Developing a spirit of revolution
In an exclusive interview 27-year old Geraldine spoke to An
Phoblacht's Ned Kelly and described how the fight by republican women
in Armagh jail and Maghaberry over the years for better conditions
was a positive force that shaped her outlook on life and on struggle
Geraldine Ferrity, the last female Republican prisoner to be released
from Maghaberry under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, told An
Phoblacht that she only heard she would be released the day before
she got out, just three days before Christmas on 22 December.
Geraldine said: ``It came out of the blue, so in many ways I wasn't
fully prepared. Release wasn't something I'd really thought about and
I hadn't even started the parole programme yet.''
Turning to the advances of Republicanism she said, ``in the nine years
since I was imprisoned in November 1990 there have been massive
changes in the level of political activity and the political
commitment of Republicans. These are interesting times.''
Still firmly committed to Republican ideals, Geraldine said, ``the
whole sea change towards a more focused political strategy was not a
shock. The political developments are a continuation of the struggle.
It is a natural progression from the political development of
Republicans both inside the prisons and outside on the ground.
``Everyone has developed; where previously the struggle had been less
political now it is much more political and now everyone has an
opinion, which is great.''
A key moment for Geraldine was the breakdown of the first IRA
cessation in 1994.
``Through the first and then second ceasefires there was loads of
debate about what was going to happen, with lots of different views
and strong feelings. And, even before the breakdown of the first
ceasefire there was a lot of anger at [British Prime Minister] John
Major. He did nothing to move the peace process forward. Republicans
tried so hard to ensure the process kept up its momentum but still
Major did not respond in kind.''
Over the last nine years there have also been significant successes
for Sinn Féin.
``One of the great moments for me was the election of local Sinn Féin
councillor Terence Brogan to Omagh council. Not such a surprising
thing these days in itself but that he got so many votes over and
above anyone else was a real indication of the growing political
strength of the movement.''
On a more personal note, Geraldine said, ``when I first went into
Maghaberry it was hard, but in that time I have learnt a lot, you
have to learn to live with people who are basically strangers very
quickly. The whole process of personal development, the studying,
education, ad hoc political debates and deep friendships are related
to the political maturing of the Republican movement as a whole. It
wasn't just a political education, you also learnt a lot about other
people and about living with other people.
``Although relationships with people outside of the jails were
different, they were maintained and in many ways became stronger.
It's also knowing that if you needed anything people would be there
even if you didn't have direct physical contact.''
The commitment of family and friends from her native Co Tyrone and
Sinn Féin and the POW Department were also vital links to the
developing climate. Geraldine said, ``they kept you up to date on not
only the wider political debates but also the local issues and also
helped maintain the links with the local community.''
People writing letters from as afar afield as America, Australia, New
Zealand and the Basque country were also important. ``It showed the
system that we weren't on our own,'' Geraldine said.
``The spirit in Maghaberry was phenomenal. As a group of Republicans
we were very strong, although there was so few of us we fought for
everything like there was 200 of us. We kept up the battle for better
conditions and backed each other no matter what. It also meant that
everything was more informal.''
During her incarceration in Maghaberry the Republican women forced
changes in the lock-up regime, the introduction of telephones and a
furniture making course. But, added Geraldine, ``some of the major
changes in conditions were won by the women in the Armagh jail.''
Geraldine also spoke of one of the pivotal moments in her youth, the
death of hunger striker Bobby Sands. She said, ``Bobby Sands died
three weeks before my tenth birthday. It was a major event, no-one
thought the British would let him die. Before then I didn't really
understand the depth of what was going on. I mean you knew it was bad
but after that you realised that something very serious was going
on.''
As we enter a decisive moment for the Good Friday Agreement,
Geraldine also said that the discrimination and lack of equality
rampant under Unionist power was now ``no secret'' and that the British
government ``should do more to move the Unionists forward''.
``Everyone is entitled to basic rights, that Unionists are blocking
the basic democratic rights of the 130,000 people who voted for Sinn
Féin shows how easy Unionists find undemocratic behaviour. Equality
is the bench mark for everything, there should be no discrimination
for any reason.
``People shouldn't ever lose focus of the fact that religion is not
the real issue, the war here is not a Protestant/Catholic thing but
between the Irish and the British and their forces of repression.
``But there is a long way to go and I would be happier with the rest
of the POWs being released immediately and the disbandment of the RUC
and their replacement with a totally new policing service.''
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