SF 'Prisoners Relatives to picket British Embassy'


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

source: sinnfein@erols.com

Sinn Fein Press Centre Nuacht Raiteas
Dublin, Ireland
30 October 1997

'Prisoners Relatives to picket British Embassy'

Relatives of Irish Prisoners in jails in Britain are to hold a
picket outside the British Embassy in Dublin on Friday between
1PM and 2PM.  The picket is being held to highlight a 24 hour
Fast which will be initiated by Republican Prisoners in order
to hightlight the lack of movement on the transfer issue.  The
24 hour fast will begin on Saturday, exactly six months since
Tony Blair's Government came to power.

A spokesperson for the relatives Martina Shannahan said:

"In most jurisdictions it is the recognised practice that prisoners,
once convicted, are held in a prison near their family.  This is the
stated policy of the British and Irish governments who both signed up
to the principle under the European Convention on the transfer of
sentenced prisoners.  The convention was rafified by Britain in 1994
and Ireland in 1995.  Since the ratification of the convention only
six prisoners have been transferred back to Ireland from Britain.

The fast being initiated by Irish republican prisoners is a symptom
of the growning frustration among prisoners.  Both governments have
dragged their feet for too long on this issue.  Despite repeated
promises, the process of transferring republcian prisoners remains
gridlocked.  Three applications for transfer have sat on British
Home Secretary Jack Straw's desk since February and March this year,
all awaiting his signature.  Relatives want to know, how long more
must we wait before transfers become a reality?

The transfer process needs to be speeded up immediately and this
vindictive policy towards Irish prisoners ended."
 
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nytire-10.31.97-21:24:08-30661