Death in Maghaberry prison of republican socialist

Saturday June 09, 2007 03:13

by Gan ainm - Belfast ABC

A former republican socialist activist and volunteer is the latest in a long list of deaths which have occured in the 'special supervision unit' of maghaberry prison.

As we write west Belfast is coming to terms with news of the death in Maghaberry prison of John Kennaway.
John was a former Volunteer with the Irish National Liberation Army who played a significant role in the fight against Loyalist killer squads in the city for over two decades.
Whilst imprisoned in Long Kesh John by his own admission participated in the audacious behind bars assasination of Loyalist seriel killer and LVF commander Billy 'king rat' Wright in 1997.
Following his early release on licence after the Good Friday Agreement John was subjected to harassment at the hands of the RUC and PSNI, his licence was invoked some months ago and he was returned to prison to recommence his life sentence.
Early reports claim that his death was by his own hand, it is too early to confirm this. What we know is that the Special Supervision Unit (the official term for the punishment block) in which he died is manned by screws who are without exception Loyalist in character, anti catholic and vicious and vindictive in the extreme. According to eye witness accounts from members of Belfast ABC it is a place in which human rights dont exist and in which staff are accountable to nobody.
Maghaberry prison is situated in an area in which the LVF hold much support and in which King Rat frequently operated. Just days ago he was denied compassionate parole to attend the christening of his grand daughter.
Johns passing represents the latest in a long line of deaths in the prisons SSU (see the link below for details).
He was a down to earth lad, witty and with an instinctive empathy towards the Belfast working class from which he came. By all accounts he was also a loyal helpful and concerned neighbour and his loss will be bitterly felt in the community in which he lived.