"No Dissent Will be Tolerated"
Marian Price has been imprisoned in Northern Ireland for more than a year on the basis of secret evidence neither she nor her lawyers have been allowed to see. She is effectively interned without a trial, sentence, or release date. Unless the courts intervene, she will only be released by order of a British Cabinet Minister, Owen Paterson, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Overruling the Courts
Twice she has been arrested and brought before a non-jury Diplock Court. Twice a judge ordered her released on bail.
Each time Owen Paterson overruled the judge and ordered her back to prison. He said that he was revoking her license (parole in American terms) because he had “confidential information” against her. This “information” could only have come from MI5.
In May 2011, she was charged with “encouraging support for an illegal organization” after she held up a piece of paper from which a masked man read a statement. Northern Ireland must be one of the very few places where holding up a piece of paper can constitute a crime.
On May 11, 2012, almost exactly a year after these charges were filed, they were dismissed because the British government hadn’t produced any evidence. But Marian Price remains in prison.
In July 2011she was charged with “providing property for the purposes of terrorism”. She was accused of giving a cell phone to someone who participated in the killing of two British soldiers. She had been questioned about this and released 18 months before being charged. Her solicitor, Peter Corrigan, told the BBC that there was no new evidence against her.
Once again she was released on bail, and, again, Owen Paterson said he was revoking her license and ordered her back to prison.
The Vanishing Pardon
But Marian Price and her legal team insist that she was never actually on license. They say that after being convicted of IRA bombings in Britain, she received a full royal pardon (the “Royal Prerogative of Mercy”) when she was freed in 1980 after she appeared to be on the brink of death from severe anorexia nervosa.
The British Government now says the pardon “cannot be located” – that it has been lost or shredded and that no copy exists. Peter Corrigan told a public meeting in Belfast that this is the only time in the entire history of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy that a pardon has gone missing. The veteran Irish human rights campaigner Mgr. Raymond Murray said that 'you can draw your own conclusions.'
There is good reason to be concerned about Marian Price’s health and well being. She was unable to appear in court on May11th, even by video link. Prison doctors have said that she should either be in a hospital or home with her family.
She was held in solitary confinement for more than a year. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has called for a ban solitary confinement of more than 15 days.
Marian Price’s Health
Marian Price’s health was permanently damaged when she was force fed over 400 times while on hunger strike in a British prison. She described the force feeding in an interview with the Dublin magazine, The Village:
Four male prison officers tie you into the chair so tightlywith sheets you can’t struggle. You clench your teeth to try to keep your mouth closed but they push a metal spring device around your jaw to prise it open. They force a wooden clamp with a hole in the middle into your mouth. Then, they insert a big rubber tube down that. They hold your head back. You can’t speak or move. You’re frightened you’ll choke to death.
Marian Price’s husband, Jerry McGlinchey, said in an interview with “Radio Free Eireann” on WBAI, the New York Pacifica station, that he is 'very, very worried' about her health. He says she never recovered from the force feeding which caused tuberculosis that had to be treated as recently as 2010. The anorexia has returned and she suffers from such severe arthritis that she can’t even open her hand.
McGlinchey believes that her health will get steadily worse as long as she is in prison. He said that 'my fear is that Marian will slip into a deep depression that it would take her years to come out of. I believe that is what the government intends.'
Her prison conditions have contributed to the decline in Marian Price’s health. Male prison guards shine a flashlight in her eyes throughout the night. Protestant prisoners in nearby cells sing anti-Catholic songs at the top of their lungs all night long, making it impossible for her to sleep.
Support for Marian Price
Very few people agree with Marian Price’s politics. She is a “dissident” Irish republican who believes in the necessity of an armed struggle to end British rule. Nevertheless the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic and Labor Party, have all called for her release.
But what is at stake is more than Marian Price or her politics. The Irish civil rights leader Bernadette Devlin McAliskey has said that her treatment:
is a clear signal to everybody who is not “on board” and who is not of the same mind as the government: that no dissent will be tolerated. No dissent will be tolerated and you challenge the status quo at your peril.
