Friends Of Colin Duffy

"A Victim Of State Persecution"

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Upwards of 150 people packed into the Conway Education Centre on Sunday [August 9] to hear speakers Ruhal Ahmed, Pádraigín Drinan, Caitríona Duffy and Gerry McDonnell. Chaired by éirígí national vice-chairperson Rab Jackson, the talk was both thought-provoking and emotional.
 
Caitríona spoke about the case of her father, Colin, who was one of the first Irish citizens to be detained under the draconian 28-day detention legislation.
 
Colin has already been the victim of two previous miscarriages of justice. The articulate 20-year-old spoke of the vendetta the RUC/PSNI held against her father since she was a child. 
 
  

 

Over 2,000 people attended the march and rally organised by the Marshall family to commemorate the life of Lurgan republican Sam Marshall and to demand the truth about British collusion with unionist death squads in his murder.

 

Among those in attendance were other families who are seeking answers to questions relating to the role of the British state and its intelligence services in the murders of their loved ones.

 

The large procession retraced the route Sam and his two comrades, Colin Duffy and Tony McCaughey, took the night that he was murdered.

 

 

 

 

 

Large numbers attended white line pickets organised by families and friends of republican prisoners as well as ex-prisoners. 

 

Among those in attendance at the pickets were former prisoners, ex-blanket men, former hunger strikers and families and friends of republican prisoners in Maghaberry 

 

White line pickets were held on the Falls Road, Lurgan, Newry, Derry, and North Belfast. 

 

 

 

On Easter Sunday 2010 republican political prisoners engaged in direct action as a result of poor prison conditions in Maghaberry gaol

 

Following this action a group of Family, Friends, and Ex-Prisoners decided to take to the streets in support of the prisoners demands of free association and an end to degrading strip searches they were joined by hundreds of republicans.

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout the vast crowd of republicans gathered outside Maghaberry Gaol today, the chant "Victory to the Pows" could be heard loud and clear.  

 

Over 400 republicans including family, friends and former POWs marched up to the gate of Maghaberry in support of the POWs and their demands. 

 

The intention of the organizers of the rally was to make as much noise as possible so as the prisoners could hear the growing support for them.  This was achieved.

 

Loud cheers and chants of "What do we want?" "Political status", "When do we want it? "Now" and "Victory to the POWs" ,in what was reminiesent of the H Block and Blanket protest era, could be heard loud and clear. 

 

The beating of drums as well as bin lids could also be heard.  Flutes, whistles and even fireworks pierced the air.