By Laura Friel

Disparity between the treatment of men and women POWs needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly has told the NIO and the Commission dealing with prisoner releases.

To date there have been around 30 Republican POWs released as part of the Good Friday Agreement but none have been women. Furthermore, while 26 POWs in Long Kesh have already acquired their PI (preliminary indications) within the release procedure, women in Maghaberry have yet to reach even this stage in the process.

Meanwhile, the women POWs are experiencing difficulties getting access to education facilities. If one POW wishes to take a class or use study facilities in the education block, all six women in the wing are obliged to accompany her. ``The prison authorities claim that prison wardens must remain on the wing and cover the use of the education block while prisoners are there but staff shortages mean both cannot be covered at the same time,'' said Mary McArdle of Sinn Fein's POW department, ``but there is no reason why women can't be left on the wing without the presence of a warden.''

Mary points out that in Long Kesh there are no wardens on the wings and the men are not subject to lock up at night. ``There is no reason why women POWs in Maghaberry can't be treated with equality,'' Mary said. ``If the jail has staffing problems then it is up to the authorities to address that problem, it should not be left to women prisoners to resolve management problems within the jail.'' Staffing problems was also cited by the authorities as a reason why during a recent visit, relatives of one of the POWs were left standing outside the jail in the cold for over 45 minutes.

``Sinn Fein's POW department is concerned about the difficulties currently being experienced by women POWs in Maghaberry and the disparity of treatment in general and is calling on the NIO to rectify this situation with some urgency,'' Mary McArdle said.

Republican women prisoners in Maghaberry.


Rosena Brown (Belfast) serving 20 years.
Rosaleen McCorley (Belfast) serving 22 years
Marie Wright (Belfast) serving 24 years.
Martina Anderson (Derry) Life (on temporary transfer from England)
Ella O'Dwyer (Tipperary) Life (on temporary transfer from England).
Geraldine Ferrity (Tyrone) Life

Many ex-POWs face poverty

By Roisín Mac Greevy

Many Republican ex-prisoners face unemployment and poverty, according to a report released last Friday in North Belfast.

Researched by Paul O'Neill, himself an ex-prisoner, on behalf of The New Lodge Forum, the report was based on interviews with ex-prisoners from the New Lodge Road and Newington areas of North Belfast, areas which already suffer from high unemployment and economic deprivation. In the course of the conflict over 440 people from these areas have been imprisoned.

Paul O'Neill rubbished the idea that prisoners are coming out of jail with lots of money. Many of those surveyed for the report spoke of how they have been discriminated against and of how ``imprisonment had placed restrictions on their prospect of finding employment''.

95% of those interviewed said that they had suffered harassment from the RUC and British Army, including direct death threats. One women spoke of how she was verbally harassed, stopped and searched and a death threat was shouted at her place of work by the RUC. 168 ex-prisoners have suffered attacks on themselves, their families and close relatives.

97.7% said that imprisonment and its related effects had increased their concerns over their personal security.

The report has recognised the experiences of women ex-prisoners as unique. A lot of the women recounted the traumatic and harrowing experience of strip-searching, some of which were particularly brutal and often resulting in physical injury and emotional scarring.

One local woman prisoner spoke of the issues that affected women prisoners and gave details of the ``tense and oppressive'' prison regimes that women faced. The women surveyed criticised the work available to women and the education classes provided as distinctly domestic-orientated.

``The women argued they were in no way prepared for the world outside but rather they were trained domestically, for most this was unwelcome and totally inappropriate to their needs,'' reads the report.

Lack of good, affordable and reliable childcare facilities were cited as a major obstacle in gaining employment. All of the women interviewed said they would prefer to be in paid employment. It was also felt that employers should be made aware of the difficulties facing the ex-prisoner population in general and former women prisoners specifically.

The report addressed the importance of counselling for ex POWs although, ``nearly all of the ex-prisoners said that they would not feel at ease discussing their problems with someone who was not an ex-prisoner themselves''.

Paul O'Neill told An Phoblacht, ``the main purpose of the report is to emphasise the need for training and employment needs for ex-prisoners, but it also specifically highlights the need for counselling due to the levels of psychological trauma, clearly evident in the report. An Loiste Uir is a support group established to provide a support mechanism for all of those from the area who have been imprisoned and the majority of those interviewed said they would use a drop in centre for support if one was available''.

He pointed out that ``as part of the healing process, prisoners should be treated as equal citizens and should be given an opportunity to try and rebuild their lives''.

Also present at the event was Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly who praised the report. Representing the Dublin Government was Mairtin Fainin from the economic unit of the Anglo-Irish division, Department of Foreign Affairs.