Comments on The Pensive Quill: Gerry McGeough Update: November 2011

From Helen McClafferty: Please contact Ms. Fowler...

2011-11-12T15:21:51.837Z

From Helen McClafferty:

Please contact Ms. Fowler below and advise her about Gerry's bad heart, his 3rd heart surgery a month ago and the mismanagement of medications, in addition to the filthy conditions with Maghaberry prsion, the lack of proper diet, exercise and follow-up care that is deliberately lacking in order to keep Gerry's in stable condition.

Thank you.

Helen McClafferty

-----Original Message-----
From: bbc_complaints_website
To: Helen McClafferty
Sent: Fri, Nov 11, 2011 11:49 am
Subject: Complaint – BBC News

11 November, 2011

Ms Helen McClafferty
mcclafferty32@aol.com

Dear Helen

Complaint – BBC News

I’m replying to your complaint about coverage of the case of Gerry McGeough by the BBC’s news services. You suggest that there is a “media blackout” around reporting of this case and allege that the BBC is abiding by it.

To the best of our knowledge, there are no restrictions surrounding the reporting of this case, and the BBC is certainly not operating under any form of media embargo or blackout.

BBCNI’s local news services have reported on this story on several occasions in recent months. We reported on Mr McGeough’s sentencing in April of this year and have also reported on his successful application for judicial review and his bid to obtain a Royal Prerogative of Mercy. We have not been made aware of any deterioration in Mr McGeough’s state of health.

The news stories covered by BBC news services are based on sound editorial judgements, which include an assessment of whether publication reflects new information. Should you learn of any further developments in relation to Mr McGeough's health, please feel free to contact our Fermanagh district journalist, Julian Fowler, by email at julian.fowler@bbc.co.uk.

I hope that this is useful.

Yours sincerely

Michael Cairns
Head of Newsgathering & Political Programmes – BBCNI

From Helen McClafferty: Éamon Ó Cuív, Irish TD wh...

2011-11-12T13:43:57.183Z

From Helen McClafferty:

Éamon Ó Cuív, Irish TD who recently visited Gerry McGeough in Maghaberry Prison. He is now going to play a leading role in the campaign to free Gerry McGeough Radio Free Eireann will be broadcast on Saturday November 12 at 1pm New York time (6pm Irish time) on WBAI 99.5 FM and wbai.org. Try to catch the show for his interview today.

From Helen McClafferty November 7, 2011. Mr. ...

2011-11-07T22:02:34.464Z

From Helen McClafferty

November 7, 2011.

Mr. O’Cuiv is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and the grandson of Fianna Fáil founder, first Taoiseach and third President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera. Eamon met with Gerry McGeough today in Maghaberry Prison after 4 months of being denied a visit by the Prison Authorities. Hours before Mr. O’Cuiv’s visit, Gerry McGeough was informed that his judicial review hearing, which was postponed last week by the NIO until mid-February, has now been rescheduled to take place on December 1st. The NIO has also just agreed to grant Gerry his Appeal hearing next week.

According to Gerry, they had a very productive meeting/visit and they discussed the protests, the horrible conditions within Maghaberry prison and the current political state of affairs in Ireland and the UK.

Gerry and The Free Gerry McGeough Campaign is thrilled to share this good news with all of his supporters and would like to thank Mr. O’Cuiv for his courage to head up this International campaign.

Gerry is asking that everyone support Mr. O'Cuiv's efforts in obtaining his release.

November 3, 2011 AN OPEN LETTER TO GERRY ADAMS: R...

2011-11-05T15:20:50.870Z

November 3, 2011

AN OPEN LETTER TO GERRY ADAMS: RE: GERRY MCGEOUGH

Gerry, a chara,

As you read this letter, Gerry McGeough sits in a prison cell in Maghaberry Jail for being a member of the IRA in the 1970's. Recently Gerry was taken to an external hospital to have another stint put in his heart. The doctors told him that his condition has deteriorated rapidly due to lack of exercise and poor nutrition i.e the dire conditions in Maghaberry Jail.

