POWs take over landings at Maghaberry Jail
Easter Take-Over at Roe House
Republican POWs have taken over the wings Roe House 3+4 at Maghaberry Gaol today on Easter Sunday, in protest of worsening conditions at the jail.
Following Easter mass at the Chapel, 28 republican POWs returned to their landings at Roe House and barricaded themselves in the canteen. They have refused to go back to their cells. There is limited access to food and fresh water in the canteen for the present time.
Over the past seven months, conditions have radically deteriorated at Maghaberry with republican POWs being locked down up to 12 hours at a time with no access to food or fresh water. Meals have been sent into cells to be eaten inches from open toilets. Family contact has been restricted, and incidents of strip searches of family members have been reported.
News reports of a “suspicious object” being thrown in the chapel today before the takeover are unconfirmed, as all communication in and out of the jail has been shut down. A priest who came to Maghaberry following the incident was told to go home and “watch the news”.
The Irish Freedom Committee will post updates on this emergency situation as we get further news.
