2 August 2001 Edition
Castlerea prisoners take case
Two republican prisoners currently held in Castlerea prison have taken High Court proceedings in Dublin seeking a declaration that they are entitled to early release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
Michael O'Neill and John Quinn were both jailed by the Dublin government in relation to the manslaughter of Garda Jerry McCabe and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Following an application on behalf of the men by Michael Forde SC, Justice Butler gave leave to both men to pursue their case by means of a judicial review.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, Michael Farrell, solicitor for the two, said that they had both received only short periods of temporary release - numbering a few days each. He also said that it was his belief that neither were affiliated to an organisation that was not maintaining a ``complete and unequivocal ceasefire''.
On 5 May last year, in their joint statement, the British and Dublin government's stated their intention that all remaining qualifying prisoners would be released by July 2000.
Michael O'Neill and John Quinn were both jailed by the Dublin government in relation to the manslaughter of Garda Jerry McCabe and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Following an application on behalf of the men by Michael Forde SC, Justice Butler gave leave to both men to pursue their case by means of a judicial review.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, Michael Farrell, solicitor for the two, said that they had both received only short periods of temporary release - numbering a few days each. He also said that it was his belief that neither were affiliated to an organisation that was not maintaining a ``complete and unequivocal ceasefire''.
On 5 May last year, in their joint statement, the British and Dublin government's stated their intention that all remaining qualifying prisoners would be released by July 2000.
