THE BRITISH government has been urged to review the "cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment" of Ms Roisin McAliskey, who is wanted by the German authorities in connection with the IRA bombing of a British army barracks in Osnabruck. Ms McAliskey is six months pregnant.
A House of Commons motion tabled yesterday by Mr Kevin McNamara, a former Labour Party spokesman on Northern Ireland, cites Amnesty International's concerns over Ms McAliskey's prison conditions and "notes with despair" that she may be separated from her child after the birth.
"If she is still in custody at the time of her confinement, she will not be able to use the mother and baby unit at Holloway Prison if it is being used by other prisoners, the motion states, adding that it supports Amnesty International's contention that the possible decision to separate mother and child would damage the mother and child bonding relationship.
A spokesman for Mr McNamara's office said he hoped the motion would "gain momentum" and that MPs from all parties would support it. Mr McNamara has visited Ms McAliskey, in prison and has frequently raised her case with the British Home Secretary, Mr Michael Howard.
Mr McNamara contends in the motion that Ms McAliskey's physical and psychological health has deteriorated because of her treatment, and calls for an urgent review.
As a Category A, high risk prisoner on remand, she is regularly strip searched, has limited access to visitors and restricted exercise.
"[This motion] calls upon the government to review urgently the conditions under which Category A prisoners, whether convicted or on remand, are held, remembering that no matter how grievous the crime for which they have been convicted or the charges which are levelled against them, their human rights too have to be respected and treated with dignity," the motion states.
Ms McAliskey (25), a community worker from Coalisland, Co Tyrone, is wanted by the German authorities in connection with the IRA bombing of the British army base at Osnabruck in Germany last June. No one was injured in the attack.
On Thursday she will appear before Bow Street Magistrates Court, where it is expected the date for an extradition hearing will be set. If extradition is granted she is likely to be charged with attempted murder and explosives offences.
Amnesty International highlighted Ms McAliskey's case last week in a bulletin which is posted worldwide. Her mother, Mrs Bernadette McAliskey, the former Mid Ulster MP and civil rights campaigner, has also publicised the case on the Internet.