SINN FEIN has renewed its call for the repatriation of 33 republican prisoners in English jails almost a year after the Dail ratified European legislation allowing for their transfer.
Only two republican prisoners had been transferred to Irish jails since the implementation of the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners, a party spokesman, Mr Michael Browne, said at a press conference yesterday.
A Sinn Fein statement said: "If nothing else, the repatriations of Patrick Kelly and Brendan Dowd have demonstrated that, when the political will exists, moving Irish prisoners from jails in England to those in Ireland is a straightforward procedure.
"It is now time for the British government to extend its own policy position of housing prisoners in jails as close to home as possible to all Irish political prisoners.
Mr Browne claimed that prior to November 1st, 1995, the British government had told relatives of republican prisoners that the only block to repatriation was the absence of Irish legislation allowing for the implementation of the European convention. However, in the past 12 months, only two republican prisoners had been transferred.
Patrick Kelly was seriously ill when the decision to move him to Portlaoise Prison had been taken, while Brendan Dowd had already served 21 years in English jails when he was transferred.
At present, 33 republican prisoners were being held in English jails, six of whom were into their 22nd year of imprisonment, while a further 17 were confined to special security units at Belmarsh Prison. One prisoner, Patrick McGlynn, was said to be very seriously ill.
Mr Browne said it was clear that republican prisoners were being singled out by the British Home Office for particularly harsh treatment.
However, he alleged that there had been a notable worsening of conditions for Irish prisoners in October, 1994, just one month after the IRA had announced its ceasefire.
A Dublin woman, Mrs Margaret Doherty, whose son Derek (23) is serving a 25 year sentence in Full Sutton Prison in Yorkshire, said that he had only received one visit so far this year. His 15 year old brother and eight year old sister had not visited him since he was jailed three years ago for conspiracy to cause explosions in the London area.
"I would not go over without having £500, because I could get there and find he has been moved to another prison. His daddy is not working, so it's very difficult for us", said Mrs Doherty.