The London based human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, has called for the Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to approve the repatriation of prisoner Noel Maguire.

Noel Maguire, an Irishman who is currently being held in Whitemoor Prison in England has applied for a transfer to Portlaoise Prison in the Republic of Ireland on five separate occasions to be closer to his family. Each of Mr Maguire's applications has been categorically rejected, with the last application refusal in October 2008 stating that he had "closer ties to the United Kingdom than to this [Republic of Ireland] jurisdiction".

However Mr Maguire is an Irish citizen, carries a valid Irish passport and his family live in the Irish Republic, including his wife and two young children. The true reason why Mr Maguire's application for prison transferral has been continually rejected remains a mystery.

In his statement, Peter Tatchell, said that Minister Ahern's decision was "unbalanced, unfair and lacking in reason and compassion." Mr Tatchell also asks why Mr Maguire is being singled out for special penalisation, after all of his co-defendants successfully applied for prison transfer to the Republic. He adds:

"To continue to deny this man repatriation on compassionate grounds is senseless, cruel and heartless."

The Celtic League has campaigned actively for Mr Maguire's release over the last several years and is working closely with the Irish Freedom Committee in the USA and others in campaigning for Mr Maguire's repatriation. At its 2007 AGM, the Celtic League passed a resolution calling for Mr Maguire's repatriation to the Republic of Ireland.

The full statement from Peter Tatchell can be found below.

"Peter Tatchell appeals for Noel McGuire's repatriation to Ireland

The recent decision by Irish Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, to refuse Noel Maguire's fifth application for repatriation to Portlaoise prison in Ireland is unbalanced, unfair and lacking in reason and compassion.

While all four of his Irish co-accused have long since been repatriated to Ireland, Noel Maguire has not. He alone continues to repeatedly and unsuccessfully appeal for a transfer. Why is he being singled out for special penalisation?

In his most recent refusal, Minister Ahern claims that Noel has "closer ties to the U.K." than Ireland. This is not true. Noel has an Irish passport and has no family in Britain. His two sisters, living with their uncle in Kildare, have both visited him at least twice while he has been held in England, and have said they will visit him if he was to be transferred to Ireland. Noel's closest blood relatives, his two children, live with his wife in Carlow; an hour's drive from Portlaoise.

I urge, in the strongest terms, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to show mercy and accept Noel Maguire's application for transfer to Portlaoise prison, where he can serve out the remainder of his 20-year sentence closer to his wife and two children who he has not seen for nine years. To continue to deny this man repatriation on compassionate grounds is senseless, cruel and heartless.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Tatchell Human rights campaigner, London UK"

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 10/01/09

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