Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Gerry McGeough: Summer Briefing

Tuesday, August 16, 2011  AM  10 comments

Tonight The Pensive Quill carries an update on the Gerry McGeough situation by Guest writer Helen McClafferty

8/5/11
Cardinal Brady's Secretary meets with Gerry McGeough in Maghaberry Prison
Gerry called yesterday to advise that Cardinal Brady's secretary paid him a visit the other day and Gerry requested that the Cardinal intervene directly to resolve the Brendan Lillis matter and the protests in the prison. He also discussed his own case with the Cardinal's secretary.

8/6/11
Monica McWilliams and Virginia McVea of the Human Rights Commission visited with Gerry about his case and the shocking conditions of the political wing in Maghaberry prison.

Gerry called again yesterday to advise that after his meeting with Cardinal Brady’s secretary last week, the prisoners, who engaged in the dirty protest, were released for 2 hours of exercise last night after being locked up 24/7 for weeks.   Also, Monica McWilliams and Virginia McVea of the Human Rights Commission visited with Gerry yesterday to discuss the horrific conditions in the prison and Gerry’s case.  Both women were obliged to wear protective clothing for health reasons and were shocked when they saw the conditions on the political wing at Maghaberry.  

Gerry also wants to send his personal thanks to Sinn Fein Cumann, especially in the Dublin area, who have been forwarding motions on his behalf for the Ard Fheis.

He would also like to personally thank the many AOH Divisions in the USA who have been very generous in their support of his wife and four children and to personally thank Mr. Seamus Boyle, National President of the AOH, for his courage to speak out on behalf of those in northern Ireland who do not have a voice at this time and who continue to suffer injustice.   Gerry is trying to remain in good spirits and continuously mentions how much he appreciates everyone's support and especially their efforts on his behalf.  Gerry's attorney will let us know as soon as a date has been set for Gerry's upcoming Judicial Review in September.  

In the interim, the Free Gerry McGeough Committee is asking you to please write letters to your local Irish newspapers continuing to highlight Gerry's case along with that of Brendan Lillis and the conditions at Maghaberry prison and to contact Owen Paterson, Northern Ireland Secretary of State to release Gerry immediately.   For details on contact information, updates and details on Gerry's case, please go to www.freegerry.com web site.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Posted in: ,

10 comments:

Helen,

as always, this needs highlighted.

From Helen McClafferty:

Gerry's attorney is preparing the documents now for Gerry's upcoming judicial review in September.

Tomas put a lot of time and effort into accumulating the posted email addresses for all the TDs below. We ask that you PLEASE email all the TD's listed in this email and ask them to release Gerry McGeough.

PLEASE DO IT NOW!

Thank you for your continued support.


gerry.adams@oireachtas.ie;
james.bannon@oireachtas.ie;
sean.barrett@oireachtas.ie;
tom.barry@oireachtas.ie;
richard.boydbarrett@oireachtas.ie;
...pat.breen@oireachtas.ie;
tommy.broughan@oireachtas.ie;
john.browne@oireachtas.ie;
richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie;
joan.burton@oireachtas.ie;
ray.butler@oireachtas.ie;
jerry.buttimer@oireachtas.ie;
catherine.byrne@oireachtas.ie;
eric.byrne@oireachtas.ie;
dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie;
ciaran.cannon@oireachtas.ie;
joe.carey@oireachtas.ie;
paudie.coffey@oireachtas.ie;
aine.collins@oireachtas.ie;
joan.collins@oireachtas.ie;
niall.collins@oireachtas.ie;
michael.colreavy@oireachtas.ie;
michael.conaghan@oireachtas.ie;
sean.conlan@oireachtas.ie;
paul.connaughton@oireachtas.ie;
ciara.conway@oireachtas.ie;
noel.coonan@oireachtas.ie;
marcella.corcorankennedy@oireachtas.ie;
joe.costello@oireachtas.ie;
simon.coveney@oireachtas.ie;
barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie;
michael.creed@oireachtas.ie;
lucinda.creighton@oireachtas.ie;
sean.crowe@oireachtas.ie;
clare.daly@oireachtas.ie;
jim.daly@oireachtas.ie;
john.deasy@oireachtas.ie;
jimmy.deenihan@oireachtas.ie;
pat.deering@oireachtas.ie;
pearse.doherty@oireachtas.ie;
regina.doherty@oireachtas.ie;
stephen.donnelly@oireachtas.ie;
paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie;
tommy.dooley@oireachtas.ie;
robert.dowds@oireachtas.ie;
andrew.doyle@oireachtas.ie;
bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie;
dessie.ellis@oireachtas.ie;
damien.english@oireachtas.ie;
alan.farrell@oireachtas.ie;
frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie;
anne.ferris@oireachtas.ie;

From Helen McClafferty (continued)

martin.ferris@oireachtas.ie;
frances.fitzgerald@oireachtas.ie;
peterm.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie;
charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie;
lukeming.flanagan@oireachtas.ie;
terence.flanagan@oireachtas.ie;
sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie;
tom.fleming@oireachtas.ie;
noel.grealish@oireachtas.ie;
brendan.griffin@oireachtas.ie;
john.halligan@oireachtas.ie;
dominic.hannigan@oireachtas.ie;
noel.harrington@oireachtas.ie;
simon.harris@oireachtas.ie;
brian.hayes@oireachtas.ie;
tom.hayes@oireachtas.ie;
seamus.healy@oireachtas.ie;
michael.healy-rae@oireachtas.ie;
martin.heyden@oireachtas.ie;
joe.higgins@oireachtas.ie;
phil.hogan@oireachtas.ie;
brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie;
heather.humphreys@oireachtas.ie;
kevin.humphreys@oireachtas.ie;
derek.keating@oireachtas.ie;
colm.keaveney@oireachtas.ie;
paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie;
bily.kelleher@oireachtas.ie;
alan.kelly@oireachtas.ie;
enda.kenny@oireachtas.ie;
sean.kenny@oireachtas.ie;
seamus.kirk@oireachtas.ie;
michael.kitt@oireachtas.ie;
sean.kyne@oireachtas.ie;
anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie;
michael.lowry@oireachtas.ie;
john.lyons@oireachtas.ie;
padraig.maclochlainn@oireachtas.ie;
eamonn.maloney@oireachtas.ie;
micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie;
peter.mathews@oireachtas.ie;
michael.mccarthy@oireachtas.ie;
charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie;
marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie;
shane.mcentee@oireachtas.ie;
nicky.mcfadden@oireachtas.ie;
dinny.mcginley@oireachtas.ie;
finian.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie;
mattie.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie;
michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie;
john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie;
joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie;
sandra.mclellan@oireachtas.ie;
tony.mcloughlin@oireachtas.ie;
michael.mcnamara@oireachtas.ie;
olivia.mitchell@oireachtas.ie;
mary.mitchelloconnor@oireachtas.ie;
michael.moynihan@oireachtas.ie
michelle.mulherin@oireachtas.ie;
catherine.murphy@oireachtas.ie;
dara.murphy@oireachtas.ie;
eoghan.murphy@oireachtas.ie;
gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie;
denis.naughten@oireachtas.ie;
dan.neville@oireachtas.ie;
derek.nolan@oireachtas.ie;
michael.noonan@oireachtas.ie;
caoimhghin.ocaolain@oireachtas.ie;
eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie;
sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie;
aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie;
aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie;
jonathan.obrien@oireachtas.ie;
willie.odea@oireachtas.ie;
kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie;
patrick.odonovan@oireachtas.ie;
fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie;
john.omahony@oireachtas.ie;
joe.oreilly@oireachtas.ie;
jan.osullivan@oireachtas.ie;
maureen.osullivan@oireachtas.ie;
willie.penrose@oireachtas.ie;
john.perry@oireachtas.ie;
ann.phelan@oireachtas.ie;
johnpaul.phelan@oireachtas.ie;
thomas.pringle@oireachtas.ie;
ruairi.quinn@oireachtas.ie;
pat.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie;
james.reilly@oireachtas.ie;
michael.ring@oireachtas.ie;
shane.ross@oireachtas.ie;
brendan.ryan@oireachtas.ie;
alan.shatter@oireachtas.ie;
sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie;
roisin.shorthall@oireachtas.ie;
brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie;
arthur.spring@oireachtas.ie;
emmet.stagg@oireachtas.ie;
brian.stanley@oireachtas.ie;
david.stanton@oireachtas.ie;
billy.timmis@oireachtas.ie;
peadar.toibin@oireachtas.ie;
robert.troy@oireachtas.ie;
joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie;
liam.twomey@oireachtas.ie;
leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie;
jack.wall@oireachtas.ie;
mick.wallace@oireachtas.ie;
brian.walsh@oireachtas.ie;
alex.white@oireachtas.ie;

Helen,
I will write to as many as I can, I really hope something positive happens for Gerry and the rest of them.

From Helen McCClafferty: 26/08/2011

Please email the following list of MLAs asking them to use their influence to free Gerry McGeough

NAME
PARTY
CONSTITUENCY

AGNEW STEVEN
GREEN PARTY
NORTH DOWN

ALLISTER JIM
TRADITIONAL UNIONIST VOICE
NORTH ANTRIM

ANDERSON MARTINA
SINN FÉIN
FOYLE

ANDERSON SYDNEY
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
UPPER BANN

ATTWOOD ALEX
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
WEST BELFAST

BEGGS ROY
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
EAST ANTRIM

BELL JONATHAN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
STRANGFORD

BOYLAN CATHAL
SINN FÉIN
NEWRY AND ARMAGH

BOYLE MICHAELA
SINN FÉIN
WEST TYRONE

BRADLEY DOMINIC
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
NEWRY AND ARMAGH

BRADLEY PAULA
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH BELFAST

BRADY MICKEY
SINN FÉIN
NEWRY AND ARMAGH

BUCHANAN THOMAS
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
WEST TYRONE

BYRNE JOE
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
WEST TYRONE

CAMPBELL GREGORY
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST LONDONDERRY

CLARKE TREVOR
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH ANTRIM

CLARKE WILLIE
SINN FÉIN
SOUTH DOWN

COCHRANE JUDITH
ALLIANCE PARTY
EAST BELFAST

COPELAND MICHAEL
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
EAST BELFAST

CRAIG JONATHAN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
LAGAN VALLEY

CREE (MBE) LESLIE
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH DOWN

DALLAT JOHN
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
EAST LONDONDERRY

DICKSON STEWART
ALLIANCE PARTY
EAST ANTRIM

DOBSON JO-ANNE
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
UPPER BANN

DOHERTY PAT
SINN FÉIN
WEST TYRONE

DOUGLAS SAMMY
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST BELFAST

DUNNE GORDON
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH DOWN

DURKAN MARK H
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
FOYLE

EASTON ALEX
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH DOWN

EASTWOOD COLUM
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
FOYLE

ELLIOTT TOM
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE

FARRY DR STEPHEN
ALLIANCE PARTY
NORTH DOWN

FLANAGAN PHIL
SINN FÉIN
FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE

FORD DAVID
ALLIANCE PARTY
SOUTH ANTRIM

FOSTER ARLENE
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE

FREW PAUL
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH ANTRIM

GARDINER SAMUEL
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
UPPER BANN

GILDERNEW MICHELLE
SINN FÉIN
FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE

GIRVAN PAUL
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH ANTRIM

GIVAN PAUL
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
LAGAN VALLEY

HALE BRENDA
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
LAGAN VALLEY

HAMILTON SIMON
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
STRANGFORD

HAY WILLIAM
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
FOYLE

HILDITCH DAVID
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST ANTRIM

HUMPHREY WILLIAM
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH BELFAST

HUSSEY ROSS
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
WEST TYRONE

IRWIN WILLIAM
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NEWRY AND ARMAGH

