Danny McAlister Hunger Strike Ends

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

Wednesday January 24, 2001

Irish Freedom Committee NewsList

The Irish Freedom Committee is happy to relay that the Hunger Strike in
Portlaoise Prison was ended on Saturday morning; the 20th of January.  This
was the 20th day of Danny McAlister's hunger strike.  We are still awaiting
details on what transpired between POW McAlister and the Dublin Government. 
It is expected that some concession has been granted to McAlister and to
other POWs in the area of compassionate or humanitarian leave.

We join many others in our concern for the lingering effects of such an
ordeal on Danny's health.

We would like to extend grateful thanks to the many who called and wrote the
Dublin Government on Danny's behalf.  We can only assume that the sheer
volume of the response we received over the effort in Portlaoise was greatly
influential to the Dublin Government.  We would like to also thank as well
the several among you who contacted media representatives in order to
encourage an end to the media blackout, which led to a supportive response
from some members of the media.

The Irish Freedom Committee would particularly like to thank POW
Representative Maria Todd for her many efforts on behalf of Danny and his
family.  As subscribers to this list already know, Maria was able to visit
with Danny and his family last week, and considerably encouraged him during
this critical time.

Thanks are also most gratefully extended to those who wrote supportive cards
and letters to Danny during this difficult time.  He drew much encouragement
from these efforts, and will continue to appreciate your cards as he
recovers from this massive personal sacrifice on behalf of all POWs who have
been denied compassionate leave to visit ill or dying loved ones.

The orchestrated criminalization by the Irish and British Governments of
Republican POWs in Portlaoise and Maghaberry prison must end.  The continued
revocation of Political status in Maghaberry Prison in the Occupied Six
Counties has a grave potential for further emergency.

Please join the Irish Freedom Committee in calling for an immediate "parity
of esteem" for Republican POWs who do not support the Stormont Sell-Out.  It
is telling that throughout Danny McAlister's 20-day hunger strike, former
Republicans now seated in British Government fully complied with the Dublin
and British Government position; and assisted, with their silence, in the
media blackout.

Thank you,

D. Fennessy
Irish Freedom Committee
P.O. Box 11417
Chicago, IL 60611
deemail @ msn.com
www. irishfreedomcommittee. net
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