Nothing But A Date

It cannot be easy being a republican political prisoner in the North these days. So few in number those unfortunate enough to find themselves on the inside are up against it. The prison system is desperate not to cede any ground and will draw on the accumulated experience of vindictiveness to keep the political prisoners in check. Prison management is also aware that it is unlikely to be held to account. Sinn Fein, who benefited most from the anti-criminalisation campaign of the 1970s and 80s, has crossed the line to stand beside the British and tag the label ‘criminal’ onto republican prisoners. The party’s current position has it implementing British policy to the hilt as it finds itself, seemingly without shame, standing shoulder to shoulder with the DUP, criminalising republicans and legitimising Paisleyism. Small wonder the prison authorities proceed with impunity to implement a harsh regime.

Not everybody has bought into the repressive perspective. This is evident from a noticeable increase in numbers attending white line pickets in support of jailed republicans. This failure to forget manifested itself in Sunday’s protest in support of republican prisoners being held at Maghaberry prison in Co Antrim. While estimates vary, and everyone shades it their own way, there have been suggestions that the gathering was around 300. Impressive enough for a Sunday afternoon outside a prison.

People travelled from throughout the North. Many were stopped and searched by an aggressive PSNI. Car numbers were taken and people were photographed.

Recently Sam Millar made the comment, ‘regardless of what our political differences are - and there are plenty - we should always be behind the prisoners/ex-prisoners one hundred percent. No ifs ands or buts.’ It is an unambiguous call that seems to be resonating throughout the minds of many others including men who were at one time republican prisoners and know only too well just what being banged up in the custody of Her British Majesty’s prisons entails. At yesterday’s protest were some who I had been in prison with including former Blanket men like Alex McCrory and Gerard Hodgins. Clearly they have not forgotten or conveniently ignored what the prolonged prison protests and hunger strikes of three decades ago were all about.

Willie Gallagher who along with me was one of a small number of 16 year olds in A Wing Crumlin Road Prison was present also. Forced by constant brutality into a prolonged hunger strike in 1978 he knows the danger prisoners are in if public attention is deflected from their situation.

Also lending their support were people who I first had the pleasure of meeting 35 or 36 years ago in circumstances which were anything but pleasurable, the jangling of screws’ keys sometimes the only music we heard. Danny McBrearty from Derry and Tony Catney from Belfast: men astutely aware of the criminal negligence involved in labelling republican prisoners as criminals. These two have come through everything from imprisonment, harassment, the deaths of family members at the hands of SAS and UVF death squads. Tony Catney, a republican of unassailable credentials, also endured a recent smear campaign aimed at undermining his long established status within the republican community. These people and more, undeterred by the distorting effects of selective amnesia, gathered to state the simple difference between the republican prisoners of today and yesteryear – a date.

Because when it is distilled down a date is all that separates the current crop of republican prisoners and those of us who preceded them and enjoyed the benefits of politic status both de jure and de facto. Just the same as the date that separated Bobby Sands, Mickey Devine et al from those who went before them. There is no difference between those behind the walls today and those who wore the blanket in defiance of the British state. Motivation, method, ideology all remain the same. Their jailers too remain the same – the British state.

There is no need whatsoever to support the armed activities of those imprisoned republicans in order to defend them against charges of criminality. Indeed there are many compelling reasons to oppose the use of physical force. Enough lessons have been learned to demonstrate the implausibility of armed republicanism securing an end to British rule in Ireland. But it is a lesson that could have been learned in our own time. Those former republicans most vociferous in their condemnation of other republicans who follow the very methods the erstwhile republicans once prescribed bear a huge measure of responsibility for that lesson having gone unlearned.

If the armed republicans of today are common criminals then every one of us who took part in the blanket protest including Bobby Sands was a common criminal. The logic of criminalising today’s republicans can lead to no other conclusion.

There are many reasons that can be given as to why today’s armed republicans are wrong. Being criminal does not figure among them.


