Hunger Strike ended by all 4 East Tyrone men - post hunger strike medical care is a priority

The hunger strike by Tommy and Dessie Hamill, Austin Creggan and Mark McGilloway has ended after 40days on hunger strike.
Their medical care needs urgent and appropriate attention and the civil and human rights network (see below) are conveying that message to Stormont Minister for Justice David Ford :

Fionnbarra Ó Dochartaigh

o HUNGER-STRIKE ENDED – AM SUN. 23/9/2012 -

Letter conveyed to Stormont re :medical care.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN o o 4 MEN ARE NOT YET OUT OF DANGER-THEY REQUIRE IMMEDIATE AND CONSTANT EXPERT MEDICAL CARE AFTER 40 DAYS OF HUNGER-STRIKING. THIS MAY REQUIRE ‘OUTSIDE’ HOSPITALIZATION, SO AS TO ENSURE A SPEEDY RETURN TO STABILIZATION. o o Therefore a 2nd communication to the Stormont Minister of Justice, Mr. David Ford MLA is being drafted as a matter of urgency. So as to be on the Minister’s desk to-morrow morning it will be e-mailed in the next few hours. It will place emphasis on the relevant pointers of the “Report from Medical Contacts”, below.. o o REPORT FROM MEDICAL CONTACTS: o • Hunger Strikes...Firstly: How long one can last on HS depends on the starting body weight and general health of the participant...without food and with an intake of ''only'' water the 'average' person will start to deteriorate rapidly from 4-5 weeks...water should be at room temperature not cooled (to maintain core body temperature)..Salt should be circa 1 teaspoon per 4 pints...water intake should start small and work towards 6-8pints per day. Starting with 2fluid oz every half hour...

* Adverse effects on the body...4 weeks Damage to muscle * From 4 weeks on. Weakening of bone structure, hallucinations, dementia, * 5 weeks. Potential damage to internal organs, * From 5 weeks on. Potential organ failure. * Death. Can happen at any time during the HS... * Circa 45-50 days. Motion sickness & vomiting * Circa 55 days. Convulsions and fitting.

* The coming off HS can be just as dangerous...nutrients must be commenced again slowly. Many people have died after coming off due to increasing nutrition too quickly resulting in poisoning...another factor is the potential for ''food tampering'', wittingly or unwittingly by staff or other inmates , after a HS...Very dangerous...

Aftercare is vital and in the case of protracted HS. Intensive Therapy would be required in an outside facility to deal with health conditions ''acquired'' as a result of HS. Such as. Neurological conditions, Kidney conditions, infections, immune system problems...

The last person to come off a HS in a British Prison was transferred to an ICU and spent 10 days there before stabilising..

civil rights network - 4 Hunger strikers need critical intervention-medical notes on deterioration of health through hunger striking.

via civil rights network - no alterations made to original. CIVIL RIGHTS ALERT – PROTEST FAST –HMP MAGHABERRY 4 Republican remand prisoners commenced a protest fast almost a full calendar month ago on August 14 th Moves by the Civil Rights Network and others to obtain an independent medical examination on each has been opposed by the prison governor. We have already lodged a request for such from the UNHWR. Visitors report that their condition is visibly deteriorating with each passing day, revealing diverse factors such as spitting up, vomiting or passing blood in their urine and that all feel that eyes-sight is already impaired. Based on the report below all four have reached a critical stage and it is therefore our opinion that this protest must be resolved ASAP. We view that aim as a matter deserving public attention, which so far has been lacking in the media, therefore our sense of urgency so as to spare these inmates any permanent physical and psychological damage. That aim has been further frustrated by the fact that a case taken by the four seeking the full implementation of the “segregation clauses” of the Steele Report [2003] was judicially placed on ‘the long finger’. It was due to have been heard last week, a fact that all four find highly depressing, given their current state of health and undoubted desperate plight. o o REMAND PRISONERS’ NAMES o Brothers Dessie and Tommy Hamil: o Austin Campbell and Martin McGilloway o [All from Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.] o o REPORT FROM MEDICAL CONTACTS: o · Hunger Strikes...Firstly: How long one can last on HS depends on the starting body weight and general health of the participant...without food and with an intake of ''only'' water the 'average' person will start to deteriorate rapidly from 4-5 weeks...water should be at room temperature not cooled (to maintain core body temperature)..Salt should be circa 1 teaspoon per 4 pints...water intake should start small and work towards 6-8pints per day. Starting with 2fluid oz every half hour... * Adverse effects on the body...4 weeks Damage to muscle * From 4 weeks on. Weakening of bone structure, hallucinations, dementia, * 5 weeks. Potential damage to internal organs, * From 5 weeks on. Potential organ failure. * Death. Can happen at any time during the HS... * Circa 45-50 days. Motion sickness & vomiting * Circa 55 days. Convulsions and fitting. * The coming off HS can be just as dangerous...nutrients must be commenced again slowly. Many people have died after coming off due to increasing nutrition too quickly resulting in poisoning...another factor is the potential for ''food tampering'' by screws or others after a HS...Very dangerous... Aftercare is vital and in the case of protracted HS. Intensive Therapy would be required in an outside facility to deal with health conditions ''acquired'' as a result of HS. Such as. Neurological conditions, Kidney conditions, infections, immune system problems... The last person to come off a HS in a British Prison was transferred to an ICU and spent 10 days there before stabilising... · NOTE TO MEDIA CONTACTS: · A daily CR Network report can be obtained on request from rights.civil@gmail.com

