The Five Demands

Price handcuffed during hospital switch (Irish Republican News)

A lawyer acting for internee Marian Price has accused the Six County prison authorities of being “inhumane” after she was handcuffed while travelling in an ambulance between two Belfast hospitals.

Peter Corrigan said the seriously ill political dissident had been handcuffed by prison officers yesterday as she was taken from Belfast City Hospital to the nearby Musgrave Park Hospital, despite protests from her family and medical staff.

In June she was transferred from Hydebank Wood Prison to Belfast City Hospital after a sharp deterioration in her mental and physical health. She was recently diagnosed with advanced pneumonia.

Ms Price was summarily imprisoned by the British authorities last year following a republican rally in Derry.

Her lawyer last night said he intended to complain over the abuse.

“She was being brought to Musgrave for further treatment,” Mr Corrigan said.

“The medical staff were telling them not to handcuff her and we were telling them no as well but someone at Hydebank prison decided this was going to happen.

“This woman is not well and should not be treated like this.

“It is inhumane and we will be complaining at the highest level.”