By Bernie McAdam

Even as David Cameron apologises in parliament for the killing of 13 unarmed demonstrators in 1972, the brutality of Britain’s occupation of Ireland goes on. Nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in the cruel mistreatment of Republican prisoners in British jails.

In particular the conditions of Republican political prisoners in Maghaberry jail deteriorates as reports of torture emerge from the Republican wing at Roe House, there is a cynical wall of silence from the media. Clearly the culture of impunity lives on.

Prisoners have been beaten up, locked up for 23/24 hours, strip-searched before and after visits, and interned on remand with no prospect of a trial in the near future. Harry Fitzsimmons and Turloch McAllister have both been severely beaten up by prison screws. At a packed public meeting in Belfast’s Conway Mill Harry’s sister, Maureen, spoke of how her brother had been handcuffed to a bed in the ‘isolation unit’ while “riot clad screws literally cut his clothes off with scissors”. He was then kept in the unit for 30 days without access to family, a doctor or solicitor.

On Easter Sunday, Republican prisoners protested at the draconian regime and the screws’ violent assaults. The response has seen the removal of basic facilities including washing, medical, exercise, free association, and even destruction and theft of personal belongings, as well as poor quality of food causing illness and a lack of regular visits from family and friends.

The state’s disgraceful treatment of Republican prisoners stems from its attempt to criminalise all those who oppose Britain’s presence in the six counties, while denying prisoners’ political status. British jails in Ireland have always had a special role in attempting to break the spirit of resistance to imperialist rule. Sinn Fein, as part of an executive backed by Britain, cannot refute its collaboration in all of this. Indeed, the loss of political status stems from promoting a Peace Agreement that reinforces Partition and British rule in Ireland.

Public meetings and demonstrations throughout the six counties have already highlighted the repression in Maghaberry. Prisoners’ families and friends and several republican and socialist groups are supporting the campaign. There is an urgent need to build a movement on the streets to challenge this latest bout of repression.

A national march is planned for Sunday 25 July in Lurgan called by the Families, Friends and ex-POW’s group.