Protest over gaol cruelty

by Christopher Howse A CATHOLIC bishop has called the treatment of a prisoner in Wakefield Prison "extremely cruel''.
Alter a pastoral visit to the prison last week, Bishop Edward Daly of Derry said that he was appalled by the conditions in which Mr Shane O'Doherty was being held. He is in solitary confinement, even being exercised alone.
Mr O'Doherty has served nine years of a life sentence for sending letter bombs. He has expressed repentance for his crime. Bishop Daly is convinced he would not return to violence it' released.
The bishop spent two hours with Mr O'Doherty who comes from Derry. He backed a campaign to have Irish prisoners held nearer their homes so that relatives might visit them. "I feel it is time that the British Government should show a little compassion for Shane O'Doherty and some of the other prisoners from here who have served many years in English prisons and who wish to be transferred to prisons here (Northern Ireland) to be closer to their families".
Mr O'Doherty has fought a long campaign to have his conditions improved. After letters were published in the Catholic Herald. his privileges were withdrawn. Rules about prisoners' letters have been modified since then.
Mr O'Doherty has been moved around from prison to prison in England over the last year. He has received some support from Lord Longford and Lord Hylton.