Call for Conroy to intervene in hunger striker case

THE Isle of Man parliament is to raise the issue of Irish hunger striker Kathryn Nelson with the Garda Commissioner.

Manx home affairs minister, Martyn Quayle, has stated he will write to Commissioner Noel Conroy to advise him of Ms Nelson’s situation and ask him to intervene.

Co Kildare-born Ms Nelson, 57, who has lived in the Isle of Man for the past 18 months, began a hunger strike a fortnight ago to protest her innocence of involvement in laundering money from the £26.5 million (€39m) Northern Bank robbery.

Manx parliamentarian, Bill Malarkey, who represents the constituency where Ms Nelson resides, said he brought her protest to the home affairs minister’s attention out of concern for her well-being.

A private diplomatic liaison officer who offered services to business people seeking investment opportunities abroad, Ms Nelson was arrested in the Republic in February 2005.

Mr Malarkey said he had approached the health and welfare authorities on the Isle of Man to alert them to Ms Nelson’s situation and ensure that all available supports would be provided to her if she requested it.

Labour TD, Michael D Higgins, yesterday submitted parliamentary questions to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Justice Minister Michael McDowell for a response to Ms Nelson’s strike and public clarification of any likely criminal charges.