iBish Oemociu January/February 1999-^" ""^Connolly Association: campaigning for a united and independent Ireland ISSN 0021-1125 60p

THE IRISH Robert Hamill: Joseph Priestley: DEMOCRAT Sixty years

END THE TRAV stepping up the honouring an WQ.L AMriHIfH. U OOKl , of the Irish IIO. appeal for justice English radical afnafWr Pnwt in OaU Democrat Page 3 Page 4 Bulon Pages 6-7 UNIONIST STALLING MUST END NOW The Irish Democrat's northern correspondent, Bobbie Heatley, argues that the British government must stand up to unionism's persistent attempts to rewrite key aspects of the GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT Assembly and north-south bodies, been told to whom the bill will be very protracted agonising, depart- Another reason was that the must be enacted by both parliaments. referred. If we ignore business trips to ments over which the executive would Trimbleites purported to have become Democrat reporters By February 1999 the Northern supplicate investment-seeking Amer- preside were also hammered out, but cost conscious. While unfazed at the t is eight months since the signing Ireland Executive is supposed to end ican tycoons, nothing more has been not the executive itsdf. Not even the construction of an inflated 108-mem- of the Good Friday deal and the its 'shadow' period and acquire formal forthcoming. It would not be too 'shadow' executive has been set up. ber assembly, they were appalled at the whole political process has powers. much of an exaggeration to say that There are two reasons for this particu- 'extravagance' of a ten-seat executive. become bogged down, to the exas- With regard to these commitments, the public here appears to be some- lar hold-up: The Trimble unionists, They wanted a more 'economical' peration of the public. Paragraph only the unionists' demand for a what traumatised by this spectacle, fearing the No Men at their back, and smaller one which, fortuitously, would 8 of Strand II in the document devolved six-county assembly has taking place, as it has, against a back- lacking either the guts or the will to have given unionists a majority. clearlI y specified 31 October 1998 for been met. It has been junketed (the ground of backward-looking unionists take them on, will not respect Sinn Clearly, they remain intent on re- the identification of subject areas for whole of its 108 members and their squabbling among themselves, and Fein's democratic electoral mandate writing the 'Agreement' all over the cross-border co-operation. According hangers-on) at EU headquarters to see with everybody else, up at Stormont which, under the de Hondt system, place. Ably supported by the Tories at to Charles E Mullaney, professor of how a multi-national bureaucracy on home ground. entitles that party to two seats in the Westminster, they attempted to justify legal studies, Western Connecticut operates while the public has not yet However, on 18 December, after Executive as per the 'Agreement'. this obstruction by arguing that the State University, "...any first-year law Good Friday deal requires immediate student knows that parties must be decommissioning by the IRA. As was held to that date." It was missed and explained in the November/December Trimble's unionists were to blame. issue of the Irish Democrat, Tony Blair, It was not until 18 December that a despite his other efforts to move minimalist list (from the nationalist/ things on, must share some of the republican point of view) of areas for blame - as it was his letter to the cross-border co-operation was ham- unionists during the final stages of the mered out after Tony Blair was said to talks which has given unionists the have expressed his fury at unionist opportunity to resurrect the old Tory intransigence and at being misled. stalling device of decommissioning. None of the areas identified had a He did this, of course, in order to direct bearing on the republican/ induce them to sign up to the Mitchell nationalist aspiration to have Irish Agreement in the first place. Even so, national rights given concrete realisa- in the event only a slender majority of tion in the North. EU objectives for an unionists gave it their approval. embryonic all-island economy were Professor Mullaney agrees with the enhanced, but only to a limited extent overwhelming majority of analysts and only after further pressure from who have been explaining what the Downing Street on the Trimbleites. Good Friday deal has to say about The six areas which eventually decommissioning. He says: "...the emerged were a slight improvement First Minister believes that decom- on the farcical ones originally sug- missioning must take place by 22 May gested by the unionists. They had 2000 and that it should start now" wanted such things as a cross-border (this is what Blair encouraged the body to determine where the border unionists to think). "He is incorrect. actually lay in Carlingford Lough! The Agreement provides: All partici- This approach was not only derisory, it pants accordingly reaffirm their com- was contemptuous. mitment to total disarmament of all A slippage from October to paramilitary organisations. They also December may not seem a very big confirm their intention to continue to issue given the length of the struggle It is 27 years since the above march from Cricklewood to September (see page 3) the Ministry of Defence continues work constructively and in good faith which has gone on before, but, as pro- Downing Street, London, in protest at the death of 13 civil to resist moves by the current government to issue an with the Independent Commission fessor Mullaney correctly points out, rights demonstrators, shot by British paratroopers in apology. and to use any influence they might have to achieve the decommissioning "other important timetables, though Derry City on 30 January 1972. Another of the Derry Join us on the this year's Bloody Sunday of all paramilitary arms within two not exact, are linked to the 31 October demonstrators was to die from ii\|uries sustained soon 'Demonstration for Justice' in London on Saturday 30 years following endorsement in refer- obligation." By late 1998 or early 1999, after the march. The British Army still maintains that it January 1999. Assemble 12 noon, Victoria Embankment endums north and south of the legislation providing for the formal attacked the Derry marchers In response to IRA gunfire. (Temple Tube). March proceeds past Westminister and Agreement and in the context pf the establishment and transfer of powers Those who attended the civil rights demonstration know Downing Street via Trafalgar Square and ends with a rally overall settlement", continued on page 4 to new institutions, including the this to be a lie, and although a new inquiry will open next at Friends' Meeting House, Euston Road at 3.30 ppi. Irish Democrat January/February 1999 Irish Democrat January/February 1999 Page 3 News

