On Tuesday afternoon there was a sit down protest by about 30 inmates in the yard of Limerick Prison. According to rte.ie the protest was against harsh punishments imposed on those caught with drugs by the prison governor, as the deployment of 'Rocky' the sniffer dog has led to the seizure of most drugs coming into Limerick Prison.

Listeners to Tuesday’s Newstalk’s ‘Lunchtime with Eamon Keane’ were treated to the unappetising performance of Eamon and his Mid-West correspondent crowing victoriously about Rocky’s successes and the resulting problems for users experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

For anyone who hasn’t seen Trainspotting, going off heroin cold turkey is not a pretty picture; one Rehab centre lists common symptoms such as tremors, panic, chills, nausea, muscle cramps, insomnia, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, shaking, chills or profuse sweating, irritability and jitteryness. Given the generally scant facilities for treatment of addicts in Irish prison it’s unlikely that prisoners received much in the way of assistance. It’s a tad disquieting when it’s acceptable to publicly gloat over this kind of experience in other people.

Related Links: Brazil Prison Riot | Belfast Telegraph's Coverage | Brazil Prsion Riot | Irish Prison Reform Trust | More From the WSM On Represstion | Irish Prison Reform Trust

From Friday 7th to Sunday 9th September 2007 men, women and children from every corner of this island - and indeed from much further away - will gather in Glencolumbkille, Donegal. They will come in busses, by car, bicycle or on foot. They will erect CAMP HAVANA and walk the hills surrounding the valley of Glencolumbcille. Some will take the challenging hike across the Slieve League ridge, some will use a more relaxed walking route and some will only go as far as the bus can take them. Some may even attempt to dance salsa!

All of them will enjoy Europe's highest sea - cliffs which are surrounded by scenery incomparable to anywhere else on this earth (see http://marette.free.fr/panorama_irlande/panorama1.html). Of course we are not just gathering to admire spectacular scenery. We will gather in what is going to be the biggest show of friendship with people from another island - at least since last year’s Camp Havana.

Report from the Free the Old Head of Kinsale campaign's "People's Picnic" at the Co. Cork headland, Sunday 26th August 2007.

Previous Indymedia Coverage: Announcement for this Event · 2006 Event Announcement · 2004 Article · Photos from 2003 · Report from 2003 · Court Report from 2003 · Report of Supreme Court Decision of March 2003 · All Related Stories
Related Links: Report from WSM of the 2002 Picnic · Official Record of Supreme Court Decision