December 1997/January 1998 Connolly Association: campaigning for a united and independent Ireland
Communities Women and the Berpesford Ellis search for peace fight for political challenges process input equality (part 2) TV propaganda Page 6 Connolly Column: Page 6 Page 12
...but there's no room for complacency, Connolly Association conference agrees
elegates at this year's Annual PEACE PROCESS Conference of the Connolly Association unanimously Democrat Reporter endorsed the organisation's However, in recognition that the support for a sovereign and most likely outcome of the current united Ireland and gave their phase of the peace process was some fulOl backing to the Irish peace process. form of interim settlement short of a However it was also agreed that united Ireland, it was agreed, in the while massive improvements had been event of such a development, to stress witnessed in the commitment of the the need for the maximum devolution British government to the peace of powers on a strict power-sharing process since Labour's election in basis, the inclusion of a significant all- May, further confidence-building Ireland dimension - including all- measures were urgently needed if the Ireland institutions with executive process was not to run into difficulties. powers, and for any such settlement to Speaking at the meeting, Connolly include the capacity to develop, over Association general secretary Enda time, in the direction of a united Finlay said that there could be no Ireland. room for complacency as there were Speaking on behalf of the execu- no guarantees, and, as yet little con- tive, Connolly Association vice-presi- crete evidence, that the current talks dent Willie Wallis described the strat- would result in an agreed settlement egy outlined by the organisation's by next year's May deadline. executive as "comprehensive, princi- While accepting that the issue of pled and pragmatic". It also demon- 'consent' was likely to remain a key strated that the Association was capa- factor, delegates endorsed opposition ble of strategic thinking in the quest to any interpretation of this which for its overall objective of a sovereign incorporated a unionist veto, blocked and united Ireland, he told delegates. progress towards Irish unity or, in the Armed resistance for 30 out of the interim, prevented the attainment of last 40 years had failed to achieve this full political, economic and cultural objective, he said. It was now clear that equality for all the people of the North. only political strategy currently avail- Delegates agreed that issues which able was one based on the campaign the government needed to address as a for 'democratic rights' - a modernisa- matter of urgency included: the tion of the Connolly Association's civil release of politically motivated prison- rights approach in the 1960s, which ers; the repeal of emergency legisla- was premised on an understanding tion; the rapid demilitarisation of the that Northern Ireland was a gerry- North; root and branch reform of mandered statelet, built on the basis of policing; measures to tackle employ- a sectarian head count. ment discrimination; ensuring full "Discrimination and repression is equality of language and cultural inbuilt in the North and if we can H0lS!n rights; and the announcement of a devise a strategy which destroys this, new enquiry into the events of Bloody we eliminate the raison d'etre of that Sunday. statelet's existence," he said, stressing McAliske On the subject of prisoners, dele- the renewed possibilities for building gates unanimously agreed that the a progressive coalition in the North release of politically motivated prison- which would bring about structural ers, both republican and loyalist, was reform. essential to any attempts to resolve the "Here in Britain, we in the CA, in Anglo-Irish conflict. They were also association with others, can also build TnrYTPf] told that the Association would con- a progressive coalition to support tinue to press the British government these demands and in doing so create on all these areas and argue for it to a situation where the process of Rofsfa McAliskey: there is no case to answer adopt a position of persuading north- national reconciliation can seriously Human-rights activists (pictured above) outside the Home Office on the first anniversary of Roisfn McAliskey's ern unionists of the political and begin in Ireland for the first time in arrest. An independent investigation into the case by a group of international legal experts has concluded that economic benefits of a united Ireland. many decades." "there is no factual basis for the arrest, detention or extradition of Roisin McAliskey". Irish Democrat December 1997/January 1998 Irish Democrat December 1997/January 1998 Page 3 News IRISH Oemociuc News/CA Conference Charter for SF MPs to meet NEWS IN BRIEF Founded 1939 Volume 53, No. change 15 3 with speaker Words of praise and warning over peace process Bloody Sunday apology'delayed1 It looks increasingly likely that a British government apology or an NATIONAL RIGHTS * WIT COMMONS BAN Conference decisions announcement about a new enquiry Democrat reporter Democrat reporter •k Conference agreed the need into the events of Bloody Sunday WHITE SMOKE FROM STORMONT for a mass solidarity movement new campaign aimed at inn Fein President and MP for 1972, which resulted in the killing of What is going on at the Stormont all-party talks? Someone has in Britain to mobilise public addressing the issue of the West Belfast Gerry Adams has 14 unarmed civil rights demonstrators support for the main demands of described them as reminiscent of a Papal conclave, with lots of national rights of people living written to the Speaker of the in Derry, is still several month away the Irish national democratic people standing around outside not knowing what is happening, in the north of Ireland as pan House of Commons asking her The latest unwelcome develop- movement. The creation, on a of the peace process was for a meeting to discuss the ment, which appears to be due to pres- waiting hopefully to see a puff of white smoke from the chimney. gradual basis, of local 'Friends of launched recently in Belfast. withholding of facilities from he Connolly Association's annu- sure from within the Ministry of Ireland' groups could assist in Trimble's official unionists are simply prevaricating. The political Drawn up by representatives from hiSs party. Both Mr. Adams and fellow al conference opened with a suc- Befence over the implications for A the process, conference agreed. aim of the Ulster Unionists is to drive a wedge between Sinn Fein a wide range of political, community Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness cessful public meeting compensation claims in relation to have been asked to swear an oath of addressed by John McDonnell, this and other incidents, has been on the one hand and the SDLP and the Irish government on the and campaigning organisations in the ^Conference called on the Labour MP for Hayes and greeted with exasperation and anger North, Cearta (Charter for Change) allegiance to the British Crown as a British government to draw up a other. They are longing, avidly, for republican split and a return by Harlington and chair of the by campaigners and relatives of the hopes to secure around 100,000 signa- requirement for receiving the facilities programme for the phased early the IRA, or part of it, to violence. That would let them off the hook Britain Ireland Human Rights Centre, victims. tories in the six counties and secure accorded to other parties at the British I release of all politically and Kevin McCorry from the Belfast- This has been denied by the of having to engage meaningfully with Irish nationalism. support from key Irish community parliament in Westminster. motivated prisoners (see also figures in both the twenty six counties In his letter to Betty Boothroyd Mr based Campaign for Democracy. Northern Ireland Office and some The more official unionism can spin out the talks without get- Kevin McCorry, one of those behind page 1 & prisoners list below). and Britain. Adams described the decision to with- Praise for Labour's efforts since campaigners believe that information ting down to the brass tacks, the more pressure they hope the Charter For Change initiative "Irish people living in the North hold facilities at the House of May combined with warnings over * Conference reaffirmed its view about resitance with the MoD was Adams/McGuinness and the republicans will be under. Trimble are entitled to the same national and January 28. Speaking at the annual Commons as a radical departure from recent developments in the Irish peace of the legitimacy, in national and being leaked as part of a deliberate attempt to make it difficult for the inside and Paisley and McCartney outside them seem to have democratic rights of Irish citizenship conference of the Connolly Assoc- the previous position. He told Miss process were twin themes of the con- international law, pf Articles 2 as Irish people living elsewhere in iation, the Belfast solicitor Kevin Boothroyd: "The additional restric- tributions made by the two guest Despite Labour's partial retreat What was needed was to "re-edu- British government to issue an apolo- exactly the same political objectives - to avoid coming to any and 3 of the Irish constitution Ireland", while "all the people of the McCorry, one of those involved in tions announced by you only after our speakers at the Connolly Association's from a position in support of'unity by