. I understand that the records have not yet been transferred to him. This ought to be simple matter. It appears that it has instead become a significant barrier to the timely provision of appropriate medical care to Dr Bassalat.

The continued neglect of Dr Bassalat's medical needs is causing him prolonged and needless suffering and could put his health in jeopardy. It also potentially puts HMP Maghaberry in breach of domestic and international law. Any failure to provide adequate health care is apt to create a situation that falls within the scope of the prohibition on inhuman and degrading treatment under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The European Prison Rules and the UN's Revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) are both relevant to any assessment of the adequacy of prison health care. Note in particular that Rule 24 of the Nelson Mandela Rules states "prisoners should enjoy the same standards of health-care that are available in the community", Rule 26 states "a prisoner may appoint a third party to access his or her medical file" and Rule 27 states "all prisons shall ensure prompt access to medical attention in urgent cases."

I hope you will intervene to expedite prompt access to Dr Bassalat's medical records by his neuro-surgeon and anyone else nominated by Dr Bassalat, and that more generally you will ensure that all necessary steps are taken to provide Dr Bassalat with the prompt access to appropriate medical care that he very clearly needs.

I understand that any reply to this letter will engage data protection issues. I therefore urge you to seek Dr Bassalat's permission to share with me such information as you need to in order to respond meaningfully.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Haley (Chair, SACC)"

Richard Haley added today:

"It's often said that justice delayed is justice denied. The same might be said about medical care. Dr Bassalat has been suffering for too long. He went into prison on his feet and is now on crutches. Maghaberry Prison must stop putting obstacles between Dr Bassalat and the treatment he so obviously needs.

 
Notes


SACC and other concerned groups and individuals wrote to David Kennedy, the Governor of Maghaberry Prison on 27 October. Our letter.

SACC wrote to Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long on 23 September, raising concerns about the isolation in which Dr Bassalat was at that time being held.  Our letter and Naomi Long's response (dated 30 September). 

SACC issued a statement about the arrest of Dr Bassalat on 4 September.  

The allegations of entrapment made in connection with Dr Bassalat's arrest were the subject of a Channel 4 News item broadcast on 24 October.



Following an inspection in 2015 the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Nick Hardwick described Magherry as "the most dangerous prison I've been into throughout my time as Chief Inspector." An inspection in 2018  found that the prison was "much safer" and that "we rarely see a prison make the sort of progress evident at Maghaberry." But the inspection did not cover Foyle House, as it was unoccupied and undergoing refurbishment.

Two prisoners have died in Maghaberry prison in a period of 10 days . A source told the BBC that the deaths were believed to be "self-inflicted".

Maghaberry Prison Accused Of 'Neglect' Over Medical Treatment Of Palestinian Doctor

Clr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig ➨ This was my emergency motion for today’s Donegal Council Council meeting in Leitir Ceanainn.

I would like to thank all those that signed this emergency motion so it could be heard and I would also note that FF or FG didn’t not sign my motion.

Unfortunately this motion wasn’t heard for the meeting was adjourned to another date. 

Emergency Motion

Donegal County Council notes with concern the ongoing protests by Republican prisoners in Portlaoise, Maghaberry and Hydebank prisons. We acknowledge the distress being caused to the families of prisoners currently on hunger strike in the 6 and 26 counties and because of the failure of the Northern Ireland Office and prison authorities to provide regular updates on the prisoners’ ongoing welfare and conditions. Donegal County Council shall write to the NIO – calling on the Prison Service to release daily updates on the prisoners’ status/conditions.

Donegal County Council has concerns that the facility (Foyle House) and procedures currently being used at Maghaberry Prison, to house prisoners who are being isolated while being quarantined as a Covid precaution, is not fit for purpose and poses a risk to the physical and mental health and welfare of prisoners.

Donegal County Council call on the administration in the 6 counties to do all in its power to resolve these issues and bring about an end to the current Hunger Strike.


Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig is an independent councillor on Donegal County Council.

Support The Hunger Strikers

Padraic Mac Coitir - For years me and my comrades have been on pickets, protests and marches in support of Irish political prisoners. 

Today some of us stood on a white line picket with political activists and for that hour people drove by sounding their horns or waved to us. 

The irony is whilst the protest took place outside a building which claims to support political prisoners it was open and none of their committee joined us. Such is the the club nowadays that promotes soccer and English culture.



My father, Pat McCotter, was one of the founders of the Felons. He done time in Arbour Hill and Crumlin Road gaol and he was one of the last to get the 'cat o nine tails' in 1940. After his release from the Crum in 1948 he and his comrades founded the Felons and their objective was to include All of those incarcerated in different campaigns to highlight the issue of political prisoners (and not crawl to the British)

Those objectives were never fulfilled because I and many others never took their membership because it became an 'old boy's club'. Sad and all that it is, it doesn't stop me, my comrades and others, saying we are proud to be Felons.


Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

Proud To Be Felons

Republican Sinn Fein ➠ On September 3, Gavin McKenna, a member of the Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Féin Poblachtach, was arrested by heavily-armed members of the RUC/PSNI on the Lough Road, Lurgan, Co Armagh as he made his way to work. 

 
His family home was also subjected to a heavy-handed raid by the Crown Forces.

The following day he was charged with coordinating a petrol bomb attack on police aiding and abetting the throwing of a petrol bomb with intent to destroy property and personal injury. He was refused bail and was remanded to Maghaberry jail along with three others.

