I am new to this board. I have done time in prison, & like the variety of info sources. I am active in Irish Republican fight for independence, & will be posting info on republican prisoners here, just for everyones interest.



Subject: Statement From Republican Prisoners Maghaberry Gaol - Visit
Threat to Families
Date: 03 30 02

On this Easter weekend, please remember the inordinate trials
experienced by family members visiting loved ones held at Maghaberry
Prison in Occupied North Ireland.

As our previous press release from the IRPWA detailed; young teenage
girls are now being asked to undress before guards in order to visit
their male relatives held at Maghaberry Prison in Antrim.

Now family members are being asked by their loved ones to cancel all
further visits, due to the pronounced physical threat to their
well-being by overtly hostile new conditions which require trained guard
dogs to be present at every visit.

Please continue to remind the Northern Ireland Prison Service that these
families have rights, as all families do, under humanitarian charters
guaranteed by the European Court of Human Rights. Please remind the new
Governor for the Northern Ireland Prison Service that concerned citizens
around the world hold an interest in the humanitarian well being of
Irish political prisoners; who are often tried extra-judiciously in the
interests of colonial oppressors.

As you gather with your own families on this blessed holiday, please do
not forget the families of those who have stood the most to lose by
objecting to continued British military rule in Ireland.

Fine Gael (united Ireland)
Ken

welcome. You must be the first Irish on here! maybe you want to check out the regional forum for Europe too>

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Public Statement

AI Index: EUR 45/006/2002 (Public) News Service No: 97
10 June 2002

United Kingdom: chief suspect in the killing of human rights defender
Rosemary Nelson is found dead in his cell at Maghaberry Prison


Mark Fulton, a 42-year-old leading member of the Loyalist Volunteer
Force (LVF) -- one of Northern Ireland's main Loyalist paramilitary
groups -- was found dead in his cell, reportedly lying on a bed with a
belt around his neck, at Maghaberry prison, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Mark Fulton had been named, as a key suspect, for the loyalist murders
of human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson and of Sunday World newspaper
journalist Martin O'Hagan.

Mark Fulton, originally from Portadown, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, had
been on remand awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to murder Rodney
Jennett. He was a close associate of Billy Wright, the founder of the
LVF who was shot dead in the Maze prison in December 1997 by two Irish
National Liberation Army (INLA) prisoners. There have been reports that
Mark Fulton had received death threats from the INLA and that he feared
for his life. He had also been reported as suffering from bouts of
depression.

Given the death threats Mark Fulton had reportedly received from the
INLA, his alleged involvement in the killing of Rosemary Nelson, as well
as the allegations of official collusion in the latter, it is imperative
that, if any doubts as to how he came to die are to be put to rest, an
independent investigation into all the circumstances surrounding his
death, including what measures for his protection were in place, be
conducted as promptly as possible.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has reportedly opened an
investigation into the circumstances of his death, and is allegedly
treating it as suspicious, despite media reports suggesting that Mark
Fulton might have taken his own life.

Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to ensure that the
investigation into Mark Fulton's death be thorough, independent and
impartial, and that its remit include all the circumstances surrounding
his death. This was required by a number of recent judgments (Jordan,
McKerr, Kelly and others, Shanaghan, McShane) of the European Court of
Human Rights arising from deaths in disputed circumstances in Northern
Ireland. In those judgments the Court concluded that investigation
procedures had violated the state's obligations to respect and protect
the right to life, enshrined in Article 2 of the European Convention for
the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Amnesty International also urges the authorities to ensure that Mark
Fulton's family are made aware of their right to have an independent
forensic pathologist present at the post-mortem examination in
accordance with Principle 16 of the UN Principles on the Effective
Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary
Executions.1

1 Principle 16 of the UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and
Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions states:
"Families of the deceased and their legal representatives shall be
informed of, and have access to any hearing as well as to all
information relevant to the investigation, and shall be entitled to
present other evidence. The family of the deceased shall have the right
to insist that a medical or other qualified representative be present at
the autopsy. When the identity of a deceased person has been determined,
a notification of death shall be posted, and the family or relatives of
the deceased shall be informed immediately. The body of the deceased
shall be returned to them upon completion of the investigation."



For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in
London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 Amnesty International, 1 Easton St.,
London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org For latest human rights
news view http://news.amnesty.org

PLEASE POST WIDELY.....


E-mail message

From: joolz_badgirl@yahoo.com (Joolz B) Date: Tue, Jun 11, 2002,
8:10pm (PDT+8) To: joolz_badgirl@yahoo.com (Home) Subject:
[inmate-advocates] Fwd: vocates@***********.com

I received this a moment ago, direct. If anyone can help please
contact Betty on the email below and she can point you in the right
direction.
Joolz
DanielsDyessGene@aol.com wrote:

Hello,
Please forgive me for cross-posting...I just need to get this
information out as soon as possible in hope that someone will be able to
help
help locate the parents of Alexander Ferrar #X35386 who was at
Tomoka Correctional Institute in Daytona Beach, Florida.

He was brutally attacked and unconscious when he was taken from the Dorm
to medical.

The inmates who reported this to me, said that he was taken to a local
hospital for emergency treatment.

One inmate was concerned that this boys parents who live in Ireland be
located.

Can anyone help?

It's reported that his Grandmother lives in the states somewhere,
(Florida or Missi?)
Alexander was sentenced in Orange Co, Florida to Tomoka.

PLEASE circulate this urgent request to locate the young man's parents
or Grandmother as soon as possible.
Betty

* * * Jimmy Kinslow - Medical Neglect at Stateville Correctional
Center, IL * * *
http://www.justice4jimmykinslow.homestead.com/index.html
Please sign our petition - http://gopetition.com/info.php?petid=550
Relive the FIFA World Cup goals with exclusive video highlights!
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/fc/en
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
inmate-advocates-unsubscribe@***********.com




"A step back to Tradition, is a step forward"

~Unknown~

Oh Ken, I HATE situations like this.

I don't understand why the prisons don't work a little more to keep communication lines open with families, especially for medical emergencies.

I have a diabetic inmate I keep watch over, and NUMEROUS times they've told me "We can't reveal where he is. It violates his privacy. Even if he dies, we can't confirm that."