cate" the new Labour leadership on and warned that any unilateral gy. Others, such as the author of the accommodation with nationalist Ireland. North are entitled to full parity of drawing up the charter said: "It's an election impinge directly on our annual conference held in London on consent', at least the sentiments the question of Irish unity while attempts to change them would recent book Eyewitness Bloody Sunday, Don Mullan, believe that it is not so One response by northern nationalism might be to bring the esteem and equality of treatment", the attempt to spell out the national rights capacity to represent and work for our November 15. expressed by Mo Mowlam at this attempting to ensure that motions have a detrimental effect on the year's Labour Party conference were were not passed at Labour Party much compensation claims than fear force of public opinion into play. Sinn Fein and the SDLP - Charter states. "Delivering these fun- dimension in relation to the present constituents." As an Irish Republican In his opening remarks, John peace process. damental rights is a prerequisite to, political situation and to introduce I have very good reasons for refusing McDonnell, said that the Labour reflected in the speech by the party conference which undermined of the truth that is causing a stiffening maybe even the Alliance Party, the Women's Coalition and loyal- of resistence within the MoD. and not dependent upon, any negotiat- this to a wider audience through pop- to take an oath of allegiance to a Party's Northern Ireland front-bench leader. This had not always been the Labour's historic position in support ~k Conference voiced strong •k At the end of November a delega- ist groups? - might agree to organise 'citizens forums' and 'public ed settlement." ular debate and agitation." British monarch. team were like a breath of fresh air position previously, he insisted. of a united Ireland. opposition to the introduction of tion from Derry Council travelled to hearings' across the six counties, at which ordinary people would As a minimum, the Charter calls on In a letter to the Speaker of the compared to the previous government Among those who supported an Although in general agreement a single European currency. NEWS IN BRIEF Westminster to urge MPs to support the British government to end all House of Commons, he said: "The team. Despite some 'fumbling' over end to partition there was a need to with the MP about the positive devel- be invited to discuss the kind of future they want for the North ~k Conference agreed to support their demand for a new inquiry into emergency legislation, carry out root- O'Callaghan the unionist refusal to take the oath formed part of the parades issue at Drumcree, its remain firm about "our overall objec- opments under Labour, Kevin and for Ireland as a whole. Such gatherings could be on the lines attempts to sustain dialogue between tive - some form of agreed united McCorry from the Camjpaign for commemorative events marking the events of Bloody Sunday. and-branch reform of the legal system, Convicted former IRA man turned our election campaign, as did our of the Opsahl Commission hearings some years back. the various parties had displayed "an Ireland". And whatever agreement Democracy warned that further action 60th anniversary of the Irish establish an unarmed, accountable police agent Sean O'Callaghan was one intention, if elected, to avail of the element of delicacy and expertise was reached next year, we would want was required in a number of key areas. Democrat and the Connolly Ctegg denied retrial and representative police force, end all of the prime movers behind a recent normal facilities afforded to all beyond a number of our expectations", it to move the process in this direc- The talks process had also revealed a Association; it was also agreed to The Court of Appeal in Belfast has forms of discrimination, ensure equal- conference aimed at reuniting main- Members of the House of Commons. I he said While recognising the impor- tion, he said. number of important weaknesses and mark the bi-centenary of the refused to grant a retrial in the case of ity for the Irish language and culture, stream unionists. The other key believe therefore that the effect of your CONFIDENCE BUILDING tance of the issue for some, the decom- dangers. United Irishmen's rebellion in Lee Clegg, the British soldier who was and release all political prisoners. organiser is reported to be the pro- statement discriminates against my "If we withdraw from that position, While all but the unionists must welcome the apparent sea change missioning block on Sinn F6in partic- 1998. sentenced to life imprisonment in Charter campaigners are currently unionist Tory peer Lord Cranborne. constituents on the basis of their polit- as has been the case, at least partially, While expectations, particularly ipation in the talks had been removed within the Labour Party in the recent those of nationalists, had been raised 1993 for the murder of the Belfast in British government attitudes towards the conflict in Ireland planning a series of high-profile meet- The prime aim of the conference, ical beliefs." ^Conference supported a call and dialogue started. Movement on period, it undermines the confidence enormously by the start of talks "there teenager Karen Riley in 1993. since Labour's election in May, there are disturbing signs that the ings in the North to be held in Belfast, which was held at Hatfield House in Mr Adams said the Speaker had for the Association to produce prisoners, parades, economic support and the credibility placed in Labour as is a growing realisation that the However, the judges agreed that new Derry, Lurgan and Dunloy to coincide Hertfordshire at the end of November, given no reasons for "these discrimi- more pamphlets along the lines Irish peace process could once again be heading for choppy water. and development, the ending of a party." However, he warned that mechanics of the talks process is not ballistics evidence was admissible and with international Human Rights Day appears to have been a failed attempt natory and far-reaching changes" and of the highly successful The withdrawal of 400 British troops in November, the ending internment and the incorporation of there was no chance of a Labour min- facilitating accommodation and has the hearing was adjourned until on December 10. to devise a joint unionist strategy for a asked her to reconsider the matter. Orangeism: Myth and Reality, European human-rights legislation ister speaking up publicly for Irish brought very little progress', he said. January 12. of daytime military foot patrols in West Belfast and the dropping The Charter has been signed, in a future referendum on the future of the Meanwhile, Mid-Ulster MP Martin published earlier this year. into British law were welcome, he said. unity in the immediate future. There was growing evidence of Although Clegg has lost two court of internment are indeed welcome measures. However, they are personal capacity, by Connolly six counties. Representatives of the McGuinness has been refused legal aid frustration due to a lack movement on appeals, Clegg was released on licence Association general secretary Enda main unionist parties attended, along to pay for his legal action challenging just the tip of the iceberg in relation to the enormous movement a number of important issues. But he after serving only two years of his sen- Finlay, president David Granville, and with the Orange Order, Apprentice the legality of the oath of allegiance to Please be careful to include prison stressed that much of the recent media Praise for the Democrat tence and allowed to resume his army still needed in order to build and secure confidence among nation- vice president Willie Wallis. The Boys, academics, newspaper editors the Queen. Michael Flanigan, solicitor Action needed numbers when addressing envelopes speculation about a split in the IRA Conference gave its unanimous back- career where he is currently a physical alists and republicans in the North. Association will consider formal and Westminster MPs. The two work- acting for Mr McGuinness, said: "We and to ensure that all no overtly polit- was just wishful thinking on the part ing to the changes to the Irish Democrat instructor. endorsement at its executive in ing-class loyalist parties, the PUP and are disappointed at the decision of the ical sentiments are included in cards The departure of 400 troops still leaves 16,500 stationed in the on prisoners of some media commentators. over the past year and congratulated There were protests outside the January. A speaker from the group has the UDP, were not invited. But then Legal Aid Department in failing to or letters sent to prisoner held on North, while evidence of continuing police harassment of nation- been invited to address the London remand in HM Prison Belmarsh. There was also a feeling on the all those who had worked to ensure hearing led by the republican prison- it's well known that these two parties grant legal aid in this important con- POLITICAL PRISONERS Branch meeting of the Association on ground that the talks were in danger of the successful production of the paper. ers group Saoirse. A number of repub- alist communities, especially in sensitive border areas, continues don't own a fur coat between them. stitutional matter." Democrat reporter HM Prison FuH Sutton, Moor Lane, driving a wedge between the political Congratulating the editor and his lican prisoners have served more than to cause anger and resentment. The same is true of the treatment Readers' Ads Donations to the Connolly Association and the Irish Democrat Despite a number of transfers since York Y041PS leadership of the national democratic team, delegates noted the importance 20 years despite having been convicted of long-serving republican prisoners in English jails. 16 September to 18 November 1997 Labour took over on May 1, and indi- Vincent Donnelly (274064), Eoin movement and the broad mass of the of the paper for the Association, the of relatively minor offences such as Wanted: Sean Tracy and the 3rd carrying weapons. Some of the prisoners have spent over 20 years in jail and still D. Ferrer £30; R. Doyle £10; M. Clinton £8; M. Donohoe £3; cations that three more are in the Morrow (XK 0179), Denis Kinsella population. Republican contacts sug- Irish community in Britain and radi- Tipperary Brigade by Desmond Ryan. F. Jennings £5, £10 (in memory of T. Cronin £4; PT. Mullin £20 (in pipeline (Patrick Hayes, Denis (EN 1944), Paul "Dingus" Magee gested that a significant proportion of cal opinion in both Ireland in Britain. don't know how much longer they will have to serve. Others have Reply to Nottingham CA Tel. 01604 Liam & Michael Dwyer); A. Noone memory of Desmond Greaves); Kinsella and Vincent Wood), there is (BT 3783), Peter Sherry (B 75880), Sinn F6in's top and middle ranking Addressing delegates at the start of Blair backs Famine memorial spent years in Special Secure Units, described by human rights 715793. £5; Sheffield & SY CA £20; M. Caffell £10 (in memory of Paddy growing concern over the slow pace of Eddie Butler (338637) leaders were "tied up" in the talks. A the main conference business, Irish Labour Party leader Tony Blair has experts as 'concrete coffins'. Urgent attention to the prisoners similar situation was also affecting the K.Harding £20; C. Haswell £50; Bond; R. Smith £5; M. Parkinson £5; progress in this critical area for the Democrat editor David Granville said given his personal backing to plans for Readers' ads: Would you like to buy, working-class loyalist parties, he said. issues is vital if political progress is to be secured. J. Bird £5; S. Yorks Communist Group peace process. HM Prison Whitemoor, Longhill Rd, that subscriptions to the paper had a memorial in Liverpool to the victims sell exchange something? Advertise in M. Donoghue £5; Michael Donoghue Delegates attending this year's March, Cambridge PE1S0PR It had become clear that unionists increased by 50 per cent since the of the Famine and asked government the Irish Democrat. Forty words nt.ixi- £50; Salford CPB £3 (in memory of £5; R. Rossiter £15; various anony- Connolly Association conference (see Hugh Doherty (3386636), Harry were not interested in accommodation relanch in April this year. Sales in gen- officials to explore the possibility of mum (No personal contact ads). Tel Desmond Greaves); N. Gordon £7.25; mous donations £30. above) reaffirmed the organisation's Duggan (338638), Jan Taylor and were adopting a strategy of eral were also up and new outlets for matching a donation from the Irish 0114 2738182 for further details. (We J. Clarke £9; G. Findlay £10; J. Dunne Bankers orders (2 months) £313.22 CHARTER FOR RIGHTS belief that the release of politically (EN 1977), Frank Rafferty attempting to separate the SDLP from the paper had been secured in Cardifl, government. are not proposing to charge for these £20; B. Feeney £8.60; P Lewis £5; Total: £691.07 The recent launch of Cearta: Charter for Change is potentially the motivated prisoners, both republican (XK 0723), Vincent Wood (EN 1049) Sinn Fdin. Their plan included use of Glasgow, Nottingham and London. The Liverpool Great Hunger adverts, however a donation towards and loyalist, remained a key element the talks, procedural mechanism of Regular pub sales in London had also Commemoration Committee, the most significant development in the peace process outside of the administration costs etc would be of any genuine attempt to resolve the HM Prison Belmarsh (remand), 'sufficient consensus' (majorities in been successfully resumed. organisations behind the memorial multi-party talks at. It should open the way for the mass mobilisa- greatly appreciated). Anglo-Irish conflict Western Way, Thamesmead, London both the unionist and nationalist He warned, however, that much effort is also planning to put up tion of support, both in Ireland and internationally, for the legiti- Imsh Ocmoctuc hi The Association called upon the SE28 0EB camps) to make progress without the more needed to be done to secure the plaques at points of special relevance mate demands of nationalists and republicans in the North for Labour government of Tony Blair to Patrick Kelly (XK 1348), Brian republicans. Despite these attempts, paper's finances and raise its profile so to the city's Irish community. Wanted there were clear signs of determina- national as well as civil rights. However its success will depend, at For a united and independent Ireland immediately impleme .t a number of McHugh (XK 1350), Seamus that its message, and that of the tion to maintain unity between 1 Your photographs, Published continuously since 1939, the Irish Democrat is the bi-monthly confidence-building measures includ- McArdle (XK 3171), Association, could reach a far wider The importance of being berry least in part, on maintaining it as a non-party political initiative nationalists and republicans. journal of the Connolly Association which campaigns for a united and ing: James Murphy (XK 1347), Michael audience than was currently the case. A charge of criminal damage against led by the widest cross-section of community, campaigning and old and new independent Ireland and the rights of the Irish in Britain. •fcthe repatriation of all politically Phillips (XK 1349), Martin Murphy More worrying was evidence that local man Sean Bradley was recently human rights organisations. An enormous amount now needs to Next year marks the 60th anniversary motivated prisoners currently held in (XK 0723), Patrick Martin (XK 0722) some unionists had begun to press for Social success thrown out of court by Derry Resident done in Britain, particularly within the labour movement, to of the Connolly Association, and the Annual Subscription Rates (six issues) British jails; this internal talks procedure to be The Calthorpe Arms was reeling to the Magistrate, Bernadette Kelly. She editor of the Irish Democrat would like *the granting of permanent transfers HM Prison Durham, Old ENert, DH13HU extended to determining 'consent' sounds of singer/songwriter Tom agreed with the man's solicitor that ensure that the Charter wins sufficient support to maintain neces- £5.50 Britain readers to send in old photographs of I enclose a cheque to prisoners currently held in jails in Donal Gannon (XK 0720) over any proposed constitutional Lynch at the Connolly Association the owner of the property allegedly £10.00 Solidarity subscription sary pressure on the British government. CA activists/events along with a brief (payable to "Connolly the North on temporary extended change. This was a clear attempt by annual conference social. Tom, a damaged did not exist. £8.00 Europe (airmail) explanation of who or what is depict- Publications Ltd")/postal transfer; HM Prison Long Lartin, South Littleton, unionists to 'ring fence' the Union by regular face on the London music RUC officers had named £11.00 USA/Canada (airmail) ed. We hope to feature some of these in order for £ Tfrthe end to strip-' marching and vio- Evesham, Worcs WR115TZ making it impossible to move forward. scene, played and sang the night away Londonderry City Council as the £12.00 Australia (airmail) toish Oemocittc the paper later in the year. All pho- lent cell searches; John Crawley (XK 0725) "The question for the British gov- with a fine selection of Irish tunes, owner of a city centre street sign Bi-monthly Newspaper of the Connolly Association tographs will be scanned and returned Name. A the abolition of closed visits, and ernment is where do they stand on including renditions of the Auld allegedly damaged by Mr. Bradley. safely to their owners. •k the release of all prisoners who have HM Prison Frankiand, Hnchdale Ave, such an approach,A he insisted. "It Triangle, Dirty Old Town and The Roys Unfortunately for the hapless RUC Address. served 20 years or more. Brasslde, Durham DH15YD would appear to conflict with the prin- Of The Old Brigade. Londonderry City Council does not Helen Bennett; Gerard Curran; David Granville (editor); Jonathan Hardy; •ArTom Lynch has a wide repertoire exist, its name having been officially Peter Mulligan; Alex Reid. Production: Derek Kotz All photographs should be sent in As in past years, we would encour- Patrick Hayes (EN 1978), Nick ciples annunciated in the Downing age readers of the Irish Democrat to Mullen (MR 0639), Joe OConnell Street Declaration and the Framework of traditional and rock and pop changed to Derry City Coucil in 1984 ky Connolly Publications Ltd, 244 Gray^ Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR, tel: 0171 833 3022 reinforced envelopes for protection to: Document, which defines the consent music. He is available for gigs, parties "It is just a pity no one appears to have Email: connollyC'i (eo2.poptel.org.uk The Editor, The Irish Democrat, 244 Send to: Connolly Publications Ltd, 244 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR send, as a humanitarian gesture of sol- (338635), Gerry Hanratty (XK 0721), and socials and can be contacted on to Ripley Primers (TU) Lt(J, Nottingham Road, Ripley, Derbyshire, tel: 01773 743 621 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR idarity, seasonal greetings to all those Liam O'Dwyer (MT 2483), Liam principle in much broader fashion told the RUC," said Mr. Bradley's .-.fl • V, who remain incarcerated in Britain. Quinn (B 49930) than the unionists would like." 0181 509 1622 or 0374 749 533. solicitor after the hearing. r-'.v, .-• .v.-.o vi*ji.» i J v i.i i Irish Democrat December 1997/January 1998 Page5 Page 4 Irish Democrat October/November 1997 Analysis News/Analysis Labour World McAleese triumphs over smear campaign by DEBORAH GEORGE Widening the 'doors of perception' Dublin journalist Owen Bennett looks back at the recent Irish presidential campaign and argues that the McAleese Unions confront / victory represents a potentially lethal blow to pro-partitionists among the twenty six county's ruling elite. discrimination Despite some reservations about the lack of historical context, Moya St. Leger found much that was hat started off as a rather dull 3 However, although this class won praiseworthy and groundbreaking in the recently screened BBC TV series Prows: the IRA and Sinn Fein eviewing Peter Taylor's Provos: Reynolds felt 'let down' when he penultimate comment issueless presidential cam- I the military struggle which founded he publication in early 1997 of the the IRA and Sinn Fein for a learnt of it in 1993? Is it not common was made by Gerry paign was transformed into I the Free State, they have never been Commission for Racial Equality's bi-monthly paper has the For the first time knowledge that wherever British McGeough who in the one of the most intense polit- | able to win the political struggle, and report of experiences of Irish peo- Q T distinct advantage of allowing interests are at stake, British intelli- early 1980s had seen ical conflicts in the recent the national ideology of the people has ple living in Britain should help British viewers were one time to survey reactions gence is present at all times and in his role as 'getting the history of southern Irish remained intact. unions raise awareness of and combat and draw conclusions at all places? right weaponry into public life, by a section of the political presented with a W This explains why their ideological anti-Irish racism in the workplace. leisure. The four programmes about place'. He was up- We were reminded of the 'startling and media establishment which descendants today are so unhappy Civil service union CPSA has B the IRA were accessible and informa- different context statement' recorded in the Sinn Fein beat, 'the conflict will thought the contest could be turned with the current political strategy of featured the report in its Red Tape tive, a breath of fresh air. Yet weeks minutes of a meeting in 1993 with an certainly end and so into a referendum on the North. the republicans and why they wish to journal, focussing on the past experi- later I remain mystified as to why the within which to place MI5 agent shortly after the will the British occu- They managed this alright, but the return to a military ground - one upon ences of an Irish Public Trust Office BBC permitted the screening. Warrington bomb, '...the final solu- pation of Ireland'. result was different from the one they which the republicans can be defeated. (PTO) employee, Phil Cosgrave from the emergence of tion is union... it's going to happen Predicting that we mom Could the publicising of revela- had hoped for. The smear campaign against Derry. "Reflecting on events which tions about an unresolved political the Provos on to anyway...'. Can any viewers still be shall be seeing At first, the electorate had settled McAleese may represent their last have produced negative reactions situation signal a newly adopted doubting Britain's long-term inten- much more of down to viewing the campaign as a effort. The opinion polls show that because he was Irish, bombs and bomb public information policy designed to the urban battlefield tion to exit from Ireland? Gerry McGeough sort of contest about which candidate Bruton's intervention has caused his scares featured high in the list," says prepare us psychologically for the Encouraging to see Merlyn Rees, in years to come I most resembled the previous incum- ratings to plummet. This failure can the article. in the 1970s political 'great leap forward'? Peter Brooke, Michael Oatley, John might be tempting J bent. only be built upon as long as republi- "In his early days on the building For the first time ever British view- Deverell (former head of MI5 in the fate, but I'll risk it. met Then leaks began to appear in the cans stick to the ground that their site the Brighton bomb went off. ers were presented with a different being. The saga of Lis own escape is North), and John Major sharing the Dublin press from confidential opponents can not control. Colleagues on the site were from the context within which to place the the stuff of Irish legend! same screen with opponents, if not the David I It is therefore highly disturbing that Foreign Affairs documents, in which McAleese's victory left Dublin 4 Republic. He lost his job because he emergence of the Provos on to the Were viewers surprised to learn same studio. Comments of retired Like the TV series, the book which he allowed his work, if that is what Mary McAleese had given her views licking its wounds. In the Irish Times, was from the North. 'They were get- urban battlefield in the 1970s. that it was inside HM Prison The British officials are always closer to the accompanied it includes much that is happened, to be used in this way. In on the developing peace process. the columnist Dick Walsh declared ting angry about being discriminated Familiar footage of civil rights' march- Maze that the 'Long War' strategy was truth than those of their colleagues in commendable. Despite this, concerns, addition to the lack of historical per- These were interpreted as being 'pro- that it represented a "lurch to the against, so I was let go.' Later on, when es, Bloody Sunday, internment, bomb- drawn up in the mid 1970s when the office. Some British comment on IRA including the timing of the publica- spective mentioned in the above Sinn Fein', although it was obvious right" and despaired of the future of there was a bomb alert at the PTO, he Mary McAleese as we may never see her again, pictured above at this year's ings, Long Kesh, could at least be British were gaining the upper hand capability was startling, even gener- tion, which immediately preceded the review, Taylor cannot avoid criticism, that her sentiments expressed the Irish left - this because of found that he 'ended up standing in Desmond Greaves Summer School, just weeks before the presidential campaign viewed from a different perspective. in the six counties? I hardly think so. ous. Peter Gurney, head of the explo- start of talks at Stormont, remain. or at least disagreement, with his approval of Sinn Fein's participation McAleese's personal religious convic- the corridor' on his own "people I con- IRA veterans spoke frankly of their Volunteers' descriptions of the sives section of the Met's Anti-terror- David Trimble of the Ulster emphasis on the 'cock up' theory of in the peace process. over the newspaper leaks and go for would do untold damage to McAleese's tions, and because she follows tradi- sidered my friends stood apart. It personal involvement in operations, emotional and political impact of the ist Branch described the Downing Unionists Party even went so far as to British actions over events in the Those elements bitterly opposed to McAleese's throat. However, Nally campaign. Even the Daily Telegraph tional Church teaching on sexual rela- made me wonder what they were say- filling in the yawning gaps of a story Hunger Strike were vital contribu- street mortar attack as 'a remarkably cite the book in his unsuccessful North - particularly Bloody Sunday, the peace process in the first place soon realised he was being used and asked hopefully "is the mud begin- tionships. ing behind my back. It hurt. still unfolding. But if the BBC now has tions. Few British viewers have seen good aim... technically brilliant'. attempt to get Sinn Fein excluded the importance of which is consider- believed that these 'revelations' would pulled back, but not before doing seri- ning to stick?" It went on to say that a If the left in Ireland has no future, "He recognised that... Protestants leave to bring IRA apologetics to our the film Some Mother's Son so have had The serious defect of this series was from the talks before they had even ably underplayed in both the TV be enough to sink McAleese. Eoghan ous damage to his own campaign. defeat for McAleese would send out it isn't because of Mary McAleese. It is coming over here had a bigger adjust- screens, surely a few TV minutes scant opportunity to learn why the in failing to provide viewers with the got underway. No doubt it was purely series and the book. Harris, the media public relations Then, if this wasn't enough, Gerry the message that "while partition has because the left has been successfully ment to make. He recalled a friend could have been devoted to examining election to Parliament of Bobby Sands wider historical context. However well coincidence that Provos, and the anti- Taylor's book has much to offer to 'expert', confidently predicted that Adams - when question on a radio not worked for northern nationalists, colonised by the ethos of the right who came over here in order to go to the historical role of Britain as mid- in 