“Fir na Pluide: i ndiaidh do Rialtas na Breataine stadás polaitiúil a tharraingt siar i 1976 mar chuid dá straitéis le Cuma coirpeach a chur ar an streachailt poblachtach. Dhiúltaigh cimí poblachtacha cloí de rialacha príosiún, a chur iallach orthu obair phríosúin a dhéaneamh agus éide phríosúin a chaitheamh. Ar an ábhar sin, séanach éadach ar bith ar na cimí diomaite de phluid agus diútaíodh cead dul amach as a gcilliní nó caidreamh a dhéanamh le cimí eile. Ó 1978-1981 b’éigean daofa gabhal ar stailc folchta agus mar gheall air sin séanadh aiseanna folctha agus leithreas orthu. D’fhulaing siad córas millteanach brúidiulachta a mhair ó 1976-1981 a raibh d’aidhm aige toil na gcimí – cimí óga a bhformhór – a chloí. D’fhag an tréimhse brúidiúil sin a lorg ar chuid mhaith de na cimí agus bíonn an tráma acu go fóill.”
“The Blanket Men: When political status was withdrawn by the British Government in 1976 as part of their strategy to criminalise the republican struggle, Republican prisoners refused to conform with prison rules which demanded that they wear prison uniform and carry out prison work. They were denied any clothing with the exception of a blanket and denied exercise or to associate with any other prisoners. From 1978-1981 prisoners were forced onto a no wash protest, as a result of which they were denied washing and toilet facilities. They were subjected to a regime of brutality that lasted from 1976-1981 aimed at forcing the mainly young protesters to confirm [sic] with prison rules. Many of the prisoners were scarred and brutalised by their experiences and live with the trauma of that time.”
Clowney Street, above the Phoenix.
M04943 M04941 [M04942]
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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