This despite the fact that I am on his visitor's list?????.....

Luckily, I made friends with a guard there, who will actually EMAIL me privately, when my buddy gets really sick! But that is an extremely rare blessing, I'm sure!

Menolly

Here is more distressing news from England. This is the same country who criticized us for our teatment of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. This prisoner is on remand (waiting for trial). I could go on but this speaks for itself.


Subject: Inhuman Neglect of Belmarsh Prisoner
Date: 07 05 02

Aidan Hulme, an Irish prisoner being held on remand at London’s Belmarsh
Prison, will have his leg amputated due to the willful and sadistic
neglect of his British jailers.

Aidan, 25, was injured prior to his arrest in a car accident and had
been receiving medical care at a Belfast hospital. Since his transfer
to Belmarsh he has been denied medical attention and treatment for pain
to his badly injured leg. We can only assume that the reason for his
leg now needing to be amputated is due to either gangrene or massive
decay of the leg. These circumstances would have been readily apparent
to even the most casual of medical observers.

No dog in a British pound would have been allowed to suffer and agonize
like this. Please do not let this heinous matter pass from your
attention. Please send a letter,fax, or email TODAY to British Home
Secretary David Blunkett (address information below) asking why this
base neglect was permitted by the prison administration and medical
staff. Why was Aidan denied pain medication? Why was he instead given
“anti-depressant” tabs? Why were his obviously serious injuries allowed
to worsen to the extent that his leg must now be amputated?

Aidan is being held on charges of “Conspiracy”, a historically abused
charge against Irish nationals in England. Have his sadistic jailers
now delivered an extra-judicial sentence against him?



STATEMENT FROM LONDON 32 COUNTY SOVEREIGNTY COMMITTEE.

The London 32CSM condemns without reservation - the wilful neglect
of the remand prisoner Aidan Hulme - currently in Belmarsh prison in
London.

Aidan was involved in a traffic accident in Ireland a year ago and was
being treated for a leg injury at a Belfast hospital. Following his
arrest he was transferred to Belmarsh prison in London and it appears
proper treatment there was terminated. We understand from correspondence
received from him that he was in great pain - but was only prescribed
anti-depressant tablets. As a result he has now been informed he needs
surgery to have his lower leg amputated.

Clearly this is a classic example of neglect on the part of the Belmarsh
prison medical regime.

We have passed this information to the IBRG (Irish in Britain
Representation Group) requesting they take the matter up with the
Home Secretary Mr Blunkett - and the BMA (British Medical Assoc.)
Letters condemning the appaling behaviour of the prison medical
officer should be sent to -

Home Secretary David Blunkett MP
Home Office
Queen Ann's Gate
London.WC1.

Letters and cards can also be sent to Aidan at Belmarsh -

Aidan Hulme
HMP Belmarsh
Western Way
Thamesmead
London. SE28-OEB.

OH MY GOD!!!

Will definitely write note to Aidan, Ken!

Menolly

Here is an update on Aidan's condition.

Subject: Aidan Hulme – News on Irish Prisoner held in British Prison
Date: 07 31 02

The Irish Freedom Committee has received an update on the health of AIDAN HULME, an Irish prisoner being held at Britain’s Belmarsh Prison awaiting trial.

Aidan Hulme severely injured his leg in an auto accident prior to his arrest, and had been receiving regular medical care and supervised pain management before being transferred to Belmarsh Prison. Just three weeks ago prison doctors at Belmarsh told Aidan that due to rapid deterioration, his lower leg would have to be amputated in the near future.

The London offices of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement have relayed news from Aidan Hulme this morning, stating that he is taking “nine pain killing tablets a day” but receiving no other medical treatment. He is receiving no form of antibiotic to counter the onset of gangrene, and no
medical monitoring of his gravely worsening condition.Doctors are continuing to tell him that it is “likely” his lower leg or foot will be amputated in the near future.

Aidan is due back in court on November 11th, when an Application for Dismissal will be submitted. Following that his trial is set to commence on January 16th, 2003.

That is just horrible. My husband is Irish and very involved in these things. I will be sending him a copy of this if they let it in. My prayers are with this young man

Oh Ken;

I've written him, but have heard nothing.

Is he in touch with you? Is he getting his mail?

What is an "Application for Dismissal"? Is that a request to drop the charges? A parole-type hearing?

Thank you for updating, and please continue to do so... Let me know if you hear from him, as I will if I do.

menolly

Menolly,

No I haven't heard anyhting from him, but with his medical condition it doesn't surprise me. He also is probably getting tons of mail. I belong to the Irish Freedom Committee which is a support group for Republican POW's. They have large letter writing campaigns, especially for those in the hospital, & during the holidays. So the POW's would go broke writing to everyone. They do a good job at keeping me updated on current POW situations, & I will pass on what ever I get.-----Ken

Here's an update on Aiden Hulm


Press Statement for general release:

Neglect of Irish prisoner's health leads to amputationThe IPSC is very concerned at reports that an Irish remand prisoner, Aiden Hulme is about to a have one of his lower legs amputated as a result to the neglect of the British prison system. According to reports, Aiden Hulme entered the prison ( Belmarsh hell hole in South east London ) with a leg injury, which due to lack of proper treatment, developed gangrene, an irreversible condition which can only be treated by amputation of the affected area. That such a situation could arise is an indictment of the British penal system in general, and of its treatment of Irish prisoners in general. Whatever anyone may think of the 'crimes' of which Aiden Hulme is accused, or of the fitness of the British state to pass judgement upon him, he was incarcerated on remand to a term of imprisonment. In no part of his incarceration was there also a requirement that he should lose his leg. We call all people concerned with justice to make representations to the British Minister for Home Affairs and to the Irish Ambassador. The Home Office must provide proper and timely medical treatment for all prisoners. The Irish Embassy must insist on that treatment for all its citizens, wherever they may be. Ultimately, however, only British withdrawal from all of Ireland will ensure that men and women will not be incarcerated due to their resistance to British rule.
Irish Political Status CommitteeBM Box 1981, London WC1N - 3XXe-mail: statusnow@yahoo.co.uk
WEB: http://humanrightsonline.net/ipsc.html
Letters Of protest to:
Home Secretary David Blunkett MP
Home Office
Queen Ann's Gate
London.WC1.
Letters and cards can also be sent to Aidan at Belmarsh -
Aidan Hulme
HMP Belmarsh
Western Way
Thamesmead
London. SE28-OEB.

