ARMAGH prison in the North of Ireland is rapidl becoming the most famous, or rather the whos infamous, womeu's prison in the was a year agog International Women's Day, that a peaceful picket outside prison was savagely attacked by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Eleven women protesters were arrested.
The case of the Armagh 11 highlighted the brutality "security forces', but also. attention to the situation Armagh itself where 33 Republican prisoners have been receiving the full force of British justice because of their demands for political status.
Clothes Unlike their comrades in the H blocks of Long Kesh, the women are allowed to wear their own clothes as are all women prisoners in British jails - but other facilities are denied. Until recently the women have been locked in their prison cells 21 hours a day. This has now been increased to But the most horrifying example of the new harassment came on February this year when warders attacked the Republicans. Subsequently a number of prisoners were dragged before the governor. Now all the prisoners are being denied washing and toilet facilities.
A number of statements smuggled out Armagh describe happened on 7 February and why supporters of the prisoners are calling for the largest possible support for the Women's outside the prison on 8 March Republican •prisone.
Morgan relates her experience:
I was sitting in my cell when the door burst open and three male screws, with riot gear, came charging in.
'One of them jumped on top of me and kept punching me on the arms and chest while the others legs. Then the two holding my legs swung them round so / was lying flat on the bed.
'One sat on my legs and another on my chest; the other put his hand Socialist Challenge : 6 March 1980 the of the EILEEN MORGAN drew could hardly breathe.
out of the cell into the wing. this.
the adjudication the 40 male on the backside.
Callaghan, degrading treatment:
Numerous me down to Day picket with shields.
Thumped Eileen held my were dragged S my ordeal. Y thumped, kicked.
both mi screws Was exposed.
over my nose and mouth so that I Then three more male screws came in and four female screws. They lifted me off the bed and carried me My arms were twisted behind my back and my legs were held spread. eagled in the air; which is how they carried me down the stairs. One of the male screws kept kicking me, while their one female screw had me by the hair.
I was brought to the governor like When the governor had finished male screws grabbed me again and threw me into a cell head first. One of them kicked me I was left lying in the cell with nothing but a smelly mattress and was refused permission to use the toilet.
prisoner, Rosemary suffered even more male and female screws invaded my cell in order to get the governor. They charged in with full riot gear equipped I sat unprotected but was aware of what was going to happen as I had heard my comrade screaming in pain. still I was suddenly pinned to the bed by a shield and the weight of a male screw on top of me. Then my shoes off my feet. There followed so much confusion that it is really nard to describe the full exten was bodily assaulted make trailed and brutally Twas then trailed out of my cell and caring the course of my being dragged and hauled from the wit breasts were exposed to jeering and mocking eyes or me male and female must have been about 20 of them.
While being curied La me was totally embarassi and degrading.
eventually carried RUTCEROR breasts While ? was held by adjudication, I was then traded back and thrown into scell." - It is in priest against treatment, and support of the for political status, that a delegal of women from Britain will be alading the Armagh picket on 8 Marr!
Originally the women's committee of the National Union of Students was organising the delegation. But last week the NUS executive removed the details of the Armagh picket from women's mailing censorship follows the recent decision of the NUS executive to call off a demonstration against the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
ROSEMARY CALLAGHAN But plans for the delegation are proceeding and individual members of the women's committee are still going to Armagh. Anyone wishing to go should phone Socialist Challenge for details on 01-359 8189 Any group of women who plan to their own way to Armagn should phone Sue in 40465, after бpm. There EILIS O'CONNOR -such This SINEAD MOORE DOLORES O'NEILL