The British home secretary Jack Straw exposed the British government's Unionist agenda earlier this week when he went to Belfast High Court in an attempt to halt the releases of Irish political prisoners convicted in England but incarcerated in Long Kesh following the 1994 IRA ceasefire.

IRSP prisons spokesperson Willie Gallagher reacted angrily to this attempted reversal on prisoner releases by the British government. "The republican socialist movement at present have two prisoners, Liam Heffeman and Martin McMonagle, held in long Kesh under the jurisdiction of the British home office. As a prisoners representative this action by the British government is viewed with grave concern."

The High Court rejected the British home secretary's application and three of the POW's were released last Tuesday.