Irish citizens illegally imprisoned – Taoiseach urged to act

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

'I’ve met Marian a couple of times in prison and yesterday she was particularly weak and distressed, physically and mentally.'

AN TAOISEACH has again been urged by Sinn Féin to call on the British Government to immediately release Irish citizens illegally held – Martin Corry and Marian Price/McGlinchey.

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh made the call after visiting them on Wednesday afternoon as part of a cross-party delegation of eight TDs and senators.

“I call on the Taoiseach to use his position as head of the Irish Government and President of the EU to demand their immediate release, as he would if other Irish citizens were being detained illegally anywhere else in the world.”

The delegation visited Maghaberry Prison to meet Martin Corry. They also visited Marian McGlinchey/Price, who is being held in Belfast’s City Hospital.

Dublin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh told An Phoblacht he was shocked to see the deteriorating health of Marian (whose sister Dolours died recently) and who is effectively being held in isolation.

“I’ve met Marian a couple of times in prison and yesterday she was particularly weak and distressed, physically and mentally.

“Leaving aside the fact that she shouldn’t be behind bars anyway, she is a very sick woman who should be released before her incarceration takes an even more devastating toll on her health. Her condition gets worse day by day.

“The British Secretary of State has it within her powers to release Marian Price on compassionate grounds immediately, on the grounds she has no case to answer and the fact that given her frail health that she poses no ‘risk to the security of the state’.

He added:

“In the case of both Martin Corry and Marian McGlinchey/Price, the British have effectively interned them without trial. They are Irish citizens being held by a foreign state, illegally, with no charges, no evidence, no trial date and no release date.

“They should be released and released without any more delay.”