Tag Archives: Discrimination

“It went without tears … We did not wish for a Merry Christmas, because it’s a bit out of place …” – Annual dinner in prison for “lifers” – Marta is still discriminated against

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On Wednesday, December 12, at the Dochas Center prison, an annual meeting was held for women serving life sentences (“lifers”).
For each woman imprisoned in such cases, it was an opportunity to meet the three closest people. A common dinner, a longer conversation, a nice time.
Until three hours of sight. From 13 to 16.

At several tables there was a nice and cordial atmosphere.
The friends of Krysia, Mariusz and Rafał came to meet with Marta this year.
Friends who live in Ireland.
Everyone, including Marta, are well dressed.
Unfortunately, nobody from the family came from Poland.
That was agreed with Marta.

What was different from last year?
Better food.
And Mrs. Governor Mary O’Connor exceptionally kind.
(The same Mrs. Governor, who broke the 4 Sunday prisoners 3 days earlier without spending a pass on the Altenatives to the Violence Project Christmas Dinner)
Mrs. Governor was very nice.
She sat down at each table for a moment and talked to everyone for a moment.

Marta thanked Mrs. Governor Mary O’Connor for the very good preparation of a special dinner and for the fact that she could have been at this special dinner.

And what has not changed?
… Discrimination of Marta …
Everyone could give presents to their loved ones …
Everyone … just not Marta …
Friends did not expect anything from Marta.
But this situation is unpleasant for Marta herself.
She likes to share with others, she likes to give gifts to others …
Only after a symbolic little thing for friends …
Unfortunately…

The meeting was very briefly commented by one of the participants, one of Marta’s friends – Mariusz (in Polish language):

Do we praise the authorities of Dochas Centre prison in Ireland too much?

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We have recently met with the statement, that we praise the prison officers of Dochas Centre in Ireland too much.
Do we really?
Because of our “praise” some people outside the prison are not so determined to help Martha.
What for?
If she’s doing so well?

Is Martha doing well?
In no prison, even in the best one, no one can be doing well.
It’s not a desirable place to be.
Everyone who found themselves there wants to get out as fast as possible.

Do we praise the officers of Dochas Centre prison too much?
Were writing the truth.
Of course we don’t write about everything.
Some behavior of few officers we find especially shocking.
We didn’t always write about this. And when we did, it was rather toned down and it didn’t show our full indignation. Indignation about boorish behavior of these people towards Martha.
(Part of the family found some posts as to harsh. That’s where the discrepancies between sites “helpformartha.org” and the facebook fanpage “Help for Martha” come from.)
On the other hand, there are people in Dochas Centre prison, we would like to thank very much. But we don’t write about it either.
Maybe there will be time for this, when Martha will be free.
We’re very grateful already.

We also try not to write about other women serving sentences.
These sites are relations about Martha’s tragedy, not about life of women in Dochas Centre.
The women, who were unlucky to find themselves in this place, don’t want to flaunt with this.
We respect that.

We have to “balance” every word on our sites, but also we have to avoid weakening the message with “mawkish” posts.
The main difference between us and the Irish media is that we write the TRUTH and we don’t build up a sensation.
We don’t want to shock with posts or “bloated” titles.
If someone or something deserves praise, we will do it.
If it deserves condemning, we will also describe this while watching to not to harm Martha.

The officers of Dochas Centre prison in Ireland are not a party to the dispute.
Discrimination towards Martha, which takes place in this prison, will not be a main argument for the ECHR, but only an additional background.
Just like everywhere, among the officers there happen to be people exceptionally good, but also exceptionally mean.
It is also undisputable that the conditions in Dochas Centre prison are very good. Different people responsible for individual departments and the proper functioning of the prison perform very well.

This doesn’t mean that Martha should stay in this place.
In a few days 2 years will pass.
2 years of waiting for JUSTICE IN IRELAND.
How much longer?
We aske for help very much.

Is Martha forbidden to give anything to others? On what basis?

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On Friday, July 6, 2018, an unpleasant situation took place in Dochas Centre prison in Dublin.
Martha had already informed that when two friends will come to visit her, she will prepare next things to take.
Two, because one person would have problems to take all the things.
Previously, friends took some things on May 25.

Already at the entrance, two friends didn’t have to say anything, they even didn’t have to say their names. They’ve heard that they have things from Martha to take.
When Martha gave a large box to the officer, she asked: “Please, be careful, please, please”.
The officer took the box from Martha and thrown it on the floor.
Among others there were two clay works of Martha.
One of them broke immediately.
The officer said only: “I didn’t make it on purpose”.
Martha took broken work and she will try to glue it together.

After visit, the friends received the things on exit.
Large box and 4 paintings (new, painted by Martha).
They already had them in hands and only the last door remained…
Suddenly the officer stopped them.
She made a call, and it suddenly appeared that… Martha can’t give anything.
What’s more, that Martha was never permitted to give anything.
(Of course it’s not true, because in the beginning there was no problems)
Friends reminded, that they had take some things on May 25.
The officer replied, that they shouldn’t have been.

