Castlerea prisoners take case
Two republican prisoners currently held in Castlerea prison have
taken High Court proceedings in Dublin seeking a declaration that
they are entitled to early release under the terms of the Good
Friday Agreement.
Michael O'Neill and John Quinn were both jailed by the Dublin
government in relation to the manslaughter of Garda Jerry McCabe
and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Following an application on behalf of the men by Michael Forde
SC, Justice Butler gave leave to both men to pursue their case by
means of a judicial review.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, Michael Farrell,
solicitor for the two, said that they had both received only
short periods of temporary release - numbering a few days each.
He also said that it was his belief that neither were affiliated
to an organisation that was not maintaining a ``complete and
unequivocal ceasefire''.
On 5 May last year, in their joint statement, the British and
Dublin government's stated their intention that all remaining
qualifying prisoners would be released by July 2000.