I can't believe Aidan's situation hasn't changed!

Next thing we'll hear is how they're denying him post-surgical morphine, because it's "drug use"!

DAMN!!!

Here is another update on Aidan Hulme.

Subject: URGENT HELP NEEDED– Aidan Hulme
Date: 08 13 02

The Irish Freedom Committee is urgently asking for your help to see that Aidan Hulme is given immediate and desperately needed medical attention to prevent the amputation of his lower leg.

Aidan Hulme, 25, is an Irish prisoner held in Britain’s Belmarsh Prison. He was injured in an automobile accident before his imprisonment, and had been receiving medical care and much-needed pain medication. At Belmarsh he has suffered appallingly, being given only over-the-counter
pain tablets and anti-depressants to treat his severe pain. Due to utter neglect his injuries have worsened to the degree that prison doctors have told him his lower leg will be amputated.

Correspondence received today from the London 32 County Sovereignty Committee has informed us that Aidan has been visited in prison by a well-known orthopedic surgeon, who has found that his leg can be saved if he is operated on immediately. This surgeon has offered to operate on Aidan at a London hospital. However, the prison must first issue
Aidan’s temporary emergency release. A letter of petition for
compassionate release has been sent to the prison by Aidan’s solicitor, but we are asking for YOUR help today to guarantee that this release is granted.

Please write, email, telephone or fax the offices below, requesting that Aidan Hulme be granted emergency temporary leave to a London hospital so that he may be given medical attention to prevent the amputation of his
lower leg. Let the officials know that you are aware that a London orthopedic surgeon has visited Aidan, and has concluded that his leg can be saved if he is operated on immediately. For your convenience there is a SAMPLE LETTER below—copy and paste. Postage to Britain is US .80¢
for a 1-ounce letter.

Home Secretary David Blunkett MP
Home Office
50, Queen Ann's Gate
London.WC 1SW1H 9AT
England

Telephone: (from US) 011 44 20 7219 4043
Or: (from US) 011 44 870 0001585 9am-5pm for General Enquiries (Please note time difference)
Fax: (from US) 011 44 20 7273 2065
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
-------------------------------

Directorate of Prison Medical Services
Home Office
Cleland House
Page Street
London
SW1P 4LN
Telephone: (from US) 011 44 207-217 3000
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

----------------------------------

Prison Reform Trust
15 Northburgh Street
London
EC1V OJR
Telephone: (from US) 011 44 207 251 5070

----------------------
SAMPLE LETTER – COPY AND PASTE.

Dear _______________________;

It has come to my attention that Aidan Hulme, an Irish prisoner being held at Belmarsh prison awaiting sentencing, is suffering with grave leg injuries and has been told by prison doctors that his lower leg will be amputated.

I have learned today that an esteemed orthopedic surgeon has visited Aidan in prison and has found that amputation will not be necessary -- IF Aidan is immediately released to a London Hospital where this doctor may operate on him. I understand that this situation is critical, and that the doctor has said that time is of the essence if his leg is to be saved.

I appeal to your compassion to see that this emergency medical release is granted as soon as possible. The courts will decide Aidan Hulme's sentencing, but surely no British institution would allow the willful medical neglect to a prisoner resulting in the loss of a limb.

Yours very sincerely;

_______________________________
(Name/address)

Irish Republican POW's are organizing a prison protest.


Subject: PRISON PROTEST - Maghaberry
Date: 08 16 02

The Irish Freedom Committee has learned that a protest led by Irish Republican Political Prisoners has commenced at Maghaberry Prison.

Republican prisoners, already being denied all terms of Political Status and living under 24-hour death threat by Loyalist paramilitary prisoners housed alongside them, are now refusing all cooperation with the prison regime. This has come after many months of petitioning for a separate
wing, and on-going harassment to family members as they attempt to visit loved ones held at the prison.

Please see the Press Release below from the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association below for more information.

The Irish Freedom Committee will send news of further developments as it comes in.


The Irish Freedom Committee®
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
************************************************
Press Release
16 August 2002
Fm: Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association (IRPWA)
Re: Protest at Maghaberry Prison

The IRPWA is warning that tensions between republican prisoners and the authorities in Maghaberry jail have reached boiling point and demands that the prison authorities abandon their cavalier attitude before a tragedy occurs. Tensions spilled over this week when at a meeting of the
board of visitors, prisoners' concerns and demands regarding conditions in the jail were dismissed out of hand. Immediately following the meeting prisoners initiated a protest in which all forms of co-operation with the prison regime was withdrawn. Republican prisoners are now refusing any co-operation whatsoever with the regime and are being
punished in return. All so-called 'privileges' have been withdrawn and prisoners are now on 'report' awaiting further punishment at the whim of the prison governor. The IRPWA demands that the prison grants the reasonable demands of republican prisoners, which are:

(1) Segregation from loyalists/criminals.

(2) Separation of long-term from short-term prisoners
(Standard practice in all other jails).

(3) Recognition as a grouping and political status.

(4) An end to the harassment of prisoners' families and visitors.
************************************************

For more information about the crisis situation at Maghaberry Prison please go to:
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net -- Click on “POWs” at top menu bar.

In Britan it is common to let prisoners out for a day or two to visit sick family members & to attend funerals. The NIPS (Northern Ireland Prison Service) has had a hard on for Ciaran because of his activist work from inside the prison, fighting for prisoners rights.

From: OCTOBER FIFTH CIVIL RIGHTS VETERANS
Thursday August 15, 2002

CHILD IN COMA

Kyle Mc Monagle, the two and a half year-old grandson
of political prisoner Ciaran McLaughlin, Derry,
currently incarcerated at HMP Maghaberry has drifted
into a coma. Appeals for Ciaran to be released on
compassion parole were lodged officially at10 am on
Wednesday. The child has been hospitalised from birth
suffering with a very severe form of hydrocephalus.

