URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT

It has come to our attention that the RSF Limerick web page has been hacked and closed down. If the RSF Limerick web page comes back on line please ignore any statements been released unless its after been clarified from ourselves and our facebook pages that the page is back up and running in the hands of RSF Limerick.

www.rsflimerick.com  http://www.facebook.com/#!/rsf.leinster

            
       Statement from Republican Prisoners Roe 4, Maghaberry. 26.09.12

Roe 4 Republican prisoners Maghaberry have been monitoring for some time now the case of Thomas and Desmond Hamill, Martin Mc Gilloway and Austin Creggan from Dugannan who embarked on a hunger-strike for the right to be moved onto the Republican wing in Maghaberry.
Representatives of Roe 4 Republican prisoners have had a number of meetings with the families of these 4 men and made the suggestion that Independent Councillors be asked to attend these meetings to help resolve the situation. The Independent Councillors were only to happy to attend and agreed to work alongside the families to seek a resolution.
At a very early stage the 4 men and their families were informed that Roe 4 Republican prisoners had accepted the 4 men onto the wing as Republican prisoners.
The administration of Maghaberry were told by Roe 4 prisoners to move the 4 men over to the republican wing. Within days the administration informed Roe 4 prisoners that these men would not be moved over to Roe 4 as a threat was in place against them from another group of Republican prisoners.
Thomas, Desmond, Martin and Austin were advised to end their hunger-strike to allow space to address the decision taken by the administration to deny them their right to be on a Republican wing.
These men are not under threat from any prisoner on Roe 4 and we call on the administration of Maghaberry to move these men over onto Roe 4 immediately.
Republican Prisoners, Roe 4, Maghaberry

 

           COUNCILLOR DEMANDS MEN ARE MOVED TO ROE 4 IMMEDIATELY.

Four men from Dungannon who recently embarked on a protest in Maghaberry Prison have requested they are moved to Roe 4 Republican Wing immediately. Brothers, Thomas and Desmond Hamill, Martin Mc Gilloway and Austin Creggan have been accepted by Roe 4 prisoners.
 

These men embarked on a protest initially, of refusing prison food, due to threats...

and tampering of food by loyalist prisoners, which then progressed to a full hunger strike. During this protest the men lost large amounts of weight and were seen by the prison nurse every day, who weighed them, took urine samples and provided them with dental care.

The families of these men contacted “The Families and Friends Of Republican Prisoners Maghaberry” group who felt that independent mediation was required to resolve this life threatening situation quickly. Independent Republican Councillors Angela Nelson and Padraig Mc Shane and representatives of the group met with the families on Friday 21st September in Belfast. The families informed us that Dessie and Austin came off their protest as they were informed they were accepted by Roe 4 prisoners whilst Martin and Tommy remained on hunger strike awaiting further clarification. The families gave us permission to act on their behalf and we requested the men stopped the hunger strike immediately to give us the space to address the issues. The two men ended their protest after speaking to family members on Saturday evening 22nd September.

A visit was arranged for Tuesday 25th September with Martin Mc Gilloway and Thomas Hamill. Independent Republican Councillor Angela Nelson, Mandy Duffy and a family member visited the two men in Maghaberry and after speaking with us and being reassured they were now Roe 4 prisoners, the men were very upbeat and content. These men will need time to recover physically from this protest, and their fight to be transferred to Roe 4 to be with fellow Republican prisoners will continue. Councillor Angela Nelson said she will continue to work on their behalf until this situation is resolved

Maghaberry Hunger Strike

The Hunger Strike Has Ended Details Of The Resolution Will be Announced Shortly

Hunger Strike Update:
It has come to our attention that there is a bogus statement going around the net signed from Joe Lynch PRO of this movement. The Hunger Strike is still going on the lads are on day 37 of their protest , how can people stoop so LOW to spread lies when mens lives are at risk.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/139867156159943/

 

Over Thirty- days ago, on August the 14th 2012, four Irish Republicans engaged in a hunger strike, within the confines of Maghaberry Gaol.

