Fintan Lane has been released this morning

by Joe Sheehan Fri Jan 09, 2004 12:20

Good to hear, welcome back out Fintan!

by 1 of - GNAW Dublin Fri Jan 09, 2004 12:25

Fintan - hope that your time being locked up by the State passed peacefully and quickly.

Keep up the good work with the anti war actions, GNAW looks forward to working with the IAWM again in the future on direct actions.

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62788

by John Jefferies - Cork Anti-War Campaign Fri Jan 09, 2004 12:55 corkantiwar at hotmail dot com

CORK ANTI WAR CAMPAIGN



PRESS RELEASE

9th January 2004


ANTI-WAR PROTESTER FINTAN LANE HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON

Dr. Fintan Lane, National PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement and Chairman of Cork Anti-War Campaign has been released this morning (Friday) from Limerick Prison where he was serving a 60 day sentence following his refusal to pay a €750 fine for his part in a peaceful anti-war demonstration at Shannon Airport.

The release of Dr. Lane, two weeks ahead of the expected release date of January 24th, has been welcomed by Cork Anti-War Campaign. CAWC is proud of the stand Fintan Lane has taken which has re-focussed attention of the ongoing use of Shannon Airport as a military stop-off point for troops and military equipment for the United States in their war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The jailing of Fintan Lane and others who have been sentenced or fined for their resistance to the misuse of Shannon Airport and breach of Irish neutrality has been a national disgrace. With the United having now abandoned its search for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, the major pretext for war and the excuse used by the Irish government for the use of Shannon as a US military base has evaporated. The fig leaf of legitimacy put forward by Bertie Ahern is gone and he must now explain his actions to the Dáil and to the Irish people”.

“Cork Anti-War Campaign is looking forward to welcoming Fintan home and hope he can soon resume his excellent work in the interests of peace and Irish neutrality. Finally we would like to thank all those who sent messages of support, financial contributions and who wrote to Fintan in prison, along with public representatives who lobbied in the Dáil and elsewhere for Fintan’s release. Public pressure on the government has clearly had an effect in this case”


Ends.

Contacts: Dominic Carroll, Tel: (023) 40881 / (087) 1258 325.
John Jefferies, Tel: (086) 3004573 / (021) 427 0409
Joe Moore, Tel: (087) 299 4796

by iosaf Fri Jan 09, 2004 13:42 bcn

Señor Aznar increased the price of postage and I reckon some of the postcards didn't get through. - Now there's a thing, is there any contact address for "the Freedman Fintan"?

by Anonymous Fri Jan 09, 2004 14:38

Very glad you are out Fintan. I commend your bravery and self -sacrifice.

by Dominic Carroll - Cork Anti-War Campaign / Clonakilty Against the War Fri Jan 09, 2004 15:07 087 1258325

We're delighted that Fintan has been released from Limerick Prison, and salute his stand. He has demonstrated great resilience and is to be commended. His release has been officially designated as 'Temporary Release', meaning his sentence continues to run until 24th January.

Thanks to all who corresponded with Fintan in prison, and to those who sent him presents, who contributed to the fund, put up posters, wrote letters to the papers, took part in vigils and protests, contacted the media and progressive politicians, and to all others involved in keeping his case in the public eye and in providing solidarity with Fintan during his 45-day incarceration.

by Tim Fri Jan 09, 2004 17:57

There was a colourful vigil of about 15 people outside the prison last night, (including five people who had earlier that day been up before the same judge who jailed Fintan)

We didn't think he'd be out so soon.
It's great Fintan is at large once again, - (and that we won't be standing out in the cold and rain again tonight!)

The Limerick Leader sent a photographer and a reporter to cover it and they even seemed interested in going into the prison to interview Fintan.

by Anonymous Fri Jan 09, 2004 18:45

I have heard that his release was widely covered in news bulletins on Cork radio stations - A hard way to attract media attention, but it worked (not that this was the primary purpose) and Fintan has now made a name for himself and for the cause.

by l1919 Fri Jan 09, 2004 20:53

photo of vigil with article in full colour

by L1919 Fri Jan 09, 2004 20:55

ok

by james Fri Jan 09, 2004 20:55

Heartfelt congrats to Fintan on his release, a brave man full of conviction, Eire needs many more like you.

James

by redjade Fri Jan 09, 2004 22:12

fintan

great to hear that you're out :-)

by bartholomew "bertie" ahern Fri Jan 09, 2004 23:42

Eh yeah I wud also like to congratulate Fintan on de principled stand he tuk ...sumthing dat very few of us are capable of - at least inside de Fianna Fail party at any rate ....

But den again very few of us have ever had de treat of jail hanging over our hedds ....

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker Sat Jan 10, 2004 01:23

Many thanx Fintan and welcome out to "minimum security" as Phil Berrigan use to call the status we enjoy...this can't be all there is to freedom uhhhh?

Here's some folks to writie to in jail in the U.S. for resistance at the School of the Assassins, Ft. Benning, Georgia USA




Write to SOA Watch Prisoners of Conscience

To learn more about the Prisoners of Conscience
www.soaw.org

November 2003


Three defendants have refused to pay the unjust bail set after their arrest at Fort Benning on Sunday, November 23, 2003. They are being held at the Muscogee County Jail in Columbus, Georgia, until their trials, which have been scheduled for January 26, 2004.

Fr. Ben Jimenez, S.J.
Muscogee County Jail
700 10th St
Columbus, GA 31901
USDA

Gary Ashbeck
Muscogee County Jail
700 10th St
Columbus, GA 31901
USA

Br. Mike O'Grady, S.J.
Muscogee County Jail
700 10th St
Columbus, GA 31901
USA

When writing to Ben, Gary, or Mike, we recommend that you handwrite or type your return address. Return address labels may be removed by the jail, making it impossible for prisoners to respond to your letter.

Photo (from left to right): Ben Jimenez, Gary Ashbeck, and Mike O'Grady.

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Sat Jan 10, 2004 02:58

And congratulations on a job well done

by Orla Ni Chomhrai Sat Jan 10, 2004 03:36

Hi Domini, Fintan etc,
That's great.
Orla

by Anon Sat Jan 10, 2004 11:41

There's an interview with Fintan in today's Irish Examiner where he says he would do the same again. Well done that man!

by Deborah Birmingham Sat Jan 10, 2004 16:45

Welcome back Fintan and well done on taking a principled stand against tyranny, injustice and oppression. Your courage in choosing to go to prison for your beliefs is an inspiration to those of us with less courage. May you always be proud of what you did. I am of you.

by James and Jennifer Sat Jan 10, 2004 19:14

Great to here you're out Fintan. See you when we get back to Cork.

James and Jen

by Eion - Do not need any Sat Jan 10, 2004 21:55

Glad to hear that you are finally out Fintan...I guess that means now you never got the pies mum sent in. The big one had roast nut and a file, the other was fresh blueberry and a chisel (sorry again no handle).

regards anyhow comrade!

yours in Struggle

Eion

by Eoin Sat Jan 10, 2004 23:39

That's wonderful news!! :-D

How did the others do today in court btw?

by Des Derwin Sun Jan 11, 2004 21:52 dderwin at gofree dot indigo dot ie

Fair doos boy! Brulliant, like!

by Andy Newby - Uni of Helsinki Thu Jan 15, 2004 18:07

A bit of good news for once - two weeks early. The many people who've been following the case here in Finland pass on their best wishes to Fintan.