To the Irish Voice

Editor:

While much of the media linked the news of efforts to gain the release of those incarcerated for the killing of Garda officer McCabe with that of INLA prisoner Dessie O'Hare, I was stuck that the Irish Voice was mute on the latter story.

O'Hare has recently launched a legal action against the Irish government to ensure inclusion under the early release scheme. While O'Hare was not a member of the Irish National Liberation Army when arrested, he has been re-admitted to the Irish Republican Socialist Movement after a process of political assessment.

Eddie Hogan, arrested with O'Hare and serving a 40 year sentence made this transition somewhat sooner than O'Hare and was released earlier this year. Notably, he provided the IRSP's main oration at recent Kevin Lynch commemoration.

While the IRSP remain completely opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, and believe that position more than borne out by the events in of the last two years, it remains true that the INLA has maintained its cease-fire without incident since August 22,1998. As a former and present member of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, O'Hare should have been released already under the early release terms. His continued incarceration violates that agreement.

We support the fact that those jailed over the killing of McCabe, despite occuring after May of 1998, are being considered for early release, but are outraged that Dessie O'Hare remains incarcerated and ignored. We support the release of all prisoners of war still held in the British or Irish prisons, but Dessie O'Hare's continued incarcertation is contrary the provisions for early release already in place and deserves immediate consideration.