Republican Prisoner Gavin Coyle commences 72 hour hunger-strike.
This evening, Sunday 23rd March, Republican prisoner, Gavin Coyle informed staff in Maghaberry that he would be commencing a 72 hour hunger strike in protest at the continued denial by the administration in Maghaberry to house him on Roe 4. Gavin cleared his cell of all food, milk, tea, coffee, etc and informed prison staff that he would be refusing food for 72 hours in protest.
Gavin has been held on the CSU since he was remanded back in April 2011 after his request to be housed on Roe 4 was refused. Gavin was told by the administration that the reason for the refusal was that they had been informed there was a ‘Death Threat’ against him from Republicans. This threat was immediately quashed by Republicans and more importantly quashed by the Republican prisoners on Roe who demanded his transfer to Roe immediately but the prison insisted there was intelligence to support the claim and refused to move him to Roe. Soon after the real reason Gavin was being held in isolation on the CSU manifested when Gavin received a visit from MI5 who tried unsuccessfully to recruit him as an informer. Since April 2011 Gavin has been subjected to numerous recruitment attempts by MI5, facilitated by the administration of Maghaberry.
The Care & Supervision Unit (CSU) where Gavin has been held now for almost three years is more commonly known to the Prisoners as the ‘Boards’ it is basically a punishment block. It has a strict regime usually consisting of 23 hour lock up and no place for any prisoner to be held long-term indeed scientific evidence shows that prisoners held in long-term isolation commonly suffer severe damage to their mental health. It should be self-evident that whether a prisoner manifests such damage or not, the suffering that he or she endures is torturous, cruel and inhuman. Gavin Coyle’s enforced long-term isolation breaches Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Prolonged, enforced isolation is unjustifiable in any circumstances. It is unjustifiable whether it is imposed as a punishment, or for any other purpose.
Gavin Coyle is a Republican prisoner and meets the criteria required under the ‘Steele Report 2003’ to be held on the separated Republican wing and we the IRPWA, demand that Gavin Coyle is moved immediately to Roe 4 for the remainder of his sentence. The IRPWA would like to extend our support and solidarity to Gavin during his 72 hour protest.