8 comments:

  1. Thanks Mackers for highlighting the continued plight of Irish Political Prisoners held inside British gaols.

    A date is all that does seperate them chara!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for posting Antony,

    The protest at the weekend was a huge reminder that there are still republican prisoners of war who can never expect justice or fair play from the British regime.

    Rory

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anthony as usual you express your opinion with such eloquence,that it leaves little else to be said,two thoughts went through my wee head reading your article, the brits and their new partners especially the psf should ask themselves how relevant Pearse,s oration is today, and if I may quote him, They think that they have pacified Ireland,They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half They think that they have forseen every thing,think that they have provided against everything but the fools the fools the fools they have left us our Fenian dead and while Ireland holds these graves Ireland unfree shall never be at peace, seems to me that man had a crystal ball. and the second thing is that poem For what died the sons of Roisin both as relevant if not more so today than when first expressed.the p.o.w,s will not be forgotten

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anyone in Magabery has likely been fitted up. The RUC were content to charge people on 'inteligence' and organise tenuous pathetic 'evidence' to fit the purpose. The crass nature of evidence/lack of, was part of the demoralising intent.
    Difficult to get motivated though as the harassment likely far outways any potential for gain. But 300 was indeed a great turnout.
    SF surrender has left people politically comatose. They not only got onto their knees to enter Stormont they've got the Brit scrotum in their mouths.
    Good luck to the prisoners they have if nothing else proven that the sinners have no monopoly on Irish freedom.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A royal marine reservist awaiting sentence for possessing an assult rifle,has been granted bail.Queens university chemistry graduate Amir Ali Esmaily was ordered to live at his fathers Wellington pk home in Belfast, he had to hand in his Iranian and Irish passport. (the lad is a real internationalist) there was no objection from the prosecution. the bold Amir should thank his lucky stars that his address was the leafy suburbs and not working class West Belfast,no years on remand for Amir even though he has an Irish passport,

    ReplyDelete
  6. I remember going back to prison in 81, I actually appeared in court the day Bobby died. By then as people obviously know political status had gone. Armagh by then was a dire place, with the screws running the show. The women on A wing were on protest and the conditions were bad. The comparrison between the 80's and the mid 70's due to the loss of status was unreal.

    However, what we had was support. You knew that people were behind you, especially because of what was happening in the "Maze".

    As you rightly said Mackers the only difference between now and then is a date! Yet a scenario has been created here, that has allowed our prisoners to be virtually forgotten.

    One Sinn Fein representative did make some utterance last week, however, it was on a par with Adams meagre response to the extensive use of the "Special Powers" in Colin Duffy's case.

    Anyway no-one needs to go to gaol anymore! Accoring to their add in the Rep News, "For a genuine taste of Freedom" You only have to drink "Only Our Rivers Rivers Run Free" sparkingly or still water. If they ever start supplying an alcoholic version, I think I'll order a few crates, at least then we can blot it all out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. "A date is all that separates them" Correct! And are the Brits not aware of the support won by the Republican Movement 30 years ago, when prisoners were criminalized and brutalized? I think if Republicans want to gain support and momentum, the prisons are offering that to them, with an open invitation (I'm not suggesting a hunger strike). Nationalist Ireland are always sympathetic to Republican prisoners and the system won't give in. Shouldn't the shinners be aware of this also! They are the ones who lose out when the new generation gain the momentum, and they are already gaining it, from what I can see. the shinners are becoming the S.D.L.P of 40 years ago. All I'm saying is when there are problems in the prisons there is a reaction from Nationalist Ireland. POLITICAL STATUS NOW!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fionnuala,

    When I first heard of 'Only Our Rivers Run Free' around the time of the SF Ard Fheis, I genuinely though it was a joke.
    When are Fianna Fail going to start their own brand of horse nuts? or perhaps the DUP should start selling condoms. The possibilities are endless.

    Rory

    ReplyDelete