Two men from Northern Ireland yesterday ended their 12-day hunger strike in Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow, shortly after they were sentenced to three months for a breach of the peace and contravention of the Prevention of Terrorism Act at Stranraer Sheriff's Court.
Both men have lodged an appeal against their sentence, which will be heard in the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday.
Raymond Barrow (39) and his brother, James, (41) from Derry, had begun their hunger strike while they awaited sentencing but after an appeal by their family, they decided to end the protest. The Irish consulate in Edinburgh welcomed their decision as "very good news indeed".
Sheriff James R. Smith said the court took the view that contravention of the PTA was "a very serious matter and this is a particularly serious example".
The court was told that the Barrows had attempted to drive out of a restricted zone at the Cairnryan ferry terminal on April 19th after they had travelled on the Larne-Stranraer ferry. Police had stopped their car but were forced to call in other officers when the men locked themselves inside. Mr Martin Jones for Raymond Barrow said his client did not have a criminal record and was suffering from depression. He had also not eaten for 12 days.
Dismissing his comments, Sheriff Smith said: "If he wants to go on hunger strike then that is up to him . . . Is there a medical condition that precluded him from eating or has he chosen to do so?"
Mr Paul McBride for James Barrow said there had been no apparent risk to the public because of the men's actions and his client had suffered substantially as a result of being held in custody.
After the hearing, their brother-in-law, Mr Philip Kelly, who is an SDLP councillor for the Waterside in Derry, said he was upset with the sentence and the attitude of the sheriff during the proceedings. "It was a disgrace." He said that although the sheriff had denied bail pending the appeal to the High Court, he was confident they would be released later this week.
"Everyone is surprised at the sentence because the social worker's reports were very favourable, but the sheriff just wouldn't grant bail. However, they are in good spirits and after they spoke with their sister Arlene, who asked them to come off the hunger strike, they agreed that they had made their protest and ended the hunger strike. We believe they will be released on Thursday," Mr Kelly added.