Repatriate Aiden Hulme Now

To:  Mr. Michael McDowell, Irish Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

We the undersigned request the immediate repatriation of 27-year-old Irish prisoner Aiden Hulme on medical grounds.

Aiden is currently serving a 22-year sentence in Full Sutton prison, England. He was imprisoned for alleged involvement in the 2000/2001 ‘Real’ IRA bombing campaign in London. He has lost his appeal against conviction and sentence and is currently awaiting repatriation to Portlaoise Prison in Ireland.

Prior to his arrest and imprisonment Aiden was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that left him with a severely injured leg. In the immediate aftermath of the accident he was receiving medical treatment at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and his condition was improving at the time of his detention.

However, subsequent to his arrest and imprisonment in Britain’s notorious Belmarsh Special Secure Unit [SSU], Aiden’s medical condition began to deteriorate at an alarming rate.

In response to intense political pressure the Belmarsh authorities reluctantly acquired the services of a medical specialist and doctor to examine Aiden’s injured leg. After a brief examination the Belmarsh-appointed specialist informed him that the injured leg should be amputated. Aiden’s family and friends, disturbed by and suspicious of this opinion, immediately sought a second opinion.

After intensive and prolonged political lobbying by the Irish Political Status Committee and other human rights groups an independent specialist was permitted access to Belmarsh SSU to examine Aiden. After the examination the independent specialist deemed the limb “saveable” – contrary to the opinion of the prison-appointed specialist. However, the independent specialist also insisted that it was essential that Aiden receive appropriate medical treatment without any further delay, warning that he “feared the worst” if the relevant treatment was not forthcoming.

Not only is Aiden still being denied proper treatment but astonishingly, the Full Sutton prison authorities have decided to withdraw his pain-killing medication on a gradual basis. No alternative medication has been offered on the grounds that the pain in his leg is “purely psychological”. The painkilling medication Aiden is receiving has also been called into question. He has been suffering from bouts of short-term memory loss, which he believes are triggered by its use.

The actions of the British prison authorities run contrary to Article 25 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union which states that: “Everyone has the right of access to preventative health care and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national laws and practices”. Aiden’s legal team has initiated proceedings against HMP Full Sutton on account of the treatment meted out to him.

The British authorities had transferred all the official documentation relating to Aiden’s repatriation bid to the Department of Justice in Dublin by September 2005 but the application has still not been processed. These delays are leaving Aiden at risk of having his injured leg amputated in England.

We the undersigned demand an immediate end to this blatant disregard for the health and well being of this young prisoner. We call on the British and Irish governments to speed-up existing repatriation procedures and return Aiden to Ireland immediately so he can receive the medical attention denied to him in England.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Repatriate Aiden Hulme Now Petition to Mr. Michael McDowell, Irish Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was created by and written by Paul Doyle (pauldoyle2006@hotmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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