Michael O’Neill welcome home from Castlerea Gaol

(Michael Walking Free Today)

Michael O’Neill

Failte abhaile agus adh mór ó Ógra Shinn Féin.

Ógra Shinn Fein welcomes home Michael O’Neill and wish him the best of luck. Michael has been released from Castlerea jail after serving many years behind prison walls.

We in Ógra Shinn Féin have visited our comrades in Castlerea and we will continue to do so until the last Prisoner walks free.

Whilst welcoming Michael home we also remember the imprisoned comrades Michael leaves behind and we re-dedicate ourselves to ensuring their freedom in the very near future. Indeed these same men should not remain imprisoned at a time when the IRA has declared an end to their armed campaign.

Despite the fact that Michael has been released from jail, he, like so many Ex POWs faces many barriers in relation to securing employment due to the presence of a so called 'criminal record'.

Recognising this Ógra Shinn Féin once again call for such a barrier to employment and many other aspects of life such as holidaying abroad to be lifted. We call for the abolition of so called criminal records for those convicted, many in diplock courts, for playing their part in the freedom struggle.

Ógra Shinn Féin welcome you home Michael, and wish you good luck in the future.