Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:59 — 11.0MB)
Subscribe: Spotify | Email | RSS | More
Original Podcast with clickable words
https://tinyurl.com/2mhfs28q
Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com
Ban on the Irish language in prisons in England.
Cosc ar an Ghaeilge i bpríosúin i Sasana.
State Documents: The right to speak Irish in British prisons is a matter of dispute A Republican prisoner in England was given permission to speak Irish in the mid-nineties after the Irish Government and the Tánaiste, Dick Spring, in particular, negotiated on his behalf .
Cáipéisí Stáit: Ceart Gaeilge a labhairt i bpríosúin na Breataine ina ábhar aighnis Tugadh cead cainte i nGaeilge do phríosúnach Poblachtánach i Sasana i lár na nóchaidí i ndiaidh do Rialtas na hÉireann agus an Tánaiste, Dick Spring, go háirithe, idirbheartaíocht a dhéanamh ar a shon.
Secret state documents show that the Government insisted that the authorities in Full Sutton Prison in Yorkshire were violating the human rights of Féilim Uí Adhmaill when he was refused permission to have a conversation in Irish with his wife and family.
Léiríonn cáipéisí rúnda an stáit gur áitigh an Rialtas go raibh sárú á dhéanamh ag na húdaráis i bPríosún Full Sutton in Yorkshire ar chearta daonna Fhéilim Uí Adhmaill nuair a diúltaíodh cead dó comhrá i nGaeilge a bheith aige lena bhean chéile agus lena theaghlach.
His wife, Mairéad Uí Adhmaill, and Conradh na Gaeilge lobbied hard on his behalf and Tánaiste Dick Spring, the Irish Embassy in London, the lawyer Gareth Peirce and Cardinal Cahal Daly took an active role in the case.
Bhí dianstocaireacht ar bun ag a bhean chéile, Mairéad Uí Adhmaill, agus ag Conradh na Gaeilge ar a shon agus ghlac an Tánaiste Dick Spring, Ambasáid na hÉireann i Londain, an dlíodóir Gareth Peirce agus an Cairdinéal Cahal Daly ról gníomhach sa chás.
Dr Féilim Ó Adhmaill was convicted in November 1994 of conspiracy to explode bombs.
Ciontaíodh an Dr Féilim Ó hAdhmaill i mí na Samhna 1994 as comhcheilg chun buamaí a phléascadh.
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Gearradh téarma 25 bliain sa phríosún air.
Dr Ó Adhmaill was a lecturer at Lancaster University at the time.
Bhí an Dr Ó hAdhmaill ina léachtóir in Ollscoil Lancaster ag an am.
He was caught in a garage near Wakefield, Yorkshire with 17kg of Semtex in his car.
Beireadh air i ngaráiste in aice le Wakefield, Yorkshire agus 17kg de Semtex ina charr.
The problems with the use of Irish began when Dr Ó Adhmaill was remanded in Belmarsh Prison.
Thosaigh na fadhbanna le húsáid na Gaeilge nuair a bhí an Dr Ó hAdhmaill ar athchur i bPríosún Belmarsh.
He was complaining that he had not received any letter that his wife had written to him and that he was not allowed to have a telephone conversation in Irish.
Bhí sé ag gearán nach bhfuair sé aon litir a scríobh a bhean chéile chuige agus nach raibh cead aige comhrá teileafóin a bheith aige i nGaeilge.
The Department of Foreign Affairs asked the Irish Embassy in London to investigate the matter.
D’iarr an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha ar Ambasáid na hÉireann i Londain an scéal a fhiosrú.
The British Home Affairs Office told an executive from the Embassy on 29 March 1994: “It is the usual procedure that category A prisoners are expected to conduct visits and telephone calls in English.
D’inis Oifig Gnóthaí Baile na Breataine d’fheidhmeannach ón Ambasáid ar an 29 Márta 1994: “It is the usual procedure that category A prisoners are expected to conduct visits and telephone calls in English.
If it is not possible for the prisoner to use English, the visit and telephone call can take place in another language provided the visits and telephone calls are monitored.”
If it is not possible for the prisoner to use English, the visit and telephone call can take place in another language provided the visits and telephone calls are monitored.”
