PRC-UTE
4th March 2008, 18:47
Here's a statement on behalf of the interned men:
March 2nd, 2008
A Chairde,
After a meeting today with Eddie McGarrigle, John Mc
Crossan and Neil Myles in Portlaoise internment camp, Eddie has asked us to
express the following
Sentiments, " Do not be influenced by the tripe you read in
the right wing media regarding our recent arrest and subsequent charge of
membership. In all the hours of questioning that we endured never once was it
mentioned to us about tiger kidnapping, weapons etc. This tripe reported in the
media should be viewed for what it is, an attempt by securicrats working to a
political agenda to demonize, criminalize and demoralize the membership of the
IRSM. No charges have been laid against any of us which includes the two Dublin
lads (who were released on bail), in connection to the lies planted in the
media.
I want to put on record that the treatment that we all
received whilst in custody was nothing short of torture. The Irish Government
speak out and condemn human rights abuses in faraway places such as China and
Iran, whilst there political police in the free state can carry out such acts
without impunity, such hypocrisy. I myself was thrown out of my wheel chair onto
the ground a number of times by a number of special branch interrogators, who
took great delight in stamping, punching and slapping me in the head and body,
whilst making sure that they had the camera turned off in the interrogation
room. All the other lads suffered the same and more at the fists and boots of
our torturers.
Eventually we were charged with membership of an illegal
organization namely the INLA and remanded to Portlaoise Internment camp ( The
Irish Free States, Guantanamo Bay) . A charge frequently used by the free state
to intern Republicans-Republican Socialists. At our bail hearing in the diplock
special criminal court, the state fiercely opposed bail to all of us.
Superintendent Dermot O'Sullivan was the main objector to bail, swearing under
oath that the accused were involved in a conspiracy to extort money for the INLA
from a businessman in Cork. When our legal team objected to O'Sullivan's
evidence on the basis that none of us before the court were charged with any
offence connected to evidence submitted by O Sullivan, one of the three judges
quipped that he would allow the superintendent to continue with his evidence
solely because " The state was alledging that the accused were members of the
INLA and it was reasonable to ascertain that you don't join the INLA and do
nothing. I like many others have read the newspapers in regards to reports of
tiger kidnappings and seisure of weapons". How can anyone one of us expect any
kind of justice when one of the judges on the bench comes out with such tripe?.
Thankfully after a number of legal objections and arguments
by our legal team, the three Judges in the diplock court set bail with stringent
conditions and hopefully myself, John and Neil will be released in a week or so.
Eddie and the Lads would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who highlighted and continue to highlight the injustice of their
internment, and treatment endured at the fists and feet of the free states
political police, particularly, Teach Na Failte (Strabane, Derry, Belfast) , The
Ard Comhairle of the IRSP, IRSCNA, members of the IRSM and concerned individuals
who sent messages of support and solidarity. They would especially like to thank
the Staff and Volunteers of the RIRA within Portlaoise internment camp
particularly Aidan O"Driscoll and Aidan Hulme for the support, comradeship and
practical support they bestowed on them, they also wish to thank the 32CSM,
Eirigi, United Republicans, Other Republicans for there solidarity. Last but not
least they would like to thank W Gallagher for all the campaigning work he has
done on there behalf and wish him a happy 50th birthday tomorrow.
Is Mise
John Murtagh and John Farrell ( On behalf of Eddie, Neil,
and
Johnny)
March 2nd, 2008
A Chairde,
After a meeting today with Eddie McGarrigle, John Mc
Crossan and Neil Myles in Portlaoise internment camp, Eddie has asked us to
express the following
Sentiments, " Do not be influenced by the tripe you read in
the right wing media regarding our recent arrest and subsequent charge of
membership. In all the hours of questioning that we endured never once was it
mentioned to us about tiger kidnapping, weapons etc. This tripe reported in the
media should be viewed for what it is, an attempt by securicrats working to a
political agenda to demonize, criminalize and demoralize the membership of the
IRSM. No charges have been laid against any of us which includes the two Dublin
lads (who were released on bail), in connection to the lies planted in the
media.
I want to put on record that the treatment that we all
received whilst in custody was nothing short of torture. The Irish Government
speak out and condemn human rights abuses in faraway places such as China and
Iran, whilst there political police in the free state can carry out such acts
without impunity, such hypocrisy. I myself was thrown out of my wheel chair onto
the ground a number of times by a number of special branch interrogators, who
took great delight in stamping, punching and slapping me in the head and body,
whilst making sure that they had the camera turned off in the interrogation
room. All the other lads suffered the same and more at the fists and boots of
our torturers.
Eventually we were charged with membership of an illegal
organization namely the INLA and remanded to Portlaoise Internment camp ( The
Irish Free States, Guantanamo Bay) . A charge frequently used by the free state
to intern Republicans-Republican Socialists. At our bail hearing in the diplock
special criminal court, the state fiercely opposed bail to all of us.
Superintendent Dermot O'Sullivan was the main objector to bail, swearing under
oath that the accused were involved in a conspiracy to extort money for the INLA
from a businessman in Cork. When our legal team objected to O'Sullivan's
evidence on the basis that none of us before the court were charged with any
offence connected to evidence submitted by O Sullivan, one of the three judges
quipped that he would allow the superintendent to continue with his evidence
solely because " The state was alledging that the accused were members of the
INLA and it was reasonable to ascertain that you don't join the INLA and do
nothing. I like many others have read the newspapers in regards to reports of
tiger kidnappings and seisure of weapons". How can anyone one of us expect any
kind of justice when one of the judges on the bench comes out with such tripe?.
Thankfully after a number of legal objections and arguments
by our legal team, the three Judges in the diplock court set bail with stringent
conditions and hopefully myself, John and Neil will be released in a week or so.
Eddie and the Lads would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who highlighted and continue to highlight the injustice of their
internment, and treatment endured at the fists and feet of the free states
political police, particularly, Teach Na Failte (Strabane, Derry, Belfast) , The
Ard Comhairle of the IRSP, IRSCNA, members of the IRSM and concerned individuals
who sent messages of support and solidarity. They would especially like to thank
the Staff and Volunteers of the RIRA within Portlaoise internment camp
particularly Aidan O"Driscoll and Aidan Hulme for the support, comradeship and
practical support they bestowed on them, they also wish to thank the 32CSM,
Eirigi, United Republicans, Other Republicans for there solidarity. Last but not
least they would like to thank W Gallagher for all the campaigning work he has
done on there behalf and wish him a happy 50th birthday tomorrow.
Is Mise
John Murtagh and John Farrell ( On behalf of Eddie, Neil,
and
Johnny)