Date: Sat, 08 Mar 1997 20:04:51 +0000
From: New Worker Online <NCP-AT-geocities.com>
Subject: Small victory for Roisin




A decision by British authorities to reduce Roisin McAliskey's
security status from "High Risk" Category A to "Standard Risk"
Category A will lead to a slight improvement in her prison
regime, but has reinforced demands for bail for the Irish human
rights victim.

Her mother, prominent Republican Bernadette McAliskey, said it
was "a small step in the right direction". It was an indication
that the British did not believe her daughter was a flight risk.

"It doesn't change the real nature of the problem. If she's not
going to try and escape, she's not going to abscond, so why
doesn't she have bail," said Bernadette in a speech to a
Fuascailt public meeting in London on Friday.

Challenging the German authorities to "put their charges on the
table," she said: "What harm is it doing to anyone if a woman who
is seven months pregnant is released on bail."

Bernadette said her daughter would also be allowed into the
activity room at Holloway women's prison, where she would be
permitted to sew.

"She's now going to be allowed to sew, which is what everyone
wants to hear on the eve of international women's day,"
Bernadette said.

A fresh application for bail will be made next week following the
change, her solicitor, Ms Gareth Pierce, has announced.

Roisin, who is in frail health and heavily pregnant, will not now
be strip searched before and after each prison visit, but will
continue to be strip searched at random within the prison and
before and after court appearances.

Roisin still has no access to the pregnancy unit at London's
Holloway prison or any adequate medical care.  British
authorities will decide next week whether her baby will be taken
>from her at birth.

Campaigners expressed relief that her condition had ameliorated
on the eve of a worldwide day of action for Roisin to coincide
with International Women's Day.

While welcoming the news, Irish Labour Party representative
Declan Bree said that "justice is not being done" when a woman
who is in the final weeks of her pregnancy is being held as a
Category A prisoner.

Nuala Moore of the Irish-American Unity Conference described it
as "a small victory".

"Let's keep it up until she is released."

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