the full implementation of the Good Ceallaigh reminded delegates that the IRISH Appeal for Friday agreement and the need to six counties remained an undemocrat- McNamee Founde Oemociud 1939 Volume 54, No. 1 c Looking beyond explain it to all sections of democratic ic, illegitimate and failed political enti- justice opinion in Britain, monitor imple- ty. The document itself was a testa- mentation and expose attempts to ment to that, he insisted. conviction HAMILL INQUIRY Good Friday derail or subvert it. Delegates also Despite the drawbacks and imper- Enda Finlay agreed that the organisation should CA ANNUAL CONFERENCE fections from a nationalist/republican quashed TIME TO MOVE ON seek the broadest possible unity standpoint, constitutional changes Speaking at a recent public meeting Democrat reporter MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE The recent plea by Billy Hutchinson of the Progressive Unionist among those in Britain in favour of brought about by the agreement organised by the Connolly Democrat reporter Party for unionists to change their attitude towards the issue of Delegates attending the annual con- the agreement and to win support for which diminished British sovereignty Association, the Britain and Ireland ference of the Connolly Association the national democratic perspective. had been put inio place - a major dif- Danny MacNamee's 16-year ordeal decommissioning or face the consequences of provoking a collapse Human Rights Centre and the Labour last November gave their unanimous Motions opposing the emergency ference to the previous Sunningdale finally ended on 17 December 1998 of the peace process is one which Trimble and other Ulster union- Committee on Ireland, solicitor, backing to a motion from the organi- legislation introduced in the wake of agreement. Politically, the fact that with the quashing of his conviction for Rosemary Nelson recalled the ists would do well to heed. sation's executive committee setting the Omagh bombing and calling for republicans will be part of the legisla- conspiracy to cause explosions in con- appalling murder of 25-year-old father out its assessment of the Good Friday the speedy release of all Irish political ture and administration of the six nection with the IRA's 1982 Hyde Continued unionist stalling over the setting up of the Northern of two, Robert Hamill on 8 May 1997 agreement and outlining campaigning prisoners also won unanimously back- counties was a another key difference, Park bomb attack. Ireland Assembly executive and cross-border bodies has resulted following injuries received during an priorities for the forthcoming year. ing, as did calls to establish a trade he said. attack on him by a gang of around 30 However, friends and supporters in an increasingly dangerous stalemate which must be broken. In moving the executive resolution, union network. Appeals for British "The task now is to advance loyalists in the centre of Portadown on expressed considerable anger at the Connolly Association general secre- government to welcome Irish unity, nationalist entitlements within the Despite progress over the areas to be covered by the north-south 27 April 1997. begrudging comments of the three tary Enda Finlay said that the agree- and for nationalists and republicans in framework of the Good Friday docu- Court of Appeal judges. bodies and the number of assembly departments there is no sign A particularly disturbing feature of Campaigning: Wane Hamffl (left), sister of Robert, and soHcttor Rosemary Nelson ment represented a compromise Scotland and Wales to recognise the ment, and then reassess progress Despite compelling evidence of that the unionists are preparing to move towards implementing the attack on Robert Hamill and his (right) appeal for justice at a recent public meeting In London between opposing political forces folly of simply substituting Brussels' towards the ultimate objective serious irregularities by the Crown companion, Gregory Girvan, who sur- these key areas of the agreement. The question is not really within the six counties and between hegemony for Westminster rule, also (unity, - ed.) and the way forward in prosecution team at the time of ihe vived the assault, was that it took place "unrelenting in their search for the four RUC officers. To add insult to whether the IRA gives up some arms - it's clear from the wording the British and Irish governments. received overwhelming support. that direction." original trial the judges ruled that in full view of four police officers in an culprits." injury the same four officers have sub- The organisation's support for the In the morning delegates were although the conviction was unsafe of the agreement that this isn't required prior to the setting up of RUC Land Rover. The officers, some However the stated intention of the sequently applied for compensation Quest speaker Dalttin 6 CeaHalgh agreement was entirely consistent addressed by Gerry Gribben from the The following were elected to serve this did not mean that he Mr. the executive - but whether Trimble's unionists are prepared to of whom were friends of some mem- RUC has not materialised. The day for trauma and have taken sick leave. with the organisation's approach since Granville stressed that while the Good Northern Ireland Women's Coalition on the CA national executive: McNamee was innocent of the charges bers of the loyalist mob responsible for after Robert died six men were arrest- The Hamill family have filed pri- accept that republicans must play a full role in the forging of a new the beginning of the peace process, he Friday agreement held significant and the Dublin-based trade unionist Stella Bond (London) brought against him. Robert's death, did nothing, despite ed, five of them were released shortly vate lawsuits against members of the accommodation based on equality and respect. Significant num- explained. "We support the agreement potential for ending past injustices and writer Daltun O Ceallaigh. Michael Crowley (London) Welcoming the outcome of the their clear view of the attack. afterwards without charges. The sixth loyalist murder gang and the RUC. because it seeks to embody respect and and for securing a lasting peace, it was Speaking about the evolution of the Jim Duggan (London) appeal, Connolly Association general bers obviously still believe they should continue to rule the roost. Initially, the RUC claimed that it has still not faced prosecution and equality, something which the nation- unlikely to lead, in itself, to an end of Women's Coalition and its key role in Enda Finlay (London) secretary