Conradh na Gaeilge lobbied the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dick Spring.
Rinne Conradh na Gaeilge stocaireacht ar an Tánaiste agus Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha, Dick Spring.
Two Labor Party MPs, Declan Bree and Frank Prendergast, also made a personal petition on his behalf.
Rinne beirt Theachtaí Dála de chuid Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre, Declan Bree agus Frank Prendergast, achainí phearsanta ar a shon fosta.
The Tánaiste informed the Secretary General of the Treaty, Seán Mac Mathúna, that “the use of Irish by prisoners and their visitors in Britain was very much on the Government’s mind as far as it relates to the rights of prisoners and the regime in force in prisons”.
Thug an Tánaiste le fios d’Ard-Rúnaí an Chonartha, Seán Mac Mathúna, go raibh “úsáid na Gaeilge ag príosúnaigh agus cuairteoirí leo sa Bhreatain go mór ar intinn an Rialtais sa mhéid is a bhaineann sé le ceartanna na bpríosúnach agus leis an réim i bhfeidhm sna príosúin”.
As a result of the Embassy’s intervention, Dr Ó Adhmaill informed that the barrier to the use of Irish has ended.
Mar thoradh ar idirghabháil na hAmbasáide, chuir an Dr Ó hAdhmaill in iúl gur tháinig deireadh leis an bhac ar úsáid na Gaeilge.
The Tánaiste told Seán Mac Mathúna from Conradh na Gaeilge that the Embassy in London “set up an inquiry” and that it is now permissible to use Irish during telephone conversations and visits.
D’inis an Tánaiste do Sheán Mac Mathúna ó Chonradh na Gaeilge gur chuir an Ambasáid i Londain “fiosrúchán ar bun” agus gur cheadmhach anois Gaeilge a úsáid le linn comhráite teileafóin agus cuartaíochta.
“We will continue to be vigilant for this solution as necessary,” claimed Dick Spring in his letter on 9 November 1994.
“Leanaimuidne airdeallach don réiteach sao mar is gá,” a mhaígh Dick Spring ina litir ar an 9 Samhain 1994.
Irish language banned in Full Sutton But the problems continued when Ó Adhmaill was moved to Full Sutton Prison after his conviction.
Cosc ar an Ghaeilge i Full Sutton Ach lean na fadhbanna nuair a bogadh Ó hAdhmaill go Príosún Full Sutton tar éis a chiontaithe.
Máiréad Uí Adhmaill wrote to members of the Government to inform them that she and her two sons were having difficulties speaking Irish with Féilim.
Scríobh Máiréad Uí Adhmaill chuig baill den Rialtas chun a chur in iúl dóibh go raibh deacrachtaí aici féin agus ag a beirt mhac Gaeilge a labhairt le Féilim.
She said that letters and cards in Irish sent to Feilim were blocked, phone calls were cut off (even at Christmas) and he was forbidden to speak to his wife and son in Irish.
Dúirt sí gur cuireadh bac le litreacha agus le cártaí i nGaeilge a cuireadh chuig Feilim, gur gearradh scairteanna gutháin (fiú um Nollag) agus go raibh cosc air labhairt lena bhean chéile agus lena chlann mac as Gaeilge.
“Gaelic is the language of our family.
“Is í an Ghaeilge teanga ár dteaghlach.
Leoga is the only language we speak with our children – both of them attend Gaelscoileanna in Belfast,” wrote Máiréad Uí Adhmaill.
Leoga, is í an t-aon teanga a labharaimid lenár bpáistí – tá an bheirt acu ag freastal ar Ghaelscoileanna i mBéal Feirste,” a scríobh Máiréad Uí Adhmaill.
“I believe that this ban is a breach of my family’s fundamental rights and, given that no such ban is used on prisoners from any other country in British prisons, it is clear to me that the authorities see the ban as a punishment for us because we are Irish.”
“Creidimse gur sárú é an cosc seo ar chearta bunúsacha mo theaghlaigh agus, ó tharla nach mbaintear úsáid as a leithéid de chosc le cimí ó aon tír eile i bpríosúin na Breataine, is léir domsa go ndearcann na húdaráis ar an chosc mar phionós orainne as siocair gur Éireannaigh sinn.”
