Eirigi: ‘Ford needs to implement 2010 agreement’

Eirígí says republican prisoners are being treated poorly in Maghaberry Prison

Eirígí in Newry has spoken of the need for Stormont Justice Minister David Ford to implement an agreement reached in 2010 to protect prisoners rights. Speaking to Newry Times, Eirígí spokesman Stephen Murney said, “This time of year is usually difficult enough for republican prisoners and their families but given that the prisoners have been on protest for several months makes it even harder. 23 hour lock up, regular beatings, strip searches and controlled movement are just some of the human rights abuses being inflicted on political prisoners in Maghaberry.”

Murney continued “In contravention of the agreement that was reached in August 2010, prisoners are regularly being subjected to humiliating strip searches and face the threat of beatings and the forced removal of their clothing when they refuse to consent to these searches. The prisoners are subjected to 23-24 hour lock-up and many have been forced to begin a no wash protest. This is an intolerable situation that goes against not just the August 12th agreement but every notion of humane treatment.”

He added, “On the outside there are regular protests, pickets and various other activities to raise awareness about the serious situation republican prisoners in Maghaberry find themselves in. In Newry a motion was passed by Newry & Mourne council to send a delegation to Maghaberry but this was blocked by Ford.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=1457

Posted by Emma Taylor on Dec 10 2011. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry