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Concern Over Maghaberry Death

14/06/07

The family of a former political prisoner who was found dead at the notorious Maghaberry prison have demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.

John Kenneway was reported to have died shortly after 6pm on Friday (June 8) and was initially thought to have committed suicide.

However, Kenneway’s family are refusing to accept that their loved one committed suicide, amid concerns there was a more sinister cause of death.

Previously convicted for playing a part in the republican assassination of pro-British death-squad leader Billy Wright in Long Kesh, John was returned to prison in February this year after being accused of non-political offences.

John suffered continual harassment at the hands of prison staff since his reincarceration and, just days before his death, was refused compassionate parole to attend the christening of a grandchild.

The following is the family account of his ordeal in Maghaberry:

“Our daddy... had been on 23-hour lock-up for 18 weeks. During this time he suffered constant harassment and mental abuse.

“When he first arrived in jail (in February) it was three and a half weeks before they let him wash and change into clothes that were left in on his second day.

“He was constantly threatened, strip-searched and wakened by banging on his cell door at five in the morning.

“He was on medication before he went in, yet he was refused a doctor’s visit for at least 10 weeks. When he did get one he was only given sleeping tablets, prescribed to him for two nights.

“They held back his food a few times and spat in it and his water.

“The only things he had to look forward to were his visits and phone-calls with us. On a few occasions they decided he could not use the phone.

“They used pathetic excuses to disrupt his visits on a number of occasions. There was no such thing as human rights for our dad, and they knew he couldn’t do anything about it. It was his word against theirs.

“Last week they told him they would break him. Well, they did, but they also broke us – his family.”

The staff in Maghaberry prison are infamous for bigotry and bore a particular grudge against John given his prevous political activities.

The punishment block where John was held on lock up in the time leading up to his death is, according to those unlucky enough to have spent time there, the only area of the prison where CCTV cameras are not installed.

One former political prisoner said:

“The screws (prison warders) in Maghaberry are generally a very bigoted bunch. However, those on the boards (punishment block) are the worst of the lot and would have the same sectarian tendencies as Billy Wright and his cohorts.

“At the time of John’s death there was no other prisoner on the boards. This is a highly unusual occurrence and would raise questions as to the intentions of the screws following their role in tormenting him over the last few months.”

The solicitor for the Kenneway family has now been instructed to raise their concerns with the Prisoner Ombudsman in the Six-Counties as well as the Northern Ireland (sic) Office.