BY MARY NELL BOCKMAN
BOSTON - Chanting, "Free Ireland, Free Róisín," 50 demonstrators marched through downtown Boston May 3 to demand the British government free Róisín McAliskey, a young Irish nationalist held in a London prison since November 1996. McAliskey faces extradition to Germany for questioning about the bombing of a British military base there. The action was called by Boston Irish Northern Aid and endorsed by a dozen other organizations, including Irish solidarity committees, women's rights groups, union locals, and civil liberties organizations.

Protesters marched from the British to the German Consulate, carrying large Irish tricolors. The demonstration took place just two days after the election victories in Northern Ireland for Sinn Fein candidates Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Sinn Fein is the leading nationalist party fighting to end British rule in Northern Ireland. The marchers were well received by passersby, who honked car horns and applauded. It was the first march for Irish freedom in Boston since the 1981 hunger strikes by Irish republican prisoners.

McAliskey, a 25-year-old social worker from the north of Ireland, has been subjected by British authorities to months of solitary confinement, strip-searched over 100 times, denied sleep and exercise, harassed by guards and held under the most restrictive conditions without bail. She has not been charged with any crime. McAliskey is nine months pregnant and is now in serious medical danger, due to inadequate medical care and prison authorities' refusal to transfer her to a hospital, as recommended by her doctor. McAliskey's struggle for freedom has gained widespread international support with demonstrations, rallies and fund- raisers held around the world.

The charges against McAliskey in Germany have unraveled as all of the witnesses produced by the government have been unable to identify photographs of her. Despite this, McAliskey was denied bail on May 6 for the third time by a judge in London. Her petition for bail has been supported by neighbors in Coalisland, her hometown, who have agreed to put up their homes as guarantee. McAliskey could not attend her most recent hearing because of her deteriorating medical condition.

The U.S. government has also stepped up its persecution of Irish nationals residing in this country who were active in the movement against British rule. Brian Pearson served 12 years in Long Kesh prison outside Belfast after his 1975 conviction in a Diplock court and is facing deportation from this country based on that conviction. Pearson, a U.S. resident since 1988 and married to a US citizen, was granted political asylum by Immigration Judge Philip Williams on March 27 who ruled that Pearson's conviction in Northern Ireland was for a political act and the "respondent has a well-founded fear of persecution" if deported. The Immigration and Naturalization Service filed papers to appeal this ruling and proceed with deportation.

Six other men are facing deportation on the basis of their participation in the Irish freedom struggle as well. One of them, Noel Gaynor, has been denied the right to an asylum hearing and could be deported any day. Jimmy Smyth, who was deported by the U.S. government to Maze prison, was savagely beaten by prison guards a few weeks after his deportation. Information on how to support Brian Pearson, Noel Gaynor, and the other Irish nationals facing deportation can be obtained from Irish Northern Aid, 363 Seventh Avenue Suite 405, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 736-1916.  
 
 
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