CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION



CLARIFY GASSING OF DEFENCELESS PRISONERS CALL!



The Celtic League has renewed its efforts to ascertain if a highly
noxious and dangerous gas was used on prisoners during an incident
at the Long Kesh prison in N. Ireland twenty years ago.

The MoD have in the past denied that the gas CR was used and also
that it was dropped by helicopters on the prison compounds where the
men were confined.

The League have suggested, in a letter to the Defence Minister, Adam
Ingram MP, that with the passage of time and an improved security
situation records should now be opened on the alleged incident (see
below).



"The Minister of State for the Armed Forces

Mr. Adam Ingram MP

Ministry of Defence

Old War Office Building

Whitehall

London SW1A 2EU



Dear Minister,

I refer to our correspondence of 14 Oct. 2002 and your
reply of the 15 January 2003 relating to the use of incapacitating
gas at Long Kesh prison in 1974 (copies enclosed).

I wrote in your reply that the Ministry of Defence refutes allegations
that CR gas was used in the incident and it also refutes the allegation
made by ex prisoners that gas was dropped on prisoners from helicopters
whilst they were in a confined situation.

As these events took place over twenty years ago and the security
situation in N. Ireland is (thankfully) much improved would the MoD
have any difficulty making available copies of the authoritative records
that you refer to.

I also understand that numbers of deployed military helicopters in
the North of Ireland were comparatively small at that time. Would
it therefore be possible for the flight logs of such aircraft as were
available to also be made public.

I think the MoD's denial of the use of CR is crucial as it would seem
to fly in the face of the published views to the contrary. Can you
confirm if the British Army, the RUC or indeed any government agency
had stocks of CR gas available for use in N. Ireland at that time.

Finally you refer to research on CS gas and its effects carried out
by the MoD establishment at Porton Down. Has not some of this research
identified harmful side effects from CS and if this is the case has
the MoD not a duty to ascertain if any of the prisoners to which the
government at that time owed a duty of care has suffered health problems
as a result of its use?



Yours sincerely"





J B Moffatt



Secretary General

Celtic League



04/12/04









The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the
western British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation
between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political,
cultural and environmental matters. It targets human rights abuse
and monitors all military activity within these areas

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Internet site at

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