Republican ex-prisoners organise
Launch of new group is ``historic moment''
by Laura Friel
Republican ex-prisoners are now organised and determined to play a
full role in the future of their communities. That was the message at
the launch of a new umbrella group - Coiste na n-Iarchimí - for 17 ex
prisoners' groups currently based within the ten northern most
counties of Ireland.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly said the key dynamic of the new
Committee was ``self help''. ``Over 15,000 nationalists have been
through the jails during the most recent phase of struggle,'' said
Kelly. ``They didn't come from nowhere, they came from and are
intrinsically a part of the community. Ex-prisoners have a positive
contribution to make. Their efforts can already be seen in relation
to the Irish language and within areas of social need.''
Gerry Kelly was speaking at Belfast's Linen Hall Library where around
a hundred people, many ex-prisoners, had gathered for the group's
official launch this week. The Linen Hall Library, established over
200 years ago, is one of three independently-owned libraries in the
world. The wood panelled members' room was packed to capacity with
many well remembered faces.
The establishment of Coiste na n-Iarchimí was described by Mike
Ritchie, recently appointed project manager for the group, as a
strategic move by Republican ex-prisoners and said he was honoured to
have been given the mandate to organise new structures. ``There are
currently 17 groups, employing 50 workers,'' said Ritchie, ``but the
funding is due to run out in 18 months time. To date ex-prisoners
have been creative in attracting funding but it's important that we
haven't blown a bubble that's about to burst.''
How long is an ex-prisoner to be regarded as an ex-prisoner, Richie
asked. ``As long as society, backed by legislation, continues to
identify ex-prisoners in terms of their `criminality' ex-prisoners
have the right to organise collectively.''
Ritchie slammed the scapegoating of Republican ex-prisoners in the
current debate around `victims' where ``Republican ex-prisoners are
expected to assume the responsibility for all the conflict and pain
that has been visited on the North,'' he said.
Laurence McKeown, development worker for the project who spent over
16 years in Long Kesh himself, described the launching of Coiste na
n-Iarchimi as a ``historic moment''. ``The Coiste is a vital step in the
development of the ex-prisoner community and it has the clear
potential to become an important element in Ireland's post Agreement
society,'' said McKeown. ``Ex-prisoners provide leadership in many
areas and in many local communities. They are determined to use their
talents for the good of those communities.''
The good humoured crowd stayed to chat, and for many ex-prisoners to
catch up with old friends and comrades. ``We've come a long way,''
commented one ex-blanket protester and in such a confident and
relaxed atmosphere his words had never seemed truer.
Meanwhile, a group of Republican ex-prisoners in North Belfast have
launched a new initiative to tackle training needs of ex-prisoners.
Based at the Ashton Centre, the project aims to identify the training
needs of former prisoners as well as looking at ways of setting up
sustainable community-based businesses in the New Lodge area. The
scheme, developed after research by Paul O Neill on behalf of Loiste
Uir, identified the need for a structured approach towards addressing
ex-prisoners' needs.
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