Republican prisoners in the six counties

It is often forgotten that there are still republican political prisoners in Northern Ireland. They are held either illegally or in a way which damages their human rights. Responsible are the Northern Ireland authorities supported and guided by the British government. The Red Banner will regularly post news about the political prisoners in the future and to give an idea of the current situation we are now posting recent information we received from our comrades of Republican Sinn Fein.

August 02 2012

Marian Price has pneumonia - human rights denied.

Geraldine McNamara, National PRO of Republican Sinn Fein, on August 1, called on all human rights groups and activists to pressurise the British establishment into immediately releasing veteran Republican Marian Price. Marian Price was been imprisoned for over a year on the basis of a spurious charge - the original charges were dismissed - and now remains in prison on the order of secretary of state Owen Paterson.  On June 22 Marian was transferred from Hydebank Prison to hospital as her health had deteriorated rapidly. She is now suffering from pneumonia and is in intensive care.The prison authorities boarded up the windows of her room in hospital until the staff protested against it.

Unless immediate action is taken to save Marian's life, she, like Giuseppe Conlon in 1980, will die a prisoner, another innocent victim of British injustice. Marian's continued detention is yet another breach of human and civil rights by the British Establishment who continues to occupy the six north-eastern counties of Ireland.


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Tel: 872 9747 Fax: 872 9757 e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie

July 25 2012

Martin Corey exposes reality of British occupation

The recent overturning of a court decision ordering the release of Martin Corey highlights the
reality that the Six-County state is both abnormal and undemocratic. The actions of British
Secretary of State Owen Paterson in subverting a British Court in order to imprison an Irish
Republican sends out the message that nothing has changed when it comes to the
enforcement of British rule in Ireland.

In his judgement Séamus Treacy ruled that the use of closed or secret evidence as the basis
for interning Martin Corey was a breach of his human rights under Article 5 (4) of the
European Convention on Human Rights. Despite this the British Secretary of State ordered
that the case be heard by a second judge effectively subverting the original judgment.

And so 41 years after the introduction of internment in the Six Counties it appears it is once
more being employed as a means of silencing Irish Republicans. What has happened to
Martin Corey constitutes not only an attack on Martin´s human and civil rights but are an
attack on the human and civil rights of all people within the Six Counties. The continued
imprisonment of Marian Price on trumped up charges coupled with the vindictive
imprisonment of Gerry McGeough tell us much about the true nature of British involvement in
Ireland.

So much for the much heralded human rights agenda of the Stormont regime what we have
got instead is more of the same. We are calling on people to join the campaign for the
release of Martin Corey and help expose the true nature of British occupation in  Ireland.

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July 11 2012

Martin Corey's human rights are being breached.

In a statement released on July 11, 2012, the Chairperson of the Release Martin Corey Committee Cáit Trainor said:

“Martin Corey has been interned now for over two years – without charge or trial. On July 9, a British judge, Justice Treacy ruled that Martin Corey's human rights had been breached and he should be released immediately on unconditional bail.

This was overruled by British Secretary of State in Ireland Owen Patterson. While Martin Corey sat in the reception of the prison with his belongings waiting for his family, the British government underhandedly intervened and blocked his release.

On July 10, the matter was referred back to the court. The matter was to be reviewed by Justice McCloskey who further stayed Martin release until an appeal court could hear it the next day, [July 11].
Contrary to media reports, at no time did the British Government appeal any decision, they arbitrarily overturned the decision of the first court; it was Martin Corey and his legal team who had to take legal proceedings to appeal the refusal of the British Secretary of State to implement the decision of the Court.

An appeal was heard on July 11, with Justice McCloskey and Justice Morgan. That court rubber stamped the British Secretary of States’ overruling, and referred it to be heard again on September 28, 2012.

“In view of the blatant disregard for the human rights of Martin Corey, the Release Martin Corey Committee will be once more lobbying all those concerned with human rights and justice to take action to secure Martin Corey's release, We would ask all those who have worked so far to continue and urge people to take a stand against tyranny and oppression.

“The Committee will lobby nationally and internationally. We have to expose the double standards of the British Government to human rights; while they complain and state they oppose human rights abuses in various countries, they in fact themselves are guilty of human rights abuses against people who dissent from British rule in Ireland.

“In the year the British are hosting the Olympics, they show a face to the world of righteousness and morality, the world must now see the truth: British rule in Ireland can only result in the oppression of the Irish people and those with independent thought. It must be remembered that Martin Corey is interned with no charge, no trial but on secret allegations by unknown people that the British Government refuse to present."

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Source of the above articles: Republican Sinn Fein Dublin/Belfast 2012