``Outrageous treatment'' in English jail
By Laura Friel
Irish Republican POW in Long Lartin prison in England was
stripped, bundled into a van and transported to Belmarsh jail
where he was placed in a padded cell. Martin McGuinness has
described the treatment of POW Pat Martin as ``outrageous'' and has
said he will be raising the issue ``directly with British
officials through the talks process.''
On Monday 27 October, Pat Martin spoke to the governor of Long
Lartin jail about prison conditions and in particular the petty
and punitive way in which he was being treated by prison wardens.
The meeting was straightforward and uneventful but in the early
hours of the following morning Pat's cell was raided. An
Phoblacht spoke to Pat's wife, Francine Martin.
``It was the riot squad. Pat was strip searched, trailed out and
thrown into a prison van naked, apart from a pair of underpants,''
she said. ``He was driven to Belmarsh prison where he was placed
in a padded cell.'' Pat was refused clothing for four days. ``It
was only after prolonged protesting by Pat's legal
representatives and Sister Sarah Clarke that he was able to
receive clothing,'' Francine said.
Over a week later Pat Martin has still not received his own
clothes and personal belongings from Long Lartin. He is currently
being held in one of Belmarsh's notorious Special Secure Units.
``The prison authorities are claiming there wasn't enough room for
his clothes in the van,'' says Francine. ``It's just a ridiculous
excuse.''
Pat Martin was previously held for over a year in an SSU in
Belmarsh. ``It's a concrete box,'' says Francine. ``Last time Pat
was held in an SSU his health deteriorated.'' Pat was transferred
to Whitemoor jail after being sentenced last July. ``Pat was
reclassified and his conditions improved,'' says Francine. ``He was
no longer held in an SSU and his visits were no longer closed.''
Francine visited her husband for the first time in September this
year; their five children have not seen their father in over a
year and a half. ``It's back to square one,'' says Francine. ``A
second Christmas and the kids won't be seeing their dad.''
``The treatment of Pat Martin in this way, at anytime, would be
outrageous,'' says Martin McGuinness, ``but what excuse have the
prison authorities for behaving in this manner at a time when we
are trying to resolve conflict?'' The hallmark of the previous
government's treatment of Irish prisoners was vindictive and
abusive,'' said McGuinness, ``I hope we are not going to experience
a similar policy from this government.''
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