Women thwarted in efforts to save prisoner

Two Wexford women were yesterday forced to abandon a 48hour fund-raising fast in support of a prisoner on death row in the United States. The women had begun the fast in Main Street, Wexford, to highlight the case of Roger Collins, a prisoner at Jackson Penitentiary in Georgia who faces execution by electric chair within 18 months.

Ms Rachel Mackin, from Kilmyshall, and Ms Eileen Murphy, from Bunclody, gave up the protest after several hours when gardai informed them they could not continue without a permit. They plan to continue the protest at a future date.

Ms Mackin, who runs a charity shop in Bunclody and has three grandchildren, had never heard of Collins until a month ago, when she heard a discussion about his case on the radio.

"I wrote to Roger and got a letter back and it's all taken off from there," she says.

"I've never in my life done anything like this before, never in my wildest dreams . . . [but] I know in my heart and soul from the couple of letters I've got from him that I'm doing the right thing."

Collins (40) has been on death row for 22 years. He was convicted of murdering and raping his ex-girlfriend, Ms Delores Lester, but claims he is innocent and that he tried to persuade the man who killed her to spare her life.

Ms Mackin and Ms Murphy were yesterday attempting to raise some of the £85,000 in legal and other fees which they say are needed to have his case reopened. At the time of his conviction, Collins, who is black, was aged 18 and illiterate. It is claimed he understood little of the legal process involved.

The fast was Ms Mackin's idea. "I couldn't do a walk because I have a very bad back, so that was what popped into my mind . . . Money is the whole thing that has him there. If he had enough money to fight his case at the very beginning he wouldn't be where he is now."

Collins, she said, has had his head, arms and legs shaved on five occasions in preparation for his execution.

"Guilty or innocent, that in itself, in my book anyway, is inhuman . . . He feels so guilty that he didn't do more to try to stop this other fellow from killing the girl. And he says in his letters that he deserved his punishment. But 22 years, for heaven's sake."

The campaign to have Collins's case reopened is being led in Ireland by two men, Mr Billy Colbert, from Portlaoise, Co Laois, and Mr Aidan O'Leary, from Camolin, Co Wexford. They have visited Collins in prison and will be travelling to Georgia to meet him again in October. They also plan to meet members of the victim's family.

Mr Colbert said the failure to apply for a permit for the women's fund-raising fast was a genuine error and the demonstration was called off as soon as gardai brought the matter to their attention. Other fund-raising events are also planned, he said.

The two men have been in contact with several lawyers in the US, including Mr Johnny Cochran, who defended O.J. Simpson.

Mr Colbert said the money was needed for legal and medical fees, including psychiatric reports on Collins's condition at the time of the murder.

He has asked that anyone requiring further information to contact him at (0502) 60764.