Enda Finlay condemned the had been a "clash between two rival prosecutors claim there is not enough To meet the financial burden, the Robert Of course, Trimble has problems in his own back yard, with the alist community in the six counties the root cause of the conflict - the ille- the talks process and in securing the David Granville (Sheffield & SY) judges' comments as "a deliberate factions" and that "police moved in to evidence to hold the suspects. Hamill Justice Fund was launched on 'No-men' contuing to snap around his ankles. But this can no had been denied since partition." gal and unjustifiable partition of final agreement, Gerry Gribben Peter Mulligan (Northampton) attempt to disguise the fact that separate the groups." This claim was In November 1998, Robert's sister, December IS, 1997. Donations to: The However, it was right for the CA to Ireland. Despite this, he insisted, the explained that the party had come into Pat O'Donohoe (London) Danny was stitched up". longer be used as a veto on progress, and both governments must soundly disproved by witness reports Diane presented the Secretary of State, Robert Hamill Justice Fund c/o Offices maintain its opposition to the British political climate engendered by the being because exclusion had become Peadar O'Tuathail (Birmingham) Once again, British justice had make this abundantly clear. If the agreement collapses, we can (and later admitted to be wrong by the Mo Mowlam, with a 20,000-signature of Rosemary Nelson, 8 William Street, government-backed unionist veto, Irish peace process and the agreement an issue for many communities, Eamon Quaill (Glasgow) failed Irish people, he insisted. RUC), all stating the police never petition calling on the British govern- Lurgan, Co. Armagh BT66 6JA. Letters expect a return to the violence of the past, something the over- which continued to deny the people of had presented the organisation with a including women, whose views are Jim Redmond (London) "More importantly, Danny's case moved from their Land Rover. ment to establish an Independent demanding action should be addressed to whelming majority do not want. Ireland as a whole the right to deter- golden opportunity to influence the very frequently ignored by the North's Alex Reid (London) has highlighted the whole area of fin- Following Robert's death, the RUC Public Inquiry into her brother's Dr. Mo Mowlam, Secretary of State, mine their future. debate in Britain in a progressive deeply patriarchal society. Sally Richardson (London) gerprint evidence, which needs to be Meanwhile, no one should be hoodwinked by the handing over declared that its officers would be death and for the suspension of the Stormont Castle, Belfast BT4 3FT. Speaking at the start of the confer- direction. Delivering a detailed analysis of the Moya St Leger (London) looked into as a matter of urgency." of a small number of weapons by the Loyalist Volunteer Force into ence, Connolly Association president Conference unanimously support- Good Friday agreement and its impli- Willie Wallis (Glasgow) Gary Whitby (Scunthorpe). thinking that it has turned over a new leaf. The ploy was little and Irish Democrat editor David ed the executive's call to campaign for cations for Irish unity, Daltun O ^Second-generation Irishman more than a publicity stunt aimed at stepping up pressure on New Irish in Britain Michael O'Brien could soon be cele- the ease of accessibility of their leader- republicans and of hastening the release of LVF prisoners. project to train young organisers and brating the overturning of yet another parliamentary group launched Ladtin tribute ship to the Taoiseach and his minis- improve trade union recruitment. The New Inquiry miscarriage of justice early in 1999. As the recent upsurge in sectarian attacks against nationalists in ters, and at agreements that go beyond TUC's New Unionism initiative has O'Brien and co-accused Ellis pointed out that Britain is Ireland's the six counties has made sickeningly clear, neither the LVF nor IRISH IN BRITAIN LABOUR HISTORY the immediate wage and salary earner. taken its inspiration from methods Sherwood and Darren Hall were biggest export market. There were five For others there is astonishment at the pioneered by US and Australian trade progresses released on bail last November after their particularly vicious brand of sectarian violence has gone. A Democrat reporter to six million Irish descendants in the Democrat reporter culture of support for sympathy action unions. Would it not be more fruitful serving 11 years for the killing of recent string of murder attempts and bombings have been claimed Representatives of the Connolly UK and "we are proud of the contri- A new book about Jim Larkin, one of in the refusal to pass strike pickets. to look at Ireland, at the contribution despite delay Cardiff shopkeeper Philip Saunders. Association and the Irish Democrat bution Irish people have made to civic by groups calling themselves the Orange Volunteers or the Red the creators of the modern Irish labour Are trade unionists in Britain, of Connolly and Larkin, where their The three men were convicted on were among those who gatherered at and social life in Britain", he said. BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY Hand Defenders. It is widely known that the attacks are the movement, was launched in Dublin at faced with the continuing haemor- concern with the well being of all the the strength of a confession by Hall the House of Commons at the begin- However, Mr Barrington drew Democrat reporters the end of November by the Irish rhage of membership, to be compared people coincided with the national which he later retracted. responsibility of hardline elements associated with the LVF and ning of November lor the launch of a attention to the disproportionate Taoiseach, , and US trade with the passing influence of the interest? January 1999 marks the first anniver- The case of the young men, who other loyalist paramilitary groups. new cross-party Irish in Britain parlia- number of homeless Irish in this union leader John Sweeney, president 'yeomen of England' following the sary of the announcement of a new have always protested their innocence, mentary group. country suggesting that those with of the AFL-CIO (the equivalent of the Great Revolution? Charlie Cunningham is the president of inquiry into the events of Bloody was referred to the Court of Appeal by Speaking at the launch event, John mental health problems in this group British TUC). Among those attempting to tackle the Ixmdon Craft branch of MSF and a Sunday 1972. The most recent state- the Criminal Cases Review McDonnell, the Labour MP behind were over represented. The Irish com- The book, edited by Donal