Send a letter to the media for Noel Maguire

FRIENDS OF NOEL MAGUIRE TO MEDIA

We are drawing the media’s attention to the fact that the Irish Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform Dermot Ahern has once again denied an Irish citizen the ability to return home to serve his sentence in an Irish Jail which is allowed for under a European directive. The friends of Noel Maguire are a group of concerned people who have came together to right this wrong. Noel is being denied repatriation on the basis of a lie, that being he has closer ties to the Britain than to Ireland. Noel’s immediate kin live in Carlow. All the information is available on Friends Of Noel Maguire website

Last week, our members and supporters wrote to each and every TD of the 30th Dail asking them to intervene in Noel Maguire's case - if not for Noel, then for the sake of his children who have not seen their father in over 9 years. We have received some favorable responses. This is a humanitarian story - the politics are of little or no relevance. It is about allowing an Irish citizen the opportunity to return to Ireland and attempt to build a relationship with his children. Please allow us to address your readers with the following letter.

Yours Sincerely,

Friends of Noel Maguire
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Dear Editor:

Through your paper, may we draw your reader’s attention to the case of Noel Maguire? Noel Maguire has been refused again for repatriation (The ability to be repatriated to the country of your citizenship to serve a prison sentence on humanitarian grounds as laid down by the European Directive). He has been fighting to be returned home for over 5 years; all his co-accused have already been repatriated to Ireland .

The Irish authorities claim wrongly that Noel has closer ties to the United Kingdom than to an Irish jurisdiction despite Noel’s having a wife, and a son and daughter, living in County Carlow. This is Noel’s immediate kith and kin.

The lack of compassion shown by the Minister responsible in refusing Noel’s request to be closer to his wife and 2 children is disconcerting and very cavalier. For a Minister elected to look out for the well being of all Irish citizens, in this case he has abandoned the opportunity to reunite a family and allow them some chance at rebuilding their lives, as is the purpose of the European Repatriation directive.

Noel should be repatriated on the following grounds:

He is an Irish citizen and holds a current Irish passport, issued in Dublin .

He easily qualifies for repatriation under the European directive, which allows prisoners to be moved back to their own country to serve their sentence closer to their family for purely humanitarian reasons.

There was an attempt to murder Noel in 2006 in which he received serious knife wounds. If left alone and isolated his life would be constantly under threat! His physical and mental well being is in jeopardy if the Irish Government refuses him the right to be brought home to serve his sentence in an Irish Jail.

He has not seen his children in 9 years.

Friends of Noel Maguire
24 Queens Square
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 4NU
ENGLAND. TEL: 00 44 1442 244104.
US TEL: 414-378-2384