ABUSE IN HMP MAGHABERRY -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Sun, Feb 13 2011, 17:24:02 PST
Author: Fionnbarra � Dochartaigh
Subject: ABUSE IN HMP MAGHABERRY

LETTER TO EDITORS, Facebook friends & Civil Rights Network

A Chara,

In recent times we were publicly assured, immediately before a �dissident� protest which would have occurred at the same time as an Orange Order demo in the city centre, that strip-searches would be replaced by the use of electronic scanning. No doubt many members of the public breathed a sigh of relief that the prison authorities had abandoned their �old ways� of carrying out body-searches.

It seems that the Internet is more reliable than our local newspapers and radio stations in conveying what current political prisoners are being forced to endue within Maghaberry gaol. A recent letter, no doubt smuggled out of that institution, signed by Damien McLaughlin, I found to be highly upsetting and graphic in its detail. In short, this man has been subjected to ten violent strip searches in the previous twelve weeks, before his letter was posted on the Internet as recently as February 13th.

The men are led to a small cubicle by two prison officers and held there for around an hour if they refuse to co-operate, and at times a governor will read them the prison rules. Outside a riot squad is getting ready and they enter in full riot gear, helmets, shields, and body protection to overpower each individual prisoner. Their jeans and other outer garments go first, then shoes, socks, vests and even boxer shorts are forcibly removed, while one officer holds down the head, and others tightly grip arms and legs.

The prisoners describe this modus operandi in different ways, speaking of it as �agony� or "extremely painful". They write that often it is �hard to breathe because of gloves covering face and mouth�. This mainly happens before court appearances, and often the clothes are actually cut off. The whole ordeal is repeated again, before the prisoner is escorted to his cell, more times than not, suffering great stress and pain. What their relatives are going through I can only guess at and no wonder they are protesting. As in the civil rights days the streets will undoubtedly become the only reliable parliament for bringing grievances and issues unto the public arena.

I ask myself. My God, what has changed for the political prisoners? What are �our� politicians saying or doing on this issue? Has the local media taken a �Three �wise� monkeys� approach for one dubious reason or another?

Agree or disagree with their political perspective, Irish prisoners should not be so brutally abused. Silence is deafening from certain quarters. These strip searches are not merely inhumane and degrading, but, in my humble opinion, amount to torture, plain and simple. Mr. McLaughlin�s letter is a wake-up call to all of us. We know too well from recent history that the plight of prisoners, in the here and now, can only be ignored at our peril.

Is Mise,
Le Meas,

Fionnbarra O�Dochartaigh,
Former political prisoner,
Co-founder, NICRA, 1967
Address supplied.

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