In light of our recent pledge at the Ard Féis to support Gerry's release, on behalf of the Benny Connolly Cumann (Walkinstown) i would like to ask you: What has Sinn Féin done since the Ard Féis? What do Sinn Féin intend to do? Will Sinn Féin co-operate with Gerry McGeough's legal team? and Who in Sinn Féin is responsible for Gerry's safety?

I trust that you will give this matter the attention it deserves. Sinn Féin members throughout the country are greatly disturbed by this case and we do look forward to your response.

Best wishes - Brian Halpin,
Benny Connolly Cumann,
Walkinstown Sinn Féin.

If anything happens this man I wonder will the LVF...

2011-11-04T22:24:59.162Z

If anything happens this man I wonder will the LVF be resurected to coveniently take the blame...AGAIN.

Please follow the Pat Finucane center's instru...

2011-11-04T19:57:16.638Z

Please follow the Pat Finucane center's instructions below and make those contacts. Peter Corrigan is a decent family man, a good attorney and he is being deliberately harassed by the PSNI. Peter was successful in winning Gerry McGeough his right to a judicial review back in September 2011. The review date was set for 12/15/11. Now postponed by the NIO until 2/14/11? In the interim Peter has now been arrested by the PSNI. What next...imprison all the attorneys who represent Irish republicans? The situation over there is getting 'way out of hand' again and the RUC/PSNI has not changed its stripes. They are evil and will always be the 'B Specials' no matter what new name they call themselves.

Please do everything in your power to look into this personal attack on Peter Corrigan, esq. And follow the lead of the Pat Finucane Center. We must get justice for all those who are being politically targeted by the PSNI and that includes the Boston College IRAhistory tapes fiasco in the USA as well.

Thank you
Helen McClafferty

See below

From:
Pat Finucane Centre

To:
PFCNEWS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU

Subject:
PSNI & Peter Corrigan

Date:
Thu, 3 Nov 2011 14:38:27 -0000

Peter Corrigan

The PFC is seriously concerned at reports the PSNI intended to question leading human rights lawyer Peter Corrigan of Kevin Winters & Co but then 'rescheduled' the interview following protests.

In general human rights defenders play an important role in upholding the rule of law and there have been significant concerns in the past regarding intimidation and harassment of lawyers in Northern Ireland. It is wrong and dangerous to identify lawyers with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their professional duties as legal representatives.

In this instance we are especially concerned about the circumstances of this proposed arrest just a few days before Mr Corrigan is due to lead the defence of one of the accused at one of the most high profile murder trials of recent times.

RFJ issued the following action alert which we would endorse

As an urgent alert we are urging people to contact Secretary of State Owen Paterson and PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott

paterson@parliament.uk or his NIO address sos@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk - PSNI CC Matt Baggott c/o comsec1@psni.pnn.police.uk

PFC 67 Upper English St, Armagh BT61 7LA Tel 02837 515191 email armagh@patfinucanecentre.org PFC Derry office-Unit B8 Rath Mor Centre, Blighs Lane, Derry, BT48 0LZ see regular updates on PFC website at www.patfinucanecentre.org email info@patfinucanecentre.org - follow the Pat Finucane centre on Facebook

Fionnuala Totally agree. After all is said and don...

2011-11-04T16:37:23.710Z

Fionnuala
Totally agree. After all is said and done people feel all they can do is get on as best they can with their lives. SF turned out to be social climbers with bombs for others to throw.
There are some awful cases of pointless harrassment and persecution but people are anethsetised to an extent.

Helen, there are a lot of people who care very de...

2011-11-04T12:31:58.255Z

Helen,
there are a lot of people who care very deeply about this time of injustice.
Marian Price, Martin Corry and a whole host of other prisoners are enduring this injustice also.
What has happened to Gerry and his family is despicable there is no doubt about that.
However, I don't think it is a case of people being deliberately inactive, more like peeople feeling lost and more than a bit apathetic.
People seem to have lost their belief in their ability to render any serious justice from a system built on injustice.
People have had to sit and watch those who promised so much deliver nothing.
People are more than a little bit lost here but it does not mean they don't care.