Report on Republican Prisoners in English Jails

Whitemoor

There are seven Republican Prisoners in Whitemoor. Two of these are into their twenty first year of imprisonment. They are held in different blocks throughout the prison. The regime in Whitemoor is one of the most severe in Britain. The prison has a large population of drug pushers and sex offenders. According to the Republicans there, they are subjected to more drug tests and searches than the well-known drug pushers in the prison. Republican visitors are also are also subject to special harassment, being delayed more than others and subject to greater searching. The Category A visiting area has less amenities than other areas. There are cameras on the visits and large numbers of screws. The governor has informed four of the men that they may expect a move back to Frankland in September. This move was due to take place in May. This would mean an improvement for thesemen.

Sean McNulty, who is serving a twenty five year sentence, was originally held in Whitemoor and suffered a nervous breakdown. After a long campaign by his family, friends and the Dublin Government Dept. of Foreign Affairs he was moved to Frankland near where members of his family. While in Frankland his condition began to improve. Then, along with the other Category A prisoners he was moved back to Whitemoor which is several hundred miles away. Since this move his condition has again deteriorated. Sean is one of the few Republicans who may have a strong case for review of his conviction based on the recently publicised contamination of the British forensic science laboratory.