Unworthy of a civilised society: Cardinal Hume daughter of Bernadette McAliskey has been held in custody since November 20 1996 on suspicion of involvement in the Osnabruck barrack bombings. On January 3,1997 she was again remanded in custody.
Roisin is five months pregnant and is suffering from a chronic aschmatic condition as well as serious complications of a digestive and muscular nature related to the pres nancy. Her health has deteriorated Toy wne ereion DeCaus of her treatment by the British authorities. Both police and prison pregnancy is at risk.
Juring Roisin's imprisonment she has been treated in ways that would create hardship to anyone let alone a woman with a difficult pregnancy.
Notorious
Following her arrest she was Interrogation Centre and subjected to intense questioning for 15 hours per day. She suffered from sieep deprivation and her family doctor and relatives were denied access. Afcer six days of interrogation by the Royal Uister Constabulary no charges were brought.
On November 25 the German authorities issued an extradition warrant. The RUC denied the existence of this warrant for more than 24 hours and continued to question Roisin illegally. On November 26 she was transferred to London and her solicitor and family were only notified afterwards.
A prison doctor examined Ms Moviskey a chang cros porce station and advised she should be transferred to an obstetric facility. Instead she was taken to Bow Street Magistrates' Court and then prison. She was placed in solitary A pre-arranged family visit at the police station had been cancelled and no provision was made for a visit at the court. Her father and sisber 28 -her first for over a week. Her partner Sean, however, was denied access on the basis that he was not a family member On November 30 immedutely after a visit from her partner, Roisin was transferred without warning to Belmarsh prison - an all-male Dison wit no c s tor wo prisoners. She remained in solitary confinement in a filthy cell with no n no cocor wee not informed of the transfer for two days.
On December 2 she was again seen by a prison doctor who was seriously concerned by her condition. He stated that she had no nutritional reserves to sustain the pregnancy. She required full-time mecasuseyson The following day Ms MAliskey was violently ill while being taken to court in a prison van. Despite this an application for bail on medical ane numansanan sroonds vas on fused and she was returned to Belmarsh.
She had been given nothing to eat all that day and had no food or drink until 6.30am the following morning. During the early hours of ne mo n t savere stoi ach cramps and activated the panic button in her cell which met with no response for over an hour.
On December S Eamon O Cuiv, was denied access to Roisin for a pre-arranged visit. Her mother and partner were also denied access. Later that day she was taken to a nosoe wee en orn was confirmed and then transferred back to Holloway. Officials there were not expecting her and her possessions were still at Belarsh Doctor A family visit was eventually permitted on December 6 and an independent doctor examineo ner ano recommended a proper hospital exmained at Holloway where she is subject to regular strip searches.
She was again retuseo ball of December 13, despite a doctor's reshe was in an advanced state of starvation and sureties of (200,000. At court appearances on December 20 and January 3 she was again remanded. Roisin remains in custody rest. Loud protests are needed Contact: Roisin McAliskey Justice Group, Conway Mill, 5-7 Conway street, Belfast, BTI3 2DE Tel/Fax 01232 238524