Tonight The Pensive Quill features guest writer Helen McClafferty providing recent updates on the imprisonment of Gerry McGeough.
16 September 2011
Gerry calls on Owen Paterson and David Cameron to "release him immediately".
Gerry McGeough has called for his immediate release and said the British Army’s apology for the murder of an innocent man by a British soldier is “political hypocrisy” since the soldier is not being prosecuted for the murder. “Is there justice or not?” asks Gerry. Gerry wants to know how the British government can justify his incarceration for membership in the IRA in 1975 and yet allow this soldier to go unprosecuted for committing murder in 1971? As the article below reads: “RUC chief superintendent in the city, Frank Lagan, said the soldier responsible should have been charged with murder”.
'Army apologise for shooting man - www.bbc.co.uk - The Chief of the General Staff of the British Army sends an official apology to the family of a man shot dead by a soldier in Londonderry in 1971.
Gerry asks that everyone write to Owen Paterson and David Cameron demanding his immediate release. Please reference this story/incident when contacting them.
Owen Paterson Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Office
Stormont House
Stormont Estate
Belfast, NI BT43SH
email:sos@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk
Tel # 028-9052-0700
David Cameron
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A2AA
You can fax the Prime Minister on 020 7925 0918. (From outside the UK, the number is +442079250918)
19/09 2011
Statement from Gerry McGeough regarding Martin McGuinness
“I am asking Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness to issue a public statement for my immediate release as my incarceration makes a mockery of the peace process. If he does this, then I will wish him well in the race. I urge people to ensure that this grotesque injustice against me and my family be made into an issue throughout this Presidential election campaign.”
Gerry has also been informed, by an outside doctor, that he will be moved to hospital before the end of October as there has been a mix up with his health records which will delay his move for follow up medical treatment. Gerry also mentioned that he is not getting his mail in a timely fashion anymore. He has not received any of the letters I have written him in the month of August yet? He feels this is a further attempt by the screws to keep him in isolation from what’s going on outside.
BBC Blackout
I would like to know for how long the BBC are going to abide by the media blackout on the story of Gerry McGeough, at present in HMP Maghaberry in Co. Antrim?
He has just had more heart surgery. How will the BBC report this matter if he dies in prison? Is this what the British government wants, knowing that if McGeough dies in prison, there would be big trouble on the ground?
Restricting coverage of a story for security reasons is vital at times, but is this such a time? Would it not be up to the BBC to challenge the media blackout on this story? Surely the trial and imprisonment of a famous and brilliant 53-year-old Irish Republican, a graduate of Trinity College, for a shooting 30 years ago of a UDR man in which no-one was killed but in which both he and his victim were injured, runs counter to the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement? The fact that he has 4 children of 10 and under and is a cardiac patient is surely enough 'human interest' to this story, even if the politics are of no interest to the people of England!
Gerry Adams calls this case 'an anomaly'. A cabinet minister in the last Irish government has been trying to visit McGeough but has been refused admittance to Maghaberry. In July PQs were tabled in the Dail about this case, yet the BBC remains silent.
How can the media’s silence about this case be justified?
Heart Problems
5/10/2005
On September 28, 2011, Gerry McGeough was taken to hospital where another stent was put in and he was immediately returned to prison. He is tired and not feeling well. The doctors are now further attributing his heart deterioration to the fact that he is not getting his heart medication on a consistent basis and they discovered that on occasion he was given the wrong medication. He is also suffering from lack of exercise, the proper diet, stress and some of the stents put in after his 1st and 2nd heart attacks are starting to close; which could result in him having a massive heart attack. Gerry is also incarcerated under very unsanitary conditions within the prison. When I spoke to him today, he was weak and his voice faint.
The treatment of Gerry McGeough by the prison authorities and the NIO is sick and demented. However, I also find especially inexcusable the failure of the clergy to confront this atrocious inhumanity of Gerry McGeough. What has the Catholic clergy in Ireland and the UK done for Gerry McGeough during his time of need? Gerry has always been a defender of the Catholic faith. He is President of the Tyrone County Board of the AOH. Past editor of the Hibernian Magazine for Faith & Country. Teacher. Author and, more importantly, husband and father of 4. After the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Gerry lived a peaceful existence with his family in the North of Ireland until he ran in the 2007 Assembly elections as an Independent when he was arrested on then 32 year old troubles related charges.
In May, 2011 I wrote to Cardinal Brady asking him to use his good office to help free Gerry McGeough on a humanitarian basis. In July, Cardinal Brady's representative visited with Gerry in Maghaberry prison. Unfortunately, though, there has been no follow-up from the Archbishop's office to date. Gerry and his wife have not heard back from the Archbishop's office since that visit in July?
I am asking you to please contact your clergy regarding this matter and tell them you expect them to speak out about this inhumane treatment of Gerry McGeough.
You can also email Cardinal Brady's private secretary, Fr. John Connolly, jconnolly@aracoeli.com and ask him 'what the Archbishop's office is doing to help Gerry McGeough?
Your immediate attention to this request is greatly appreciated.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Helen,
ReplyDeleteas always it is important that something is done to keep this live.
Helen,
ReplyDeleteyour sincerity and dedication to this is amazing. I really hope sometime turns round for Gerry and Marian and the rest of the prisoners. I have written before and will write again, after all it is not too much to ask, but I would stop short of wishing Mc Guinness well!