| Subject: Vets slam Campbell |
Author:
Oct.5th Assoc.
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Date Posted: 08:16:21 08/13/02 Tue
>Source: oct5th_vets68@hotmail.com
>
>Press Release
>
>Civil Rights veterans slam Gregory Campbell
>
>The October 5th Association notes with regret the
>recent comments by Gregory Campbell MLA on behalf of
>the DUP regarding the compassionate parole granted to
>local republican prisoner Ciaran McLaughlin, to visit
>his hospitalized seriously-ill grandson, on Friday
>last. The organization, which is composed of 1968
>civil rights veterans and supporters, accuse Mr.
>Campbell of not even bothering to find out the facts
>and of turning a basically humanitarian issue into a
>political football.
>
>The group, in a scathing attack remarked, “It is
>debateable if the non-academic letters after Mr.
>Campbell’s name give him the right to act as judge,
>nor, the DUP to act as a jury in such matters. We
>would assume that this local MLA and the DUP would
>also oppose any similar releases for loyalist
>prisoners from their own community who would be
>similarly entitled to a more Christian response from
>their elected representatives. Unionist voters should
>note such as a matter for public concern, and the fact
>that the personal safety arguments for segregation of
>prisoners has been put on the back burner for far too
>long”.
>
>A statement issued on Sunday also noted, “This MLA
>directed his fury at the Prison Service. While we
>regret Mr. Campbell’s stance, we are not surprised at
>his hard-hearted approach, which bodes ill for
>loyalist prisoners who may need, at a future date, to
>apply for compassionate parole. We wish to point out
>that our civil rights group would publicly support any
>such requests, even though we are diametrically
>opposed to the divisive sectarian philosophy they
>expound. ”
>
>Mr. Campbell attacked jail administrators for
>apparently agreeing with this release, on the grounds
>that such had been opposed by the RUC and PSNI. Yet
>our information is that the release decision was made
>solely by Dr. John Reid, the Minister of State for N.
>Ireland, despite all previously expressed reservations
>on the part of the courts, prison service and
>top-ranking police. These reservations have been
>proved to be unfounded, for like hundreds, if not
>thousands of republicans, Ciaran McLaughlin honoured
>the terms of his release, and returned to HMP
>Maghaberry, with some fifteen minutes to spare.
>
>Several other facts were confirmed by a pivotal figure
>within the Oct. 5th Association, who wished to remain
>anonymous, due to loyalist death-threats. He is
>however known to local journalists.
>
>He confirmed, “On Thursday evening the prisoner
>himself, his wife, and the chaplain who was to
>accompany him, were not officially informed by the
>Prison Service, or any other authority, such as the
>PSNI. After making several calls to the NIO, Prison
>Service, and HMP Maghaberry, I believe only four
>people were aware of the impending release. One was
>the Minister of State, Dr. John Reid, MP, Mr. John
>Hume MP. MEP, who was in Brussels, a former mayor of
>Derry, Colr. Pat Ramsey (SDLP), and myself. I belong
>to no political party. Mr. McLaughlin was not told
>until around 8 am on the day of his release.”
>
>The source continued: “ I feel that the prison
>governor should have informed the family about
>twenty-four earlier. What I say is confirmed by the
>fact that, after several phone calls to Mrs.
>McLaughlin, she had to hastily arrange two flights
>from Cork, where she was visiting another sick
>relative. It’s my personal view that this family was
>treated in an insensitive, harsh and shoddy manner,
>however, not by local people in Derry. However, they
>and many others are delighted that Ciaran was
>permitted to visit his dying grandson. Maybe Dr. Reid
>will see these comments. I hope so, and that all
>future compassionate releases will be handled
>differently, regardless of the political leanings of
>any prisoner, or their families”, he concluded.
>
>Mr. Campbell MLA, the DUP MP for East Londonderry, had
>earlier branded the decision to release Mr.
>McLaughlin, as “a disgrace” and “absolutely
>outrageous”. Among many messages received by the civil
>rights veterans welcoming the release included several
>major organizations in American, including Clan Na
>Gael, originally the Fenian Brotherhood, the Irish
>Anti-Partition League, and the Irish Freedom
>Committees.
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