I’d like to take the time to say I really enjoy your paper. I try to share it with others in here so they can get a different view. Sometimes they don’t care--it’s their loss.

For real freedom,

A prisoner
Texas
 
 
Appeal for Irish prisoner
I am writing on behalf of my family to ask for assistance in ensuring that my husband, Michael McKevitt, obtains justice in his forthcoming trial in the Republic of Ireland. He has been held on remand in Portlaoise Prison for almost two years.

On March 28, 2001, my husband and I were arrested at our home. When in custody he was informed by a detective inspector that his arrest had been a political decision and that he was being stitched up. After being questioned for 36 hours I was released. However, my husband was charged with membership and directing an illegal organization, namely the IRA, the latter carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. These charges were leveled at him on the word of one person, David Rupert, who is an American citizen of dubious character.

At a recent preliminary court hearing it was disclosed that David Rupert worked for both the FBI and MI5. Mr. Rupert has been promised a resettlement payment of $3 million from the FBI and an undisclosed amount from MI5 (believed to be in the region of £2.5million) on completion of his testimony. In addition to this, an outstanding IRS debt of $700,000 was reduced and settled for $25,000 in November 2001. It was revealed that this self-confessed criminal had been deployed to the Republic of Ireland by the FBI and MI5 without the knowledge of the Irish authorities.

Prior to my husband’s arrest, my family was demonised and vilified on a continual basis by the media. It became commonplace that all sections of the media felt they could say what they liked about our family and my husband in particular. This trial by media included publishing front-page photographs with the intention of identifying our young children. This unprecedented, co-ordinated media onslaught, which continues to this day, has ensured that my husband’s name is constantly connected with the Omagh bombing. He has never been questioned nor charged with any offense relating to this tragedy.

It gives me great strength to know that there are individuals and human rights groups who are prepared to travel long distances to ensure that justice is seen to be done.

In conclusion, my family asks for no more than that awarded to any other Irish citizen, the right to a fair trial and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. We are asking international observers to attend the trial, which is currently scheduled to be held in Dublin’s non-jury Special Criminal court on Feb. 11, 2003.

Bernadette Sands McKevitt
Dundalk, Ireland

The Militant receives many requests from readers behind bars. The Prisoners’ Fund makes it possible to send them reduced-rate subscriptions. A prisoner can buy a six-month subscription for $6 and a one-year subscription for $12. The Spanish-language monthly magazine Perspectiva Mundial offers a six-month subscription for $3 and a one-year subscription for $6. To help meet these requests, please send a check or money order, earmarked "Prisoners’ Fund," to the Militant, 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014.

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people.

Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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