Former Division 35 member Gerry McGeough receives further support
Posted by Jim on October 2, 2012
Independent Republican Councillor Angela Nelson recently visited Gerry McGeough in Maghaberry prison along with Gerry’s wife and their four children.
Speaking after her visit, Councillor Nelson stated;
“As an Independent Republican Councillor, I give my full support to the release of Gerry McGeough and I believe Gerry should be at home with his family in time for Christmas. I have written to British Prime Minister David Cameron and also to the British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers who has confirmed that she will consider and respond shortly to my correspondence.
“Gerry McGeough believes he has been let down by those in power who he feels should have been to the fore in ensuring that when the agreements were signed in 1998 and 2001, what had been promised back then was delivered”.
Councillor Nelson continued by saying;
“I personally believe that Gerry McGeough’s imprisonment is a significant step backwards at the end of which nothing will have been achieved. It defies all logic to inflict such an injustice upon a family in the middle of a peace process. Although he is due for release in early 2013, I would like to add my voice to those who have already called for Gerry’s immediate release and I believe there should be no reluctance in allowing Gerry to be released in time to be at home with his wife and their four children at Christmas”.
Gerry McGeough, a 54 year old teacher and published author is married with four young children, Gerry returned to Ireland in 1996. He then graduated from Trinity College Dublin with an Honours Degree in History and attained a Higher Diploma in Education from University College Dublin.
As a former Ard Chomlairle member of Sinn Féin, Gerry was an architect of the peace process and continues to support a peaceful and political solution to achieving a United Ireland.
Gerry however, for a number of reasons, became disenchanted with the political direction of Sinn Féin at that time, in particular because of the stance taken by Sinn Féin in their support of abortion and he left the party in 2001.
On 7th March 2007 he stood as an Independent Republican MLA candidate in the Stormont Assembly elections. The following day as he left the count centre in Omagh, he was surrounded by police officers and arrested. His arrest was a direct result of the withdrawal of the legislation required to implement paragraph 20 of the Weston Park Accord (2001) which dealt with the issues of OTR’s. Gerry, who was classified as an OTR has been incarcerated in Maghaberry since 18th February 2011 on alleged conflict related activities dating back to 1975 and 1981. However, despite the fact that the legislation for paragraph 20 was never passed through Westminster, recent negotiations with former British Secretary of State Owen Paterson have resolved a number of OTR cases and it is believed only about twenty people now need to be given clearance to return home without fear of prosecution.