POW briefings continue
By Conor Marshall
Sinn Féin Vice-President Pat Doherty , Caomhghin O Caolain TD and
Sinn Féin Prisoners Department representative Bernie Farrell are
to visit Republican prisoners in Whitemoor prison today and
Belmarsh tomorrow.
There are currently nine sentenced repuplican prisoners in
Whitemoor and six on remand in Belmarsh.
Pat Doherty said, ``This is an opportunity for us to update
political prisoners on the present situation and inform them on
recent developments in the peace process. It will also be an
opportunity for them to discuss their current situation and that
of other prisoners.
``These visits are part of a comprehensive programme to ensure
that all republican prisoners in Britain, Ireland and America are
fully informed of the current situation..
``In the context of conflict resolution, the examples from around
the world are that the release of political prisoners is part of
the consolidation of a peace process.''
Prisoners visited will include Eddie Butler, Hugh Doherty, and
Harry Duggan, who have each served over 20 years.
Other prisoners visited will be John Crawley, Pat Martin, Frankie
Rafferty, Owen Morrow, Liam Mc Cotter, John Taylor and Vincent
Woods. Some of the Volunteers have recently been sentenced to 35
years each.
Doherty also headed a delegation last Friday 1 August, which met
republican prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. He was accompanied by
Martin Ferris, himself a former prisoner, and Anne O' Sullivan
from Sinn Féin's POW department. Speaking after the visit,
Doherty said:
``I found the prisoners in Portlaoise very well informed and eager
to discuss the opportunities for a real peace process presented
by the IRA's initiative in calling a cessation.
``Naturally, some of the discussion centred on their own situation
and that of other prisoners. We assured them that Sinn Féinn was
addressing the question of prisoners and pressing for the release
of all those imprisoned as a result of the conflict.''
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