Nevin, these problems is Frances O'Grady at longstanding member of the Connolly ment by the Saville inquiry is that Commission just before Christmas. EURO FANS COME CLEAN the initiative, explained that the aim munity, he added, still has significant is a worthy tribute to Larkin who was the British TUC who is involved in a Association. open hearings will not now commence Evidence unearthed by a BBC docu- Although revelations about massive levels of fraud, corruption and of the new group was to ensure that problems in civic society which have John McDonnell, MP a hero of both the Irish and American until September 1999, owing to the mentary revealed that several key trial to be solved. itiismanagement within the unelected European Commission legislation addresses such areas as labour movements. (See revic p 9) amount of evidence and witness state- witnesses had lied. have emerged recently, this did not stop the bankers, coupon clip- employment, housing, social care and Geroid 0 Meachair of the cerns of the Irish in Britain to be The event, which took place at ments that have been taken. education as well as promoting Irish Federation of Irish Societies, also wel- heard inside parliament. "For too long Liberty Hall, was largely organised by Regretably, Lord Saville, who will NEWS IN BRIEF pers and other denizens of European financial and industrial cap- culture. The group would also aim to comed the new group and hoped that have the Irish in Britain either been the Irish-American Labour Coalition chair the inquiry, has agreed to grant Emergency law concerns ital whooping it up with the political leaders of the new European serve the needs of the Irish in Britain it would address the parliamentary taken for granted or viewed with deep and Ireland's largest union, SIPTU. In immunity to soldiers testifying before Civil liberty organisations in Britain and encourage and promote debate neglect of the Irish community in suspicion by British parliamentarians order over the launch of the Euro. In all the euphoria a number of addition to speeches from guest the inquiry."Without such an under- and the six counties have expressed within and outside parliament on Britain which had created a grave his- of all political parties. Hopefully, this key players helpfully dropped their guard, confirming the real sig- speaker John Sweeney and the Irish taking any witness would be able to deep concern at government proposals issues affecting the Irish community, torical deficit. new initiative and progress towards a Taoiseach, a former member of the exercise a privilege against self- announced before Christmas to adopt nificance of the latest phase in the march towards a federal he told supporters. Commenting on the new initiative, settlement in the North will help to Workers Union of Ireland and a for- incrimination," he said. existing draconian emergency legisla- European superstate. Speaking, at the House of Connolly Association general secre- ensure that it is not several more mer trade union official, the launch Relatives of those killed on Bloody tion used to combat the political vio- Commons launch, Ireland's Ambas- tary Enda Finlay stressed that there decades before important issues facing One of the clearest signals came from the German Foreign included a number of tributes to Sunday have greeted Lord Saville's lence in the six counties and to apply sador to Britain, Ted Barrington, was a clear need for the voice and con- the Irish in Britain and deemed to be Larkin in both word and song. announcement with disappointment it, permanently, throughout the UK. Minister Gunther Verheugen. Interviewed by the BBC Mr. suitable or 'safe' for debate in the and anger, believing that no soldier Commeniing on the proposals the Verheugen said that, while "normally, a single currency is the final Westminster parliament." Charlie Cunningham adds will be prosecuted on the basis of any Committee on the Administration of step in a process of political integration, this time the single cur- In Berresford Place, Dublin, under the new evidence that comes to light dur- Justice's legal officer, Paul Mageean, rency is the not the final step, but the beginning." Others were teish temociuc $£ Donations to the Connolly railway line by a supporting stan- ing the Inquiry. criticised the government's failure to equally candid. Wim Duisenberg, president of the European Association and the Irish Democrat chion, amid the swirl of passing traffic, Despite the postponement of open move away from emergency law type 4 November 1998 to 5 January 1999 stands the recently erected (19%) stat- hearings until September 1999 the measures. Central Bank, indicated that the countries participating in the For a united and independent Ireland ue of James Connolly, whereas Inquiry team is understood to have "We have consistently maintained Euro had already given up major powers over the control of their Published continuously since 1939, the Irish Democrat is the bi-monthly C. Dunne £200; J. Doyle £5; J. Downey £5; K. Keable £10; Larkin's statue, erected in 1979, stands made significant progress: that emergency counter-terrorist mea- journal of the Connolly Association which campaigns for a united and national economies. R.E Bowen £32; D. Ferrer £23 in O'Connell Street. * Over 60,000 pages of text and 2,500 sures have both been unnecessary and independent Ireland and the rights of the Irish in Britain. While applauding those in Ireland trying to point out the folly (in memory of Paddy Bond); R.M. £2; The question may be asked, why of photographs have been received along counterproductive," said Mr. F. Jennings £15; J. Logan £5 (in the two great champions and organis- with 19 videotapes and 22 audio tapes; Mageean. of joining a European super state, here in Britain we must ensure Annual Subscription Rates (six issues) memory of Paddy Bond); C.C. £12 ers of the most needy workers, Larkin ~k A Peer Review Panel of internation- The experience in Northern ally recognised forensic scientists has that the campaign for national sovereignty does not become the £5.50 Britain I enclose a cheque B. Murphy £9; G. Findlay £5 should be commemorated 20 years Ireland had shown that such powers been appointed; province of the political right. £10.00 Solidarity subscription (payable to "Connolly J. Saunders £15; C. Cunningham £10 before Connolly? The answer is that were unable to prevent violence, he £8.00 Europe (airmail) Publications Ltd")/postal J. Clarke £10; S. Mathews £10 by the 1970s the folk memory of ~k Tracing witnesses and taking state- insisted. £11.00 USA/Canada (airmail) order for £ , A. Barlow £5; T. Mathews; £15 Connolly was passing while Larkin, ments: solicitors have taken over four Stressing that the Good Friday