Treatment of H-Block 4: NORAID Statement id SAA03009; Wed, 8 Oct 1997 18:04:37 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:jdooling@worldnet.att.net Thu, 2 Oct 97 Irish Northern Aid Committee National Office: 363 Seventh Avenue, Suite 405, New York, N.Y. 10001 212-736-1916 *1-800-IRELAND * 212-279-1916 (FAX) October 2, 1997 For Immediate Release Contact: Christy Ward National Press Relations Officer 614-344-9651 (day/eve) 614-344-2819 (FAX) cbhaird@nextek.net New York (Oct. 2) - Paul Doris, the national chairperson of the Irish Northern Aid Committee, has expressed grave concern over the treatment of three former IRA men being held in California jails awaiting appeals on their extradition to the north of Ireland. The three, Terry Kirby, Pol Brennan and Kevin Artt, along with Jimmy Smyth, are collectively known as the H-Block 4. "On Sunday, September 30, Brennan was put in solitary confinement at the Pleasanton Federal Detention Center for the second time in a week. Prison officials are trying to force him to take part in a prison work program despite the fact that he is not serving a sentence associated with any crime in the U.S., but awaiting a court's decision on his extradition case," Doris said. Rosaleen Doherty, head of INA's POWs Department, says she is deeply concerned about the treatment of another of the three, Kevin Barry Artt, who was transferred to the North County Jail in Oakland on September 18, and has been denied adequate medical treatment. "Kevin was moved from Pleasanton without warning. We understand federal marshals don't want the three together, claiming they are a security risk. But others say officials are concerned about publicity arising from a recent visit from Martin McGuinness, a member for the British Parliament, and his call for their release," Doherty said. The three were held together in Pleasanton until Artt was moved to Oakland two weeks ago. They were incarcerated in August after a court decision revoking their bail. All three are former political prisoners and took part in the 1983 escape from Long Kesh prison outside Belfast, in which 38 POWs, including Jimmy Smyth, escaped. Smyth was extradited this year and is now being held in Long Kesh. All are from Belfast. Artt's condition is of particular concern, said Doherty. "Kevin is suffering from a long-standing gum disease problem that is being exacerbated by lack of medial treatment. We learned today that his September 17 request to visit a private dentist may be granted, but he'll need to be escorted by federal marshals and be placed in shackles while being treated.This is no way to treat a human being. It's outrageous and does little to boost the confidence of Irish-Americans who support the peace process in Ireland," she said. Doris said the treatment of Brennan is arbitrary and a violation of human decency. "Kirby and Brennan are in Pleasanton. Kirby is held in the pretrial wing and not required to work. Brennan was moved to a second wing but he is being forced to work. He is a victim of an arbitrary decision by the Bureau of Prisons. He's being punished because the BOP decided they must not be together, not for anything he's done," said Doris. Both Doris and Doherty have communicated their concerns to representatives of Sinn Fein in Belfast, where the party is talking part in peace negotiations with the British government. The conditions and treatment of Irish POWs held in American jails is high on the agenda of Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein's president, expressed his concern for the H-Block 4 during a September visit to officials in the White House. The New York-based Irish Northern Aid Committee, founded in 1970, is a non-profit, humanitarian organization which raises funds for the families of Irish political prisoners in British, Irish and American jails. -30- Jay Dooling (jdooling@worldnet.att.net) Irish Aires - 90.1FM KPFT in Houston http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Irish_Aires/homepage.htm Dooling & Mabe, CPA http://www.doolingmabe-cpa.com/ ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-10.08.97-18:04:39-14035