7 August 1997 Edition

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Longford prisoners picket

Over 150 people from Longford and Sligo/Leitrim gathered in Longford town centre on Saturday 26 July in support of Republican POWs in Belmarsh whose conditions of imprisonment have led to protests from many human rights groups.

Two men from the Longford/Roscommon constituency are currently held in English prisons. Patrick Kelly, from Ardagh, Co Longford is on remand on conspiracy charges and John Crawley, Roscommon, has recently been sentenced to 35 years.

Protestors from the Patrick Kelly support group, Longford and Saoirse members gave out leaflets and took names for petitions in a two hour demonstration. Edel Kelly, wife of Patrick Kelly, and Owen Carron thanked all those who took part. Edel Kelly said it was a great source of strength to her, her children and Patrick's aged parents to see people out on the picket line. She believed, she said, they would have to fight all the way for open visits with her husband and also for the other POWs.

Owen Carron said they were also campaigning for the repatriation of all republican prisoners to jails in Ireland pending their eventual release. Carron said that this new peace process must be anchored. Everyone wanted it to succeed, he said and the best way of building confidence for nationalists and republicans was not only the immediate granting of humane conditions for our POWs but the release of all prisoners who were in jail due to the conflict. In a peace situation there would no longer be an excuse for holding hostages and prisoners of war.

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