7 August 1997 Edition
POW briefings continue
By Conor Marshall
Sinn Féin Vice-President Pat Doherty , Caomhghin O Caolain TD and Sinn Féin Prisoners Department representative Bernie Farrell are to visit Republican prisoners in Whitemoor prison today and Belmarsh tomorrow.
There are currently nine sentenced repuplican prisoners in Whitemoor and six on remand in Belmarsh.
Pat Doherty said, ``This is an opportunity for us to update political prisoners on the present situation and inform them on recent developments in the peace process. It will also be an opportunity for them to discuss their current situation and that of other prisoners.
``These visits are part of a comprehensive programme to ensure that all republican prisoners in Britain, Ireland and America are fully informed of the current situation..
``In the context of conflict resolution, the examples from around the world are that the release of political prisoners is part of the consolidation of a peace process.''
Prisoners visited will include Eddie Butler, Hugh Doherty, and Harry Duggan, who have each served over 20 years.
Other prisoners visited will be John Crawley, Pat Martin, Frankie Rafferty, Owen Morrow, Liam Mc Cotter, John Taylor and Vincent Woods. Some of the Volunteers have recently been sentenced to 35 years each.
Doherty also headed a delegation last Friday 1 August, which met republican prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. He was accompanied by Martin Ferris, himself a former prisoner, and Anne O' Sullivan from Sinn Féin's POW department. Speaking after the visit, Doherty said:
``I found the prisoners in Portlaoise very well informed and eager to discuss the opportunities for a real peace process presented by the IRA's initiative in calling a cessation.
``Naturally, some of the discussion centred on their own situation and that of other prisoners. We assured them that Sinn Féinn was addressing the question of prisoners and pressing for the release of all those imprisoned as a result of the conflict.''
Sinn Féin Vice-President Pat Doherty , Caomhghin O Caolain TD and Sinn Féin Prisoners Department representative Bernie Farrell are to visit Republican prisoners in Whitemoor prison today and Belmarsh tomorrow.
There are currently nine sentenced repuplican prisoners in Whitemoor and six on remand in Belmarsh.
Pat Doherty said, ``This is an opportunity for us to update political prisoners on the present situation and inform them on recent developments in the peace process. It will also be an opportunity for them to discuss their current situation and that of other prisoners.
``These visits are part of a comprehensive programme to ensure that all republican prisoners in Britain, Ireland and America are fully informed of the current situation..
``In the context of conflict resolution, the examples from around the world are that the release of political prisoners is part of the consolidation of a peace process.''
Prisoners visited will include Eddie Butler, Hugh Doherty, and Harry Duggan, who have each served over 20 years.
Other prisoners visited will be John Crawley, Pat Martin, Frankie Rafferty, Owen Morrow, Liam Mc Cotter, John Taylor and Vincent Woods. Some of the Volunteers have recently been sentenced to 35 years each.
Doherty also headed a delegation last Friday 1 August, which met republican prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. He was accompanied by Martin Ferris, himself a former prisoner, and Anne O' Sullivan from Sinn Féin's POW department. Speaking after the visit, Doherty said:
``I found the prisoners in Portlaoise very well informed and eager to discuss the opportunities for a real peace process presented by the IRA's initiative in calling a cessation.
``Naturally, some of the discussion centred on their own situation and that of other prisoners. We assured them that Sinn Féinn was addressing the question of prisoners and pressing for the release of all those imprisoned as a result of the conflict.''