February 7, 2003 Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association
Press Release

The latest news out of Maghaberry Prison is as bleak as the weather we are all experiencing.

The authorities appear hell-bent on making life even more miserable for the Republican prisoners being held there. Not only are they being forced to share accommodation with loyalists, with all the inherent dangers that presents particularly at this very volatile time, but also the weather is now being used as an excuse to keep men locked up for almost 24hrs a day. The Republican prisoners are only being allowed out of their cells for the briefest of spells to make a short phone-call home and are then locked up for the rest of the day.

The prison authorities need to look very closely at their contingency plans when a few inches of snow causes chaos with their staffing arrangements; staff shortage is no excuse! It can be all too tempting to turn over in bed on a cold, snowy morning and not turn in for work but when the result is such inhuman treatment of vulnerable prisoners it is intolerable.

We consider this treatment to be totally unacceptable and against these men’s human rights. We call on the Prison service to treat these Republican prisoners with the dignity and compassion they deserve.