Executives from the Irish Embassy met Dr Ó Adhmaill and the authorities of the prisons where he was being held.
Chas feidhmeannaigh de chuid Ambasáid na hÉireann leis an Dr Ó hAdhmaill agus le húdaráis na bpríosún ina raibh sé á choinneáil.
In addition, the Irish Embassy in London wrote to the Department of Home Affairs to express their concerns about the situation.
Lena chois sin, scríobh Ambasáid na hÉireann i Londain chuig an Roinn Gnóthaí Baile lena n-imní a chur in iúl faoin chás.
The Prison Service admitted to the Embassy in writing that there was a delay in the delivery of letters to Ó Adhmaill because they did not have a translator available.
D’admhaigh Seirbhís na bPríosún don Ambasáid i scríbhinn go raibh moill i gceist le seachadadh litreacha chuig Ó hAdhmaill mar nach raibh aistritheoir ar fáil dóibh.
“It has been explained to him that it is not feasible to give Dr Ó Adhmaill his incoming letters before they have been read, because there is no desire to interfere unnecessarily with his communications, other options are being explored.”
“It has been explained to him that it is not feasible to give Dr Ó hAdhmaill his incoming letters before they have been read, because there is no desire to interfere unnecessarily with his communications, other options are being explored.”
But things took a turn for the worse at the start of 1995.
Ach chuaigh rudaí in olcas ag tús na bliana 1995.
An attempt by members of the IRA to escape from Whitemoor Prison led to instructions from the Director General of the Prison Service, Derek Lewis, that the prison security manual must be strictly adhered to.
Mar thoradh ar iarracht a rinne baill den IRA éalú as Príosún Whitemoor tháinig treoir ó Ard-Stiúrthóir na Seirbhíse Príosúin, Derek Lewis, go gcaithfí cloí go docht feasta le lámhleabhar slándála na bpríosún.
Governor Full Sutton would no longer have any flexibility in speaking Irish, for example.
Ní bheadh aon solúbthacht feasta ag Gobharnóir Full Sutton i leith labhairt na Gaeilge, mar shampla.
Máiréad Uí Adhmaill intended to visit her husband in the new year but Uí Adhmaill’s lawyers were informed that he would have to speak to her only in English.
Bhí sé i gceist ag Máiréad Uí Adhmaill cuairt a thabhairt ar a fear céile sa bhliain úr ach tugadh le fios do dhlíodóirí Uí Adhmaill go mbeadh air labhairt léi i mBéarla amháin.
Feilim Ó Adhmaill refused to accept this condition but his wife had left Belfast by that time.
Dhiúltaigh Feilim Ó hAdhmaill glacadh leis an choinníoll seo ach bhí a bhean chéile tar éis Béal Feirste a fhágáil fán am sin.
Brian Mulligan from the Irish Embassy in London petitioned the Community Affairs Office to make a one-time exception for this visit and to allow them to speak in Irish.
Rinne Brian Mulligan ó Ambasáid na hÉireann i Londain achainí ar an Oifig Gnóthaí Pobail go ndéanfaí eisceacht aon uaire don chuairt seo agus go dtabharfaí cead dóibh labhairt i nGaeilge.
A scun scan was denied for this petition.
Diúltaíodh scun scan don achainí seo.
The Department of Foreign Affairs asked the Embassy to make another attempt to convince the Home Affairs Office that a “pragmatic solution” should be found on the issue.
D’iarr an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha ar an Ambasáid iarracht eile a dhéanamh a chur ina luí ar an Oifig Gnóthaí Baile gur cheart teacht ar “pragmatic solution” ar an cheist.
Phil Wheatley informed Philip McDonagh of the Embassy that the prison security manual stated that prisoners who could speak English did not have the option of having a conversation in any other language.
Thug Phil Wheatley le fios do Philip McDonagh ón Ambasáid gur dúradh i lámhleabhar slándála na bpríosún nach raibh rogha ag príosúnaigh a bhí ábalta Béarla a labhairt comhrá a bheith acu in aon teanga eile.
An interpreter would be needed for prisoners who did not speak English.