IRISII Oeniociuc £12.00 Australia (airmail) C. Haswell £40; M. Barry £10 who died in 1947, was still fresh in hundred statements from those pre- agreement had clearly envisaged a R. Doyle £10; M. Caffell £10 (in people's minds. sent on the day; break with emergency powers, he Bi-monthly Newspaper of the Connolly Association Name.... memory of Paddy Bond); C. Puppo For the London trade unionist, *The inquiry has received 3000 reminded people that the United Address however, there are greater questions to Editorial Board: £2; S. Pound £15; J. Jenkins £15; names from the Ministry of Defence Nations Committee Against Torture I lelen Bcnncll; < icraril (Airran; David Granville (editor i, Jonathan Hardy, M. Jones £10; P Ladkin £10; N. Green be asked. For example, Roger Lyons, and has set about tracing those who had concluded that their continued l'eler Mulligan; Alex Reiil Production: Derek Km/ £10; anonymous £4. the general secretary of MSF, a union witnessed or took part in the events. use posed a serious impediment to the Published by Connollv Publications I .id, 244 dray's Inn Road, London WC1X X|R, tel: 0171 833 3022 with members in Ireland, often pro- So far 114 soldiers have come forward; promotion of rights and compliance Send to: Connolly Publications Ltd, 244 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR Bankers orders £320.00 I jnail: Connolly" gco2.poplel.orK.uk fesses his astonishment at the influ- •k Thirty journalists have been identi- with the UN Convention Against Printed by Ripley Primers (Tit) Ltd, Nottingham Road, Riplcv, Derbyshire, tel: 01773 743 621 ence of trade unionists in Ireland, at fied as potential witnesses. , Torture. , , Irish Democrat January/February 1999 Page 4 Irish Democrat January/February 1999

Hews Features World Comment continued from page 1 won't even meet his Garvaghy Road As clear as it gets: the Irish Citizen constituents. From a nationalist/ by POLITICUS Army opposes the imperialist war Having previously noted that republican point ol view the Parades Honouring a friend of Ireland Trimble is a lawyer, professor Commission is not great shakes as a Building Euroland initially, that they were serving in a Mullaney tells him: "Surprise. reform. It is allowing Orangeism to get Connolly Association executive committee member Frank Small explains the good cause, even if the experience of The only successful monetary unions 1 ^-commissioning need nol occur now away with threatening and harassment the trenches must have disillusioned reasoning behind the Birmingham branch's recent honouring of the life and work in history have been parts of a state- or even in two years' In any case ihe behaviour over an unconscionable many before their deaths. building process. There have been acl of disarmament, while desirable, is period of time against a section of the of the English scientist, theologian and political radical, Dr. Joseph Priestley As Professor Joseph Lee, the histo- three examples in Europe since the not obligatory at all compared to, say, community which would not be toler- rian, pointed out in the Irish newspa- mid-19th century - Italy, Germany and fixing a date of October 31, 1998 to ated for one minute in any genuinely oseph Priestly was born in pers, President Mary McAleese struck Switzerland. There the distinct cur- have an Executive and a North-South tolerant and civilised society where Fieldgate, near Leeds, only one false note in the fine address rencies of the various small political Council in place which is an uncondi- equal citizenship prevailed. Yorkshire in 1733 and was she gave at Messines. This was her units into which these countries were tional promise." Mullaney concludes Ironically this is the 30th anniver- brought up in a Presbyterian phrase that the Irish dead 'fell victim by pointing out that "while Trimble sary of a civil rights march through household. He completed his divided were phased out and replaced to a war aganst oppression in Europe.' may be head of the UUP, he is first and Burntollet which was attacked by peo- education in a dissenting acad- by one national currency, as they For the first world war was no fight foremost First Minister - the principal ple of the same Orange/unionist com- Jemy where he was influenced by the moved towards forming their respec- against oppression, unlike the 1939-45 public official in Northern Ireland. plexion as those who are demanding democratic spirit of the teachings of tive national states. There in time one war, which destroyed Nazism and fas- His blatant disregard of the North's the 'right' to stage triumphalist the Irishman Frances Hutcheson, one currency led to one government, and cism. The 1914-18 war was a struggle governing document places him dan- marches through any opposed com- of the leading lights of the Scottish one tax system imposed by that central between different robber powers on gerously close to violation of his munity that they target. And yet all Enlightenment. government. either side, each seeking colonies, Pledge of Office - itself spelt out in the the 'new-look' Trimble can do is to call Priestley adopted Unitarian views All states have their own currencies spheres of influence and political and Mitchell Agreement." for the abolition of the Parades and, in 1780, took up a position as and all currencies belong to states. In economic dominance over the other. fact the two essential classical defining Apologists for Trimble who recog- Commission which, up till now, has minister in the New Meeting Between 1914 and 1916 James features of being a state are the nise the weakness of his case on legal had a very chequered history, basing Unitarian church in Birmingham, a Connolly used to watch in anguish at monopoly of legal force over a territo- grounds, and who are now scampering its decisions on pragmatism rather rapidly expanding town and one of the the lines of newly enlisted working away from that position, are neverthe- than on principle. While it has disal- centres of the industrial revolution. ry, embodied in an army and police- class Dublinmen marching proudly less hard at work in the British and the lowed the Orangemen to force a way Many of the town's leading entrepre- men, and the monopoly of legal tender down the quays past Liberty Hall on Irish media defending him because of through Garvaghy Road, it is allowing neurs were Unitarians and they donat- in a currency. The two go together, for their way to the Western Front - many his postulated political difficulties. contentious marches and rallies in ed the then large sum of £200 to enable the first monopoly is needed to of them leaving behind them wives Who does not have political difficul- close proximity to nationalist enclaves Priestley to publish