1981 and his death were such pow- produced, a four-part programme republican rant which masqueraded as the general reader. However, to those McAleese would lose, and in his programme - said that he favoured for those south of the border it has." wing, so that the likes of Dick Walsh the Royal College of Art. He thought wife to the IRA? erful factors in creating the solidarity about the IRA which avoids dealing the documentary about the 1904 anti- looking for greater depth and original- Sunday Times column, looked forward McAleese as a candidate. This rather This was the secret hope behind are reduced to defining left/right he'd be treated differently from some- The reflections of Brendan underpinning Irish republicanism. with the question of continued British Jewish Limerick pogrom (see back ity, a supplement of Mallie and to "basking in the gratitude of the innocuous remark was greeted with the anti-McAleese campaign. issues around questions such as one from the Republic. When he Hughes, former Belfast brigade com- By far the most intriguing issue political and economic support for an page) were broadcast at this particular McKittrick's The Fight for Peace, nation for "alerting" it to the "true shrieks of horror from 'respectable Partitionism has been the ethos of whether or not a man should wear a wasn't, 'it hit him harder,' said Phil." mander, chain-linked the programmes documented was the long-term con- artificially constructed Orange juncture? Somehow I think not. Fighting for Ireland by M.L.R. Smith, character" of McAleese. opinion' - John Bruton leading the the wealthiest and most conservative condom on his penis. cleverly. He described IRA triumphs tacts between Sinn Fein and British statelet, fails its viewers significantly. Make no mistake about it, Peter The IRA by Tim Pat Coogan or Harris had already attempted to use chorus. This was all the 'proof' that elements in the south ever since inde- The McAleese victory represents ne of the union activities Phil and tribulations, even the moment of intelligence. Michael Oatley, initially Brendan Hughes was awarded the Taylor is a knowledgeable current- Brendan O'Brien's The Long War will the election campaign of Derek Nally was needed to show how 'tarnished' pendence. The dream has always been the revolution which has occurred in Cosgrove has been involved in is sorrow for the murder of the 19-year- MI6, was to play a vital role over 20 concluding moments of the last affairs journalist of some considerable be most useful. as an anti-McAleese vehicle. He per- McAleese's candidature was. to establish this ruling-class ethos as public opinion as a result of the peace Othe campaign against the last old soldier, Gary Barlow. Dangerous years between the British government installment. When Taylor asked 'is it quality and integrity, who has con- suaded Nally to take a trenchant line Most of the pundits felt that this the official ideology of the state. process. government's changes to the civil stuff indeed. The British were being and the leadership of the IRA. over?' Hughes replied, 'I believe so. It tributed over the years to our under- Provos: the IRA and Sinn Fein by Pe'er service nationality rules. He gained an allowed to see an IRA man as a human How come then that Albert has run its course. Prophetically, the standing of the conflict in the North. Taylor, Bloomsbury £14.99 hbk Out: Dick Spring In: New Labour assurance from the management of the after one fall Party leader PTO that they did not intend to too many Spring rolls over RuairiQuiim designate any jobs as 'reserved posts.' The campaign goes back to June 1995 when the Tories announced that Government must stand up to Ulster unionists the civil service could restrict posts to after final belly-flop The Irish Democrat's northern correspondent, Bobbie Heatley, warns of the need to address the developing fault lines of the Irish peace process British nationals only under article 48 Our Dublin correspondent gives an alternative view of the 'achievements' of of the Treaty of Rome, which and asks if Labour government's kid glove handling of Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party is endangering current attempts to reach a solution addressed the mobility of European workers. This states that only public Dick Spring, who recently stood down as the leader of the Irish Labour Party. he new UK government has been in con- | Mo Mowlam's up- fire from the comptroller of New York State, Mr. service jobs can be protected. The trol of Northern Ireland's affairs for just ;! beat attitude Is Alan Havesi, after a meeting at which Mr. Havesi uck played a big part in making he is staying on in the Dail, perhaps to show itself as green as, or indeed cal ineptitude in all this. First of all he government used this loophole to bar over six months. The record of the not reflected on got the impression that the minister was "solely Dick Spring Tanaiste in ais 30s. get a ministry again in a future coali- greener than, Fianna Fail on the alienated a large swathe of Irish mid- Irish and Commonwealth citizens Northern Ireland Office under Mo the ground In the representing the views of those in the Northern He became TD for North Kerry tion, or a big job in Europe, and Northern question, it would have dle-class and media opinion by coa- from a whole host of jobs. Irish people Mowlam has one big plus to its credit - its Mn—1m ftmni inn Ireland civil service who have been opposed to because he was his father's son, doubtless to try to pass on the North opened the way for Labour to eat into lescing with Fianna Fail in 1992. norm, nowevei who'd worked for years in the civil co-operation with a new Dublin govern- the principles of fair employment principles stepping comfortably into Dan Kerry 'family' seat to a son or sibling Fianna Fail's working-class and trade Then he alienated even more numer- she has the ability service saw promotion chances ment, however it could be in danger of throwing from day one": Spring's Dail seat. Spring Junior in due course. union support, so growing over time at ous Fianna Fail-oriented working- disappear, while the implication that I to persuade this away. * government inaction over the pressure exerted was a boozing pal of former Irish Spring's sole politically creative Fianna Fail's expense. That has always class and small-middle-class opinion, IHiftble's Ulster I Irish and Commonwealth people were Although there have been a few infringements by unionists students at Queen's University Labour Party leader Michael O'Leary, achievement was to join with Fianna been the only way Labour could the potential constituency for a grow- Unionists to adopt no longer to be trusted has left a bad by loyalist paramilitaries, the mainstream repub- Belfast to end the institution's policy of display- who made him a junior minister on Fail in a coalition government in 1992. become the South's second largest ing Labour Party, by kicking Reynolds a more positive atmosphere in many workplaces. lican ceasefire is, as yet, holding. Obstacles to get- ing bi-lingual signs; his first day in the Dail. When That opened the possibility of break- party, but Spring disastrously muffed and Ahern in the teeth and putting attitude to the "It's just ridiculous to bar Irish and ting all-party talks underway have been removed. •fcan inquiry into acts of collusion between loy- O'Leary jumped ship to join Fine Gael ing once and for all the Labour Party's his historical opportunity. Fine Gael into office two years later. peace process. Commonwealth people after all these Those unionists who are not attending are stay- alist paramilitaries and the security forces and - who made him a judge in Dublin's disastrous long love-affair with Fine He quarrelled with Albert In that way Spring got the worst of years," says CPSA journal editor Val ing away on their own volition because they can- the protection of solicitors from police threats; District Court - the way opened for Gael. The 1992 Labour/Fianna Fail Reynolds, who was difficult to live both worlds for Labour. The result Stansfield. Each section of the civil not contemplate any change in the status quo. •k respect for civil and human rights in Northern Spring to become leader in his stead. coalition had the biggest majority of with, and for reasons that seem main- was that the 33 Dail seats Labour won service was allowed to decide their Probably for these reasons, and despite the Ireland, including the ending of all emergency Spring retained his North Kerry any government in the Republic's his- ly to have to do with personal vanity, in 1992 were back down to 17 five own restriction quotas: court servcies foul-up over Drumcree, Mowlam appears to be legislation and the establishment of an indepen- seat by a majority of four in the 1979 tory, which was an essential condition refused to continue on in government years later. Labour under Spring was (90 per cent), Foreign and Common- up-beat these days. However, her optimistic British government. confidenafih the process to begin with. The par- dent commission to deal with complaints against election. If three Kerrymen, or for the 1994 IRA ceasefire. with Reynolds's successor, Bertie back where it started when he took wealth Office (100 per cent), Ministry mood doesn't reflect that of the general public Naturally, Sinn Fein is said to believe that ticipant who can change all of this, if she has the the RUC; women, had stayed at home ralher Any other government - either Ahern. Instead he gave the kiss of life over as leader in 1982. For the third of