POWs in England updated
By Marcas Mac Ruairí
REPUBLICAN prisoners in England have been given an update on the
peace process during visits from a Sinn Féin delegation last
week.
Led by Party Vice President, Pat Doherty, the delegation included
Gerry Kelly, Pat Hamilton and Bernie Farrell of the POW
Department.
Though several of the prisoners have been taken out of SSUs this
year, the Special Secure Unit at Belmarsh remains in operation.
There are also other serious prison-related issues to be resolved
for the prisoners in England.
These issues include repatriations to Ireland and the continued
delay in setting tarrifs in the case of the Balcombe Street
men.Despite having served 22 years, they have yet to recieve
their tarrifs, or release dates. Without these dates the men are
not allowed to transfer to prisons in Ireland.
Pat Doherty also met Michael Gallagher from Donegal who is in
Belmarsh awaiting trial. Along with Gerry Kelly, he travelled to
visit Róisín McAliskey in the London hospital where she is being
held.
Speaking after the visit, Pat said, ``All of these men have either
already served 22 years without being given a release date or are
facing unprecedented sentences of 30 years, 35 years or life.
``Yet in every one of these prisons I found that the main concerns
were for their families and for the prorgess of the peace
process. I was impressed at the level of analysis of the talks
and the wider question of the peace process.
``We assured them that Sinn Féin had the release of prisoners
firmly on the agenda and that we saw movement on prisoners as an
essential element in the whole process.''
Two prisoners, Vincent Donnelly and Pat Martin are expected to be
repatriated before Christmas, Vincent to Port Laoise and Pat to a
prison in the north.
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