'Interned' Prisoner Moved To Hospital

Republican prisoner Marian Price has been moved from Hydebank Prison to a Belfast hospital on health grounds.

Her transfer this morning (Friday) follows medical advice from psychiatrists working for the South Eastern and Belfast Health Trusts.

Ms Price, who was imprisoned for the 1973 bombing of the Old Bailey but released on licence, was imprisoned after attending a dissident republican rally last May.

She was later charged in connection with the murders of two soldiers at Massereene Barracks in March 2009 and although her three co-accused were released when charges were dropped, Ms Price has been kept in prison.

Some high-profile politicians have accused the Secretary of State for Norhtern Ireland, Owen Paterson, of interning her without trial.

She denies a charge of providing property for the purposes of terrorism, having given a mobile phone to the people who shot and killed sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey at the gates of Massareene Barracks.

Sinn Fein and the SDLP have led a campaign to have her transferred to hospital on health grounds, and she has been examined in prison by UN-appointed doctors.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service said it had to make sure prisoners had "appropriate medical care".

Its statement continued: "The trust and the prison service have discussed Mrs McGlinchey's healthcare needs on a number of occasions and today's transfer to an outside hospital is consistent with those discussions."

Paul Givan, chairman of Stormont's justice committee, said prisons should be equipped for inmates’ medical needs in future.

(NE)