Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

BBC needs to wise up

Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew is right to call on the BBC to ensure that this year's coverage of the Twelfth Parades is for the first time balanced and impartial.

Each year, the BBC spends the public's money presenting live coverage of the annual Twelfth parades. In this programme, the parades are presented as some sort of cultural festival. No mention is made of the political nature of the event and the paramilitary displays by the many of the bands present are conveniently ignored by the commentators.

This sort of Orange-tinted coverage is a throwback to the days of unionist domination.

The reality is that northern nationalists take their holidays in July for a reason - the increase in sectarianism that coincides with the folksy Orange walks.

Prison Report shames state

The first annual report of the Inspector of Prisons represents an indictment of the 26-County state.

The report confirms what various advocacy organisations have been attempting to highlight to the Minister for Justice - that 95% of prisoners come from areas of social and economic deprivation, the widespread lack of proper educational and other programmes for prisoners, the underfunding of the Probation and Welfare Service, the pervasive problem of homelessness among ex-prisoners, the inhumane conditions in which mentally ill prisoners are held, the growing problem of racism in prisons, and the appalling physical conditions in Mountjoy, Portlaoise and Limerick prisons. The report also demonstrates that the decision to close and sell off Shanganagh Castle (the only open centre for young offenders) was a mistake.

The Inspector's findings demand action. Prison conditions must be improved to a proper humane standard.