Portlaoise Prison Easter commemoration

Republican POWs in Portlaoise Prison marked the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising and the 25th Anniversay of the 1981 Hunger Strikes by holding a parade in the prison's exrecise yard where IRA Volunteer Tom Smith was shot dead during an escape attempt in 1975.

The Proclamation of the Irish republic, the IRA Easter statement and republican Roll of Honour for Counties Laoise and Dublin and for Portlaoise Jail aswell as the names of the 10 Hunger Strikers martyrs of 1981 were read out. A minute's silence was observed followed by the playing of Amhrán na bhFiann.

The republican prisoners sent solidarity greetings to their families, and friends, and to comrades still held in prisons throughout Ireland.