Defence (90 per cent) and benefits here, especially nationalists and republicans. Trimble's increasingly 'childish' strategy, to will, is Mo Mowlam. But, the defectors are not •k rapid State demilitarisation in view of the con- than going out to vote that day, the Fianna Fail with a small majority on to John (T'm-sick-of-the-fucking- time in half a century Labour had re- offices (25 per cent). And, while republican paramilitarism obscures wreck the talks from the inside, is potentially opting out, at this stage, solely because of the tinuing IRA ceasefire; Irish public would have been saved its own, or a coalition government peace-process') Bruton by making him established the two parties of the 1921- The Council for Civil Service the fact, these groups comprise the democracy of fatal for the prospects of retaining peace. The stuttering talks process. There are many out- •fc increased movement on political prisoners, the reams of rubbish they had to including Fine Gael - would not have Taoiseach. Just as Bruton was about to 22 Civil War as the dominant duo on Unions got up a petition and lobbied Ireland. It is one thing to get talks underway, it is ominous beginnings of defections from the IRA standing issues which do not require the 'con- especially those held in English jails. endure extolling Spring's supposed had the confidence to make the over- be politically assassinated by demor- the Irish political scene. MPs in the last government. The another to extract a solution from them. and Sinn Fein are an early warning sign. But the sent' of the Northern Ireland unionists. These I could go on - what exactly is holding up the achievements following his resigna- tures to the republicans that the Albert alised Fine Gael colleagues, Spring In 1948, 1973 and 1992 the Irish unions raised the issue in the In this respect, Mo Mowlam, has been per- concern is not restricted to republican ranks. are matters for the UK government, as the de announcement of a reconstituted Commission of tion in November. Reynolds-led government had. galloped to his rescue by putting him Labour Party preferred to be the mud- European Parliament and the cam- ceived to be under-achieving. What many see as David Andrews, Ireland's new Minister for facto governing power, alone. Enquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday? Spring resigned as leader following If Labour had stayed on in govern- and Fine Gael back into office. guard of Fine Gael rather than the paign continues under this govern- her mollycoddling of the Ulster Unionist Party Foreign Affairs, and the SDLP have also record- One nationalist journalist in Belfast has asked At a recent meeting in Belfast, held under the the miserable presidential election ment with Fianna Fail and sought to Spring's showed staggering politi- vangyard of Ireland's workers, and ment with no signs so far of any is, once again, threatening the talks with failure. ed their alarm at the slow pace of the talks. the question: 'Where is Mo on the radar screen?" auspices of the Campaign for Democracy, Mr. showing of Adi Roche, who Spring Dick Spring showed himself to be co willingness to reverse the ruling. The UUP and the Tories wrecked the previ- Only one participant has theihSBtnce, not to Successive British governments have had 75 Martin Mansergh, special advisor to the and his grey eminence Fergus Finlay better than Michael O'Leary or James It is a tricky one. Most countries ous IRA ceasefire because of their stalling over say the power, to persuade the Ulster Unionists to years in wtuch to demonstrate that it is possible Taoiseach, said that it was the ambition of Bertie thought would repeat the success of For the third time in half a century Norton before him. These gentlemen wouldn't have problems restrict- the 17 months of its duration. Trimble is still at behave themselves and end the risk of plunging for them to govern Northern Ireland democrati- Ahern to see a united Ireland in his lifetime. Labour-backed Mary Robinson in made good personal careers for them- Labour had re-established the two parties ing public semce posts to th^tpwn it. He has assured his unionist critics, inside and the peoples of Britain and Ireland into another 25 cally, and failed. People want immediate action Could this also turn out to be a possible glitch, 1990. Last year he foolishly said that selves out of Ireland's Labour move- nationals. But if it can be shown that outside the UUP, who would have him boycott years of violence and conflict. The political on a range of issues, Some which have come to given Tony Blair's stated unionist position, in he would never lead Labour into coali- ment and retired in due time with of the 1921-22 GMI Iter as the in the contcxt of the historical positipn the talks that his sole purpose for being there is process must be shown to work in terms of a the fore recently include: devising a successful outcome to the talks which tion with Fianna F4il again. His resig- excellent pension arrangements. As of the Irish in Britain this ruling is to deploy the 'triple lock' veto on change given to capability to solve differences. The people who ^equality of treatment in employment (British must have the consent of a majority of the Irish nation was necessary to open- the way wfijl L>jck Spppg 4o,cJue qoursc, % dominant duQ on the Irish political scene dpwtagfe, .dif^igfipjtof^ $rjtian hiifa by Johh Majof a6d reaffirined bjr the prtSent are'beginning to reject the process had very little minister Tony Worthington recently came under people north, and south of the. border? for his successor to do so. Meanwhile nothing worthwhile achieved for the should be seen as a special case. , T ' j'I r I 1 * ' » ' ' >' i<** Features Neutrality debate connolly column Irislr neutrality under threat from EU In the second edited instalment Communities in search of of Women, taken from Roger Cole from the Dublin-based Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) argues the case for taking the gun out of international politics and The Reconquest oflreland, for building a strong international and European dimension into the campaign for Irish neutrality and a nuclear-arms-free Europe. (1915), Connolly continues to explore women's oppression peace-process input he Peace and Neutrality Alliance in Ireland. Citing women's (PANA) aws established to build experience as peasantry at Rose Ardron of the Sheffield Irish Peace Group examines the response of local community support for Irish neutrality in If the key demand of home, and as wage slaves in organisations in Belfast to the Irish peace process and speaks to local activists about their the face of closer EU integration the Irish peace the factories and ivorkshops of and the EU's transformation the capitalist, both at home contribution to the quest for peace and reconciliation in the six counties. into a nuclear-armed superstate. process is to take and abroad, Connolly pays TThe organisation reflects a widespread At the Upper Springfield Development commitment among people cam- tribute to the role played by it There are two processes in the gun out of Irish Trust, Geraldine McAteer manages an inte- paigning on international issues in 'militant women' in the Northern Ireland. There's the grated social and economic regeneration Ireland for a policy of positive neutral- politics then the fight for social, political and political process and the peace programme for this disadvantaged area of ity to remain and the maintainence of economic rights. West Belfast. Her experience of joint com- an independent foreign policy. PANA's demand is process. At the moment they're munity ventures undertaken with the If the key demand of the Irish to take the gun out Women and Equality (part 2) running parallel and not Greater Shankill Partnership Board is that peace process is to take the gun out of converging. The political process is contact and understanding have increased Irish politics then PANA's demand is The daughters of the Irish peasantry have been the cheapest slaves through working to a common agenda: to take the gun out of European and of European and in existence - slaves to their own family, who were in turn, slaves i i the talks, but running alongside barriers have been broken down as people international politics. international politics to all social parasites of a landlord and gombeen-ridden that there's another peace process get to know each other on a human basis, Indeed it would be ironic if the community... The Irish peasant, in too many cases, treated his and the tangible successes of the project Irish peace process was to be declared daughters in much the same manner as he regarded a plough or that's being led, or driven, by the demonstrate that it is acceptable and bene- successful on the basis of Ireland's observer status. Although the treaty spade - as tools with which to work the farm. The whole mental community. Sooner or later we ficial to work with another community that integration into a nuclear armed would greatly strengthen the outlook, the entire moral atmosphere of the countryside, enforced has traditionally been seen as 'the enemy'. superstate. To exchange the armalite WEU/EU link, the Fianna Fail this point of view. In every chapel, church or meeting-house the want those to converge. 