What so persuaded Paul Abels was the shock of seeing conditions GENe North Ireland, talking to prisoners' relatives, and standing outside Long Kesh and Armagh with the guns of the British Army trainea on mm. ne summca up his experience this way depression: about the place. Economic depression, as as psychological depresșion.' 'But in the midst of that never nave i experienced the strength of character and will I experienced in the prisoners' familes. Thev have a sense of commitment which needs to be held up to the world for inspiration.
Paul was parl of a six-person delegation of US clergy who had flown to Ireland with the intention of visiting Long Kesh and Armagh. The best known was Daniel Berrigan, a carolc pnest wno played a leading part in the movement against the war in Vietnam.
was given coverage in the Irish media. There were front headlines, telvision coverage. and radio interviews.
Silent But the British press remained silent.
As Paul says. the whole H Block issue is a subject of great pain to the establishment'.
So it was not suprising when the delegation's request to go inside Long Kesh and Armagh was refused. Daniel Berrigan Clergy are supposed to ¡ave access to prisons, so clearly meeting of the Women's Right to Choose group in Dublin last month