Concern for Irish Prisioner

The continued refusal of the Irish Government to allow Irish prisoner Noel Maguire a native of Co-Fermanagh to be repatriated from an English prison to serve the rest of his time in an Irish prison is is totally unacceptable and must be reconsidered purely on humanitarian grounds.

All his co-accused have been repatriated as was their right under a European Directive that allows prisoners to be returned to their own country to serve their sentence.

Noel is also an Irish Citizen and has family in the 26 Counties, yet he is being denied repatriation. He has had, in essence, his rights as an Irish Citizen stripped from him, as he holds a valid Irish passport issued in Dublin.

On humanitarian grounds, we ask that the decision to refuse repatriation be reconsidered, as a knife attack on Noel last year by 2 inmates who have since been charged with attempted murder is an indication of the seriousness of his situation. Should he not be repatriated his physical and mental well being are at serious risk.

Contact Michael McDowell, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. Demand that he allow this man home so he can be reunited with his family!