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The Irish Republican Socialist Party confirm that independent TD Tony Gregory will visit republican socialist hunger-striker Michael McCartney. Mr. McCartney who is in his 23rd day of his hunger-strike will be visited by Mr. Gregory in the Curragh military hospital.
Commenting on the visit, IRSP spokesperson Ciaran McLaughlin said: "I welcome that Mr. Gregory has accepted the invitation to visit Michael McCartney. It will allow an independent TD to listen to, and view first hand, Mr. McCartney's condition. I hope that other people will follow the courageous example set over these past few weeks by Mr. Gregory and speak out against the abuse of civil liberties that lead to this totally avoidable situation." attached: 29 August 1995
Press Release The Department of Justice contacted me yesterday, 28th August, 1995, and told me that the IRSP Prisoners in Portlaoise had requested that I visit Michael McCartney in the Curragh Military Hospital. I was told that the visit had been approved by the Minister and I went to see Michael McCartney at 11:00am today. I understand that this is the first time in this State that such a visit has been authorised to a prisoner on Hunger Strike. Michael McCartney who began his protest on Sunday 6th August is now on his 24th day of Hunger Strike and appears to be in very week condition. He stated that his protest was for equal treatment with other Republican prisoners, that he himself had applied four times since March of this year for parole when his 3-year old son was very ill, requiring on operation in hospital - on each occassion he was refused. He said that the official attitude to the IRSP prisoners seemed to be "as if they did not exist." He said that the way to resolve the protest would be the communication of some form of assurance that equality of treatment would be granted to Republican Prisoners. He is hopeful that the issue of concern to the IRSP prisoners will be resolved very soon. He said that prior to the Hunger Strike, the official response had been that the IRSP Group would "get nothing", consequently meetings with the authorities at that stage appeared futile and the Roof Top and Hunger Strike protests began. Having discussed the issues involved for over an hour with Michael McCartney and having seen his condition, I am again calling on the Minister for Justice and the Government to take the necessary steps immediately to resolve this dispute before the health of any prisoner is seriously damaged. Signed, Tony Gregory, TD |