So far the authorities at the prison and NIO have not
responded in spite of this fact being conveyed by a
chief paediatrician, at Altnagelvin Hospital, as well
as family members. The child's grandmother has
requested the Oct.5th Association (composed of 1968
civil rights veterans) to take up this case first
thing on Friday morning in a bid to obtain
compassionate parole.

UPDATE – Friday August 16, 2002

The local media have expressed a keen interest in this issue. Ciaran McL [in HMP Maghaberry] was permitted to speak at length with the civil rights veterans office seeking information on what type of support was forthcoming to secure compassionate parole. Many leading figures, including the Mayor. Cllr. Anne McCloskey, and RC Bishop of Derry, Dr.
Seamus Hegarty, have been contacted on this matter. The family, including Kyle's grandmother, Mrs. Bernie McLaughlin are taking turns to be at Kyle's bedsit, throughout the day, and during the night-time.

ENDS

Subject: Child in Coma
Date: 08 16 02

Two-year old Kyle McLaughlin, the grandson of Maghaberry Irish Political Prisoner Ciaran McLaughlin, has lapsed into a coma at a Derry Hospital.


Kyle was born with a rare brain disorder, and has been hospitalized virtually all of his young life. He is much loved and regarded as a son by his grandfather Ciaran. Kyle recently celebrated his second birthday, demanding chocolate and learning to “dance” while confined to lying in his hospital bed 24 hours a day. Until the recent setbacks in his condition, Kyle enjoyed social company and greatly looked forward to seeing his grandfather.

The October Fifth Civil Rights Veterans and the McLaughlin family have today lodged a petition with the Northern Ireland Prisons Board, seeking immediate compassionate release for Ciaran. A previous petition to see his grandson before his condition gravely worsened was rejected by the NIPS in early July.

The Irish Freedom Committee will keep our Members and Supporters up to date on this situation as we receive news. We will count on YOU to help us if this petition for compassionate parole is once again refused

I HAVE JUST RECEIVED THIS HORRIBLE NEWS!!!!

Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

Press Release: Immediate.

Contact: Marian Price. (Chairperson)

Tel. No: 07801 729412.

Saturday 17th August 2002.



The IRPWA has learnt with sadness of the death of little Kyle McMonagle, grandson of Republican prisoner Ciaran McLaughlin. Kyle passed away this morning at 10.00am and despite repeated requests for compassionate release to be with his dying grandson Ciaran was denied this most basic right. The authorities had granted him a few hours parole but had stopped this taking place until Sunday. Since they were
fully aware of the gravity of the child’s condition, having been
furnished with full reports from Altnagelvin Hospital, one has to ask if this was a malicious delay to further torture this prisoner and his family. Their treatment highlights in a truly tragic way the brutality and contempt being endured by the prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol and their families on the outside. We in the IRPWA send our sincere sympathy to
Ciaran, Bernie, Leanne and their entire family and assure them of our continued support and assistance. No other family should be faced with this appalling treatment, it’s time the powers that be gave prisoners the human rights and dignity they deserve.

IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE NEWSLIST
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
-----------------------------

Subject: Deepest Sympathies
Date: 08 17 02

It is with great sadness that we must relay news of the death of young Kyle McMonagle; the two-year-old grandson of Irish Political Prisoner Ciaran McLaughlin.

Kyle had fought bravely during his short time on earth, and brought great joy to his family despite the crippling realities of his heartbreaking condition; which gave him little chance of ever seeing his third birthday.

Kyle passed on peacefully Saturday morning in a Derry hospital surrounded by loving family members. Sadly he departed without the company of his dearly loved grandfather Ciaran, who was denied compassionate leave to see him a final time despite petitions lodged Wednesday morning for a temporary release to visit the boy’s bedside.

Ciaran McLaughlin had petitioned the Northern Ireland Prisons Service since June to be permitted a final brief visit with his beloved grandson. At this late word we are still uncertain whether a compassionate release has finally been granted to Ciaran to visit his waked grandson or to attend the funeral.

Please join the Irish Freedom Committee in extending deepest sympathies to the McLaughlin and McMonagle families at this sad time. Please see below for more information on sending sympathy cards to the family.

Go ndéana Dia trócaire air. Go dtuga Dia slán abhaile tú

Please extend sympathies to:

Ciaran McLaughlin
A258
Maghaberry Prison
Upper Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, BT 28, North of Ireland

The McMonagle Family
C/o The Irish Freedom Committee
P.O. Box 11417
Chicago IL 60611
USA

Bernie McLaughlin
C/o The Irish Freedom Committee
P.O. Box 11417
Chicago IL 60611
USA


************************************************





PRESS RELEASE
OCTOBER FIFTH CIVIL RIGHTS VETERANS, DERRY
Saturday August 17, 2002

DEEPEST SYMPATHY

Derry. Noon. Saturday

With a deep sense of sadness civil rights veterans received word that Kyle McMonagle, aged two years and six months, passed away peacefully at 10 am to-day, in Altnagelvin Hospital, surrounded by members of his loving family.

Over recent weeks the family have maintained a constant vigil at the hospital. Kyle had suffered with a very severe form of hydrocephalus.

We wish to thank sincerely all those, who upon our request, personally contacted the Prison Service and the N. Ireland Office in a bid to secure compassionate parole for Kyle’s grandfather, Mr. Ciaran McLaughlin, a long-term republican prisoner at HMP Maghaberry. These included the Bishop
of Derry, Dr. Seamus Hegarty, the city’s mayor, Councillor Anne Mc Closkey, and Mr. Ivan Cooper, a former Minister of Community Relations in the ill-fated 1974 power-sharing executive at Stormont. We wish also to thank our many sincere friends in the United States whose continuing support
is much needed, and greatly appreciated.

While Mr. McLaughlin was not released to bid a last fond farewell to the child, all concerned parties will mount a determined effort again to ensure that he is present at Kyle’s funeral. We civil rights’ veterans now call on
the Stormont and British authorities to keep their ‘security’ to a minimum at this sad time for Ciaran, and his long-suffering family. We wish to see Kyle laid to rest in a totally peaceful and dignified manner.

