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The Irish Republican Socialist Party prisons spokesperson, Gino Gallagher, has criticised the Portlaoise Prison authorities for placing two INLA prisoners on the punishment block for their roof-top protest on Sunday.
"As a result of their vindictive attitude and the continuing discriminatory practices towards INLA prisoners as regards parole and early releases, both INLA prisoners concerned, Michael McCartney and James Gorman, have been refusing food from Sunday last. If there is no resolution of this issue then two more INLA prisoners, Tony McNeill and Patrick Walls, will join them next Sunday. "This was a totally avoidable confrontation if the Minister for Justice had heeded calls from the IRSP for parity of esteem for the INLA prisoners. It is not too late for her to take the necessary steps to defuse this situation." Mr. Gallagher repeated his call for a meeting with the Minister for Justice. |