TPQ features a statement from Cogus regarding the provision of health care in Maghaberry Prison.
Cogus POWs have been engaged in a standoff with Maghaberry Prison staff and the healthcare team for over a week now in regards to the new regime that the Prison Service has employed to the distribution of medication for prisoners. The Prison Service agreed a policy with the prison review team and the SDLP of installing medication boxes outside cells that could store medicines for self administration by republican POWs. The boxes were never installed. The practice of the medical officer calling at cells and giving out medicines continued.
Last week the Prison Service informed republican prisoners that from now on they would have to go to the circle and collect medicines and discuss medical issues in full view and earshot of prison staff and ODC's from Roe 1 & 2.
Cogus prisoners complained to the MO that there was no privacy or dignity to this method. The MO said she had no problem going onto the republican landings but was getting hassle from ODCs on those landings with prisoners being aggressive in their attempts to secure stronger and more medications and that this new policy was as a result of those pressures. It was pointed out to the House governor that on the republican landings no MO has ever had a problem. He agreed with this.
Since last week Cogus POWs have refused to go down and collect any tablets, sprays or medicines as they will not allow themselves to be degraded. They demand privacy around medical issues and will refuse to comply with any attempts to deprive them of dignity.
Cogus POWs are now heading into their second week without medical care. This despite the fact that some have serious medical needs, including 71 year old Tommy Maguire, Ta McWilliams, Phil O'Donnell and Tony Taylor to name a few. This issue needs addressed and highlighted as a matter of urgency before another republican prisoner is left with long term health issues or worse.
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I'll apologise for my ignorance in advance..
ReplyDeleteIs Cogus 'neutral' concerning prisoners. In that they represent all Republican prisoners..?
I had to do a wee bit of reading myself re Cogus. ...Why has the Prison Service changedthe regime?..£££/ staff shortages?
ReplyDeletefrankie, to my knowledge Cogus supports all republican POWs. I guess the one's aligned to RNU contact them regularly with updates on the prison struggle so they post mainly from them. Other POWs aligned to other political groups contact them with updates. All groups have POWs aligned to them, but in my opinion groups should come together and show unity for POWs regardless what of who they support...aligned or not.
ReplyDeleteirishfreedom,
ReplyDeleteThanks for clearing that up. So Cogus represent all POW's but they (POW's) in prison follow their own command structure to issue statements etc..
Are all republican POW's treated the same? Do they ever co-ordinate protests within the prison or does each group stage their own protests?
frankie, just so you know I'm not aligned to any particular political group or do I speak for the POWs. I'm just a supporter of them because I don't like to see them suffering from the gaol system. Cogus told me they supported all POWs regardless of what they are aligned to. All groups have their own POWs. Groups need to work in unity on the outside on most issues anyway to bring unity within the gaols. Yes, at present different POW group's co-ordinate their own protests within the gaol. I guess on most occasions they will all pull together and protest over issues concerning them all. They are all in the same boat really inside the gaol. I hope that I have clarifyed things a bit better.
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