Prisoner’s partner starts hunger strike
The partner of a seriously ill Maghaberry prisoner says she will not give up her hunger strike until Brendan Lillis is released.
On Friday, the first day of Roisin Allsopp’s protest, the Justice Minister announced he would not allow Mr Lillis out of Maghaberry.
The 59-year-old suffers from arthritic condition ankylosing spondylitis and has been on the prison’s hospital wing for 600 days.
“I’m not surprised by David Ford’s reaction, but from a humanitarian point of view I believe he should’ve took some stance on this,” said Ms Allsopp.
“But there’s a lot of passing the buck from organisation to organisation.”
Mr Lillis is in jail because his political licence was revoked two years ago, when he was re-arrested in connection with a tiger kidnapping, but authorities say he is unfit to stand trial.
The west Belfast man was previously behind bars in the 1970s for explosives charges.
Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann visited Mr Lillis in prison to tell him David Ford’s decision.
“We told Brendan the news and he was quite saddened and very disappointed. He accepted that we were doing all we can and we’re trying to keep him in good spirits,” she said.
“Brendan Lillis is bed-ridden and in extreme pain. I’m very disappointed that the Minister has said he won’t be releasing this man.”
The Department of Justice claim Brendan Lillis’s case is still being considered by the Parole Commission
Ms Allsopp said her stance will not change until her partner is released.
“If the Parole Commission go with the Justice Minister’s decision I’m absolutely prepared to keep on protesting but they’re in talks at the moment.
“I’m not giving up.”