Gavin was held in isolation in Maghaberry for 14 days before he was moved not to the Republican Roe wing but to Bann House which houses loyalist as well as non-political prisoners. He was strip-searched and assaulted by prison screws. Since his incarceration he has not seen any of his family and has not received fresh clothing. He is still wearing the work clothes he was arrested in. The only contact with outside the jail were two phone and a Zoom call in 14 days, one of which was terminated after a few minutes.

He requested to see the doctor as he has a stomach ulcer for which he takes medication. His request was refused and he has also been refused medication which has resulted in severe vomiting every night.

The regime in Maghaberry to which Republican prisoners have been subjected has led over the years to many protests. Sinn Féin Poblachtach condemns the treatment of Gavin McKenna and demands that he be seen by a doctor immediately; that he be allowed visits from his family and that he be moved without delay to the Republican wing, Roe House, in the prison.

Medical Help Refused For Gavin McKenna In Maghaberry

Saoradh POW Department with some background to yesterday's piece by Alex McCrory.

The Saoradh POW Department wish to relay the concerns of current Republican Political Prisoners following the outlining of new visitation rules by the Maghaberry administration.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Republican Prisoners have taken measures to ensure minimal risk to themselves and their families by refusing visits before they were initially stopped by gaol administration. This is despite the fact screws continue to occupy Roe 4 without the wearing the necessary PPE.

While current visits have now ceased, criminals within Maghaberry are allowed unfiltered ‘zoom’ video calls, however Republican Prisoners aren’t afforded the same and have to continue with traditional phone calls while not seeing their family for the past five months.

With Covid-19 restrictions now beginning to ease, the Maghaberry administration have plans to install a new visiting system whereby:

• Only two Republican Prisoners will be allowed off the wing per month for a visit
• The playroom at visits will close
• No children will be allowed to attend a visit
• Only one adult per prisoner
• A clear Perspex screen will separate the prisoner from their visitor, with no contact permitted and if contact happens the prisoner will be put into isolation for two weeks
• The tuck shop within the visiting room will remain closed therefore leaving both the prisoner and the visitor without refreshments
• The same entrance and searching procedures will be in place including the use of the infamous “drug dogs”

Having thoroughly discussed these measures, Republican Prisoners on Roe 4 have opted to refuse them and will therefore have no visits for the foreseeable future. The prisoners view the administrations implementation of the Perspex screens as a stealth exercise by using the Covid-19 pandemic as cover to finally install something that Republican Prisoners have resisted for years.

The Saoradh POW Department wish to extend our solidarity to Republican Prisoners and their families at this difficult and uncertain time and call for support while we continue to highlight the ongoing abuses by the MI5 controlled Maghaberry administration.

Maghaberry Stealth Exercise

Alex McCrory had a restless sleep over the new proposals for visiting arrangements in Maghaberry. 

WhiIe I fully expected the administration would seize upon COVID-19 to introduce changes to the visits, I never anticipated they would be so radical in nature. What is being suggested is both unreasonable and unacceptable.

Close contact visits have been a battle ground for as far back as I can remember. After the escape, those responsible for security used any excuse to convince others of the need for more stringent visiting conditions. However, republican prisoners made it abundantly clear that any interference with close contact visits would be met with outright resistance.

Not being able to physically touch/kiss/hug your wife or child for years is a frightening prospect. It simply will not be tolerated. There is very little room for compromise on this issue.

As the politicians are moving quickly to get the economy back up and running by removing most of the restrictions, the prison administration is threatening to move in the opposite direction.

All during the lockdown screws remained in close contact with the prisoners as a necessary evil. Nobody raised a concern. A level of risk was tolerated because of the exceptional circumstances. The same thinking should apply to close contact visits which are so important to the maintenance of family and friendships.

Republican prisoners were the first to act responsibly by suspending visits in order to reduce exposure to COVID-19. They were acutely aware of the risks posed to public health and acted accordingly. A far more sensible approach to reintroducing visits would be seek the cooperation of the prisoners on the wearing of gloves and masks, as well as, keeping physical contact to a bare minimum without the need for Perspex screens and the threat of enforced isolation.

I can assure anyone reading this that any curtailment of physical contact with family members over a long period of time would create serious mental health issues for prisoners. For my own part, I know I could not countenance a situation where I could not reach out to physically touch an elderly mother, a wife, a child or grandchild.

Therefore, I would call on wiser heads to intervene in this matter so as to avoid the certainty of more conflict within the prison. If I can sit in a packed bar drinking all day, then there is nothing preventing me from having contact with family members on a visit with agreeable measures in place.

Alec McCrory
is a former blanketman.

Maghaberry Visiting Arrangements Unreasonable And Unacceptable.

Alex McCrory recalls a strange visit to Maghaberry.

Strange Visit

Statement from Roe 4 Republican Prisoners: 27-06-2017

Conflict Brewing In Maghaberry

Yesterday evening Derry people took to the streets to protest the egregious behaviour of the British prison authorities towards Tony Taylor and his family.

Derry Protest For Tony Taylor

Sean Bresnahan, chairperson of the Thomas Ashe 1916 Society Omagh, hits out at proposals to end political segregation in Maghaberry.

Attempts At Criminalisation To Be Fully Rejected

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