Justice for the CR Gas prisoners

CEARTAIS - JUSTICE

Throughout 2006 and 2007, there was mounting discernment amongst Irish Republicans at the growing number of deaths of former Political Prisoners from a high incidence of various cancers.

In response, two former Republican Prisoners Martin Óg Meehan and Charlie Mawhinney contacted fellow Ex-POW, Jim McCann to help him ascertain the facts behind why Political Prisoners were exposed to copious amounts of the highly-toxic CR Gas by the British Army in Long Kesh on October 15, 1974. Jim has been involved in a protracted battle to achieve the truth behind the attack during the burning of Long Kesh.



Soon afterwards, a new campaign group called CEARTAIS (the Irish word for justice) was established to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the targeting of Long Kesh Prisoners with chemical weapons.



Within weeks of the formation, CEARTAIS met Micheal Culbert and Joe Doherty from COISTE NA IARCHIMí and Joe Barnes of TAR ISTEACH all of who agreed to help the campaign.

To date CEARTAIS have:

• Uncovered proof of British tests of CR Gas in Hong Kong

• Unearthed evidence of British Government approval for CR attack

• Identified the numerous British Army Regiments involved

• Discovered photographs of the British Army deployment

• Held a number of informative and successful seminars

• Compiled an audit of prisoners incarcerated at the time

• Contacted Political Representatives, Human Rights Groups and Journalists CEARTAIS require:

• The British Government acknowledge authorizing CR gas at Long Kesh

• A full investigation into the gas attack

• Justice for former prisoners and their families