Campaigns // Noel Maguire – Bring him home

Noel Maguire – Bring him home

The brutality of the British penal system coupled with the apathy of the Irish government towards the welfare of its own citizens is again in evidence with the case of Noel Maguire.

Noel Maguire is the only remaining Irish political prisoner incarcerated in an English jail. The 38-year-old Fermanagh man was controversially sentenced, on highly questionable evidence, to 22 years imprisonment for his alleged role in a republican bombing campaign in Britain between 2000 and ’01.

Noel plight is currently the focus of a campaign demanding his repatriation from Full Sutton prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence in the country of his birth.

Under European law, prisoners convicted in a jurisdiction other than their own have a right to serve their sentence in their country of origin.

Noel holds a valid Irish passport and is entitled to full citizenship rights, including that of being in accessible proximity to his family. He has not seen his two young children in the six-years since his ordeal began and his family are under incredible strain.

Noel’s physical and mental health are under constant threat whilst he remains in Full Sutton – he was recently subjected to an assault of such severity that it warranted a charge of attempted murder against the alleged culprits. At present, he is being held in an isolation unit.

The struggle of Irish republican prisoners for repatriation from English prisons has a long and tragic history. Both Michael Gaughan (1974) and Frank Stagg (1976) died while hunger-striking in support of that right.

In more recent times, Paddy Kelly was only transferred from England to Portlaoise when he was in the advanced stages of a terminal illness. Paddy suffered horrendous treatment in British jails and was denied access to a doctor capable of treating his skin cancer for more than two years.

Noel’s wife and children live less then one hour from Portlaoise prison, Co Laois, and he has a network of friends and relations across the country.

Noel’s co-accused Aiden Hulme was recently repatriated to Portlaoise following a lengthy campaign.

The London and Dublin governments are under a clear obligation to comply with international law in the case of Noel and the process of repatriation should begin immediately.

To do anything less is to put the life of yet another Irish political prisoner in unacceptable danger and yet another Irish family through constant hardship and misery.

The following is a statement by Noel Maguire:

“Friends and comrades, a chairde,
As many of you know already, my latest application for repatriation, to serve the remaining years of my sentence in the country of my birth, has been once again refused by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

“I am at a loss as to why the Dept. continues to refuse me my rights. Under the European Convention on the rights of prisoners to serve their sentence in country of origin, I qualify on all counts.

“My wife and two young children live within an hours journey of Portlaoise and Mountjoy Prisons, and my brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts all live within visiting distance. I have no relatives in Britain and I have not seen my children for six years.

“I have received numerous communications from the Dept. of Justice – and the Irish embassy here – but at no time ever have I been given a clear-cut satisfactory explanation for my applications being refused. Furthermore, I am now informed that I cannot apply again until January 2008. This is contrary to the legislation agreed by all EU member states – that a prisoner can at any time apply for repatriation to country of origin.

“I am an Irish citizen, hold a valid Irish passport, and to all intents and purposes I qualify for repatriation within law. My co-accused have all been repatriated and I believe my continued detention here is victimisation – if not illegal.

“I appreciate all that is being done for me outside these walls by good comrades and friends at home and abroad who believe my incarceration is a travesty of justice.

“Your campaign has my total support – and my thanks.”

Noel Maguire,
HMP Full Sutton,
York-YO41-IPS.
06/03/2007.