theological, scien- Messages of support for the CA's enforce the second. and children who would never see ties;' They never explore just what and failing to legally enforce its own tific and political works. Priestley tribute initiative were received from a num- The launch of the European single them again. One of Connolly's would be entailed in helping or stipulations on the conduct of such Priestley made original contribu- In early November members of the ber of prominent figures including the currency on 1 January in 11 of 15 EU motives in launching the Easter encouraging Trimble to appease his events. tions to science and discovered oxy- Birmingham branch of the Connolly Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Irish states, and the abolition of their Rising was to stop the recruiting to the opponents within unionism - in The British public, the labour gen. He was also a political radical Association laid a wreath at a city cen- President Mary McAleese, Nobel national currencies over the next three British army. And stop it it did, there- effect, a surrender to the unreformed movement in particular, has much to who opposed slavery and supported tre statue (above) in commemoration Peace Prize winner and SDLP leader years, turns these nations into eco- by saving many times more lives than status quo which has been the cause of do to persuade the Labour govern- the American independence move- of the 18th Century English political John Hume. nomic provinces of the EU. At the were lost in Easter Week. all bloodshed, trouble and strife, in the same time it gives the EU one of the ment to take no more nonsense from ment, writing pamphlets on both sub- radical scientist, theologian and friend Messages of support were also The Irish soldiers of the Great War first place. There is supposed to be a recidivist six-county unionism and to jects. of Ireland, Joseph Priestley. received from Irish Arts minister key features of being a state. Yet a Remembering the first world war should certainly be commemorated. new, liberal, forward-thinking, plural- make it clear that the democratising At the time of the anti-Catholic The ceremony was fol- Eamon O Cuiv, Sinn Fein TD, state-in-the-making of a peculiar kind, The idealism and impulse of personal ist unionism in existence - or at least provisions of the Good Friday deal, Gordon riots in 1780, he wrote in lowed by a success- Caoimhghin O Caolain, senior Irish for it is quite undemocratic. John Murphy highlights the ambiguity attaching to the sacrifice of the thousands of self-sacrifice that animated so many of coming into existence - is there not ? such as the setting up of the executive, support of full Catholic emanci- ful seminar in the trade unionist, Sean Redmond, and Abraham Lincoln defined democ- Irishmen who died fighting in the cause of imperialism in the first world war them, should be recalled too, even if With such an example as Trimble's the implementation of the equality pation and the disestablish city exploring Ray Kavanagh, Martin Mackin and racy as government of the people, by ambiguously. The subjective idealism recent call for the abolition of the agenda and the formation of the new ment of the Anglican Church. the connections Arthur Scargill, general secretaries of the people, for the people. But who are he Irish President, the Queen of now probably the most Orange part of show it in Protestant Portadown of the participants did not make the Parades Commission, the question Police Service, will not be averted by Priestley noted that although between the Irish , 1'ianna Fail the people? There is no European England and the King of Ireland, used to tell a story which where he was going. But there he saw cause they fought and died for in any might quite reasonably be asked: unionist attempts to impose further Catholics and Presbyterians I English radi- and the Socialist Labour Party respec- demos or people, whose support and Belgium stood together last showed why at least some Irish people recruiting posters too, only this time sense a good one. The reality was it Where is this reformed unionism ? He delays. made up nine tenths of the cals and Irish tively. Several prominent local Labour approval could confer democratic November at the official dedica- answered the call to don the British appealing ;o Sir Edward Carson's fol- was a criminal enterprise, perpetrated population of Ireland they ' revolutionaries Party figures, including all the local legitimacy on the embryonic EU tion of the Round Tower in uniform and go off to the mass slaugh- lowers. The slogan there read: 'Join by knaves and fouls in the govern- were required to pay tithes to in the 18th cen- MPs and MEPs, and council leader superstate. There are only European Messines, Belgium, commemo- ter of 1914-18. the army and help defeat Catholic ments on both sides. Marching in support the Church of Ireland, tury. The two Theresa Stewart added their support, peoples, in the plural. And these peo- Trating the Irish soldiers from North In autumn 1914 Gilmore went as a Austria!' - Austria being Imperial It were better by far, for themselves which was supported by just one Birmingham as did several other Labour MPs from ples do not identify with the EU and and South who died in the second young man to Amiens Street station, Germany's main ally. Not for the first and others, if the ordinary soldiers had tenth of the population. events formed a around the country. their fellow 'Europeans', as they do world war. The tower was built by Dublin, to catch the railway train time, the British government was never left their homes. An ambiguity step to an A strong supporter of the French key part of the "The lessons of the 1798 rebellion with their own countries and their fel- Protestant and Catholic work-teams northward. On walls around the sta- using Irish divisions for its own pur- therefore must attach to their monu- revolution, he wrote in his Letters to Association's 1798 bicen- and the United Irish movement is that low countrymen. from both sides of the border. tion he saw newly pasted-up recruiting poses. ments that can never attach to the Orange tune Edmund Burke in its defence following tenary celebrations. Protestants and Catholics can unite in When the Italians, Germans and Simultaneously there was much posters. They showed a Catholic priest Tens of thousands of Catholics and memorials of those, like the men of the publication of Burke's Reflections Seminar speakers included Irish Ireland around common demands," Swiss set up their national monetary guff in sections of the Irish media with a cross in his hand being bayo- Easter weekjthe rebels in Serbia, and GARVAGHY ROAD SIEGE Protestants responded to these calls - of the Revolution, in 1789, which