Labour Party councillors shamefully blocked the adoption of a motion in support of republican political prisoners in Maghaberry Prison at the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council on Monday night (April 12).

The emergency motion, which had been submitted by éirígí activist Councillor Louise Minihan, stated that “This council notes with deep concern the recent significant deterioration of the conditions under which republican political prisoners are being held in Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim, as highlighted by events within the prison on April 4th and 5th. This council calls for all republican political prisoners in Maghaberry and elsewhere to be granted full political status with immediate effect.”

Using their dominant position within the council, the Labour Party, supported by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, refused to suspend the standing orders of the meeting to take any emergency motions. The Labour Party position was taken in the knowledge that only three emergency motions had been submitted – of which one related to the deteriorating situation in Maghaberry and another related to the ongoing imprisonment of Shell to Sea activist Pat O’Donnell.

In effect, the vote to suspend standing orders became a proxy vote on the emergency motions themselves. Thirteen councillors, including independents, People Before Profit, Sinn Féin and a sole Labour councillor, supported the suspension of standing orders, while the remaining councillors voted against.

Speaking after the council meeting Louise Minihan said, “The abuse of power that we saw in the council meeting tonight speaks volumes about what the Labour Party is really all about. They are very quick to voice their concerns about prison conditions in other parts of the world but refuse to even allow a debate about prison conditions here in Ireland.

“The issue of prison conditions and political status should be of concern to all democrats, republicans and socialists, regardless of what political parties they support.

“Although our motion was not adopted, I am hopeful that other councillors around the country might now submit similar motions within their respective councils. I would encourage people to contact their local councillors and put pressure on them to highlight the cause of the republican prisoners in Maghaberry.”