Roisín McAliskey gives birth
By Eoin O'Broin
Roisín McAliskey has given birth to a 5lbs 13oz baby girl. The
birth took place in Whittington hospital North London, at 3.04pm
on Monday 27 May.
McAliskey received conditional bail three days earlier. Newspaper
sources have suggested that the baby is to be called Loinnir,
which means `ray of light'.
Speaking at a press conference at the hospital the morning after
the birth, Bernadette McAliskey appealed to the authorities to
allow Roisín and her daughter to remain in hospital. Her appeal
comes on the back of a dispute between the family and the prison
authorities over how much time McAliskey should spend in
hospital.
Fuascailt campaigners in London last week told An Phoblacht that
authorities in Holloway were pressing doctors to carry out an
induced birth in order to limit the amount of time spent in
Whittington. Doctors, however, were considering a caesarean birth
to avoid complications.
Shortly after the birth Bernadette McAliskey told reporters of
her mixed emotions following the birth, ``I am delighted at the
birth of Roisín's daughter but I am also bitterly angry that she
was forced to bring her child into the world in such appalling
circumstances''.
Sinn Féin MP for Mid Ulster Martin McGuinness sent his ``warmest
congratulations to Roisin McAliskey and her partner Sean McCotter
on the birth of their daughter''. McGuinness also called on the
British government to ``make every effort to ensure that Roisín
and her daughter do not have to return to prison. The bail
conditions should be significantly eased to allow Roisín to leave
hospital when well and able to do so. The threat of any return to
Holloway should be removed''.
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