Letter From Irish Republican Socialist Party ============================= > 17 February 2001 > > Martin Narey, Director General of Prisons; > Bill Bade, Directorate of High Security Prisons; and > Peter Atherton, Director of High Security Prisons; > Prison Service Headquarters > Cleland House, Page Street > London SWT 4LN > England > > Sirs: > > It is our understanding Mark Barnsley was put in segregation at HMP > Frankland in Durham on January 17th, for seemingly no justifiable reason. > Along with two other prisoners, Mark was simply taken off the wing and put > in segregation, under the good order and discipline rule. It has been > reported to us that he was accused of "fomenting unrest on the wing," > though it is unclear what this was meant to include. Our understanding is > that the prison has yet to cite a single incident that might support this > allegation. > > Then we understand he was moved to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire on > February 1st, again without advance notice or seeming cause. This is the > twentieth prison that Mark Barnsley has been held in since being originally > incarcerated. This constant movement through the prison system seems to > serve no purpose other than unjustified harassment. To make matters worse, > we understand that after being transferred to HMP Wakefield, Mark was then > held in segregation an additional two weeks in a cell the temperature of > which dropped below freezing most nights. After initially being offered the > opportunity to leave segregation, we understand that you sought to put him > in a cell that was filled with sentenced sex offenders, an option which not > surprisingly he declined, causing him to remain in segregation. > > We are further at a loss to understand what possible justification can be > given for the prison administration to allow Mark all of his mail. > > The Irish Republican Socialist Party's International Department believes > this continued harassment represents little more than a vendetta, aimed at > Mark Barnsley for political reasons and having nothing to do with > legitimate security concerns, disruptive behavior, or anything of the kind. > We call upon you to cease this outrageous mistreatment and move Mark > Barnsley to another a prison near where he has family immediately, such as > HMP Garth in Lancashire. > > The entire course of Mark Barnsley's experience as a prisoner of the > British State exposes that prison system as vicious, draconian, and > contemptuous of the human rights of its prisoners. Once again, Britain > stands shamed around the world for its treatment of political prisoners--or > would be if those administering the prison system had any honour in the > first place and were therefore capable of being moved by shame. The case of > Mark Barnsley is an unbelievable outrage and this continued harassment must > end. > > We demand that you transfer Mark Barnsley to a more appropriate prison, > near his family, and that you put an end to this continued harassment. > > Is mise, > > Peter Urban > North American Coordinator > Irish Republican Socialist Party >
