7 November 1996

---

Sinn Fein calls for release of republican prisoners

Sinn Fein prisons spokesperson, Councillor Joe Austin today called for the immediate release of Republican prisoners who have been extradited from the USA.

Speaking after the news that Peter McMullan, who was sentenced in England today to 14 years, will have the time spent in custody in American included in his sentence, and will therefore be released soon, Councillor Austin said:

``I call upon Patrick Mayhew to apply the criteria, which the Judge in this case applied, to Republican prisoners in the Six Counties. That he has continually refused to do this is typical of the vindictive policy of the Northern Ireland Office.

``When, for example, Joe Doherty was extradited the British refused to take into account the nine years he had spent in an American jail. This was in clear contravention of any standard of natural justice.

``I demand that Patrick Mayhew end these double standards and discriminatory policies by releasing those Republican prisoners who have been extradited.''

---

Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

Released in the US by:

Friends of Sinn Fein, 510 C Street, NE, Washington DC 20002
Tel: +1-202-547-8883   ·   Fax +1-202-547-7889
E-mail: fosf@nicom.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

---

Sinn Fein   ·   Sinn Fein Documents

---

Web publication by rm@serve.com
Web archival by iig@www.utexas.edu