Plight of Eddie Butler highlighted
POW had not seen late father for six years
The death took place last week of the father of Eddie Butler who
is entering his 22nd year as a political prisoner in England. The
prisoner had not seen his father for six years because of his ill
health and because Eddie has been repeatedly refused both
compassionate parole and repatriation to Ireland.
Bill Butler of Castleconnell, County Limerick died on 3 July. He
has last visited his son in jail in England in 1991 and was taken
ill with the stress and trauma of the journey to Full Sutton in
Yorkshire and the visiting conditions. When his father became
seriously ill some months ago Eddie Butler applied for
compassionate parole to see his father before he died. He was
refused by the British government.
Eddie Butler has not had a visit from anyone for over a year. His
sister Nellie, his brother Will and two nephews visited him in
1996 in Whitemoor. His sister said that visiting conditions
coupled with the long journey from Limerick have been an enormous
strain on the family for 22 years.
Expressing sympathy to Eddie and the Butler family Sinn Féin
Vice-President Pat Doherty said on 4 July:
``Legislation has been in place for some time for the transfer of
prisoners to prisons in Ireland. Eddie Butler and his family
could have been spared the added grief of Bill not seeing his son
before he died. Eddie could also have been granted paraole. There
are other long-term prisoners facing this prospect. Ella O'Dwyer
who is held in Maghaberry Prison has not seen her father for a
long time because he is unable, due to ill health, to make the
journey from Tipperary to see her. She has been repeatedly
refused compassionate parole.''
Eddie Butler's co-accused in the 1975 Balcombe Street siege trial
in London are Hugh Doherty, Harry Duggan and Joe O'Connell and
all received recommendations that be kept in jail for not less
than 30 years. They suffer the same conditions and have been
refused both repatriation and compassionate parole.
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