IRA man on hunger strike in Portlaoise

Convicted IRA prisoner starts hunger strike

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 8:36 AM

Updated Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 9:04 AM

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Convicted IRA prisoner on hunger strike

A man convicted of IRA membership is on hunger strike in a Portlaoise prison this week, the Irish Special Criminal Court was told on Tuesday.

Barry O'Brien, 38, a father of three from Dundalk, County Louth, was convicted in 2010 of IRA membership - an offense in Ireland.

The court was scheduled to sentence O'Brien on Tuesday, but this was halted when the prosecuting counsel Gerard Clarke told the court that O'Brien was not present.

Clarke said he had received a medical report that said that O'Brien was not well enough to attend the court sentencing. "I am told he is apparently on hunger strike," Clarke announced.

Justice Paul Butler, the presiding judge, observed that at a recent court appearance O'Brien had looked poorly. The court then remanded O’ Brien until February 15 for sentencing.

During O'Brien's three-day trial in 2010, chief superintendent Patrick Magee said in evidence that he strongly believed O'Brien was an IRA member.

Irish police force forensic witnesses also told the court they found O'Brien's fingerprints on items seized from a car in Dublin in 2003, in which firearms were also discovered.

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Searlit | Feb 03, 2011, 10:27 AM EST

I'd just like, for once, to hear what the dissidents have to say. If someone is so desperate as to take up arms or go on hunger strike. Doesn't the public have the right to hear what is going on? All the public gets to hear is the sound bite about the arrest. Now, there's a mention of the man being on a hunger strike, but nothing else. With Ireland's history, I think the public has a right to know. That's all! I know the IRA laid down their arms. It happened the day I was leaving Ireland for home September 26, 2005. I bought an Irish Independent newspaper with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness on the front page.

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sirpeter | Feb 02, 2011, 08:52 PM EST

Searlit...Why do you sound surprised? The IRA have lays down arms..He should obey orders.

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sirpeter | Feb 02, 2011, 08:45 PM EST

I love the pic..."Convicted IRA prisoner on hunger strike" ..Has he wasted away to nothing or what..lol

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Searlit | Feb 02, 2011, 03:33 PM EST

This is happening in the Republic?

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antoman | Feb 02, 2011, 09:57 AM EST

There's people outside the prison on hunger strike too.Its called poverty.

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cillowen | Feb 02, 2011, 09:25 AM EST

freedom of belief = police state - who cares what anyone beleves - at the end of the day all of this existance comes to naught - heaven bound, unlike others who's heaven is the here and now.

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