Republican POW DD McLaughlin forcibly strip searched on release
As family and friends of Republican POW Damien “DD” McLaughlin eagerly awaited his release on the 23rd December, Damien was facing a final vindictive measure from the sectarian regime within Maghaberry.
As he gathered his belongings, 2 screws asked him to strip his clothes off in front of them. Damien immediately refused and the riot squad, who had been prepared nearby, rushed in to perform their final attempted humiliation with the now regular forced strip search. Damien was then forced to the ground and had his clothes wrenched off in the most brutal force imaginable.
The forced strip search is a punitive act used by the regime within Maghaberry to enable them to assault Republican POWs without fear of recourse. It is legalised corporal punishment… As the Western world decries political apartheid across the world, a blind eye is turned in their own backyard.
Ask your politicians why they are not condemning this sponsored state violence, day in, day out! Ask the media why they are not reporting it, why they are ignoring it! Strip searching was wrong in 1980. Is it now acceptable?
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