11/08/2011

Alliance HQ Faces Strip-Search Protestors

Republicans have this morning staged a protest in support of prisoners at the Alliance Party headquarters in south Belfast.

The Alliance Leader David Ford who is also the Justice Minister - and who wasn't present - has since made a terse comment on the incident that saw several people entering the building to stage a protest and then leaving - after the police arrived and arrested three people.

David Ford said: "All Alliance Party representatives will continue to offer a service to constituents in an open and accessible manner.

"This matter is being dealt with by the PSNI. We will be making no further comment," he said, succinctly.

It is believed the protestors who went into the building on University Street on Thursday morning were members of the pressure group, Republican Network for Unity (RNU)

The protestors have alleged that the Justice Minister David Ford had reneged on a 'deal' to end strip searches and so-called 'controlled movement' at Maghaberry jail in Co Antrim.

They were referring to talks that have recently been held between republican prisoners and the authorities at Maghaberry prison over the issue of strip-searching.

Mr Ford has also been grappling with repeated calls for the compassionate release of a republican prisoner, who was moved to hospital this week from prison as his condition deteriorated.

See: Lillis In Hospital As SF Calls For Release

(BMcC)

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