Post by Papa C. on Jan 18, 2008 11:38:51 GMT
When is an Irish citizen not an Irish citizen?
With reference to Rob Connell's letter (IRISH WORLD Nov. 10) re the
non-implementation of a European Union directive allowing prisoners to serve
their sentence in 'country of origin.' - 14/11/07
The Irish prisoner Noel Maguire comes into this category. Mr Maguire is
serving a prison sentence in HMP Full Sutton, York. He was born in Co
Fermanagh in the North of Ireland but holds a valid Irish passport issued to
him when he lived and worked in Carlow, and where his wife and two children
still reside.
To date, he has made four separate applications for repatriation to a prison
in the South of Ireland so as to be nearer his family. On each occasion he
has been refused - despite the fact he has suffered an attack by other
inmates at Full Sutton prison - and believes his life is still in danger.
When he queried these refusals he was informed by TD Brian Lenihan, Minister
for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that "on balance he has closer ties to
the United Kingdom than to an Irish jurisdiction!" Any right-thinking person
would agree that there can be no closer ties than with one's own family -
and in Noel Maguire's case his family live in Carlow.
Although the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced
Persons does not confer an obligation on any member state to comply with a
repatriation request, but refusing it surely must fly in the face of the
spirit of the said legislation.
Could the fact Mr Maguire was born in the North of Ireland have any bearing
on his applications for transfer being repeatedly refused? Doesn't the fact
he holds an Irish passport make him an Irish citizen and entitlement to
serve his sentence in country of origin?
Exactly when is an Irish citizen NOT an Irish citizen?
Terry Gavin
Irish Political Status Committee London.
With reference to Rob Connell's letter (IRISH WORLD Nov. 10) re the
non-implementation of a European Union directive allowing prisoners to serve
their sentence in 'country of origin.' - 14/11/07
The Irish prisoner Noel Maguire comes into this category. Mr Maguire is
serving a prison sentence in HMP Full Sutton, York. He was born in Co
Fermanagh in the North of Ireland but holds a valid Irish passport issued to
him when he lived and worked in Carlow, and where his wife and two children
still reside.
To date, he has made four separate applications for repatriation to a prison
in the South of Ireland so as to be nearer his family. On each occasion he
has been refused - despite the fact he has suffered an attack by other
inmates at Full Sutton prison - and believes his life is still in danger.
When he queried these refusals he was informed by TD Brian Lenihan, Minister
for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that "on balance he has closer ties to
the United Kingdom than to an Irish jurisdiction!" Any right-thinking person
would agree that there can be no closer ties than with one's own family -
and in Noel Maguire's case his family live in Carlow.
Although the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced
Persons does not confer an obligation on any member state to comply with a
repatriation request, but refusing it surely must fly in the face of the
spirit of the said legislation.
Could the fact Mr Maguire was born in the North of Ireland have any bearing
on his applications for transfer being repeatedly refused? Doesn't the fact
he holds an Irish passport make him an Irish citizen and entitlement to
serve his sentence in country of origin?
Exactly when is an Irish citizen NOT an Irish citizen?
Terry Gavin
Irish Political Status Committee London.