Of course Martha’s friends were very nervous.

What conclusions should we draw from that?
That GARDA does whatever it wants we know since long ago.
it doesn’t counts with anybody or anything.
It doens’t count with no law or rule.
It’s no new thing to us, that Martha is being discriminated.
Although we hoped that “climate had warmed” already, and that “normality” returned.

We’re not inside, we don’t know who is a good officer, and who is a mean officer? Who is a good person, and who “feels good” when he or she is mean to others?
Or maybe there is something else to it:
What someone is “officially”?
If we praise one of the prison officers, then later, in a way that is obvious to everyone, does he or she wants to manifest, that is treating Martha badly?
Is there still a need for pushing Martha around in Dochas Centre prison in Dublin?

We feel sorry for people who can’t be good persons.
We feel even more sorry for those GARDA officers, that draw satisfaction and joy from being mean…
One needs to be human all the time…
Not just from time to time…

We’re stopping one of the counters – 6 cosmetics were delivered to Martha after 141 (!) days

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Today is the last Sunday of the month.
Martha was supposed to receive the cosmetics on April 1, she didn’t received them.
Just today.
Exactly 6 cosmetics.
Apparently she was supposed to choose which cosmetics she needs now.
But she wasn’t given the opportunity of choosing.
She came down to reception, and she receivef 6 (six) cosmetics chosen for her.
Right now some of the cosmetics Martha needs more.

The cosmetics given to Martha are those brought for her by her sister.
They were brought on December 8, 2017.
After 141 days of holding them, six of those cosmetics were handed to Martha.
141 days is 4 months and 21 days – 41 days more and it would be half a year.

Next 6 cosmetics Martha  will receive on the last sunday of May, in a month.

Regarding giving the cosmetics to Martha we’re stopping one of the counters on our sites. Counters of shame of prison services in Dochas Centre Ireland.

Giving the cosmetics to Martha gives us mixed feelings. We don’t know: should we thank or not.
The duty of prison services was to give those cosmetics to Martha long ago, at the latest on April 1.
Is handing over the cosmetics to Martha after 141 days, a proper fulfilling of duties by prison services?
Should we acknowledge something, that someone was supposed to do long time ago? What was his or her duties?

Thank you for handing Martha 6 cosmetics.

What the effect of Martha’s meeting with Mrs Vice-consul will be?

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The meeting was very needed.
Martha waited for it for a long time, and she was preparing for it.
The family asked Martha, to write down everything, and to say about every injustice, discrimination and violation s of the law, she suffers in Dochas Centre Prison.
Martha wrote it down, but of course, the prison’s authorities didn’t let Martha to have any piece of paper with her (for some time, special attention has been paid to Martha in this matter).
MArtha had to talk about what she feels, and what she remembers.
We don’t know if she said about everything. Probably not. So many things gathered.
Emotions, reliving difficult moments again… At some point it made Martha Cry, her anger about what’s happening around, but also… helplessness (the effect of collision with… concrete)…

Mrs Vice-consul made notes during talking with Martha.
She announced, that she will want to meet Mrs Governor and she will write her in that matter.

Will it have any effect?
Nevertheless we thank very much to Mrs Consul for her help land for her interest in Martha’s case.
The more people, the more actions… everything can be crushed down, tear down, defeated…

“(Very) Eavesdropped conversation”

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It was a very tough night for Martha’s family.
All the time while being imprisoned, Martha was calling someone.
On Monday, April 23, no one of family or friends got a phonecall.
PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
The family was worried, because Martha was very emotional about the goodbye.
Martha is always waiting for something, and now… no one knows (there is no date) when her sister will arrive again.

One of Martha’s friends, asked by Martha’s family, called the prison at night, and she was told only that Martha was on the dinner.
On Tuesday, a friend, and Martha’s sister called the prison, asking to tell Martha, that her family is worried, and they await phone call.

First there were several attempts to connect from an undisclosed number.
Finaly Martha could be heard.
She could be heard but with a large delay.
When Martha was asked a question, there was a silence. While asking next question, Martha was answering the previous, speaking simultaneously.
You did not need to hear someone’s breath to be sure that someone else is very much interested in the content of the conversation.

Out of necessity, for these 6 minutes (due to delays – 3 minutes) it wasn’t much of a talk.
The family had heard Martha, but they are certain that something happened on Monday.
It’s impossible that Martha didn’t want to call.
SOMETHING HAPPENED.

Most often the problems arise when the sister leaves.
When the sister is in Ireland, everyone pretend that everything is all right.
Just as the sister leaves Ireland, already on Monday, some strange things start happening.
Mrs Chief also announces that she will talk to Martha after her sister’s visit.

