27.02.1997

Free Róisín McAliskey

Róisín McAliskey has been in held in Holloway and Belmarsh prisons without charge since November 1996. She was arrested by the RUC, who interrogated her for seven days and then invited the German authorities to prosecute her in connection with an IRA operation against British army installations in Osnabrück, Germany. She is now in her seventh month of pregnancy but, because of the opposition of the German prosecutor, has consistently been refused bail. Róisín is currently being subjected - as are all Irish remand prisoners - to an unnecessary and punitive regime of closed visits (where she is separated from her visitors and legal representatives by means of a glass screen and forced to communicate via a telephone link) and constant strip searching. Her case is so serious that Amnesty International has issued an urgent action appeal, declaring that the British government’s treatment of her is “cruel and inhuman” and thus in contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Imprisoned without charge

In four months, neither the authorities in Britain nor Germany have been able to construct a case on the basis of which to charge Róisín with any crime. Nevertheless, the German authorities continue to deny her bail. This detention without charge, trial or conviction amounts to a form of internment and the German and British authorities are as responsible as one another for this disgrace.

Imprisoned without evidence

The only evidence to connect Róisín with the attack at Osnabrück is the allegation that her fingerprints have been found on the film wrapping of a cigarette pack discovered “in association with” the accommodation supposedly used by the IRA in Germany. Her solicitor, Gareth Pierce, has stated that if this evidence were to be presented in court, it would immediately be thrown out.

Imprisoned without proper healthcare

Róisín is in poor health generally, and her condition has been worsened by the denial of proper medical facilities during the course of her pregnancy. She is unable to exercise and is kept in her cell for up to 23 hours a day. Her baby is now significantly smaller than normal, leading to fears of a premature birth.

Imprisoned because of her name

Róisín is the daughter of Bernadette McAliskey, the prominent Irish republican campaigner and former MP, who has been a thorn in the side of the British authorities and the target of British-sponsored Loyalist assassination squads in the Six Counties for the last 30 years.

Fuascailt
Irish political prisoners campaign