LITHUANIA - IRISH FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPOND OVER DETAINED IRISHMAN
The Irish government has responded to concerns expressed by the Celtic League about the treatment of Irishman, Michael Campbell, held in a prison in Lithuania.
Astonishingly, the Foreign Affairs Ministry remark that Mr Campbell is not being treated any "less favourably than Lithuanian prisoners".
However, as the Celtic League have stressed in correspondence to both the Irish and Lithuanian governments, prison conditions in that country do not meet Council of Europe Standards on the treatment of detained persons. The most recent CPT report stresses the unacceptable levels of violence in the Lithuanian prison system. Police procedures and detention facility in Lithuania also come in for strong criticism.
In the circumstances the comments of the Department of Foreign Affairs would appear to be both imprudent and ill-informed (see below):
"28 November 2008
Our Ref: AI080246
Dear Mr. Tal-e-bot,
Thank you for your letter of 18 November regarding Mr Michael Campbell. The Minister has asked me to respond on his behalf.
The Embassy of Ireland in Vilnius has, since his arrest, provided Mr Campbell with consular assistance, including regular visits in prison. Mr Campbell last received a consular visit on 2 October. There has also been contact with Mr Campbell's family regarding his case and, as appropriate, with the relevant Lithuanian authorities. We have no reason to believe that Mr Campbell is being treated less favourably than Lithuanian prisoners in pre-trial detention.
The Embassy will continue to follow-up in an appropriate manner any requests for consular assistance which may be made by Mr Campbell during his detention in the Lithuanian prison system.
Yours sincerely,
Sinéad Ryan Private Secretary
PP Bryan Cahill"
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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 28/11/08
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