Messages of sympathy received by the civil rights veterans association will be printed out and conveyed to the child’s grieving family. The remains

will be waked to night and Sunday night. Our members will be on hand should the family require any assistance at this tragic time. We extend our deepest sympathy to Kyle’s parents, his grandmother Mrs. Bernadette Mc Laughlin,
and all the family circle, and hope to be able to speak to Ciaran personally to offer our condolences over the next few days.

Hold it! Don`t delete this message! Either print out or save and be sure to either forward to your Comrades / Friends and or print out and make sure to publicise on your web pages and attend on the day!!!!

Restore Political Status For Irish Republican POW s !

Repatriate Irish POW s To Ireland Now !

Defend Irish Citizens Incarcerated in Belmarsh Prison Hell - Hole !

Picket Irish Embassy !

Saturday 14th September 2002 @ 3 P.M.

17 Grosvenor Place - London SW1X 7HR

Hyde Park Corner Tube

I am working on a letter (card) writing campaign to send cards of condolences to Ciaran, at the address above. Any sent will be greatly appriciated. With all that is happening to his family he is also living under a death threat with all the other republican prisoners at Maghaberry Prison from loyalist groups. He has been physically attacked 3 times so far this year, one time putting him in the hospital. So any kind gesture to this man would do him wonders. Thanks Ken

Oh Ken...

Thanks Menolly,

I should also be hearing this week whether he will get leave for the funeral, & I'm also looking for some info in Aidan to come in the next couple of days. I'll keep you informed.----Ken

HOLD ALL CARDS OF SYMPATHY

RUN CIARAN RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20 August 02

Republican prisoner on run

A dissident republican prisoner has failed to return to jail after being let out to attend his grandson's funeral, it emerged today.

Kieran McLaughlin has not been seen since he was granted compassionate temporary release from Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim yesterday.

He had been expected back within hours.

The Londonderry man, who was sentenced to 18 years after admitting possessing guns and ammunition, was accompanied by a prison chaplain when he was let out.

But a Northern Ireland Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed today that he had yet to return.

She added: "The police have been notified and the prisoner has been posted unlawfully at large."

McLaughlin pleaded guilty last November to having a large weapons cache found by police at his Galliagh Park home 12 months earlier.

Shotguns and rifles made in the former Soviet Union, Croatia, Romania and Egypt had all been seized, along with an improvised single shot sniper rifle with telescopic sight.

At the time he was out of jail on licence after serving part of a 13-year term for having a loaded handgun.

Sentencing him, Lord Justice McCollum said it was clear McLaughlin had dedicated himself to the pursuit of political objectives by violent and unlawful means.

Earlier this year he was released twice on similar compassionate grounds to visit his sick grandson at Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry.

It is understood the boy was born with a life-limiting illness.

The Prison Service spokeswoman added: "On both occasions the prisoner abided by the conditions of his release."

ken, this entire story is so sad- how ridiculous that they would let him attend the funeral and see his grandson dead--but they refused to let him see him when he was alive and dying- this makes me angry-so heartless and uncalled for-

Sherri,

I agree, & this is the same Government, & society, that criticized the U.S. for our treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They need to clean up their back yard before they start telling others how they should act. It smacks of hypocracy. It's quite possible that Ciaran would have stayed in prison had they let him out to see his grandson before he died.-------Ken

And the worst of it is, who will paythe price for the prison's inhumanity?

Why, Ciaran, of course!

Now you can appreciate the title "Goboy"!

Menolly

ABSOLUTLY!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the reason Ciaran left while out on leave. He probably needed to get drunk & get laid too.




Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

Press Release: Immediate.
Contact: Marian Price. (Chairperson)
Tel. No: 07801 729412.

Saturday 17th August 2002.

The IRPWA ( Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association ) send support and condolences to Maghaberry POW Ciaran Mc Laughlin at this difficult time following the death of his grandson Kyle.

The protest which Ciaran was forced to make in the past 48 hours is testimony only to the vindictiveness of both Maghaberry jail and the NIO.

Maghaberry and the NIO insist that Ciaran and his comrades are to be treated no differently from any other prisoners yet due to his political background they refused to grant him the standard 72 hours parole, the right of every sentenced prisoner in the case of a family bereavement.

The NIO cannot have it both ways- CiaranMc Loughlin Only took what was rightfully his.

Far from being a reason to block future parole applications, this incident reinforces the case that the right of Republicans to compassionate parole be granted without conditions.


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Please extend sympathies to:

Ciaran McLaughlin
Maghaberry Prison
Upper Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, BT 28, North of Ireland

Ken; I'm sending a card for Ciaran TO YOU.

You can send it on to "whereever" he may finally turn up, o.k?

Love,
Menolly

To everyone belonging to PTO. I am going to make this post, which as usual will be a very long one, to try & show the power, & positive aspects of an organized prisoner support group, which I see PTO becomming. I am going to be talking about the republican prisoners, as that is what I am most familiar with, but other groups have their own support groups. The republican groups however are the most powerful, & strongest support groups of all of them. They are made up of the families &friends & loved ones of prisoners. Politics, & politicians, have no say in them, in fact they seek their support & in turn support them, but they are all truly grass roots organizations just like PTO.Their leaders are family members, & friends, & their only goal is the betterment of their loved ones incarceration. All the shots are called by the prisoners inside, & the people outside bring the grievences to the publics attention, & keep up the heat on the administrations, & politicians. With the prisoners sticking together, & the support of their loved ones on the outside protest like the Blanket protest, The Hunger Strikes, & the burning to the ground of the prison, among others, caused the british government to cede to the prisoners demands. When the last peace agreement was negotiated, prisoner issues was one of the main topics negotiated, & because of the power of the republican support groups, 90% of their demands were met. I am saying all this to show how a group of people with loved ones locked up, can make a huge differance if they stick together, & fight the good fight, & never back down. There have been hard times for these families, & some prisoners died during these protest, but the power of the republican prisoner support groups there is equal to the power the NRA, AARP, or similar organizations are here, & they are all ran by people just like us.

