Irish ActivistS Imprisonment Sparks International Concern
Gaie Delap, a 77-year-old Irish environmental activist and retired teacher, finds herself back behind bars in the UK, sparking a diplomatic incident and raising concerns about the treatment of elderly prisoners.Her unexpected return to prison over the Christmas holiday highlights a bureaucratic snafu involving electronic monitoring.
Delap, who holds both Irish and British citizenship, was originally sentenced to 20 months in prison in august 2024 for her participation in a Just Stop Oil protest that blocked the M25 motorway near London in November 2022. Released on November 18th under a home detention curfew, she was unable to wear the required electronic monitoring tag due to a medical condition. The ankle bracelet was deemed too large for her wrist, the alternative placement, leading to her re-arrest and imprisonment in Gloucestershire three days before Christmas.
The situation has caused important distress for Delap’s family, who have strong ties to Valentia Island, County Kerry, ireland. Her brother,Mick Delap,expressed his growing concern in an interview with Radio Kerry,stating,“She is worried about whether she can get the medical care she needs. Also, she’s very angry because she knows the normal procedure is [that] a tag is fitted.” He added that fitting a wrist tag is standard practice when an ankle tag is unsuitable.
The family’s frustration stems from the perceived lack of flexibility within the British justice system. Mick Delap emphasized that thay are “simply trying to get the British government to acknowledge there is a solution,” noting his sister’s wrist is of normal size and that an appropriately sized electronic tag should have been readily available.He also highlighted his sister’s strong connection to Ireland, stating, “She is an Irish passport-holder. She has great affection for Kerry and visits often.”
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the situation, issuing a statement that it “stands ready to provide consular assistance.” Mick Delap welcomed this news and intends to contact the department to seek their support. The case has also been brought to the attention of Bristol Central MP carla Denyer, who has written to the UK’s prisons minister, Lord James Timpson, and the probation service, advocating for alternative monitoring solutions, such as daily police station check-ins.
The UK Ministry of Justice, in a statement to the BBC, explained that offenders unable to be electronically monitored in the community are returned to prison, regardless of whether the inability to monitor is their fault. Delap’s case raises questions about the balance between public safety and the humane treatment of prisoners, particularly those with health concerns. Her imprisonment underscores the complexities of international legal cooperation and the challenges faced by individuals caught in the crosshairs of different justice systems.
Delap’s family history adds another layer to this story. She is a great-niece of Maude Jane Delap, a renowned Valentia Island marine biologist and botanist whose work is internationally recognized. Many of Maude Jane’s and her sister Constance’s discoveries are housed in Dublin’s Natural History Museum,a testament to the family’s legacy of scientific contribution.
This ongoing situation serves as a reminder of the potential challenges faced by individuals navigating international legal systems and the importance of compassionate and flexible approaches to prisoner management, especially for those with health issues or extenuating circumstances.
