East Tyrone Republicans

Day 18:

Four Irish Republican prisoners continue to hunger strike in Maghaberry prison for the right to be housed on a Republican landing. These men in question requested to be put on a Republican landing only to be told by the prison authorities that there was an objection from another organisation.

While this was been discussed an attempt was placed on the lives of the men. Loyalist paramilitaries aligned to the LVF had placed an areosol connected to batteries in a microwave that was turned on fully only to be discovered by one of the four lads while he was preparing food . Thankfully the device did not detonate, as it was discovered in time. The four men had been confined to their cells as the screws blamed them on the device.

Since then they were not allowed access to the canteen to prepare there own meals, so they decided to withdraw from eating prison food as of fear there food would be contaminated. The four men continued to eat from the tuck shop as access was granted from the screws until a dispute broke out over regaining access to the canteen. The men wanted to prepare there own food again and because of this the four men have now been seperated. Dessie Hamill and Austin Creggan have been placed on one landing while Tommy Hamill and Mark McGilloway have been placed on another, as a result of this the men went on FULL hunger strike on 14/08/2012.

A phone call was recieved from Dessie Hamill on friday 31/08/2012 in which he gave an update on how they are:

"All four lads are still on full hunger strike, our spirits are still high in the hope of a resolution and gainning access to the Republican landing. We dont have much access to each other as the threat on our lives remain from the LVF, so we dont leave our cells except for visits and phone calls. We may have short conversation when passing each other. Tommy was weighed by the doctor and he has lost 23lbs in 2 weeks". A short coversations continues and as the phone goes dead he says "keep the flames lit lads". These are the words of an Irish Republican on his 17 day of hunger strike.

The road to freedom is paved with suffering, hardships and torture; carry on my gallant and brave comrades until that certain day. Tom Williams

We the family, friends and members of The Irish Republican Prisoners Committee are calling on all Republicans to support these men, regardless of personal opinion or agenda. These men are at the mercy of the British, it is your duty as Irish Republicans, to bring attention to their plight. They were incarcerated on charges of a political nature and as such have earned the right to be classed as Republican POWs. We will keep you updated on any further news and dates of protests if this matter is not resolved.

Thank you all for your support ..... "victory to the POWs"

If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and perhaps, raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you! Do your worst! James Connolly

































 

 

 

                                                East Tyrone Republicans

Update: |

The four men in question have commenced day ten of their strike, which they embarked upon on Tuesday 14th of August 2012.

They are in high spirits and are prepared to continue the fight, to be accepted on to the Republican wing at Roe House, Maghaberry, and refuse to be intimidated by the Loyalist screws.The prison authorities will not permit them access to the...

Republican landings, as there is reportedly an objection from another organisation.

Whilst steps were being taken to resolve this matter, there was a threat issued against the four Republicans, from paramilitaries aligned to the LVF. They are currently declining to eat prison food, as it is their belief that it will be contaminated, given that there had been a previous attempt on their lives, as they endeavoured to prepare their own food. On this occasion, an aerosol can connected to batteries, was placed in the microwave and the power activated, just before they entered the room. Thankfully, it was a failed bid, the device did not detonate, as it was discovered in time.

The screws blamed the Republicans and confined them to their cells, refusing them entrance to the canteen area, resulting in them losing the opportunity to ensure that their own meals were safe to consume. One of the four, has lost 20lbs in weight since this despicable situation has emerged, and the remaining three have underlying health problems.

The prison authorities have now dispersed the lads around the prison. We are calling on all Republicans to support these men, regardless of personal opinion or agenda. These men are at the mercy of the British, it is your duty as Irish Republicans, to bring attention to their plight. They were incarcerated on charges of a political nature and as such have earned the right to be classed as Republican POWs.

Tommy and Dessie Hamill , Austin Creggan and Mark McGilloway all from Dungannon Co.Tyrone, do not allow them to suffer alone

 

                           

                             East Tyrone Republicans on Hunger Strike in Maghaberry prison

The four life long republicans on hunger strike in Maghaberry prison are two brothers Tommy and Dessie Hamill , Austin Creggan and Mark McGilloway all from Dungannon Co.Tyrone.

Tommy Hamill and Mark McGilloway were both charged with terrorism offences following the discovery of seven blast bombs , they were charged with possessing seven improvised explosive devices and having explosive substances with intent to endanger life. Both men appeared in Strabane Magistrate's Court were they REFUSED TO RECOGNISE THE COURT ..may 2012.

Dessie Hamill and his comrade Austin Creggan were both arrested and charge with possession of firearms and robbery. Detectives in the case against the 2 men believe the pair were engaged in operational terrorist activity at the time of there arrests. During a bail application by both defendants, a Detective Constable from the PSNI said that, during interview, Hamill and Creggan did not answer any questions, save to deny membership of the Continuity IRA. Opposing bail on the grounds that he believed the defendants would interfere with witnesses, the Detective Constable also claimed there was a likelihood of the two men carrying out further “terrorist offences".

These four men are Republicans and will not be treated as Criminals by the crown .

VICTORY TO ALL POWS ... TAL

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GqIyxuKog8

 

Maghaberry Hunger Strike

Statement from Séamus Ó Súilleabháin, Uachtaráin, Sinn Féin Poblachtach.

The very serious situation in Magaberry prison, where four Irish Republican prisoners are on the eight day of hungerstrike, requires immediate action from those who have the power to rectify the situation within the prison. The criminalization of Republicans will never be acceptable. The four men must be allowed on to the Republican wing. We call on all Irish Republicans and Nationalists to support the just claims of our comrades. On Sunday, 19th August, Enda Kenny claimed his administration had retrieved and reinstated the values of the Murder Regime of 1922/23 and put them at the heart of government policy. This has grave implications for the developing situation in Six County jails. Throughout Irish history, the Hunger Strike has been the ultimate peaceful protest available to our people. It is never used lightly. The four men on hunger strike, Tommy Hamill, Desmond Hamill, Austin Creggan and Mark McGilloway deserve the support of all Irishmen and Irishwomen