Since the Irish Republican Writers Group spoke out on the issue of the murder of RIRA Volunteer Joseph O Connor, the Provisional Republican Movement has carried out a relentless campaign of intimidation against Anthony McIntyre and Carrie Twomey, who is both a fellow activist of the IRWG and McIntyre's domestic partner.

Carrie Twomey, who originally hails from Michigan in the U.S., is presently six months pregnant, and the harassment and intimidation were so severe, she was forced to leave her flat out of concern for her health and that of child she is carrying. Ms. Twomey said last week that she didn't feel safe staying there.

As a fellow republican and socialist activist of American birth, we count Carrie Twomey as a comrade. The harassment that she has suffered at the hands of Provisional Sinn Fein is an assault on the basic right to freedom of speech and should be an affront to the sensibilities of all Irish republican activists in the U.S. We call upon Sinn Fein to immediately desist from their unwarranted harassment and urge Irish republican and socialist activists in the U.S. to lend their voices in support for Carrie Twomey.

Ms. Twomey demonstrated her commitment to Irish republicanism through her emigration to Ireland's occupied six counties and her efforts with the IRWG. She has done nothing to merit the intimidation she has been subjected to and it must end.

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