The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-05-18
Specimens Of British Liberty in Ireland.
NUMBER TWO.
MoUNTJoY GOVERNMENT CONVICT PRISON.
Nav 1897

To the Editors of The Irish Republic:
GENTLEMEN In last gave hasy sketch OF the general
the Irish political prisoners in Cork JAIL and any
who has read it, and who had previously experienced Eng
lands cemency" that prison. bear testimony to the
veracty every feature and fact have laid before YOU
propose do the justice to Mountoy Government
Convict Prison. Dublin and those who have had the misfor
inmates thereof and the good luck to
be there now will recognize the picture should
it under their notice.
It seems we we'll off in Cork jail The Govern
men for other Supposed to be the facility
with which the Dublin discipline destroyed the health of the
prisoners directed all aor ireland who held political
lists of such of the prisoners they
sdered troublesome with the inmaton that such would be
safer quarters In consequences OF this piece OF
wire pulling twentyfour of were transferred to Dublin,
18th of May The small band of "ringeades were
all included with the exception of Colonel De who left for
America time BEFORE in charge of Her Maeys peace
preservers.
Everything in Mountioy prison is arranged with the
Economical ingenuity with the view to intensity the fortunes of
imprisonment 1t utterly impossible to put charitable con-
the motives that prompted the diaboca ingenu
b displayed in the regulations arrangements and accessories
of that prison. The bed the most uneasy it possible to
DEVISE compatible with appearance of undersigned torture
wooden Frame 16 inches Tor less wde
swinging by four hooks the CELL with two large pero
rated ventator in the wall each end of the CELL and
cevces traps of the door and windows all causing
fearful draught right the prisoners body when in bed
Then window the top of his cell is glazed with corded
uted glass; that it impossible to see through it;
yet although impossible open this window to
be able to get a glimpse of the open sky, it is made
crime attempt to look through it at all Then again, the
pan in each cell fixed that it is not than IA
Is inches from the prisoners while in bed and mind
he sleep any other way end of his bed being
inches higher than the other for the head that he cannot
sleep other way he wishes avoid the stencil Again.
he has small copper bowl braced to the WALL to wash in the
verdg from which enough to blind prisoner in short
time. And again. the places allotted for opena exercise,
"ngs" of about 80 yards diameter situated between the
wings of the prison. and these surrounded by iron bars
feet high each bar ending formidable looking sharp hook
pointing downwards and inward Within this circle "ng
graniehagged circles within the other and in
the circular piece of granite tagging 1t is these
granite rings the prisoners obliged to walk after having
been shown into them zone by one and placed about six
apart from another which distance be kept dur
ing the exercise This exercise" consists of walking the
aforedescrbed rings of granite all going the hand
while four tunkeys keep moving about the outside, in
the contrary way be able to detect the least attempt
communication the part of the prisoners 1t is daboical
And them again. the time allowed breathe the open
air thus aays less than two hours and frequently less than
hour and half out of every wentyour The remainder
of long, long days should be chae under the
dabocal separate and silent" SYSTEM in grim cells alone
with God and proud stricken hearts Yes there
anguish there but the sublime pride of patriotism yelled it
from the profane gaze of tyrants and their minons
To show how truly devsh the desires of our aors
will simply record few small butvery significant facts need
do more
During the time allotted to for grim silent and sep
arate" exercise dare word make sign nor
stoop the ground And yet at this very time it
arranged that convicted crimna-robber thieves and
dererswere exercising in adjoining ring and others
tered the grounds of the prison. oD 0i and all in
groups talking playing just they pleased What exqui
site torture there The condemned eons treated with
respect while accounted rabd animals savage
beasts Noble England you assuredy the first of nations
in brutality
Some wish know the bill of fare of MouniOY-by