Maura is the mother McKearney, of the prisoners in the H Blocks of Long Kesh in the North of Ireland who started their hunger strike for political status on Monday.
When Maura was asked at the press conference whether she was willing to 'appeal to your son to stop this action', she made clear that the only call she was going to make would be to the British government.
A statement from her and relatives of the other obstinacy of the British authorities in Ireland' for the hunger strike.
It continued: solved. All that is required is for the British government to end its stupid and illogical attitude.' Maura was speaking in London the day after the streets of Belfast had echoed to the chants of the largest demonstration seen so far on the issue of the Irish political prisoners.
The organisers of the demonstration, the National H Block Committee, estimated that 25,000 took part in the show of solidarity with the hunger strikers — underlining the massive popular feeling that is building up behind the hunger strikers in Ireland.
Stunts The large turn-out also showed that few in Ireland were fooled by the propaganda stunt announced by the Tory Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Humphrey Atkins, days before the start of the hunger strike.
This allowed all male north of to clothing' This offer was described by the National H Block Committee as 'a calculated and callous deceit'. It did not even meet the first demand of the prisoners — to be allowed to wear their own clothes.
All that was on offer was a change to a more 'civilian style' uniform and possibly a more extensive choice of shirts.
The reaction of the prisoners to this 'concession' was furious. decision to go on hunger strike a statement of Tommy seven political blamed 'the "The hunger strike can be widespread four prisoners in the 'civilian-style using in London.
AS Reaffirming the smuggled out of the H Blocks the following day declared:
It is quite clear that the British are engaged in a cruel piece of teasing, and, to defuse the momentum of growing support for the Blanketmen, hopes to criticism from concerned Irish people, and give an erroneous impression that it is taking positive steps to solve the problem.
'It knows that the resolution of certain issues will end the H Block crisis, but it continues to avoid them. and to us it remains suspect. It is more concerned with the loss of British face than with the loss of Irish lives.' Neither the Atkins 'confidence trick', as the National H Block committee described 'concession' nor DAN previous weekend on organisers for the committee in West Belfast's Twinbrook estate, have shaken the resolve of either the prisoners or their supporters.
On the contrary the SAS attack on two when a zu-strong gang wide variety of non-regulation firearms and sitage- nammers. spread variety of terror, once again emphasised who the real terrorists are prisoners, but the British Army and the bosses hunger strike proceeds all the evidence is that tens of thousands of people in Ireland will now willingly confront that army and its backers with more determination than at any time in the past ten years. deflect the Socialist outside Rochester Road police station protesting against arrests under the PTA.
Sinn Fein and Women Against Imperialism, gave ar account of the physical and sexual abuse to which women are subjected at Castlereagh detention centre.