Marian Price on Ciaran McLaughlin
23rd August 2002.
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Following the media furore over Ciaran Mc Laughlin’s parole protest this week I feel compelled to raise some questions that they have ignored, whether by accident or design. Perhaps the most pertinent one is why Ciaran was forced into the situation where he felt such action necessary. Why did the NIO and the prison authorities single him out for such harsh treatment? It is the norm for prisoners to be granted 72hrs
parole in the case of a close family bereavement. Ciaran is the head of a family who have endured the long and distressing terminal illness of baby Kyle, the authorities prevented him being present when Kyle died and added insult to injury by not allowing him adequate time to grieve with and comfort his family after the funeral. Surely the question being asked should not be about his delay in going
back but rather why he wasn’t given longer parole in the first place. Whilst Ciaran’s was an individual decision, the media reaction to it has in many ways vindicated it. Would the fact that he was granted only 12hrs parole even have been mentioned in the press if he hadn’t taken the action he did? His protest was designed to highlight the discriminatory treatment he was receiving and in that he was very
successful. Claims made by some of the media that the hoax alerts in Derry on the day of the funeral were related to Ciaran’s protest are completely without foundation. In many cases these actually prevented mourners attending the funeral service and in others made them late, myself being
one of those affected. It must be stated that throughout Monday many efforts were made by various people to have Ciaran’s parole extended but alas all pleas fell on deaf ears. His action certainly wasn’t planned and seems to have been taken only after all other avenues were exhausted. It came as a surprise to many of us. Let’s get one thing very clear- this man did not dishonour his parole- he returned to gaol of his own free will having made his point. He knew only too well the consequences of his actions and that he would face
further punishment on his return but he was prepared to take that hardship to make his protest. Since his return he has been brought before the governor and charged with being” unlawfully at large”. At the hearing he was surrounded by the prison riot squad, surely totally unnecessary intimidation. He was refused any sort of legal representation. He is currently awaiting “adjudication”, where punishment will be handed out at the whim of the governor-hardly justice. There is no justifiable reason for his action to affect parole for other
Republican prisoners-this man made a protest he did not abscond. The NIO cannot have it both ways, on the one hand they state that all prisoners are treated as individuals and in the next breath we have the likes of Ken Magennis calling for parole to Republican prisoners to be stopped altogether because of this man’s protest. If these men are to be
recognised as a group for punishment to be meted out, then they are entitled to be treated and recognised as a group in all matters. The only question to be asked here is, if parole is supposed to be granted on humanitarian grounds why was this man singled out for such cruel and inhumane treatment? The security issue cannot be used as he had returned to prison on two previous occasions without delay- his treatment smacks of vindictiveness.

- Marian Price. Ex-Republican POW.

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Anthony McIntyre on Ciaran McLaughlin
22/8/2002
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That republican prisoner Ciaran McLaughlin returned to prison after being released on compassionate parole is as expected as it is welcome. Freed for a twelve hour period to attend the funeral of his grandchild, Kyle McMonaghle, the leader of the republican prisoners in Maghaberry initially did not report back to prison authorities once his leave had expired. The same authorities placed the parolee’s details on its website and sent out an alert. However, the republican prisoner
eventually presented himself at property owned by clergy stating that he had stayed out in order to take ‘the extra time I had requested.’ He had initially asked for seventy two hours which the prison authorities refused. Despite having honoured the terms of two previous compassionate leaves
the Derry man had also been refused permission to be with his grandchild when it became clear that the two year old had only hours of his short life left to live. Few would dispute that Ciaran McLaughlin violated prison rules. That he did so with little to gain and plenty to lose in terms of retribution from a vindictive prison administration raises questions which need
answers rather than self-righteous indignation from those in charge of prison policy. His motive was hardly selfish given that he returned. And no one has yet said that his behaviour while out posed any threat to either the state or society. The history of the British penal system in the North of Ireland over the past thirty three years has been one which remains unintelligible if not read through a prism of jailed republicans challenging and violating unjust prison rules. Denis Faul once described Bobby Sands as the greatest prison reformer of the 20th century. As a result of republican protest the prison regime has been modified and its administrators pulled away by the roots from their essentially brutal management
procedures and towards the more enlightened and humane regime envisaged by people like Bobby Sands. In order to minimise systemic violence and humanise its perpetrators, protest and a flagrant disregard for the rules, as well as being at times the only weapon in the prisoners’ armoury, proved indispensable. Disobedience was the engine driving the push for change and improved human rights standards. 12 hours parole to attend the funeral of a loved one is an insult and a major infringement of human dignity. Ciaran McLaughlin’s peaceful attempt to highlight it is perfectly understandable. In a typical fit of the pique displayed by a bureaucrat scorned, a spokesperson for the prison administration described McLaughlin’s parole violation as a serious matter which would be dealt with appropriately by
the prison governor. The same spokesperson went on to threaten that this incident would negatively impact on any future parole applications. Behind the bureaucratic jargon this simply means that all other prisoners can expect to become the victims of a collective punitive measure. Few will be surprised by such a knee jerk response. It is hardly atypical of bureaucrats in their little fiefdoms of power. And their
memory seems as 'great' as their intellect. Throughout imprisonment compassionate parole was always considered a right by republican prisoners and a weapon by the authorities. Those of us on the Blanket protest remember clearly Seamus Finucane being told he could attend his father’s funeral in 1978 if he would leave the protest. We also recall the insensitivity of a prison governor who informed Seamy Kearney in 1979 that his brother was dead by asking ‘have you a brother called Michael? Well, he’s Michael no more.’ Neither were freed, yet, republicans always persevered. In the early 1970s not long after Billy McKee had, through a prolonged hunger strike, secured political status for loyalist and republican prisoners alike, Jim Scullion - a future IRA leader in Long Kesh - and others took part in a 35 day hunger strike to win compassionate parole for those prisoners whose families lived across the border. Republicans had a history of honouring their paroles. When an Ardoyne republican lifer in the mid 1970s returned to prison many hours late from the funeral of a family member he was expelled from the republican cages by the IRA leadership within the prison. While many of the bereaved prisoner’s comrades felt the sanction was too harsh, the camp leadership felt they had no choice such was the sensitivity of the issue. In real terms the expulsion did little to assuage the vengeful appetite of the prison administration. In 1977 they seized their chance and refused compassionate parole to another Ardoyne republican lifer on the death of his mother. This heralded the start of a five year moratorium on
compassionate parole for lifers that was only conditionally lifted after the 1981 hunger strikes which kick started the tentative beginning of a thaw in cold management procedures. By 1983, the moratorium was re-imposed after Davy Allen, a loyalist lifer and Gerard McCrory, a republican serving a similar sentence failed to return from their compassionate paroles. It took until the mid 1980s before matters began to improve and then only after much lobbying and the application of pressure. The prison administration can expect nothing but trouble if the vindictiveness contained in the statement of its spokesperson who commented on Ciaran McLaughlin’s protest is allowed to translate into
policy. The treatment of republican prisoners is always a volatile tinderbox. If wiser counsel within the higher echelons of prison management allows its minions-cum-spokespeople to run around unsupervised with inflammatory intent, they can hardly feign surprise at the resulting conflagration.
Those tasked with running the jails should view Ciaran McLaughlin not as a prisoner lost but a lesson learned. A much more liberal approach toward compassionate parole and a willingness to understand rather than punish prisoners will go a long way toward obviating the grievances of bereaved and, consequently, acutely sensitive people.

