DECLARING SUPPORT FOR THE ROISIN McALISKEY JUSTICE CAMPAIGN, IN DEMANDING ROISIN'S RELEASE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND PROTESTING THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE TO WHICH SHE HAS BEEN SUBJECTED.

WHEREAS, Roisin McAliskey, daughter of world renowned civil rights leader, Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, has been held in custody by British Authorities in England since November 1996, with no formal charges made against her and no credible evidence brought forward; and

WHEREAS, Roisin McAliskey has been denied any opportunity to defend herself; and

WHEREAS, A witness that the British and German authorities claimed had identified Roisin McAliskey as a suspect in a mortar attack in Germany, subsequently came forward and denied having made any such identification and denied ever having seen Roisin McAliskey; and

WHEREAS, Roisin McAliskey, a twenty-five year old woman, who gave birth to her first child, Loinnir in May 1997, has serious health problems, including traumatic asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, and an ulcer, which put her at risk; and

WHEREAS, During the first four months of her incarceration, Roisin McAliskey was denied the most basic medical and prenatal care, held in solitary confinement 23 hours per day, strip searched and average of twice per day, and threatened with separation from her baby; and

WHEREAS, Human Rights Watch-Helsinki, the International League of Human Rights, Amnesty International, and over forty members of the United States Congress have all protested her incarceration and treatment; and, now, be it

RESOLVED, That the City and County of San Francisco declare support for the Roisin McAliskey Justice Campaign, in demanding Roisin's immediate release by the British Government and protesting the physical and psychological torture to which she has been subjected.

Passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco: Tom Ammiano, Sue Bierman, Amos Brown, Leslie R. Katz, Barbara Kaufman, Susan Leal, Jose Medina, Gavin Newsom, Mabel Teng, Michael J. Yaki, Leland Y. Yee.

Signed, Mayor Willie Brown
August 8, 1997

RESOLUTION NO.59,005-N.S.

RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF ROISIN McALISKEY

WHEREAS, Roisin McAliskey, daughter of world renowned civil rights leader Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, has been incarcerated in a British prison since November 1996 with no formal charges made against her and no credible evidence brought forward; and

WHEREAS, Roisin has been denied bail and any opportunity to defend herself; and

WHEREAS, Roisin, a twenty-five year old woman who is due to give birth to her first child in May 1997, has serious health problems, including traumatic asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia and an ulcer, which put both her and her baby at risk; and

WHEREAS, during the first four months of her incarceration, Roisin was denied the most basic medical and prenatal care, held in solitary confinement 23 hours per day, strip-searched an average of twice per day and threatened with separation from her baby; and

WHEREAS, Human Rights Watch-Helsinki, the International League of Human Rights, and Amnesty International have all protested her incarceration and the treatment she has been receiving including an "urgent action" issued by Amnesty International (only the second time they have done so for someone held in connection to Northern Ireland).

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Berkeley joins the Roisin McAliskey Justice Campaign in demanding Roisin's immediate release by the British government and an immediate end to the physical and psychological torture of this young Irish woman.

The foregoing Resolution was adopted by the Berkeley City Council on June 3, 1997, by the following vote:

Ayes: Councilmembers Breland, Maio, Olds, Shirek, Spring, Wooley, Worthington and Mayor Dean.

Noes. None.

Abstain: Councilmember Armstrong.

Signed, Shirley Dean, Mayor

Attest: Sherry M. Kelly, City Clerk

The British Counsel General in San Francisco, Malcolm Dougal, has sent a letter to the Berkeley City Council protesting the above resolution passed by the Council on June 3, 1997 regarding Roisin McAliskey. Mr. Dougal states that the resolution contains factual errors, and he claims that "it is categorically untrue that McAliskey has been a victim of physical and psychological torture in a British prison," and that "she has been afforded every opportunity to defend herself."

His efforts to have the city council revoke the resolution to date have been unsuccessful.

Here is the text of the letter from Malcolm Dougal, MH Consul General, British Consulate-General, San Francisco.

Dear Mayor Dean

I am in receipt of the City of Berkeley's Resolution 59,005-N.S. passed on 3 June and the cover letter of City Clerk Sherry Kelly dated 19 June about Roisin McAliskey.

There are a number of factual errors stated and represented in both the Resolution and the City Clerk's letter concerning this matter. In particular, I have noted that the City of Berkeley "demands...the British Government...end the physical and psychological torture of this young Irish woman".

First, it is categorically untrue that McAliskey has been the victim of physical and psychological torture in a British prison. It is true that she was incarcerated pending the extradition hearing: such incarceration is in keeping with standard rules for detainees. Detention in prison, with its rules and procedures, does not equate with torture.

Second, the German Government is seeking McAliskey's extradition to face charges, including attempted murder, relating to the IRA bombing at Osnabruck, Germany in June 1996. The German Federal Prosecutor's office reiterated their request for extradition in February 1997. Under the European Convention on Extradition the German prosecuting authorities were required to provide the court with identification evidence, particulars of the offence and a statement of the relevant law. This was provided and the decision now rests with the Court, not the British Government (just as would happen in the United States)

Third, McAliskey has now been granted bail and is residing with her daughter in a Mother and Baby Unit. She has been represented by a legal adviser throughout and may have daily communication with him by phone, letter or personal visits. She has been afforded every opportunity to defend herself and is doing so by challenging the German Government's request in the courts.

I do hope, now that it has additional information, the Berkeley City Council will revoke its Resolution.

Because of its interest in international humanitarian affairs, I imagine the City Council has noted with horror the recent murder of two policemen in N. Ireland, leaving 2 widows and 5 orphans.

I would hope that its concern for events in N. Ireland will in the future find a better home than a woman whose extradition from the U.K. is sought for attempted murder.

I do hope that you will call me if you would like to discuss this matter further.

cc: Anthony Cary, Cousellor, Political & Public Affairs British Embassy, Washington