Sandy Boyer is the co-host of “Radio Free Eireann” broadcast Saturdays at 1pm on WBAI, 99.5 FM or wbai.org
'Northern Ireland must be one of the very few places where holding up a piece of paper can constitute a crime'.
ReplyDeleteoh ffs...here we go again..the deliberately blind and deluded club. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
let this woman home so the prod prisoners can get some sleep!!!!
"He said that he was revoking her license (parole in American terms) because he had “confidential information” against her. This “information” could only have come from MI5."
ReplyDeleteThis demonstrates the trap in which even fair minded people can fall into. Because Paterson claims to have 'information' it is assumed that he is telling the truth. There is no evidence that he is. MI5 as the collectors/custodians of this information is just an assumption many people make. There is no evidence that they have anything either. MPrice is victim to the suggestion that some kind of lurking and sensitive information actually exists but its secret.
Owen Paterson should put up or shut the fuck up!
Larry, you have little to contribute to this issues bar snide and totally cyncial remarks. Your attitude to Marian dovetails with that of Owen Paterson therefore the revocation of her licence does not cause you any problems. This dispite the fact she was bailed twice on charges which will be put to the test in court. Perhaps you would answer a simple question:
ReplyDeleteShould people out on licence be returned to prison on the basis of intelligence information only?
Tiarna before he does anything he should release Marian,not a mission of an apology so we wont go there, when I hear Patterson say his actions were based on secret information,my mind goes back to the" secret information "that was used for the introduction of internment in Aug 71 and we know now how many innocent men suffered in that disaster and the fact that compensation is now being sought by both nationalist and loyalist internees is going to hit the brits where they dont like it namely in their pockets,Larry a cara when it comes to internment and its selective use by unaccountable politicians well a cara we need to think as stated many times before here on the wise words of pastor Martin Niemoller,s "First they came"
ReplyDeleteAlec,
ReplyDeletewhile we don't seek to protect people's opinions from ridicule - anathema to our ethos - ridicule only works up to a point: that is when it makes a point. After that it can be self defeating. I think by now Larry's points have run out of steam.
Alec
ReplyDeletesimple asnswer 'no'.
Alec
ReplyDeletesimple yes or no answer if you will.
Was Marian foolish to do what she did holding the page for the person who read what was on it?
Larry a cara if we locked up people for being foolish then the place would be overflowing with people who voted for any of the politicians who invest these islands, really a cara the whole issue here is internment itself nothing else!
ReplyDeleteLarry
ReplyDeleteSo she was foolish. So fucking what?? --how dumb have you ever been you?? We have been over this with you before --we would not agree that even you should be locked up for being foolish.
i have a PHD in stupid. But not THAT stupid.
ReplyDeletehopefully she will be released soon and get back to her family.
ReplyDeleteWe all know what a slimy lot the Brits are, MI5 are at the core of the Brit Government, Did you know that those who check your passports on departure or arrival are From the intelligence corp, (Diplomatic Corp). MI5 hold the card to Marians release and others, don't forget the Brit Royal Monarch will be visiting Ulster at the end of this month, No Protests will be tolerated, 10,000 guests invited to a free party at stormont , were we will possibly see the puppet 2ic Martyboy Mc Guinness stand to attention and shake hands with the brit monarch, he may get a knighthood from it. Marian Has suffered enough, She should be released immediately , as should Gerry McGeough and Martin Corey. The brits are on tenderhooks with this upcomming royal monarch visit and don't know what to expect.
ReplyDeleteso the SAS will be on rooftops and mingle with onlookers , and they will be armed to the teeth, we all know their strategy, shoot first and no questions asked.
all this because Marian held a piece of paper, which she had no idea what was written on it, for a Man with a balaclava on to read from it. That is not a crime.
