THE British government has defended the decision to move Ms Roisin McAliskey to Belmarsh Prison. It also denied her solicitor's suggestion that conditions at the all male, high security prison were "disgusting".
Ms McAliskey, who is pregnant, was denied bail yesterday when she appeared in a London court con an extradition warrant hearing. She is wanted by German authorities for questioning in connection with the IRA bombing of a British army base at Osnabruck in June.
German authorities allege Ms McAliskey was part of a five member IRA gang which launched three mortar bombs at the Osnabruck barracks. No one was injured in the attack. If extradited she will face charges of attempted murder and explosives offences.
Outside Bow Street Magistrates' Court, her solicitor, Ms Gareth Peirce, warned that if Ms McAliskey remained at Belmarsh the "consequences may be fatal" and indicated she would initiate a judicial review to appeal against the refusal to grant bail.
It is understood an Irish Embassy official visited Ms "McAliskey at the prison yesterday afternoon. Commenting on the conditions under which she is reportedly held, a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night: "We have followed her case closely since her arrest and we are aware of concerns that have been expressed.
"The Embassy in London has made a number of representations to the British authorities on humanitarian grounds, and this afternoon an officer of the Embassy has paid a consular visit to Ms McAliskey, which will obviously give us an opportunity to assess her situation, and if necessary the Embassy will make further representations to the British authorities."
Ms McAliskey (25), who is 4 1/2 months' pregnant, is the only female prisoner to be transferred to top security Belmarsh jail. However, a Home Office spokeswoman insisted the facilities were not "inappropriate".
"The decision to move this prisoner was taken at the highest level and would have been based on her existing medical condition and for security reasons. She is being held in a discreet, self contained unit and is receiving regular medical attention. We do not accept this is inappropriate," she said.
After the court hearing, her mother, Ms Bernadette McAliskey, said she had been informed that she could not visit her daughter in Belmarsh.
"Roisin is not allowed to have any visits, while the men see their visitors. But that is the only time for visitors. I fail to be surprised by the racism and the inhumanity of the British state," she said.
During the hour long bail hearing, Ms Peirce described the conditions at Belmarsh Prison as "constituting the highest possible form of medical negligence" and said there were no facilities to deal with a pregnant woman.
Ms Peirce reminded the court a police doctor had insisted a week ago that it was "imperative" her client had access to proper obstetric facilities because of "serious complications" with her pregnancy.
Looking pale and drawn Ms McAliskey, a community worker from Coalisland, Co Tyrone, was escorted to the dock by three prison officers and did not speak in court. Her mother, the former Mid Ulster MP, sat in the public gallery with several friends.
Ms Peirce told the court Ms McAliskey is being held in an isolated "caged unit" at the end of a block holding 70 male prisoners. "She was made to clean the cell herself, and the conditions were so disgusting that I won't detail them here," Ms Peirce said.
After stating that Ms McAliskey was also an asthmatic and had a disability which meant her joints seize up through lack of exercise, Ms Peirce added: "When she is allowed to exercise she is subjected to humiliating and degrading comments from the male prisoners. This is the worst possible situation anybody could be in.
Describing her client as a high achiever with an "impressive character record", Ms Peirce told the court that £300,000 in sureties had been raised by Ms McAliskey's local community and her supporters.
Although Ms Peirce acknowledged the charges against Ms McAliskey were serious, she said the evidence was of the "weakest kind" and would not be accepted by a British court. She also cited three other extradition cases where the suspects faced similar charges and had been granted bail.
Ms Aruinder Sambei, representing the German government, told the court that Ms McAliskey's fingerprints were found on a piece of "wrapping" at a rented house near the army base, where it is believed the mortars were made, and that witnesses had identified her from a photograph.
"Even on summary evidence it is a strong case, and if Ms McAliskey is convicted she will face a long prison sentence. She is a high risk prisoner, and if bail is granted the sureties may not be enough to prevent this fugitive from escaping this jurisdiction," she added.
The magistrate, Mr Ronald Bartle, refused the application for bail and remanded Ms McAliskey to Belmarsh Prison until December 13th when the German authorities will have completed all the necessary paperwork.