Another one for Irish Feminists - this person holds a GRC and might soon be held in Dochas prison with women and childrem

[XXSex]

This is a harrowing read.
I feel immensely sorry for the child that was. However I feel more frightened for the women and children G might be incarcerated with.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/teenager-in-custody-charged-with-threats-to-kill-two-people-39563823.html

The Irish Independent did report including that BK is male, because that was stated in open court. They did not link in any of the extra background information from the "G" case.

Thanks, I got it wrong so, it is important we stick to the facts.

The initial reports from the Independent, 25th September, do not mention that Barbie is a male.

Sorry that should be the 24th September

There are weird contradictions, though, suggesting press, courts and Gardai are not all on the same page regarding the significance of a GRC.

• when still a minor and anonymous, and could not have had a GRC, court reports "transed" G at G's request, even retro-editing the very psych reports indicating absence of gender dysphoria; press reported care proceedings about a "girl", also retro-transing to when "she" was a child

• as an adult, BK obtains GRC, is released from care and press report on dangerous teenage girl because court-ordered injunction applied to "certain information"

• BK arrested and charges brought, Garda state in open court that "she" is male, GRC submitted AND PRESS ALLOWED TO REPORT ON THIS. Judge nonetheless states "cannot make order to hold in women's prison, matter for prison authorities".

• prison authorities apparently decide, yes, this is a woman.

So at what point does a GRC holder no longer have the protection of the court, ie injunction not to report their sex?

Runners, yes, that's the thing - there was an injunction or presumed to be (maybe because reporters knew this was the same person, but weren't supposed to know), then there wasn't?

radicailin.com/our-statement-on-the-male-prisoner-in-limerick-womens-prison-and-letter-template/

Statement and template letter for TD's

@Aine82

Surely any reasonable feminist can see that the law has failed, that this is weak legislation which needs to be remedied. It does not serve the trans community well to have such weak laws that can be exploited and, sadly, will only polarise people even more.

My thoughts are with those women locked in with a rapist and now with this Barbie Kardashian too. Just watch the amount of GRCs skyrocket now, from Arbour Hill to Dóchas.

They may have no voice but we do.

Complete silence from RTE, Irish Times and Irish Independent. It may well take another title to blow the lid on it. It was the Irish Examiner who brought Golfgate to the public attention wasn’t it? Hopefully we will see some proper journalism.

People are too afraid, I think. We need a Janice Turner or a James Kirkup to write a full article on this, and the potential implications for the most vulnerable women of all. Because you know which group DOES have an almost 50% suicide attempt rate? Women prisoners. Almost all of whom have suffered from male violence, especially sexual violence, and are not violent, but very traumatised. And they are very frightened of having males in their spaces, and placing males there harms them. No ifs, buts or ands. The UN mandates single sex prisons as a basic human right - yet that's ignored, based on the subjective claim of a male?

Why is this most marginalised and vulnerable of all groups treated with such contempt? Why don't vulnerable women matter, when set against males? This is such breathtakingly casual misogyny, with such very clear evidence of guaranteed harm, that it should be an international scandal. Yet most countries don't care. These women are seen as disposable, when males demand something that harms them so much. It defies belief.

@GrainneMhaol

radicailin.com/our-statement-on-the-male-prisoner-in-limerick-womens-prison-and-letter-template/

Statement and template letter for TD's

Thanks for that. I used samples upthread to email TD's. Needless to say, no response. Though to be fair, they may be looking into it. I did receive one funny reply. It was from a constituency worker who was unsure what to do with the email. It looks like he was trying to forward the email to his supervisor. The message read "do we reply to this". Unfortunately, it appears that instead of hitting the forward button, he hit the reply button. I replied. "I would hope so" I think it is probably too much of a political hot potato for any TD to give an opinion. on.