33 Geraldine sees economic development for a finger on a nuclear trigger is not former Minister for Foreign Affairs, insistence was ever upon duties... Never were the ears of the young {Billy Mitchell) as key to breaking down marginalisation peace with justice. Ray Burke, uncritically welcomed polluted by any reference to 'right'. and alienation and giving people a stake in In the ongoing negotiations of new the Amsterdam Treaty, as did all the That, in spite of this, they have proven valuable assets in every illy Mitchell is a loyalist ex-prisoner the peace process. Hard questions arose constitutional arrangements between other major political parties. progressive movement in Ireland, is evidence of the great value who is now a community worker in once the euphoria of the first period of the Republic of Ireland and the However, as a result of the recent their co-operation will be, when to their self-sacrificing acceptance North Belfast, where he has joined Billy Hutchinson, director of the ceasefires wore off, she explains. Would we United Kingdom, PANA will contin- ruling on the funding of referenda, of duty they begin to unite its necessary counterpoise, a high- with Liam Maskey, republican ex- Springfield Inter-community Development get jobs? What does this actually mean for ue to highlight its objectives, particu- the establishment cannot now spend minded assertion of rights. We are not speaking here of rights in prisoner, to set up INTERCOMM, a Project and PUP councillor me and my family? People had always felt larly as the SDLP proposes a three- state money, or promise the people the thin and attenuated meaning of the term to which we have cross-community development pro- that when the Troubles were over there member executive in Northern millions of Punts. Also, there are become accustomed by the Liberal or other spokesmen of the jecBt aimed at tackling social and economic back to well before the ceasefires of 1994. would be a new life for them. As it tran- Ireland, one of whom would be many politicians who genuinely do capitalist class... We are rather using it in the sense in which it is deprivation. As Liam explains: "I believe Community activists from both sides of the spires, nothing is that easy. appointed by the EU Commission. not support the creation of a nuclear- used by, and is familiar to, the Labour movement. that through the commonness that we can peace line were edging towards each other, To Geraldine, the difficulty lies in mak- This inter-linking of the EU with a PUNA warns against replacing Irish neutrality with full military Integration Into a European nuclear-armed superstate armed superstate. Although, because We believe, with that move- find in the lack of services, jobs, and real led by the awareness that alongside ing a peace process that relates to ordinary potential outcome of the peace process of party loyalty, might not support merit, that the serene perfor- progress, that bonds will build. When you paramilitary violence existed the structural people and includes them. A political set- needs to be examined in the context of of military alliances." Anti-Maastricht Movement, and our us, equally they will not actively help mance of duty, combined with "None are so succeed together, you grow together; that violence of unemployment, educational tlement is essential, but the baggage and Ireland's overall relationship with the PANA now has a number of sup- efforts to build links with the Irish the Euro-bullies. and inseparable from the fear- makes constitutional issues easier, more disadvantage and the exclusion of margin- problems of the last 25 years still need to be EU in such a way as to maximise Irish porters in the Oireachtas and we hope Our efforts to build diaspora needs to accelerated. In this If those political forces who less assertion of rights, unite to fitted to break clear cut. Because at the end of the day, I alised groups; that the starting point for addressed at local level. democracy rather than to diminish it. to establish a Irish parliamentary regard the Irish Democrat with its links would support PANA both at home make the highest expression of don't want to have a united Ireland with addressing tension within and between These voices are making a clear call for group which will seek support for this links with the Irish with the Irish in Scotland England and abroad can be mobilised early the human soul. That soul is the chains as they people still divided." communities was to tackle social and genuine participation in an integrated amendment. The level of support it diaspora need to and Wales could play a very construc- enough, the possibility of a victory the grandest which most Billy and Liam were speaking at a economic problems. peace process. Billy Mitchell and Liam It would be ironic if gets will be a litmus test of the effec- tive role.); for those of us who seek a democrat- unquestionably acquiesces in who wear them" Labour Party conference fringe meeting Maskey see that the mechanism for this tive support for neutrality. The need is be accelerated. 'A'focussing on the issue of nuclear ic and nuclear-free Ireland and the performance of duty, and •^••HBIHi^^Bli this October on the theme of 'partnership'. may lie with the Partnership Boards that the Irish peace to go on the offensive rather than con- weapons and the arms industry as the Europe is very real. The key lies in most unflinchingly claims its rights, even against a world in arms. To most people in Britain, awareness of the The difficulty lies in deliver the European Programme for Peace tinually be on the defensive. The Irish Democrat' reason why the Amsterdam Treaty PANA's ability to project the idea In Ireland the soul of womanhood has been trained for centuries 'peace process' is dependent on media tit- and Reconciliation; they argue for the process was to be However, the main battle ahead should be amended to stop Ireland that its values of positive neutrality to surrender its rights, and as a consequence the race has lost its bits from the political process. We have making a peace process resources to enable this process to be led by will be the referendum which the with its links with from becoming further involved with are part if Ireland's future not of it's virtually no access to voices from the com- declared successful chief capacity to withstand assaults from without, and demoralisa- that relates to the communities most affected by it. government has promised on the the nuclear-armed Western European past. That they grow out of the tion from within. Those who preached to Irish womankind munities that have suffered most from the Geraldine McAteer would like to see on the basis of Amsterdam Treaty, to be held, ironi- the Irish in Scotland, Union. democratic nationalist tradition of fidelity to duty as the only ideal to be striven after, were, violence and who have the most to gain ordinary people and channels existing and debates taking place cally enough, in 1998, the 200th While the recent Irish election pro- the United Irishmen rather than the consciously or unconsciously, fashioning a slave mentality, which from peace. that enable people to feel they have a stake Ireland's integration anniversary of the 1798 United England and duced a minority coalition govern- imperial traditions of unionism or the Irish mothers had perforce to transmit to the Irish child. This summer I asked community includes them in the process and that there is some way of Irishmen rebellion. PANA's recent ment whose declared policy is closer to home rule. The militant women who, without abandoning their fidelity to activists in Belfast how they saw the rela- becoming involved with it. She sees a role into a nuclear-armed conference on the Treaty aimed to Wales could play a that of PANA than the defeated duty, are yet teaching their sisters to assert their rights, are re-estab- tionship between activity at the grassroots for the community-development sector crystallise opposition to the embry- constructive role Rainbow Coalition, one should not For further information about PANA's lishing a sane and perfect balance that makes more possible a well- and the 'top table' negotiations. Their The Springfield Inter-community ".. .to provide a sort of forum or framework superstate onic nuclear armed superstate and to underestimate the difficulties. contact: Con Maxwell, International ordered Irish nation. replies throw light on some of these more Development Project was established in for people to be involved - have our own develop our own future vision for The Fianna Fail manifesto opposes Secretary, Peace and Neutrality Everyone acquainted with the lot encountered by Irish emi- hidden aspects of the peace process and 1988 with the express purpose of bringing peace process." Billy Hutchinson quotes Central to PANA's demands is to Ireland and Europe, which is democ- successful economy. Those of us who moves to further integrate the state Alliance, 25 Woodview Park, Dublin grant girls in the great cities of England or America, the hardships reveal areas of common ground that reach communities together to develop a joint the South African experience with the seek an amendment to Article 29.2 ratic, free of nuclear weapons and anti- oppose some aspects of the current into the WEU further than its existing 13, Ireland, E mail: vmacdowe( Anonn Is Anall: The Peter Berresford Ellis Column A Great Hatred, and an outrageous propaganda Peter Berresford Ellis argues that the recent Channel 4 documentary^ Great Hatred was little more than a crude piece of propaganda which did a serious disservice to anti-fascist republicans and those families who suffered as a result of the anti-Jewish pogrom in Limerick in 1904. ost experts agree that for propaganda to Then came an interview with 95-year-old be really effective it has