Four men from East Tyrone commenced Hunger strike on the 14.8.2012 Urgent Action Needed

By Jimmy Crawshaw

4 East Tyrone Republican Prisoners held on remand for political charges commenced Hunger Strike on the 14th August 2012 - It is now week 5 day 29 -The four men all from East Tyrone are Dessie Hamill, Tommy Hamill, Austin Creggan and Mark McGilloway.

The four were prevented from placement on the republican landing - they were placed with criminal and loyalist prisoners where they faced harassment, intimidation and that this situation significantly escalated to include threats on their lives - from loyalist aligned LVF prisoners - by the placement of an aerosol canister connected to a microwave oven intentionally placed to have maimed them or potentially fatal.

Their safety and security is a responsibility of the prison regime which given threats on their lives - there is a duty of care and human right to life.
Furthermore they were denied access to catering facilities which they would prepare food themselves - the risk of harm to them significantly reduced. They accessed something to eat from the prison "tuck shop" however after the threats on their lives and denial of access to food facilities commenced hunger strike -
history repeats itself and again there are Irish republicans on hunger strike in a British jail because they are denied their basic human rights. Food is a necessity to life - the prison regime escalated obstructions to the men accessing food facilities and fail to protect their lives.

The current situation and the shameful lack of media attention this and that mainstream parties that claim to be representative of all members of the community are not addressing this significant humanitarian crisis demonstrates that they lack any conscience on the human rights of prisoners - remember these men are on remand innocent until proven guilty! Human rights are a necessity not a privilege - Political Status is a Right not a Privilege.

The latest news is ....INSERT HERE.

The latest news to 13/9/2012 is that Tommy Hamill collapsed on Thursday 13th September - the prison regime and its medical treatment is notorious for neglect, mis medicating, there is no transparency or scrutiny by independent review - and also the regimes lack of communication with family members putting further torment on the families of inmates. The families of the four men are left to suffer with their loved ones in gaol on hunger strike.

one of the men has been vomiting blood and another is now suffering from problems with their eyesight, a clear sign their health is deteriorating - all have lost considerable weight. The hunger Strike is now in its 5th week Day 34 following commencement on the 14th August 2012 yet there has been a total lack of coverage - a media blackout.

The men have been reported to be resolute and suffering hardship but in good spirit.

The responsibility is on the British administration installed at stormont that is aware of this appalling continued degrading and in-humane treatment at Maghaberry.

Ask why is there a total media blackout on this -newspapers-radio-television - political figures -no comment when this is crisis situation that can have profound effects-. I would urge anyone that chooses to take an interest - campaign - write a letter-email-raise the issue in conversation! we are people and these abuses should not be allowed to go on without the Issues of the Pows and peoples voices be heard.

The four men all from East Tyrone were charged with political offences where they refused to recognise the court. They are held on remand in Maghaberry Prison Lisburn on political charges and commenced hunger strike on the 14th August 2012.

Dessie Hamill, Tommy Hamill, Austin Creggan and Mark McGilloway continue their fast.

They are political prisoners and its their right to political status.

by Jimmy Crawshaw.