Prisoners Northern Ireland

A U.S. judge Monday ordered three escapees from a prison in Northern Ireland extradited to Britain, finding that they would not be punished for their political views if returned to British custody. Kevin Artt, Pol Brennan and Terence Kirby, who all escaped from Northern Ireland's Maze Prison in 1983, were arrested in California between 1992 and 1994. Artt and Kirby were convicted in Northern Ireland of murder; Brennan on explosives charges.

The last four inmates have left Northern Ireland's Maze prison, which will be shut down as part of the British province's peace process. The last three Protestant prisoners were moved to Maghaberry Prison near Belfast, the provincial capital, and the sole republican prisoner was moved to Magilligan jail in County Londonderry. The 1998 Good Friday agreement provided for early releases of those affiliated with groups that declared cease-fires.

The last four inmates have left Northern Ireland's Maze prison, which will be shut down as part of the British province's peace process. The last three Protestant prisoners were moved to Maghaberry Prison near Belfast, the provincial capital, and the sole republican prisoner was moved to Magilligan jail in County Londonderry. The 1998 Good Friday agreement provided for early releases of those affiliated with groups that declared cease-fires.

A federal appeals court in San Francisco on Friday blocked the extradition of three Irish nationalists--two of them convicted murderers--wanted by Britain on allegations of terrorism. The 2-1 decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals does not mean that Kevin Artt, Terence Kirby and Pol Brennan ultimately will be able to remain in the U.S. But they will be entitled to further hearings, and their attorneys expressed confidence that they will succeed in avoiding extradition.

A federal appeals court in San Francisco on Friday blocked the extradition of three Irish nationalists--two of them convicted murderers--wanted by Britain on allegations of terrorism. The 2-1 decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals does not mean that Kevin Artt, Terence Kirby and Pol Brennan ultimately will be able to remain in the U.S. But they will be entitled to further hearings, and their attorneys expressed confidence that they will succeed in avoiding extradition.

Come out, ye Black and Tans! Come out 'n' fight me like a man! Come and tell us about the medals ye won in Fla-anders! Tell 'em how the I-R-A made ye run like hell away. . . . It was a dinner party to honor a man who starved himself to death, and the local Irish band had just launched into its first guitar-thrumming rebel chorus.

In a dramatic gamble of grit and desperation, a British Cabinet minister journeyed to the notorious Maze prison here Friday and persuaded Protestant terrorists not to kill flagging peace hopes in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Secretary Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam spent nearly three hours inside the prison where 537 Protestant and Catholic terrorists live in separate communities.

Prisoners in Northern Ireland's main guerrilla prison wrecked their cells in a rampage provoked by a guards' strike, officials in the British-ruled province said. Guards at the top security Maze prison refused to work after one of them was disciplined for sleeping at his post, prison officials said. Trouble flared when the inmates were confined to their cells, missed breakfast and had all their visits and deliveries of food parcels abruptly canceled.

The Irish government, declaring that it wishes to maintain the peace process in Northern Ireland, released nine Irish Republican Army members from its prisons Friday. Justice Minister Nora Owen, a member of the new coalition government, also announced a seven-day holiday parole for 30 more IRA members in Ireland's jails. She said the government, which took office last week, is "anxious to consolidate the Northern Ireland peace process and move it forward."

British loyalists in Northern Ireland announced a cease-fire Thursday, heralding a possible end to the politically inspired violence that has racked the province for 25 years. The move, by largely Protestant paramilitary groups that want to keep British control in Northern Ireland, came six weeks after the outlawed Irish Republican Army announced its own cease-fire, which seemed to provide a serious platform for the peace process initiated by Britain and Ireland last December.

In a dramatic gamble of grit and desperation, a British Cabinet minister journeyed to the notorious Maze prison here Friday and persuaded Protestant terrorists not to kill flagging peace hopes in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Secretary Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam spent nearly three hours inside the prison where 537 Protestant and Catholic terrorists live in separate communities.

A U.S. judge Monday ordered three escapees from a prison in Northern Ireland extradited to Britain, finding that they would not be punished for their political views if returned to British custody. Kevin Artt, Pol Brennan and Terence Kirby, who all escaped from Northern Ireland's Maze Prison in 1983, were arrested in California between 1992 and 1994. Artt and Kirby were convicted in Northern Ireland of murder; Brennan on explosives charges.

Come out, ye Black and Tans! Come out 'n' fight me like a man! Come and tell us about the medals ye won in Fla-anders! Tell 'em how the I-R-A made ye run like hell away. . . . It was a dinner party to honor a man who starved himself to death, and the local Irish band had just launched into its first guitar-thrumming rebel chorus.

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