@Runnersos - I have just had a response from Ivana Bacik. It lists her history of feminist activism and states that she was involved in the GRA act (I knew this already). She said that she has received a lot of similar letters from women on this and will be raising it with the relevant authorities. A bit plamasy and not really saying yes or no to me, but more than I expected seeing as there was a risk I would publish it.

However, what is shows is numbers count - the only thing a TD cares about is the number of people irate at a particular issue. So we need way, way, more women writing these letters.

Please, everyone, get your friends and family involved to write - the number of letters from women will determine the actions to follow.

We have crossed the rubicon here ladies and there is no going back until the GRA is totally repealed (the irony!!!).

BTW, I name change when I refer to all this on here as my name is on all the letters to TD's so it would not take an Einstein office worker to cross reference.

That's great glinnerisgreat. At least she acknowledged the issue.
I change my username frequently.
I have no doubt these threads are closely watched by TRA activists.

@SerenityNowwwww

What would happen to a violent woman in jail who had voiced a desire to murder other women, with a history of attacking women? Would she be put in a special wing? Will this prisoner be kept away from the rest of the prisoners - for their protection? I saw a quote that this person should be go to jail because they are vulnerable (the same claim made for the Amish brothers convicted of rape/invest/pedophilia).

I think if a female prisoner is deemed too dangerous, she can be moved to the mens estate for better security and such..as far as I know its not happened (yet) but that would be how a very dangerous female would be treat. Might be wong, but definitely read something atng those lies a while back.

Of course, to treat a male like a woman would be treat, and move them to the mens estate would be transphobic.

@GrainneMhaol

radicailin.com/our-statement-on-the-male-prisoner-in-limerick-womens-prison-and-letter-template/

Statement and template letter for TD's

I am going to use that template to email the male TDs. I don't see why they should get off the hook.

Second reply received - from Jennifer Carroll MacNeill - I note the concerns you have raised with me and thank you for raising them - wow, what a no comment reply. I had expected a lot more from her based on other work she has done.

Thank you for the template GrainneMhaol
Excellent post wellbehavedwomen!

Ivana Bacik is wonderful and I would have thought had a good grasp of things, but how was such a weak law enacted??

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill what a disappointment, would have expected better from another barrister & legal academic.

If you're using any template letters, try to tweak them a bit. I'm my (admittedly limited) experience of advocacy work in my job, form letters tend to have less impact than an original one. The templates are really useful for knowing what the key points to bit are.

@Vanillanelle

If you're using any template letters, try to tweak them a bit. I'm my (admittedly limited) experience of advocacy work in my job, form letters tend to have less impact than an original one. The templates are really useful for knowing what the key points to bit are.

Goose point Vanillanelle. I was just thinking that the template above is very focused on the prison issue. While that is of course the most immediate issue, I wouldn't want TD's to think that if they revoke the certificate for the 2 prisoners that the problem is sorted.

Good not goose

@Runnersos - the earlier letters in this board reference the HSE and the larger aspects of the GRA if you want to look at them instead.

I used the emails above as my starting points, loads of great info in them. I included the wider GRA issues and the cervical screening language. Emails have gone to all my constituency TDs (DL, they'll be bloody useless ), all women in the Dail, taoiseach, minister for health and a handful of senators. I'll start on the men later.

Vanillanelle - I hear you re TD's - mine are all very woke too. Right beside yours.

We must be neighbours, Glinnerisgreat.

Got a similar reply from Ivana Bacik. Not a surprise but she says she has had a number of emails and "will continue to engage on these and related issues about how best to balance rights."

Will have to think how to respond.

if anyone is on the Carlow area, I just got a great response from Jennifer Murnane O'Connor. She's going to raise it with decision makers and during her time this week. A few more emails might help her make her case.

I'm feeling very left out . I had emailed Ivana Bacik but I didn't get a reply.
Anyway I will use elements of the templates above to email every male TD. I will also email the national women's council asking them how they can speak for the women in Limerick prison. given that they have placed themselves in a position where they have a conflict of interests.
Any other people I should contact?