24 September 1998 Edition
Back issue: We demand repatriation
by PRO Wakefield Prison
Due to the worsening conditions of the POWs in Wakefield Prison, Raymond McLaughlin, Tony Clarke, Patrick Armstrong and Michael Kelly have gone `on the blanket' in order to highlight their campaign for repatriation to jails in the six counties. Due to our most recent protest, John Hayes and Vincent Donnelly have both been moved out to Leeds Prison where they are being held in solitary confinement under Rule 43.
The prison regime in Leeds is made deliberately more punitive for Irish POWs; the intention is to try and isolate and break the spirit of the POWs that are sent there. The governor of Wakefield was the former governor of Leeds so it is clear to see the relationship between the two prisons.
Jimmy Ashe is being `held' in solitary confinement for his stand in supporting comrade Paul Norney along with his other comrades. Paul is being held in a cell that has been stripped of all furniture and the lights are kept on 24 hours a day.
As we have pointed out before, Wakefield F wing is in reality the `control unit' which the Home Office claim was closed down - following a public outcry over their use in British prisons. The only thing that has changed is the name, the words `control unit' are no longer officially used, and the building is now known as F-wing.
The POWs are woken up every morning at 6.30 by the screws kicking the doors, and at 7.00am their cells are unlocked and beds are taken out, strict silence is enforced at all times and if the prisoner breaks this rule he is refused his daily exercise as a punishment.
Meals are always served cold, and time and time again the screws have been caught stealing the prisoners' rations, which clearly shows the type of screws that are in the `control unit'. Our main concern is for the comrades on the blanket, as there is the danger that they might become isolated in their struggle for repatriation. Their decision to mount the blanket protest was not taken lightly and they expect to suffer as a consequence.
We express our solidarity to our comrades in H Block and to all comrades in the imperialist jails.
Due to the worsening conditions of the POWs in Wakefield Prison, Raymond McLaughlin, Tony Clarke, Patrick Armstrong and Michael Kelly have gone `on the blanket' in order to highlight their campaign for repatriation to jails in the six counties. Due to our most recent protest, John Hayes and Vincent Donnelly have both been moved out to Leeds Prison where they are being held in solitary confinement under Rule 43.
The prison regime in Leeds is made deliberately more punitive for Irish POWs; the intention is to try and isolate and break the spirit of the POWs that are sent there. The governor of Wakefield was the former governor of Leeds so it is clear to see the relationship between the two prisons.
Jimmy Ashe is being `held' in solitary confinement for his stand in supporting comrade Paul Norney along with his other comrades. Paul is being held in a cell that has been stripped of all furniture and the lights are kept on 24 hours a day.
As we have pointed out before, Wakefield F wing is in reality the `control unit' which the Home Office claim was closed down - following a public outcry over their use in British prisons. The only thing that has changed is the name, the words `control unit' are no longer officially used, and the building is now known as F-wing.
The POWs are woken up every morning at 6.30 by the screws kicking the doors, and at 7.00am their cells are unlocked and beds are taken out, strict silence is enforced at all times and if the prisoner breaks this rule he is refused his daily exercise as a punishment.
Meals are always served cold, and time and time again the screws have been caught stealing the prisoners' rations, which clearly shows the type of screws that are in the `control unit'. Our main concern is for the comrades on the blanket, as there is the danger that they might become isolated in their struggle for repatriation. Their decision to mount the blanket protest was not taken lightly and they expect to suffer as a consequence.
We express our solidarity to our comrades in H Block and to all comrades in the imperialist jails.