KELLY DOLORES
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
UPPER BANN

KELLY GERRY
SINN FÉIN
NORTH BELFAST

KENNEDY DANNY
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
NEWRY AND ARMAGH

KINAHAN DANNY
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH ANTRIM

LEWIS PAM
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH ANTRIM

LO MBE ANNA
ALLIANCE PARTY
SOUTH BELFAST

LUNN TREVOR
ALLIANCE PARTY
LAGAN VALLEY

LYNCH SEAN
SINN FÉIN
FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE

LYTTLE CHRIS
ALLIANCE PARTY
EAST BELFAST

MAGINNESS ALBAN
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
NORTH BELFAST

MASKEY ALEX
SINN FÉIN
SOUTH BELFAST

MASKEY PAUL
SINN FÉIN
WEST BELFAST

MCCALLISTER JOHN
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH DOWN

MCCANN FRA
SINN FÉIN
WEST BELFAST

MCCANN JENNIFER
SINN FÉIN
WEST BELFAST

MCCARTHY KIERAN
ALLIANCE PARTY
STRANGFORD

MCCARTNEY RAYMOND
SINN FÉIN
FOYLE

MCCAUSLAND NELSON
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH BELFAST

MCCLARTY DAVID
INDEPENDENT
EAST LONDONDERRY

MCCREA BASIL
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
LAGAN VALLEY

MCCREA IAN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
MID ULSTER

From Helen McClafferty (continued)

MCDEVITT CONALL
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
SOUTH BELFAST

MCDONNELL ALASDAIR
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
SOUTH BELFAST

MCELDUFF BARRY
SINN FÉIN
WEST TYRONE

MCGIMPSEY MICHAEL
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH BELFAST

MCGLONE PATSY
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
MID ULSTER

MCGUINNESS MARTIN
SINN FÉIN
MID ULSTER

MCILVEEN DAVID
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH ANTRIM

MCILVEEN MICHELLE
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
STRANGFORD

MCKAY DAITHÍ
SINN FÉIN
NORTH ANTRIM

MCKEVITT KAREN
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
SOUTH DOWN

MCLAUGHLIN MITCHEL
SINN FÉIN
SOUTH ANTRIM

MCMULLAN OLIVER
SINN FÉIN
EAST ANTRIM

MCNARRY DAVID
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
STRANGFORD

MCQUILLAN ADRIAN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST LONDONDERRY

MOLLOY FRANCIE
SINN FÉIN
MID ULSTER

MORROW OF CLOGHER VALLEY, THE LORD
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE

MOUTRAY STEPHEN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
UPPER BANN

MURPHY CONOR
SINN FÉIN
NEWRY AND ARMAGH

NESBITT MIKE
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
STRANGFORD

NEWTON ROBIN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST BELFAST

NÍ CHUILÍN CARÁL
SINN FÉIN
NORTH BELFAST

O'DOWD JOHN
SINN FÉIN
UPPER BANN

Ó HOISIN CATHAL
SINN FÉIN
EAST LONDONDERRY

O'NEILL MICHELLE
SINN FÉIN
MID ULSTER

OVEREND SANDRA
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
MID ULSTER

POOTS EDWIN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
LAGAN VALLEY

RAMSEY PAT
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
FOYLE

RAMSEY SUE
SINN FÉIN
WEST BELFAST

RITCHIE MARGARET
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY
SOUTH DOWN

ROBINSON GEORGE
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST LONDONDERRY

ROBINSON PETER
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST BELFAST

ROSS ALASTAIR
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST ANTRIM

RUANE CAITRÍONA
SINN FÉIN
SOUTH DOWN

SHEEHAN PAT
SINN FÉIN
WEST BELFAST

SPRATT JIMMY
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH BELFAST

STOREY MERVYN
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH ANTRIM

SWANN ROBIN
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH ANTRIM

WEIR PETER
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
NORTH DOWN

WELLS JIM
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
SOUTH DOWN

WILSON SAMMY
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY
EAST ANTRIM

From Helen McClafferty:

