Republican prisoners have been informed by the draconian administration in Maghaberry Gaol that books are no longer permitted to be brought into the prison by visitors.
The reasons provided for this prohibition are entirely irrelevant to Republican prisoners. The media recently reported that a senior prison officer had been suspended for smuggling drugs into the gaol. This came as no surprise to many, as it is common knowledge that prison officers smuggle drugs on behalf of gangsters from their own communities. These drugs are then distributed to vulnerable prisoners—many of whom struggle with addiction—leading to spiraling debt and severe mental health problems, which the prison officers exploit for their own gain.
In a bizarre attempt to distract attention from the real issue of drug dealing by their own officers, the administration has sought to deflect blame onto Republican prisoners by imposing an embargo on literacy materials.
This regressive step should not be viewed in isolation. Newspapers, which were once delivered daily, have been restricted for the past two years. Visitors are now permitted to leave only one newspaper per visit, which then takes weeks to reach the Republican landing. The most recent ban on reading materials will severely impact Republican prisoners who rely on books for studying the Irish language and for pursuing degrees. Their ability to conduct independent research is already restricted due to the lack of internet access.
In 2020, a Republican prisoner won a judicial review against the prison’s refusal to allow library access for Republican prisoners. Yet, despite almost five years having passed, no provisions have been made to implement this ruling, further restricting the fundamental right to education.
It has been widely acknowledged by many past and present governors that the Republican landing in Roe House is a drug-free zone. However, Republican prisoners are now collateral damage due to Maghaberry’s administration’s failure to control drug dealing by their own officers, such as Martin, Gallagher, and, more recently, McKee.
We demand that the right of our visitors to bring reading materials into the gaol be reinstated and that this regressive measure—borne out of the administration’s own failures—be immediately retracted.
Republican Prisoners
Maghaberry Gaol
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