Text of Leaflet to be distributed by The Repatriate Michael Campbell Campaign : : Please Read & Share. Who is Michael Campbell? Michael Campbell (âMichaelâ) is an Irish Citizen from Faughart, Co. Louth. He has been imprisoned in Lithuania since 28th of January 2008 in conditions which have been described by Professor Rod Morgan, a renowned Home Office advisor to the UK Criminal Justice Inspectorate, as âInhuman and degradingâ. (see below) Michael is an Irish Republican. Following an âEntrapment âStingâ organised and orchestrated by British Military Intelligence (MI5) and an unnecessarily prolonged and difficult trial (which lasted over 2 years) He was sentenced in October 2011 to 12 yearâs imprisonment. Since the sentence was handed down MI5 (Via the Lithuanian Authorities) have sought to prolong Michaelâs time (and suffering) in prison by launching a wholly unmerited appeal. Indeed, in an effort to ensure Michael remains incarcerated in squalid conditions thousands of miles from his family MI5 have sought to delay the appeal by linking it to failed attempts which had previously been made to seek the extradition of his Brother LiĂĄm from both the 26 Counties and 6 Counties : both of these extradition attempted have been rejected by the courts in the 26 & 6 Counties, on the basis of squalid custodial conditions and the slim possibility of receiving a fair trial in Lithuania. Although appeals have been lodged by the Lithuanian Authorities to the appellate courts they are unlikely to succeed. What Has Michael Had To Endure? Following his arrest Michael was refused access to either a legal adviser or interpreter for 48 hrs. It was only on the 4th day after his arrest that an English speaking Lawyer was permitted to visit Michael. During his trial, which was beset with many delays, Michaelâs family were prohibited from attending court sessions. Also, many days of the hearing were held in closed court without adequate interpretation. Both before and after sentencing Michael has been held âincommunicadoâ for extended periods without access to family visits (up to 2 years in total so far) or phone calls (up to three years in total so far) The Prison Conditions Prison conditions in Lithuania have been the subject of a number of inspections and reports prepared by the European Committee for the prevention of Torture and inhuman or Degrading Treatment or punishment (âCPTâ) and have been described as remaining âin a deplorable stateâŚinhuman and degradingâ. In very brief summary, Michael has had to personally endure the following :- 1. Being held in a very small, dirty, damp cell for 23 hours per day with 3 other prisoners. Note: the cell is tiny, has minimal light, broken windows, is infested with maggots and cockroaches and inmates are only permitted 1 hours exercise per day in a restricted yard, 2. Being forced to toilet in the cell without privacy. Note: the âtoiletâ is no more than a non partitioned hole in the floor; 3. Having to ration toilet paper because each cell (of 4 prisoners) is given only 3 rolls a month in total; 4. being deprived of adequate or private personal hygiene facilities. Note: Showers are communal and restricted to 1 (cold) shower per week. Some weeks no showers are permitted at all. On occasions Michael has had to chase rats from the showers; 5. Having to live on meagre food rations which would have a value of ÂŁ0.80 per day. Note : In response to a recent query on this point the Lithuanian authorities have attempted to argue that this is adequate; 6. Having to melt snow to get drinking water; and 7. having to sit on a newspaper on the floor or on his bed to eat. Note: the cell contains only 1 chair and Michaelâs bed â which is often damp from the rain coming in through the broken windows - has an impossibly thin mattress ; Current Position All Michael wants to do is serve the remainder of his 12 year sentence in Ireland. This would mean he could be close to his family and be kept in the same Prison Conditions any Irish man or woman is entitled to be kept in. As an Irish National, Michael is entitled to seek Repatriation to Ireland for this purpose and as a supposed member of the European Union the Lithuanian authorities should agree to this request. The Problem however is that Michael is not currently deemed eligible for repatriation to Ireland. Why is this? The answer is because eligibility for repatriation does not arise until all legal affairs in Lithuania have been concluded, and the MI5 backed Lithuanian authorities have filed an unmerited appeal against Michaelâs sentence. It is undoubtedly because of the above principle that the appeal was lodged and thereafter any means possible adopted to elongate the process. As at todayâs date, over 18 months since the appeal was lodged, it has still not been heard. Indeed the Lithuanian prosecutor Mr Gedgaudas Norkunas has recently sought to persuade the Court that Michaelâs appeal Should be stayed even further (i.e. stalled indefinitely) until all extradition hearings in the ROI and NI are completed. That could take years! Perhaps even longer than Michael has to serve in terms of the remainder of his current sentence. Michaelâs appeal is due to be brought back before the Court on 27th June 2012. His Lawyers are arguing to have the appeal actually heard on this date. This would be the only right and proper event. What can you do? You can help by bringing Michaelâs plight to the attention of the authorities in NI, ROI, UK, USA, EU & Lithuania. Contact your local councillors, your TDâs, your MLAâs and your MPâs. Contact any civil rights, human rights and Prisoners rights groups, locally and internationally. Write to the various parliaments and governments, their legal advisors and their judges groups. Contact anyone you can think of who could possibly help. Join the campaign to repatriate Michael Campbell. Note- to discuss or for further information or addresses please contact: Sarah Murphy secretary, the Repatriate Michael Campbell Campaign; 3 Carnagat Park Hospital Road, Newry Co.Down
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:43:40 +0000
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