The family of interned political dissident Marian Price have hit out at the North's prison authorities after warders refused to leave the room

while the veteran republican underwent an invasive medical procedure.

Ms Price, who has been suffering from pneumonia, underwent an endoscopy

and a lung wash so a camera could be inserted to examine her lungs.

Doctors asked prison guards to leave the treatment room in Belfast City

Hospital where Price was heavily sedated for the procedure on Friday.

Her husband Jerry McGlinchey said: "They refused, saying they were under

instruction from Hydebank that at least one prison officer stay with her

during the medical procedure.

"The doctors stated it was unacceptable to have prison staff beside

Marian but they were over-ruled.

"My wife is a seriously ill woman. She is not a security risk. She can

hardly walk, let alone run off and escape."

Ms Price was moved to Belfast City Hospital in June to be treated for

severe depression after spending a year in solitary confinement in

Maghaberry and Hydebank jails.

The former spokeswoman for a prisoners' welfare group developed

pneumonia and arthritis, and her health is deteriorating rapidly.

Mr McGlinchey said that on Friday, for the second consecutive day, his

wife was hand-cuffed by prison staff against medical advice.

"Marian's wrists are badly swollen from arthritis. The doctors have

repeatedly told prison staff not to handcuff her but they insist on

doing so."

Marian's husband claimed that on Thursday his wife was subjected to

"oppressive security" when she went to Musgrave Park Hospital for tests

for her arthritis.

"She was double handcuffed as two prison staff and four PSNI officers

accompanied her to the examination. When she went to give a urine test,

one prison officer actually insisted on going into the toilet with her,"

Mr McGlinchey said.

"This is inhuman and degrading treatment. Nobody has to agree with my

wife's politics to see this is wrong."

The British government last year ordered the summary re-imprisonment of

Price, a political prisoner in the 1970s who has recently worked with

the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.

It claimed a pardon given to Price in 1980, which would ensured her

release, had been lost. Critics say the move is an cleared attempt to

silence a vocal critic of the new political dispensation in the North of

Ireland.

The abuses meted to her by the prison authorities since her internment

have prompted a human rights campaign on her behalf.

Her plight will be raised this Sunday as part of a major civil rights

march from Coalisland to Dungannon, County Tyrone.