I wonder how many more Raids will take place in nationalist areas for this upcomming visit,
I know this is way of thread ,please forgive me Anthony, but I noticed Jim MC Allister is helping to organise a commemoration to IRA vol Sean O Callaghan this is to take place at the republican monument in Crossmaglen, this monument has been described by Connor Murphy as a focal point for tourists,and not an IRA monument, when asked about Murphy,s assertion that this was not an IRA monument Big Jim is quoted as saying "that was nonsense,of course it is an IRA memorial,who does he think erected it, the northern Irish tourist board?" typical Jim a brilliant response.the qsf- Queens Shilling Fenians are really getting well into the denial mode, I thought the removal of the monument to vols Mac Manus ,Fleming and Mac Giolla Bhrighde in 2002 at Belleek was as crass as those fuckers could go,obviously as the song goes "You aint seen nothing yet" good luck with the commemoration Jim
ReplyDeleteAgain of thread I know but its important info for our Mickeyboy or his future within the party. the"model"Anderson is of to Brussels where one meets a better kind of sprout!and is being replaced in Stormont by Maeve Mc Laughlin.well now this is what I have discovered Mickeyboy.its the answer to Whats in a name? well a cara if its Mc Guinness,Adams, Mc Laughlin, Maskey (get my drift) your in for a well paid job, no principles reqd.so Mickeyboy there ya have it ,change yer name.
ReplyDeleteMcGuinness will doubtless greet the queen. There's not much further to sink but i'm confident they will manage another depth. Another 'watershed' moment.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that any person deny's Marion Price's human rights disgusts me !!!!
ReplyDeleteBut most of all those who will placate to their electorate by finger point at other country's human rights violators but will sit idly by and do nothing but pay lip service while an innocent woman is being held illegally. Let's be honest Marion is imprisoned for nothing more than who she is ... are mi5 now the thought police? what reality do we actually inhabit .....and what realities are people really willing to accept ....
and on the somewhat unrelated topic of the fuckin german whore of westminster - PSF and their lackeys have taken it up the ass long enough from the british establishment only fair that ole bitch rams it up further?
The only line that comes in handy is
"kneel before zod"!
@ Aine
ReplyDeleteThe fact that any person deny's Marion Price's human rights disgusts me !!!!.
well Aine im still thinking about the above comment!!!!.
and on the somewhat unrelated topic of the fuckin german whore of westminster - PSF and their lackeys have taken it up the ass long enough from the british establishment only fair that ole bitch rams it up further?
? why is it only fair that she rams it up further?
would it not be better for PSF to admit they made a grave error and tried to rectify it by renouncing stormont and stand by all ex pow's who have been interned through the back door, they have no idea what the brits can do, remember Donaldson, he was compromised by his own handlers and was put away by R.I.R.A, yet , the same people who put him to sleep were british agents within that same unit.
The only line that comes in handy is
"kneel before zod"!
Don't you mean DOG Aine!!!!
Aine .oh dear I detect a lot of anger there hon,mmm "kneel before Zod, do you imply that Martyboy is some superman, when he was pushing to be the first to to kiss Lizs ring he didnt know it really is her ring they want him to kiss,but bending low is no problem to such persons they have been known to crawl under a snakes belly wearing a top hat.the real superhuman people in all of this are Marian,s family,who have been pushing a huge boulder uphill for so long now, but now with more and more people lending a shoulder they are nearly at the top. lets hope so.but as for this anger Aine have you a cat you can kick?
ReplyDeleteitsjustmaker
ReplyDelete'they have no idea what the brits can do, remember Donaldson, he was compromised by his own handlers and was put away by R.I.R.A, yet , the same people who put him to sleep were british agents within that same unit'.
Recon this reality gives them cold shivers and sleepless nights.
Aine
Don't hold back..why don't you tell us how you really feel lol. magic!!
@justmackers ... yes it would be better if martin and co admitted they've been on the wrong path .... but asking power hungry people to relinquish that power and admit their shortcomings as 'leaders' ...... i'd take that over them welcoming her and all she stands for.
ReplyDelete@marty I by no means meant MmcG was superman ..... the reference was more in reference to the ole bit having the gesture of her former foes acknowledging her claim over the land she stands on and greeting her on it. Marion's family are very close to me and I am aware of all their hard work and pain. But for all my anger i would never kick a cat !
@ Aine.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that reply Aine, Seems w are all on the same track to get Marian Freed and allow her to be re united with here family.
As for Mc Guinness, something tells me he will not turn up when the british Battenburgh Monarch arrives for the so called special handshake, but, then again, he would have the gaul to do it, if he did, I wonder if all his followers will vote for him again. They can't get any lower, they are sliding under the flat rocks now.