NORTH OF IRELAND:
Background >>
Video / Audio >>
BASQUE COUNTRY:
News >>
Video / Audio >>
Archive >>
Prisoner's partner starts hunger strike 22.7.2011 | UTV
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Mr Lillis is in jail because his political licence was revoked two years ago, when he was re-arrested in connection with a tiger kidnapping, but authorities say he is unfit to stand trial.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."
© UTV News
Sign Petition:
Release Brendan Lillis Now! >>
Article first published by:
UTV News, 22. July 2011
Photo 1 (UTV): Protest at the site of the former Andersonstown police barracks in West Belfast to demand the immediate release of Brendan Lillis. Brendan's partner Roisin Allsopp is the second from left in the fist row. Photo 2 (UTV): Jennifer McCann was herself a political prisoner during the conflict. She is now one of the 30 Sinn Féin MLAs and whip of the Sinn Féin Assembly group. MLA:
member of the regional parlament in the North of Ireland