historian Daire Keogh, Ruth Frow explained Birmingham branch mem- unions, they all spoke Italian or about these men being as worthy of neted by a Hun. In the background and their bones lie today in Messines the T917 Russian revol ut ion ari es, who Democrat reporter attacked the new French order. from the Working Class Movement ber Sean Kenny. "The wreath-laying German and could communicate with honour as those who died in the 1916 was a picture of a burning Church. and the other war cemeteries. Some acted, in the words of the Second Recent statements by the Northern The British establishment was con- Library, Salford, and John Killen ceremony and seminar will also hope- one another as they could not with for- Easter Rising. The slogan, in big bold letters, read: doubtless enlisted because of posters International's resolutions, to 'turn Ireland 'First Minister' calling for the cerned at Priestley's influence and set from the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. fully make a positive contribution to eigners. Or in the unique case of the The late George Gilmore, a 'Join the Army and help defend such as these. Others were driven to do the imperialist war into a civil war'. scrapping of the Parades Commission out to neutralise the English political The afternoon event was formally the current peace process by encourag- Swiss cantons, they had been linked Protestant Republican whose grandfa- Catholic Belgium!' so by economic pressures. Probably For these died to stop the slaughter, has sent a clear message to the people radical. A mob was incited to burn opened by British Minister for ing an understanding of Ireland's his- together, free of foreign rule for a thou- ther came from Portadown, then as Gilmore took down the poster to the great majority believed, at least the others to continue it. of the six counties and the British and down his house, destroying his scien- Overseas Development and local MP tory among the people of sand years. For democracy is not just Irish governments that the unionist tific equipment and burning his Clare Short. Birmingham. majority rule. It is majority rule on the And he goes on to refer to 'such leader whose future 'ministerial' papers. Fortunately, Priestley escaped basis of a community - normally the highly dangerous possibilities as a OBITUARY Captain O'Neill brief includes responsibility for equal- and fled to London. national community - where there is Royal Commission or proposals to ity remains under the powerful thrall However, his life and property sufficient mutual identification and amend the 1920 Government of Cathal Goulding under fire of the Orange Order. remained under constant threat, and solidarity between its members as to Ireland Act.' We remind Irish Democrat His statement coincides with an in April 1794 Priestley set sail for The former IRA Chief of Staff and with the Provisionals showed that he induce minorities freely to obey STORMONT PAPERS readers today that the demand for a intensification of efforts by the most Philadelphia, USA, a political refugee. prominent figure in Official Sinn Fein was somewhat out of his depth in pol- majority rule. For it is that identifica- Democrat reporter commission of enquiry into the work- reactionary and bigoted elements Just before his departure the Dublin after the split with the Provisionals in itics. Instead of seeking to hold the tion which gives democratic govern- ing of the Government of Ireland Act within the Orange Order to step up Society of United Irishmen showed 1970, has died at the age of 76. ground for a political as against physi- ment its legitimacy and authority. The Stormont state papers released in was first put forward in the late 1960s their campaign of intimidation and their support and sympathy for his Cathal Goulding was a key figure in cal force republicanism in the 1970s, This vital second condition is January under the 30-year rule show by the Connolly Association and was terror against the nationalist commu- plight by publishing a formal Address turning the Republican Movement which might have made possible a absent in the EU and it always will be. that one week after the Derry civil then widely taken up by unionism's nity of Portadown. to Priestley, a fine act of internationalist towards politics in the 1960s, after the coming-together of the two traditions It is why the EU in principle cannot be rights march of 5 October 1968, critics in Britain and the North. Hard-core Orangemen, supported solidarity at a time when the United failure of the 1956-62 border campaign of in the 1990s, democratized, and why democrats Stormont Premier Terence O'Neill Referring to the domestic six coun- by violent loyalist elements, have Irish movement was itself under had shown the limitations of physical Goulding and Official Sinn Fein aban- throughout Europe - and labour peo- was proposing wide-ranging civil ty situation, O'Neill writes: 'Of course recently stepped up their efforts to intense pressures. force as a means to end partition. He doned republicanism as the central ple and socialists especially - need to rights reform. O'Neill found himself there are anti-Partition agitators march the full length of the Garvaghy Although Priestley's published saw the potential of a struggle for value of their politics altogether. They be foremost in the fight to keep their squeezed between the civil rights prominently at work, but can any of us Road, in contravention of ruling of the works do not reveal where he stood on reformist demands in the six counties, threw out the republican baby, as it national currencies, abandoning movement in the North and the truthfully say, in the confines of this Northern Ireland Parades Commis- the question of the political and eco- such as one-man-one-vote and an end were, with the bath-water of physical which has the aim of turning the EU British government in London - the room, that the minority has no griev- sion and the wishes of the embattled nomic independence of Ireland, his to anti-Catholic discrimination, as a force. into a superstate. latter in turn being influenced by the ance calling for a remedy?'