Prisoners Maltreated in Maghaberry

LAST Sunday, a Republican Prisoner in Maghaberry Gaol (Brian McAllister) dislocated his shoulder. As he was in severe pain, he requested medical help. However, this request was initially refused. The prisoner was placed in a wheelchair and brought into a room. He was kept there for around an hour and warned that if he kept on complaining then a search squad would be sent in to sort him out.

Eventually a doctor was brought in. The doctor they sent, however, was an eye specialist and was therefore unable to help. After another three hours he was removed to a Belfast hospital.

Another prisoner (Damian McKenna) was recently due a legal visit. This was delayed for nearly two hours, and eventually he was permitted just five minutes to speak to his solicitor. The legal visit had been due to last for two hours. He was told that he would be charged with assault, and in total seven solicitors were escorted from the gaol.

Damian along with two others (Seán McConville and Gary Toman) have spent 27 months in Maghaberry Gaol awaiting trial.

Republican Sinn Féin demands and end to the vindictiveness on the part of the screws, and also an end to the all too common obscene lengths of remands without trial.