- Anthony McIntyre


Could you imagine if we had anything close to this kind of organization, what we could do about the phone situations, mail & visiting problems, etc. The possibilities are unlimited.
Just thought I'd put this out there to stimulate some ideas.------Ken

"Bobby Sands as the greatest prison reformer of the 20th Century."

I agree! Surely some biography of him exists somewhere. Got a title for me, Ken?

Ciaran went back eh? Well, it will be inteeresting to see what they do with him, as a result of this.

Keep me posted...

Menolly

Ken, thanks for the Bobby Sands info you emailed!

You are SO QUICK to find ANY research I ask for! Have you ever thought of actually working as a researcher?

You'd better be careful, I might start getting in the habit of asking you to find stuff for me that I can't find!

Love ya,
Menolly

I just read this post on Maghaberry and so on, none of this was on the newsletter from I.R.N. come give me a shout, I have issues I would like your view on too, like Colin Martin where he was welcome to claim brit citizenship in order to opoen a business then when in bother and doing time the Brit government turned its back said hes not their responsibility and the Irish consulate run away and hid, took us weeks to locate this guy who the family were told did not exist, just shows ya, if you need the help its not there unless of course one of US lifts the story.
I also have a guy in Scotland prison, severe infringment of rights, lockup 24/7 did the strike and everything to highlight the Justice of the Peace saying in a newspaper that the org from Ireland should come over there put one in his head and sanctioning an in prison hit? LOL TRUE
Again, Gimme a shout we can get the heads together on this one of yours as well as you helping out with mine.
June

June,

Welcome. I'm surprised this info wasn't in the irish republican news. I get info from many different sources, so I probably didn't pay any attention to it not being there. I find that ussually the IRN is a great source of info. I would be glad to discuss the situation in NI with you. Right now this old Provo is having a hard time, & am doing much soul searching. My anger, & frustration are building to a boiling point. You may have some insights that will help me through this turmoil.-----Ken


Menolly,

Funny you should mention it, because, in fact I do do reaserch for a living. Most of what I do is research analysis. I belong to a few organizations, & have worked with others who are commisioned to complete studies of specific subjects. I work as part of a research team (can be between 2-6 people) that is put together for that specific project. I average 3-4 projects a year. It helps to fill in the down time from my engineering. So between the two I keep busy. You are sharp. You picked it up pretty quickly.-------Ken

Really Ken? soul searching eh? been there dun that and at the moment I have a gent who is doing theexact same thing, got a mail from him this a.m. hes a gentleman and a scholar and great company!
Only this morning I was discussing Irish history issues and the More Modern culture, the fact that not a lot of Irish born know exactly what the struggle is about regarding the counties and so on. Fact, this generation think they are fighting the other side full stop. One side fights with its self and saves the other the bother. Whats your level on soulsearching? personal cultural political? any of the three this friend named Ted will be a great verbal chess player. Go along to my Loadsalinks site and read his muse of writings, or simply chase up an intro email to Tedoctober@aol.com
really, hes not a counsellor or anything like that but his is a man who has lived.
June.

PRESS STATEMENT 29/08/02
Irish prisoners' solidarity group in London welcomes foundation of joint group in Ireland The Irish Political Status Committee, a broad-based group working in support of Irish republican prisoners, today welcomed the formation of the
Republican Prisoners' Action Committee on August 25th in Belfast. Their statement follows: The IPSC warmly welcomes the foundation last week of the RPAC. According to reports, this committee for the first time since the Good Friday
Agreement (and for many years before that), establishes in Ireland a broad committee, supported by a number of Irish Republican organisations and progressive individuals as well as families of the PoW's. The IPSC has for over two years been working on exactly that basis also, as it was our perception that the seriousness of the prisoners' situation,
and their marginalisation since the GFA, as well as the relative isolation of groups opposed to the Agreement, called for the utmost cooperation between groups of different political views that remain, however, committed to
opposition to British Imperialism. We look forward to cordial and close cooperation between ourselves and the RPAC on initiatives in the months ahead, and we assure them of our
support. No doubt the British state, and other enemies of Irish freedom, will view this latest development with trepidation. No doubt many attempts will be made to fragment this new unity, and such attempts will no doubt be
resolutely opposed. Since our foundation over two years ago, we have survived attempted interference by former Irish Republicans who support the GFA; attempted intimidation by British fascists and Loyalists; and surveillance, , attempted intimidation and infiltration, and informer-recruitment by British State intelligence. At this point in time Irish Republican struggles in the prisons are intensifying. Prisoners in Maghaberry have withdrawn cooperation and suspended liaison with the prison authorities as a result of the
seriousness of the prisoners' situation. Not so long ago, Irish Republican prisoners in Portlaoise were attacked as they protested their conditions. As long as Britain occupies any part of Ireland, it remains the case that there will be found Irish women and men who will resist that occupation.Some of those resistance fighters will inevitably be imprisoned by the
British and Irish states for their activities. As long as that remains the situation, the IPSC will continue to support them, while at the same time calling for total British withdrawal from Ireland, and we welcome the opportunity to cooperate with organisations in Ireland that are committed to similar objectives.

