Repatriate as a Matter of Urgency

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Thursday May 30, 2013 10:29 by Laura Duffy

Michael Campbell is an Irish political prisoner currently detained in Lithuania in conditions that breach his Human Rights

An Irish political prisoner, Michael Campbell from Co.Louth, has been held in Lithuanian jails since 2008, in conditions that have been described by an advisor to Amnesty International as “inhuman and degrading”.

At present, British military intelligence via the Lithuanian authorities, are taking appeal proceedings against Mr Campbell, who was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment in 2011. While this legal process is ongoing, it delays efforts to have him returned home.

Kevin R Winters & Co solicitors commissioned a report by Professor Rod Morgan (who is an advisor to Amnesty International and the Council of Europe) to examine prison conditions in Lithuania and his supplementary report noted about the conditions in which Michael Campbell was being detained;

"most remand prisoners enjoy approx.2 square metres of cell per person, well below the standard deemed acceptable. In those cells they are required to meet the needs of nature without privacy and are confined to their cells for 23 hours a day. No prisoner programmes or work is provided and they are required to exercise in small cages not large enough for them to exert themselves physically. The conditions remain “inhuman and degrading” according to the standards of the CPT and endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights".

"I also find evidence on the basis of Michael Campbell’s experience, of abuse of legal process by the Lithuanian authorities. It follows that I reiterate and strengthen my earlier expressed opinion, namely, that I think it virtually certain that were Liam Campbell be extradited to Lithuania, he would be subject to inhuman and degrading treatment, or punishment conditions of detention, that his period of detention during police investigation and remand would probably be prolonged, (possibly years), that he would probably not be allowed any visits other than from his lawyer, and that if Michael Campbell’s experience is any guide then he might also be subject to abuse of legal process."

Given that Michael Campbell is still being held in conditions that clearly breach his basic Human Rights, it begs the question what local politicians are doing to resolve this case. He is the only Irish political prisoner currently serving a sentence in a foreign prison, and should be repatriated as a matter of urgency.

This article was first published on the website; thepensivequill.am/‎