Patrick Gallagher (31), part of the Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association and facing charges related to an illicit republican parade, was among a team who joined a gathering in the European Parliament edifice. This meeting was arranged by MEP Clare Daly to deliberate on the persecution of political prisoners. Despite facing accusations of promoting and instigating backing for the IRA, a prohibited organisation, Gallagher had obtained approval from a district judge to journey to Brussels for the event.
Five individuals linked to the prisoners’ association, including Mr Gallagher, were present at the conference conducted by Ms Daly, as indicated in the event’s invitation dispatched to MEPs. Another notable attendee was Brian Kenna, a senior member of the dissenting republican group Saoradh and a past IRA member. After petitioning in a Northern Ireland court, Gallagher had his bail terms revised last month, permitting his presence at this meeting.
The closed event unravelled in a petite conference room situated within the parliament building. The invite revealed the gathering’s focus to be the abusive behavior of security forces towards the civil rights of Irish political convicts. This discussion was deemed relevant to any entity active in the convergence of civil liberties and state security.
In reaction to inquiries, Ms Daly clarified that the attendees were representatives of the republican prisoners’ welfare group, describing it as a “non-political” body.