Joe, no disrespect, but you talk as a visitor, I speak as a prisoner. LK867 was my number in Long Kesh. I spent three years in Long Kesh as a political internee during internment 1971 - 75. I also served 8 years of a 16 year sentence in the H Blocks, better known to you as the Maze Prison as a sentenced political prisoner.

We received visits from the (International)Red Cross, not the British Red Cross, well meaning people, who took on board our grievances but had little or no power to change the regime. There were several requests from Prison visitors support groups to enter the wings, these ranged from Christian Welfare to the Quakers.

The NI Prison authorities rarely permitted such groups in. Every time the arrived they were told at the gates there was a security incident (routine cell searches) and they could not proceed.

So Joe as to your remark "That's just cheap talk" sorry but personal experience tells me otherwise. As to "Liberals do not favor crime or criminals" Joe, they told us they forgave us, God forgave us, some actually gave phone numbers and addresses (which the screws took off us after the visit) telling us to contact them for help and moral support when we got out. Joe, I wouldn't have wanted half of our boys near my home let alone roll out a welcome mat lol.

Well intended people with a genuine good heart, but absolutely no conception of reality.