Irish Republican Prisoners have the right to
* segregation from Loyalist and non-political prisoners;
* representation by the prisoners of their choice;
* at minimum the same facilities offered to other prisoners, including compassionate leave;
* political status.

Irish Republican POW Kevin Murray (48) had been serving a 12 year sentence at Portlaoise Prison, Ireland; when early in 2001 he began to complain of severe headaches and dizziness. Repeated visits to the prison doctor did not alleviate his increasingly severe headaches, or lead to proper medical attention to his very rapidly deteriorating physical health.

In mid-September of 2001, after a great deal of protest by fellow POWs and family and friends outside of the prison, Kevin was finally moved to an outside hospital to receive desperately needed medical attention for what was found at that late stage to be a massive brain tumor. By this time, however, his condition had become inoperable; and he was transferred almost immediately from Beaumont Hospital to a hospice care facility near his family in Dundalk. Kevin was administered last rights in early October after suffering a stroke which left him blind. Several weeks later, on Tuesday, November 13th, Kevin lost his long struggle for life.

Kevin Murray died a few short weeks after finally being released from Portlaoise prison for the emergency hospital care which had been requested by himself, his family, and his fellow prisoners for several months prior to his death.

The Irish Freedom Committee will continue to demand a full inquiry into why this criminal and inhuman neglect was encouraged and permitted by an institution of the Irish Free State, resulting in an easily preventable loss of life.

Expectations are rising within the IRSP — the political wing of
the paramilitary group the INLA — that Dessie O'Hare, will be released early under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Michael McDowell, the Irish justice minister, has been considering a report about O'Hare, known as the Border Fox, from the Release of Prisoners Commission for more than a month and is expected to make an announcement soon.

O'Hare, the officer commanding INLA prisoners in Portlaoise, is serving a 40-year sentence for the kidnapping of John O'Grady, a Dublin dentist, in 1987. Although the INLA is on ceasefire and its members are entitled to early release, O'Hare's crimes were not carried out on behalf of the INLA and the organisation disowned them at the time.

John O'Donoghue, the former minister for justice, last year agreed that O'Hare's case should be referred to the Release of Prisoners Commission. O'Hare has condemned the Irish government for allegedly a decision for political reasons.

Willie Gallagher, the prison spokesman of the IRSP, said: "The minister for justice is considering the report and we remain hopeful about the outcome. There is no reason to keep him in jail when so many others have been released. My understanding is that the full cabinet and not just the minister for justice will be involved in the decision."

A decision to release O'Hare would cause an even bigger storm than the current controversy over Malcolm MacArthur, 56, a double killer. A parole board report recommending that MacArthur be moved to an open prison to test his suitability for release has just been sent to the justice department. McDowell is barred from taking a decision on MacArthur's case because he was a lawyer at his trial.

O'Hare is a veteran of several feuds within the INLA and was known in the organisation as "Blood and Guts" because of his willingness to fight whatever the odds. During the O'Grady kidnapping in 1987 he was the centre of an unprecedented nationwide garda and RUC search.

Brian D'Arcy, a priest and television personality born in Fermanagh who was the go-between chosen to hand over a £1.5m ransom for O'Grady, has said he was the victim of intimidation for five years after the INLA man was put behind bars. However, according to the INLA, O'Hare has shown signs of remorse while in jail and maintains contact with the Glencree reconciliation centre.

dessie ohare is a true political prisoner!! the irsp recently accepted the mission of the abc at the conference here in austin
there are several folx here that organize heavily around the cases of the irsp- if you'd like info ...contact me

A meeting was held in Conway Mill on 25th of August called by RSF to discuss the current plight of republician POWs in Maghabery prison. The meeting was attended by members of the IRSP, 32CSM, IRPWA, as well as
non-aligned individuals and family members of the present POWs - the common cause being concern for the Prisoners.
* Its was agreed by the body of the hall that a steering committee would be set in place to co-ordinate a campaign calling for segregation for the POWs as a first step on the path to a restoration of full Political status.
* Its was agreed that all groups and individuals who so wished should be represented on the committee.
* It was also decided that the Committee would be on the similar lines to the H-Block/Armagh committee formed during the dark days of the Blankets and Hunger Strike protest.
* It was agreed that the committee would work under the title 'Republican Prisoners Action Committee'.
* The committee would not fund-raise as this might cause confusion and be to the detriment to the groups currently supporting POWs and their families.
The body of the hall nominated a committee of 13 and they agreed to meet at the end of August to allocate postions and decide strategy.

It was also agreed that another public meeting would take place on September 29th.

--Tony O'Hara

Subject: IRPWA Press Release: Aidan Hulme - Belmarsh
Date: 09 20 02
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Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

Press Release: Immediate.
Contact: Marian Price. (Chairperson)
Tel.No: 07801729412.

Date: 20th September 2002.

The IRPWA totally condemns the latest torture of Irishman Aidan Hulme in Belmarsh Prison, England.
Aidan was granted three days bail some three weeks ago in order to have an urgent operation to save his leg from having to be amputated.
One condition of his bail was that groups supporting him would stay silent about these arrangements. Marian Price of the IRPWA stated,

“We readily kept within these terms as our main concern is to get this young man the medical attention he so desperately needs. However we were contacted by Aidan’s family last night and told that the authorities informed them only yesterday that they were demanding £9000 before they
would agree to bring him to hospital. Belmarsh Prison and the Metropolitan Police are claiming costs to transport what they term a ‘high security prisoner’. We believe this to be an illegal move being used as a delaying tactic. It would appear that sinister elements are determined to see this young man loose his leg. At this rate they will soon be charging men for the “privilege” of incarceration in English Gaols.”

It must be remembered that this young man is on remand, innocent until and if proven guilty, the way he is being tortured both mentally and physically is a damning indictment of so-called English justice.
We in IRPWA call on all right-thinking people to demand that Aidan gets the treatment he needs; it would be an absolute tragedy if this young man lost his leg through delay and neglect.

ENDS
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For more information on Aidan Hulme’s critical condition please go to
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net, click on “POWs” on top menu bar or type in “Aidan Hulme” at green search box.

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