(It was similar with the first trial in the Court – sister left Ireland, when she already postponed the filght date once. Everything was indicating, that the Jury will not make the decision. Just as the sister left – decision was made, and what decision.)

Should Martha’s family come to Ireland more often for Martha’s good?
Or maybe it’s the time for Martha to bid farewell to unfeeling Ireland?

Delivering of part of things to Martha

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On Thursday, Martha’s sister brought her different things she brought from Poland.
What’s unheard of, part of those things was handed to Martha already on Saturday morning!
Of things brought by the sister, the mestrual pads, CDs, DVDs, cosmetics, and towels were not handed to Martha.

Recently, after two weeks Martha was handed things, brought for her by one of her friends: sweeping brush, and a toilet brush.
First, no one wanted to hand them to Martha, claiming that every cell is equipped with such brushes.
But Martha’s cell wasn’t.
Finally they were handed to Martha.
Together with a rosary (we don’t know from who).

Things for which we put the counters on our sites, were still not handend to Martha.
In the counter in which things for prisoners are received, they are starting to have enough of questions asked by Martha’s family and friends, about when will the things brought previously be handed to Martha.
The people there are not guilty of anything. They only take things both for the Dochas Centre women’s prison and Mountjoy Prison men’s prison.
Surprised by not handing things to Martha, one of the officers was bluntly evaluating his colleagues: “F… staff.”

Everyone visiting Martha ask, and will still be asking about the things brought previously.

The counters are still on…
Officers in Dochas Centre go for the record…
(but the record of what?)

Problems with visits – second day of sisters meetings

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After yesterday’s accidental accidental obtaining of information about Martha’s degradation, sisters anticipated further problems. And so it happened today.
For two weeks Martha was checking every day if her sister’s visit is booked.
And it was. The sister was booked for visits on three days.
But changing of Martha’s status resulted in cancellation of one visiting day.
The sister met Martha on Thursday. Friday visit was cancelled. Saturday is planned as new week starts on Saturday (seeing Martha by her sister on Saturday means that no one else can visit Martha until next Saturday)

Both Martha and her sister were, however, very determined.
Martha was asking in the morning. Sister came in visiting time, and was decided to wait as long as it takes. She especially came from Poland for 4 days so she can see her sister for 3 days.

We thank very much to the officer who called Mrs Governor.
We thank Mrs Governor for coming specially to the second gate, and allowing sisters to see each other.

And Martha?
She only had to pass near a boorish prison officer, who spits behind her every time when she walks by (when the officer walks by Martha’s cell, he kicks her door).
And sisters could meet, enjoy each other, and hug.
Supervised under the watchful eye of officers, if they don’t give something to each other, if they don’t write something…

Despite the difficulties – A little bit of warmth on pole of the cold…

Last minute – GROSS in absentia DEGRADATION of Martha

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Not long ago we have posted levels of inmates in Dochas Centre prison in Dublin. We wrote, that Martha has the highest level.
Our sites are observed by prison officers.
Someone suddenly decided to change Martha’s level and further to humiliate Martha, her family and friends.
Today, when Martha checked booking of her sister’s visits, she learned, that her level was lowered from Enhance to Standard.
No reasons were given and Martha was not informed about this.
Nothing was happening, Martha didn’t do anything wrong.
The lowering of level was supposedly because Martha went to the yard in shower slippers. Martha doeasn’t recall anything like that happening.

Degradation of Martha’s level would have it’s impact on all the privileges: lowering payments by €4 a week, but more important are the other things – only one, half an hour visit, and only one phone call daily.

Is this a continuation of Martha, her family and friends being humiliated?
Is this a way of showing, that if Poles will not keep in line, if they will write different sorts of things in the internet, then we, the Irish, will find a way to further discomfort Martha?

Martha’s case causes deep concern in Poland. In the opinion of majority of people in Poland, Martha suffers a glaring injustice.
The Irish society is more divided in their opinions.
One-sided presentation of Martha’s case by the media for the last few years did it’s job.
What’s worse, every action against Martha, even those inhumane, seem to be accepted by Irish society.
Because for them, Martha is a Killer, an Ice Queen Killer.

Recently we have learned, that Mrs Viceconsul wasn’t permitted into the prison, because she didn’t booked herself somewhere. She came specially to the prison, but she wasn’t let in to meet Martha. She came to intervene at the request of Polish citizen.

After publicizing Martha’s case, we have received signals from Poles in Ireland, about the will to organize a demonstration in Martha’s case. We’ve tried to calm, ease emotions.

There are situations, when we start doubting the reason of calm waiting for Justice, Mind and Humanity in Ireland.
But what can we do?
Until medicine will find a cure for Stupidity, Callousness and Stubbornness, we will still try to remain the same:
to value Good, to Stigmatize Injustice.

Martha, remain yourself, even if others more and more debase themselves.