The incident which occurred when a
Republican POWs partner had to take one of her four children to the toilet, the
child is five years of age. Upon reaching the desk she was prevented from
leaving by the screws who informed her if she wanted to take one child to the
toilet she would have to take all her children. The child was effectively
refused access to toilet facilities. The Republican POW called for the SO to
explain why this was now an issue when for the past two years on occasion and
in similar circumstances his partner was permitted to leave with the child
whilst leaving the others with their father.
The S O arrived and stated that it was always policy but it’s only now being enforced, the POW rightly argued that this was nonsense and the screws created yet another confrontation. This incident has left the children of the Republican POW deeply upset after hearing how the screws spoke to their mother and father and also witnessing the petty vindictiveness of the screws actions toward their family. The children are now scared to return to visit their father.
The SO then appears at the end of the
visit and attempts to give Republican POWs a direct order from the governor to
leave the visitation area or they will be charged.
Let us state clearly and unequivocally
that no Republican POW accepts any order given by a member of the British state
apparatus.
This is not the first incident that has
happened during our visitation and it will not be tolerated. At every
opportunity Republican POWs have gone to great lengths to achieve a conflict
free environment, but the blatant intimidation of our families is not
acceptable and will be met head on and we will use every resource that we have
to bring an end to the corruption enforced by the Maghaberry Jail
administration.
We the CIRA POWs would like to
thank the wife of another POW for her support this morning as it took a lot of
courage to stand up to the bully boys in Maghaberry.
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