. O'Neill 'First Minister' Trimble remains under Catholic and nationalist community. support for Catholic emancipation and way to destabilise unionist power They adopted an ideological mish- Most European bankers and decade-long campaign of anti-unionist recognised that the only way to avoid Orangeism's powerful thrall Portadown witnessed a wave of for the disestablishment of the Church there and bring the Irish problem to mash which was foisted on them by transnational EU firms want the EU lobbying that was stimulated and sub- any tinkering with the 1920 stantially organised by the Connolly Orange Order and loyalist-inspired have produced a detailed dossier on of Ireland struck at the heart of the British domestic as well as interna- others and under the slogans 'social- superstate, for it frees them from con- Government of Ireland Act was to Asssociation. demonstrations over the holiday the Orange campaign of terror since colonial regime. tional attention. ism' and 'class politics' embarked on a trol at national level by democratically make concessions in other directions, period. Many of the demonstrations July 1998 It was Tom Paine's Rights of Man In 1967 he supported the founda- course whose logical end was elected governments and parliaments. In a fascinating memo to his col- but he had to contend with the resis- were either illegal or contravened The document gives details of over which spread the democratic message tion of the Northern Ireland Civil Democratic Left's support for union- The EU's laissez-fair system is ideal leagues Terence O'Neill refers to two tance of Faulkner and Craig. 'We may conditions set down by the Parades 130 Orange demonstrations in of the French Revolution in Ireland Rights Association and urged north- ism and and its recent merg- for their interests. But it must be previous meetings with British even in time have to make a bitter stools of the civil rights movement and the British government Commission. Violent attacks, abuse Portadown, the vast majority illegal. and Britain - Paine, a friend of ern republicans to take part in the civil er with the Labour Party. Although anathema to the interests of all gen- Premier Harold Wilson: 'Ministers choice between losing Londonderry and intimidation also intensified "C

Page 6 Irish Democrat January/February Irish Democrat January/February 1999 Page 7 60th anniversary Features/Letters August 1994. She kept up the high standards set by her predecessors until personal circum- Letters to the Editor stances impelled her to discontinue. Write to: The Editor, Irish Democrat, c/o 244 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR connolly column I stepped into the breach in April 1996, tak- or e-mail at: connolly(>KH OF prominctu placcs. A significant j THE IRISH Westminster parlia- Martin Moriarty was in effect editor throughout this For over ten years, the respected historian, of his gravemarker and republication of Kaiser". row of our bones when we are young, and then throws us out in the the Proclamation read: CONNOLLY entire period. For a few months in early 1994 the paper By PAT OOOLEY ment which would journalist and novelist, Peter Berresford Ellis, some of his works. What is the purpose of all this propa- street, like a worn-out tool when we are grown prematurely old in Price Sal. fid. post troe) was produced by various members of the editorial board, ORDER NOW from "Iriih Comocrat," take many years to together with John Boyd has contributed a regular column to the paper, Anyone interested in forming a ganda about Irishmen who served in his service, is he not an Irishman, and mayhap a patriot, and Premier House. 154 Southampton Row, DEMOCRAT London. W.C.I reverse. while in recent times the paper has included permanent Harney Commemoration WWI? Most likely to prepare public wherefore should we think harshly of him? i Incorporating "Irish Freedom' ne grey January > No JANUARY. 1945 ; 3d. The sudden death time of growing crisis for the left in Britain and contributions from some of Ireland's most pro- Committee can contact me at opinion to have Irishmen fighting in a Let us free Ireland! "The land that bred and bore us." And the day in 1935 a small of Greaves in August internationally. Fortunately there were those gressive historians including Thomas Bartlet' 83 Sowerby Close, Eltham, London, foreign war as part of a European army landlord who makes us pay for permission to live upon it. Whoop group of London 1988 was a great blow around in the CA who recognised the importance Ruan O'Donnell, Kevin Whelan, Mary Cullen SE9 6EZ. when such a force is established. it up for liberty! members of ihe END THE TRAVEL CHOAS for the Association, of continuing its work of the political solidarity and Denis Carroll. Our Dublin correspondent, Terry Liddle, London Colm Power "Let us free Ireland says WILL ANYTHING 8E DONE IN 1945 ABOUT Republican coming as it did at a with the cause of Irish democracy. The late Anthony Coughlan, continues to write regularly Blackrock, Co. Dublin the patriot who won't touch The capitalist Congress turned 3 Deputies Paddy Bond, who had given unstinting for the paper and has made a significant contri- socialism. Let us join together iniOo a basement flat in voluntary work to marketing and selling the bution over many years as has Jim Savage in Look behind the labels given far too little attention, effectively and cr-r-rush the br-r-rutal is a parasite on Kilburn, norih-west after C.A. JUBILEE ras»-is«3 paper since the 1950s, remained a tower of Cork. In recent years Bobbie Heatley has sent My first reaction to your editorial surrendering a powerful weapon to the Saxon. Let us all join together, London, ior ihe lirsl edi- ttta Oatt, Deputy Lartin, JM» TWELVE PAGES says he, all classes and creeds. LaMarl. aald ha "If Ml to nn» t» strength during this time of transition. Gerard regular contributions from the North. Many remarks about 'ugly English national- Right. It is also true that to build a pro- • men aubieett tK intaalaraiaM b» (> industry; as torial meeting of Irish Carda auinotiliaa aim a mcatlm, hit Curran, who had been the literary editor of the others make regular contributions. ism' was to take them as a slap in the face gressive form of English nationalism And says the town worker, (Jut.f r to twapare • patillon tor tha t Front, an occasional bul- pnava 01 t man undar aantataaa at ttMt and naondtv. ttia action ol tno Fraaa C* Irish Democrat, who stepped into the breach, pro- However, in these days of the internet, infor- to myself and to all progressive-minded which is internationalist, inclusive, and after we have crushed the ana in aujwtaaalnt alt nawaita»er «ti useless in the letin 'to give Irish exiles ancaa to lHa aatna maatlnf ducing a number of issues in 1988 and 1989, mation overkill and the widespread availability English people. On second thoughts, I free from imperialism, monarchism, Saxon and freed Ireland, what significant news of the sit The Swattar rotusod aavltt* Uto tOOtK ADMIT THEY will we do? Oh, then you can was iu aultatantc ftronsui o ttl JtiIiu;Jtotl think they are an ill-considered way of xenophobia and racism is a difficult task. tlva actum already takon unit vittiW assisted by a re-established editorial board. of Irish newspapers in Britain - and two popu- present stage of uation at home'. From HM" aUouM b.-