Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Prisoners Picket in Camlough

Around 70 republicans held a white line picket in Camlough, south Armagh on Friday [May 21] in solidarity with the protesting republican prisoners in Maghaberry jail.

Many éirígí members and supporters were in attendance, as were the families of political prisoners, former POWs and other republicans.

Support Republican Prisoners

The picket, which fell on the 29th anniversary of the death of south Armagh hunger-striker Raymond McCreesh, highlighted the inhumane conditions that political prisoners in Maghaberry have to endure, including:

  • 23 hour lock up
  • Degrading strip searches of themselves and their visiting families
  • Psychological torture
  • Controlled movement
  • Sniffer dog searches
  • Assaults
  • Criminalisation

During the picket, a banner was erected in the village calling for an end to the criminalisation of republican prisoners.

Remembering Ray McCreesh

Meanwhile, the family of Lurgan republican Colin Duffy have challenged the decision to ban them from visiting him in Maghaberry.

Duffy’s wife and brother were informed this week that they would not be allowed to attend visits in the jail. No explanation for the vindictive move was given to them.

The Duffys’ legal representative Kevin Winters described the visiting ban as “draconian”.

“What’s more, at the minute it seems totally indeterminate,” Winters said.

“We have written to the governor asking for a reinstatement of visits. As yet, we have not received a reply.

“Should the situation carry on as it is then we have no alternative but to go before the courts to seek access regarding visits.”

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