This strike, involving brothers Dessie and Tommy Hamill, Austin Creggan and Martin McGilloway, remains ongoing.The reasons for their hungerstrike ,are that they refuse to be criminalised on a criminal landing,the men are republicans all their adult lives and ...

have suffered arrests raids and beatings for this.Political status is a right not a privilege.

To date, they have garnered little support from the wider Republican community, which we find to be worrying, especially given the former POW status of one of the four.

As a direct result of having abstained from consuming food for more than a month, these men are now suffering from health issues, including but not limited to, Urinary Tract Infections and severe stomach cramps. A drastic amount of weight has been lost, by each of the individuals, and this is undoubtedly a worrying factor.

Pro-British media outlets, have largely ignored the situation and are refusing to report on the dire circumstances that are occurring. It is with this in mind, that we once again call for Irish Republicans to stand as one and fight this injustice.

If personal political feelings are a stumbling block, we implore you to look at this situation from a humanitarian angle, much like in the case of Brendan Lillis.

It is with much regret, that it also comes to our attention that elements are attempting to belittle and undermine the four, by publicly stating that they are not on a hunger strike, and are instead only refusing to accept prison prepared food. This is not true.

To clarify, the men in question are surviving on fluids alone. They have not been succumbing to ''tuck shop'' treats, nor sitting down to ''ready meals'' in the prison canteen. The speculation on multiple platforms is enabling no one, but those whom seek to divide Republicans further.

We still wait , regarding the implementation of the Steele Report, which had been scheduled to be heard at Belfast High Court earlier in the month, but for reasons unknown to us, it never transpired.

To end do not remain silent, nor stand idly by, whilst the plight of four Irish men continues to occur without intervention.

ON BEHALF OF THE 4 HUNGER STRIKERS

Brendan Casey

                                               Irish Republican Prisoners Committee

Hunger Strikers Update:

The Irish Republican Prisoners Committee has been contacted by the families of the four men on Hunger Strike, we have been asked to let Supporters now that the Protest outside Maghaberry prison has been Cancelled due to unforseen circumstances.

The men are now on Day 33 of there protest:

A member of the Hamill family has told the IRPC that the lads are in good form but are in a very Serious Condition. Tommy Hamill is after losing so much weight he is just down to skin and bone, it was very hard to sit their and watch his brother in these conditions. A member of the Mc Gillioway family said that there brother had to be help to the visiting table as he hadnt the strenght to carry himself.

Republicans:                      Political Status is a Right not A Privilege

                               

                                         East Tyrone Republican Hunger Strike

 

As darkness takes another night 4 men in maghaberry gaol lie on hungerstrike behind bars and under british rule. These men are on day 27 of there Hungerstrike and at present 2 now weigh 60kgs and 1 is vomiting blood
1 has trouble with his ...

eyesight.They are all having stomach pains and headaches nuesea and joint pains and having to face lvf loyalists that have threatened and already made 1 attempt on there lives urgent action needed

 

                        POLITICAL STATUS IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

 

 

                           Des Long unveiling of Hunger Strike Memorial Bundoran
       
                                                 Hunger Strike Statement

Dear Editor,
                     I  was shocked when, I became aware that on 14th August 2012 four well known Tyrone Republican prisoners were forced to undertake a Hunger Strike. This is because they are been denied access to Republican landings in Maghaberry prison. They are still on Hunger Strike as i write this letter.
These prisoners are on remand because they were arrested and charged by crown forces. Every aspect of there arrest questioning and detention points to the fact of a suspicion by the authorities as to a political offence.

I have also come aware that they are been denied political status Not by there captors, but by a minuscule political organisation with its headquarters at 223 Parnell street , Dublin.

As a life long Republican and former member of the National H-Block committee and chairman and founding member, I find it unbelievable that any one would deny these men political status. I know that some of those denying were at one time members of there local H-Block committees. I must ask have they forgotten this or are they ashamed of that part of their lives.