Please do your part in emailing the TDs in the Irish government and the MLAs asking them to apply pressure to the NIO to release Gerry McGeough immediately - no strings attached. Gerry is feeling poorly again and he is under the doctor's care right now in Maghaberry. His blood pressure has dropped to a serious low however his spirits are high. He continues to thank everyone for their continued support. His wife Maria and 4 children are also very grateful for all the kindness and generosity they have been shown by everyone. PLEASE, you were given the list of email addresses for all the TDs in the south and the same for the MLAs in the north ... please don't let the time go by. We need to get Gerry out of Maghaberry prison and home to his wife and 4 children.

Thank you.


mcclafferty



-----Original Message-----
From: Gerry Adams
To: mcclafferty32
Sent: Thu, Sep 1, 2011 5:51 am
Subject: Re: Gerry McGeough


Helen, a chara,

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding Gerry McGeough.

A Sinn Féin delegation met with Mr McGeough in Maghaberry on Tuesday 5th July. We once again reiterated to him directly our continuing support for his campaign to be released.

It is our firm view that this prosecution should not have happened. The offences for which Gerry McGeough was convicted fell under the terms os the Good Friday Agreement.

Had Gerry McGeough been imprisoned at the time of the Good Friday Agreement he would have qualified for release.

It is clear that an anomaly has arisen around some of these historical cases a fact acknowledged by the British Government some time ago along with a commitment to rectify the situation. You will not be surprised to know that they have thus far refused to honour that commitment.

Sinn Féin is also pressing the Irish Government who are co-signators to the Good Friday Agreement to honour it's obligations and to press the British on this issue.

It is Sinn Féin's belief that Gerry McGeough should be released and allowed to return to this family in County Tyrone and we have made this clear publicly and in our contacts with the British Government.

I trust you find information helpful.

Is mise le meas,

Gerry Adams TD
Sinn Féin Party President
TD for Louth & East Meath

Helen re Adams response hon I,d say all noise and no preformance, his party could /should be raising merry hell about this issue and of course the internment of Marian Price and the other pows. best regards hon keep your chin up x

From Helen McClafferty:

On July 5, 2011, Eamon O Cuiv TD, former cabinet minister in the last FF government asked two parliamentary questions about Gerry McGeough in the Dail.

1) “To ask the Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs why a prisoner (details given) who is being held in Maghaberry Prison in Lisburn, Co Antrim is not covered under the Terms of the Good Friday Agreement and will he make a statement on the matter”.

The Minister’s Reply:

“The provisions of the Good Friday Agreement relate to the release of prisoners who were convicted prior to the Agreement for offences committed prior to 1998. The provisions do not relate to people that were convicted or committed offences after that date”.

2) “To ask the Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs has he or his Department made any representation that a prisoner (details given) who is being held in Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland and who is in bad health be released on humanitarian grounds and will he make a statement on the matter”.

The Minister’s Reply:

“I am aware of the case mentioned by the Deputy. I understand that the prisoner has initiated legal proceedings seeking early release. Because this matter is before the courts it would be improper of me to say more than that my officials continue to monitor the case”.

The above questions and answers were written Parliamentary questions. All questions put to government ministers in the Irish and British parliaments, whether oral or written are logged in the parliamentary records, so now Gerry McGeough is formerly recorded in the annals of Irish history.

In writing your emails to the TDs and the MLAs please bring this matter to their attention. There is absolutely no way anyone in the Irish or British government can say they know nothing of Gerry’s case. What is most important is the fact that Gerry McGeough had not committed any offences after the Good Friday Agreement yet that was never taken into consideration in the Diplock court. Please highlight this fact when contacting the Irish and British governments.

Helen,

you are doing so well here

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