Republican Prisoner Force Strip Searched

Saoradh POW Department has raised concerns about strip searching in Maghaberry Prison. 

 

The Saoradh POW department wishes to highlight deeply concerning events which unfolded today (28.10.2018) in Maghaberry gaol.

Republican Prisoner Gerard Burleigh was on a visit with friends when they were approached by an ‘SO’ and informed that their visit was terminated. When the men asked as to the reason why, they received no answer from the ‘SO’ in question. This ‘SO’ then left, and came back after 10 minutes to inform them that they had been reviewing footage, although he would not elaborate on this. Two governors then arrived and again the men were informed that they would have to leave. When pushed as to why they were told that something had been passed to Gerard, although the screws could not answer as to who had passed it or what had been passed. This was clearly a farce designed to harrass and intimidate Gerard and his visitors.

One of the visitors has told the POW department that “I’ve been up on visits for around 5 years and never has this happened. I would imagine that if they really did suspect something was passed, then they would have at least tried to detain us and at least ask if we would be searched. Plus we all went through two physical searches first by a male screw and then a dog “.


 
With tensions rising and families becoming increasingly concerned, the visitors left to avoid giving the screws reason to create further issue.

Gerard has since been taken to the CSU/ Punishment Block where he is now being kept in isolation, and in a part of the gaol which has been widely criticised for its abhorrent conditions. This is all the more worrying when considering that the same visitor noted that he was “concerned for Gerard’s well-being as some of the screws were very hostile. I worry about the strip search he will have to endure and how forceful the search team may be”.

This is no surprise considering the track record of the Maghaberry administration in creating problems for prisoners during the short time that they can spend with friends and family, and its determination to oppress Republican prisoners at every opportunity.

13 comments:

  1. Had Pattens proposed reforms been allowed to be instigated then some or most of these abuse of power by sectarian bastards would have been a thing of the past, but threats from the DUP, Pete the punt declaring that he and his cronies would tear down Stormont if as much as the badge on the screws uniform was changed, quisling $inn £anny under Martybroy Mc Guinness,s leadership done fuck all and so we find ourselves as we were 1981 so to speak ,these orange bastards need their horns pulled in, but republicans should seriously consider feeding that sectarian conveyor belt, it is the definition of insanity after all,

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  2. Outrageous! They run that place like it's a fucking prison!

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  3. Steve R, once again returning to his prime interest, mocking Republican prisoners. Steve, many that disagree with analysis that got them in this situation still feel immense sympathy for the prisoners themselves, they are our sons/daughters, brothers/sisters, mothers/fathers. You and your lot aren’t, and never will be. It’s an avowedly free speech site, so your fighting the good fight with a keyboard seems to give you validation, but never forget how you are seen.

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  4. What do you call someone who labels people 'orange bastards'?

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  5. Use of language such as "Orange" or "Fenian bastards" is sectarian/racist and is always unacceptable.

    I have never agreed with the analysis or actions of those, be they nationalist or loyalist, who ended up in prison during the Troubles. But one does not lose one's humanity when the prison gates shuts behind them. Loss of one's liberty for whatever reason does not licence to any prison officer to use violence or any other violation of bodily integrity such as unnecessary strip-searching. If I may say so, I do not agree with the choices that Anthony made that lead to his long ordeal in the Kesh but I respect his accounts of the brutality displayed by perhaps not all of the screws and acknowledge the fortitude he showed in those dark times.

    I know I am probably coming across as all naive, but sometimes the bleeding obvious has to be stated.

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  6. Barry - a good boo from the rest of the crowd rather than the censure of the PC can often work much more effectively. It is sort of being pulled into line by your peers rather than being judged by the self appointed or professional PC merchant. Getting called a Fenian bastard at a soccer match by the Rangers crowd chanting would not annoy me in the slightest whereas in your face use as a means of putting me down would be different. Sometimes people are not being racist or sectarian but simply annoying cunts.

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  7. DaithiD - mocking republican prisoners hardly defines Steve. His contribution to discussion here has been much broader than that. And republican prisoners are not armed with a "no offence here" shield. I have always admired the way you defend republican prisoners past and present but it is not obligatory for others to have to do so. Steve has no need to remember how he is seen because he is seen differently by different people.

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  8. AM, I did say prime not sole. I’ve not asked for Steve to censored either, the least I can do is thread each attack together, so casual observers can form an understanding of his area of interest in each topic. It could appear he is “just” poking fun at an overweight woman (in one female prisoners case) if not placed in such a context.

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  9. DaithiD - but it is hardly his prime role either. You never ask for anybody to be censored. Like me, you are hoist on your own petard on that one. In addition to the PC on racism/sectarianism you are trying to introduce fatism. Have we not had enough of isms? And you are not usually PC!

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  10. AM, we use the tools available to us. I can feign disdain at fatist comments if it serves a more advantageous purpose. But let’s not show how the sausage is made on this thread, I’ve had Steve playing defence for a couple of years!

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  11. DaithiD - we have a cat and I call her Fat Porker and the Catopatumas because she is hardly slim. Even the birds don't run because the fat fuck could never catch them. The PC might come after me now in defence of tubby tabbies!

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  12. Depressingly the same prison again and again leaving a bad taste in everyones mouth

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  13. DaithiD,

    Not sure when you've 'had me playing defence here for a couple of years' but my attempt at levity was probably in poor taste I concede.

    I still think that female Republican "femme fetale" as pointed out by many quarters was worthy of humorous highlighting for the sheer fact of the ridiculousness of that situation.

    Over the years on TPQ I have learned a great deal but I think perhaps the most eyeopening is the absolute shame that should be imposed on those Republican political leaders who encourage young men and women to still wage a pointless and unwinnable war risking life and liberty in it's doomed pursuit.

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