Bheadh ateangaire de dhíth i gcás príosúnaigh nach raibh Béarla acu.
Wheatley said that it was possible to find a pragmatic solution in Belmarsh if one of the bards was fluent in Irish! There was no such thing in Full Sutton, however.
Dúirt Wheatley go rabhthas ábalta teacht ar réiteach pragmatach in Belmarsh siocair go raibh Gaeilge líofa ag duine de na bairdéirí! Ní raibh a leithéid acu in Full Sutton, áfach.
Despite what was said at those meetings, Máiréad Ui Adhmaill told the Embassy’s executives that a certain amount of flexibility was shown in terms of speaking Irish during the visit she made to her husband in January.
In ainneoin an mhéid a dúradh ag na cruinnithe sin, d’inis Máiréad Ui Adhmaill d’fheidhmeannaigh na hAmbasáide gur léiríodh méid áirithe solúbthachta ó thaobh labhairt na Gaeilge le linn na cuairte a thug sí ar a fear céile i mí Eanáir.
“It could be that our two approaches to the British authorities had the desired effect, although there is a continuing reluctance to acknowledge a change of policy and thereby set a precedent,” wrote Philip McDonagh in a confidential fax sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs .
“It could be that our two approaches to the British authorities had the desired effect, although there is a continuing reluctance to acknowledge a change of policy and thereby set a precedent,” a scríobh Philip McDonagh i bhfaics rúnda a cuireadh chuig an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha.
It is clear from another document, however, that Mrs. Adhamhaill only managed to have a five-minute conversation with her husband over two days.
Is léir ó cháipéis eile, áfach, nár éirigh le Bean Uí Adhmhaill ach comhrá cúig bhomaite a bheith aici lena fear céile thar dhá lá.
Dr Ó Adhmaill was fined for his attempts to speak Irish to her on that occasion.
Gearradh píonóis ar an Dr Ó hAdhmaill as na hiarrachtaí a rinne sé Gaeilge a labhairt léi ar an ócáid sin.
He told an executive from the Embassy that the telephone, radio and electricity were switched off in the visiting room to ensure that any attempt to speak Irish would be heard during the visit.
D’inis sé d’fheidhmeannach ón Ambasáid go raibh an teileafón, raidió agus leictreachas múchta sa seomra cuairte chun a chinntiú go gcloisfí aon iarracht an Ghaeilge a labhairt le linn na cuairte.
He had written 16 letters to his family over the Christmas period but by mid- January, they had received not one.
Bhí 16 litir scríofa aige chuig a theaghlach thar tréimhse na Nollag ach fá lár mhí Eanáir, ní raibh oiread is ceann amháin faighte acu.
The Irish side of the Anglo-Irish Secretariat informed British officials on 17 January 1995 that the behavior of the authorities in the case of Máiréad’s visit to Full Sutton was a ‘considerable over-reaction’: “In terms of avoiding unnecessary controversy the overall approach of the authorities seems extremely counterproductive,” it was said.
Thug taobh na hÉireann den Rúnaíocht Angla-Éireannach le fios d’fheidhmeannaigh na Breataine ar an 17 Eanáir 1995 gur ‘considerable over-reaction’ a bhí in iompar na n-údarás i gcás cuairt Mháiréad ar Full Sutton: “In terms of avoiding needless controversy the overall approach of the authorities seems extremely counterproductive,” a dúradh.
An executive from the Embassy met Félim and the Governor of the prison on 18 January 1995.
Chas feidhmeannach ón Ambasáid le Féilim agus le Gobharnóir an phríosúin ar an 18 Eanáir 1995.
A Cypriot of Turkish origin who was in the same unit was allowed to speak his native language with his children and the executive questioned why he and Ó Adhmaill were discriminated against.
Bhí cead ag Cipireach de bhunadh na Tuirce a bhí san aonad céanna a theanga dúchais a labhairt lena pháistí agus cheistigh an feidhmeannach cad chuige a ndearnadh idirdhealú idir é agus Ó hAdhmaill.
Because his two sons spoke English, he would have to speak to them in English, said the Governor.
Siocair go raibh Béarla ag a bheirt mhac bheadh air labhairt leo i mBéarla a dúirt an Gobharnóir.