I would take this opportunity to remind them that one of the slogans of the National H-Block committee,
                   
                               POLITICAL STATUS IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

Is mise,

Des Long

 

             PRISON ALERT – CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK – rights.civil@gmail.com

Our network has been contacted by concerned friends of four men, remand prisoners, currently incarcerated in HMP Maghaberry. With much dissatisfaction we note the lack of humanitarian concern reflected in scant media coverage and inaction on the part of prominent public representatives since these inmates. all from Dungannon, Co. Tyrone...

, commenced a hunger-strike on August 14th. We are told that these men wish to be recognised as political prisoners. They include brothers Dessie and Tommy Hamill, Austin Creggan and Mark McGilloway. All have recently been separated within the jail. They desire to be reunited and allocated cells on what they term the “Republican landing”, or wing.

Our investigations aroused grave concern. Various activities, by what are described as “LVF prisoners” have created a situation whereby they feel that they are under serious physical threat. One incident involved the placing of an aerosol can in a microwave oven, which fortunately these men discovered, and removed, before any serious harm could occur. Following that incident these remand prisoners feel they are being harassed by prison staff because the blame has been wrongly placed on them for this provocative and dangerous action. Subsequent to the micro-wave incident they were refused the use of canteen facilities.Such was their state of mind and level of stress they agreed to cook for themselves so as to guarantee their own well-being. However, this was not permitted by prison staff when each of them was banned from using canteen facilities. Before deciding to engage in a hunger protest their sole food-intake was based on purchases from the prison’s ‘tuck-shop’.

Tommy Hamill, the father of two children, has lost 23 pounds in body-weight since August 14th. As is customary, the Civil Rights Network issues this communication based on humanitarian concerns rather than any other considerations, such as religious or political affiliations of those incarcerated. In the past we took a stand with loyalist families and their supporters who opposed the re-introduction of show-trials as in 2009-11, and publicly shared a platform in Derry on the Oct. 5th 1968 civil rights anniversary, when a cross-community Social Justice Network was mutually agreed and launched on Internet sites such as Facebook .... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Social-Justice-Network/295482213811643

                        Cathleen Knowles McGuirk RIP

The sad news that our comrade Cathleen Knowles McGuirk had passed away, circulated through the movement on Saturday morning, 1st September, 2012. Born into a family with a strong Republican tradition, Cathleen worked every day of her life for the restoration of the Sovereign Republic, which was put down in blood in 1922/'23. She held many senior positions throughout the decades, including Árd Rúnaí of Sinn Féin in the 1970's.

At a critical period in the struggle, when a new leadership of Republican Sinn Féin was formally established, Cathleen again took on the position of Joint General Secretary, sharing the duties with our murdered comrade, Liam Kenny, RIP. Her presence on the Árd Comhairle, with the late Paddy McKenna of Armagh, was a major boost to those in the movement who wished to hold fast to the true path to freedom for the Irish People. Together with other senior members RSF, they give continuity of struggle to those of us who now stand in the Bearna Bhaoil.

Cathleen’s North Cork's roots were very important to her and she was very proud of her uncle's contribution to Cork hurling and in particular to Ballyhea. It was a district she loved to return to. She was also very proud of her father's work as a volunteer and of the important position he held as Brigade Adjutant of the Glasgow IRA.
She was delighted recently to have made a donation of his papers to UCD and the Head of history at the University wrote to Cathleen stressing how important the papers were.

We offer our sincere condolences to her family and feel privileged to have served in the struggle for Irish freedom with such a noble, true and dedicated volunteer.

As dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.

An Phoblacht Abú.

Seamus Ó Súilleabháin, Uachtaráin, Sinn Féin Poblachtach

                                       RIP Cathleen Knowles McGuirk

It is with great sadness that the republican movement learns of the passing of Cathleen Knowles McGuirk, General Secretary of Republican Sinn Féin and Volunteer of the Irish Republican Army. Cathleen was a lifelong republican, who never strayed from the one true path to the Irish Republic. Cathleen is a great loss to Republican Sinn Féin and to the wider republican movement