Belfast ABC hold successful meeting at west Belfast feile

Prison neglect and suicide exposed

The meeting 'death behind bars' which took place on August 9th was not reported on by the ABC for some time due to legal considerations which continue to restrict what we can say.

The meeting which was billed as part of the West Belfast feile occured in the Culturlann on August 9th and was addressed by Linda Moore of the Human rights commission (speaking in a personal capacity) and Professor Phil Scratton prison abolishonist and professor of criminology at Queens university Belfast.
The family of Rosanne Ervine who commited suicide in Maghaberry in 2004 was also represented.
The meeting was very well attended and consisted of a run down by Linda and Phil on the content of reports they jointly drew up on behalf of the human rights comission as part of an investigation into neglect and subsequent deaths of women prisoners at Maghaberry and Hydebank wood. Both speakers also gave a personal account of their experiences in the prison which the audience found both informative, moving and disturbing.
The talk was followed by a questions and answers session.
The meeting was recorded on MP3 format but as mentioned we are unable to upload it for legal reasons. Belfast ABC wishes to thank both Linda and Phil and all who attended.