ENGLAND: MAGUIRE - CONCERN OVER FURTHER DELAY IN PRISONER TRANSFER

Rapport publié le 22/04/09 1:42 dans Justice et injustices par Cathal Ó Luain pour Cathal Ó Luain

Noel Maguire (above) has had his application for prison transfer 'mislaid'

The Celtic League has once again expressed concern about prevarication by United Kingdom and Irish authorities in facilitating the transfer of republican prisoner Noel Maguire from the UK to Ireland. The League General Secretary is asking UK authorities why paperwork germane to the transfer was apparently `mislaid'

«Parliamentary, Correspondence and Briefing Unit (Prison Transfers) HM Prison Service Headquarters Cleland House Page Street London, SW1P 4LN

13/04/09

Dear Sir/Madam

Noel Maguire application for prison transfer

I am writing to you about the application for transfer of prisoner Noel Francis Maguire (FF9197), who is being held in Whitemoor Prison, Cambs, England.

The Celtic League has been informed that Mr Maguire's application for prison transfer to Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim was not forwarded to the Home Office for consideration at the time he made the application in November 2008, even though he had been informed by staff at Whitemoor Prison that it had been sent.

We are therefore concerned that Mr Maguire's prison transfer application will now be unduly delayed and that he may not even be considered for transfer this year. We are aware that part of the reason why Mr Maguire initially requested a transfer to Maghaberry Prison was to be closer to his immediate family, who live in Carlow in the Republic of Ireland (RoI), after his numerous requests for transfer to the RoI had been turned down by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Ireland.

The Celtic League has reason to believe that the current delay, in addition to the previous prison transfer application refusals, is taking its toll on Mr Maguire's wellbeing.

We would therefore like your assurances that Mr Maguire's current prison transfer application will receive the immediate attention of the Home Office and for an internal investigation to be undertaken to ascertain what happened to Mr Maguire's prison transfer application to Maghaberry Prison, after he submitted it in November 2008.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

Rt; Hon. David George Hanson, Minister of State for Justice (UK) Governor Steve Rodford, HMP Whitemoor Noel Maguire, HMP Whitemoor Minister Dermot Ahern, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (RoI) Minister Micheál Martin, Department of Foreign Affairs (RoI)»