to be subtle. On prolific author, novelist, playwright and poet Henry Channel 4, on October 15,1 sat down to Francis Montgomery Stuart. He was simply intro- watch a documentary called A Great duced as an Irish republican who broadcast propa- Hatred, written and presented by Simon ganda for the Nazis during the war. As part of Sebag-Montefiore. It was outrageous Sebag-Montefiore's claim of Irish Catholic exclu- propagandMa and it was not subtle at all. Hardly ever siveness, it was not mentioned that Stuart was an did Sebag-Montefiore allow truth to stand in the Ulster Protestant, educated at Rugby. Hailed by way of the story he wanted to put over. Lies, innu- Yeats as one of the great names of Irish literature, endo and, at best, half-truths, were the aids to the 1939 had found him in Berlin where he worked in a venom and prejudice with which he attempted to strictly civilian capacity. His broadcasting was not spin his spurious tale. on a par with William (Lord Haw-Haw) Joyce, to Even the Daily Mail, a newspaper not known for whom he was immediately and erroneously com- a progressive stance on Ireland, seemed rather pared in the programme, but is more likened to bemused when reviewing this documentary of hate. England's own egocentric author PG Wodehouse. It concluded that 'as an exercise in vengeance... his Stuart was a cantankerous, self-indulgent, egocen- documentary could hardly be bettered'. Obviously, tric who took polemic views out of sheer perversity. his title/! Great Hatred reflected Sebag-Montefiore's He was certainly not an 'Irish republican leader'. own emotional stale and not those he was attempt- If I had the space, I could go on and on attempt- ing to portray. Sebag-Montefiore started with an ing to correct the half-truths, distortions, and his- incident which occurred in Limerick in 1904 where torical lies. This was no attempt to discover what 30 Jewish families had settled at this time and were happened in Limerick in 1904. Nor was it even an prospering in business, which upset certain mem- act of vengeance for an ancestor being driven out of bers of the non-Jewish business community. Limerick. In fact, it was a gross insult to those Enter a local Redemptorist priest, Father Craig, Jewish families who were driven out of Limerick whose sermons became anti-semitic ravings. This Ireland's proto-fascist Blueshirt movement was notably absent from Sebag-Monteflore's analysis because this incident should have been carefully rabble-rousing priest caused the Jewish community investigated and documented. Glossed over was the fact that Griffith was never Blacam, in the Irish Press of July 24,1935, warned of to be chased out of Limerick. Among them was The fact that one family, let alone 30 families, a republican. Ignored was the fact that Sinn Fein thfe dangers of not standing up to Hitler and his Sebag-Montefiore's grandfather. It was an appalling could be driven from their homes by a racist mob, was not a republican party but set up by Griffith as incident. But Sebag-Montefiore was not so much Nazis. should be a cause for shame. Moreover, an attempt a dual-monarchist pacifist party, with Griffith still interested in the suffering of this community as he Frank Ryan, who was denigrated in the docu- should be made to understand exactly how it hap- believing in the British Empire but wanting a slice was in his crass attempt to show that anti-Semitism mentary, and leaders of the Republican Congress, pened. But this programme seemed nothing more of the action, and that Sinn Fein remained so until was an Irish republican phenomenon and that anti- organised IRA volunteers in support of the Spanish than a blatant attempt to destroy the current peace the 1917 convention changed its constitution. It was Semitism has pervaded Sinn Fein through the republican government during the Spanish Civil talks by stirring up unfounded hatreds. quite in keeping with Griffith's politics to reject the War (1936-1939). Some 80 IRA men joined the 15th years. Indeed, his claim is that all Irish republican- What stuck in my craw was Sebag-Montefiore republican idea in 1921 and become head of the International Brigade as the Connolly Column in ism is an 'Irish Catholic isolationist' philosophy and blandly assuring viewers that the last pogrom in the Free State fighting against republicans in a bloody 1936. Many gave their lives fighting against exclusive of all other faiths and creeds. British Isles occurred in Limerick in 1904. I can civil war. Sebag-Montefiore wanted, however, to Fascism. Among those of Ryan's Connolly Column recall other pogroms, but pogroms conducted by paint Griffith as the archetypal republican, the spir- who were killed was another great Irish Jewish Sebag-Montefiore's newfound friends in Ulster and itual father of Adams and McGuinness. And truth republican, David Levy of Dublin. Ryan himself more recently than 1904.1 recall that 1,820 Catholic Some eighty IRA men joined must not stand in the way of good propaganda. was wounded and captured. Imprisoned by the families had to flee their homes in Belfast between Francoists and sentenced to 30 years, Ryan was So we are told republicanism 'from the start' was July and September 1969 alone. Refugee camps had the 15th International extradited by the Abwehr to Germany where, in anti-Semitic. What an insult to all those Irish Jews to be set up south of the border to accommodate Brigade as the Connolly who fought, in various ways, for the independence spite of his socialism and anti-Fascist activities, the of their county in the republican movement even Germans hoped to persuade him to influence Irish Column in 1936. Many down until modern times. There was no mention of republicans to support them. these. I was waiting for at least some half-hearted Ryan died in 1944 in Germany from the ill- Sebag-Montefiore wanted gave their lives fighting attack on the great Robert Briscoe (1894-1969). Son health caused by his wounds and suffering * to paint Griffith of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants to Ireland, of a while in prison. None of this was men- M against Fascism strict orthodox Jewish background. He had been in tioned by Sebag-Montefiore who sim- • as the archetypal the USA in 1916 but returned home soon afterwards ply presented Ryan as a leading Irish and joined the IRA. He was Michael Collins' arms republican working with the Nazis. To this end, Sebag-Montefiore spent a third of republican, the procurement officer sent on missions to Germany He was certainly no political friend of his programme parading around Belfast with David and the USA to get arms for the republicans. He Sean Russell who had opposed the Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, which rep- spiritual father of took the republican side in the Civil War and leftwing IRA led by Peadar , resents loyalist paramilitaries, talking about those remained with Sinn Fein until 1926. O'Donnell and Frank Ryan. His right 'wicked, prejudiced Catholic republicans', as well as i Adams and -wing policies did lead him into making unsubstantiated claims against Gerry Afterwards he was one of the founders of Fianna attempting to seek German aid in 1939 Adams and Martin McGuinness and the current Fail and was elected a TD serving for Dublin City McGuinness. and in this he was strongly opposed by ^^H i Sinn Fein leadership. South from 1927-1965. He was twice Lord Mayor of Dublin. He actually saw no conflict in being an Maurice Twoomey, Sean MacBride and And truth must Sebag-Montefiore set the tone for his grotesque f Irish republican and a Zionist and led delegations other leading republicans of the time all of ^H ideas by consistently mistranslating Sinn Fein as seeking support for a Jewish homeland in the 1930s, whom were splashed by Sebag-Montefiore's not stand in the way meaning 'Ourselves Alone' to demonstrate it meant passing on his Irish guerrilla experiences to the brush as anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi. P an exclusive Irish Catholic ideology. Even school- Haganah in what was then Palestine. of good propaganda. children in Ireland know that the name means sim- Russell died in 1940, anyway. A reading of Enno ply "Ourselves'. The name was chosen to express the There is an irony, which Sebag-Montefiore Stephan's book Geheimauftrag Irland (Hamburg, policy of economic self-reliance as argued by its might miss the subtlety of; that is - a television doc- 1961), translated as Spies in Ireland, or Cronin's biog- some 8,000 families, burnt out of their homes. founder Arthur Griffith. But what had Sinn Fein to umentary of Briscoe's life (The Fabulous Irishman) raphy of Frank Ryan would have put paid to most of It was, at that time, the biggest displacement of a do with the expulsion of 30 families of Jewish busi- was banned by Britain when it was made because he Sebag-Montefiore's myopic raving about Ireland population in Europe since World War II. nessmen from Limerick in 1904? Sinn Fein had not was an Irish republican. I have chosen to mention during 1939-45. But, then, truth was no obstacle to There would be other pogroms against Catholics been founded at that time; its first convention was the most famous Irish Jew but there were many oth- him in putting over his prejudice. He did managed in 1970 and 1971. Indeed, the 20th Century has been held in November 1905. And it wasn't even a repub- ers. The 4,000-strong Jewish community in Ireland to find the elderly Budge Mulcahy of Sligo, who had full of pogroms in Northern Ireland. In August, lican party then. That was an incidental for Sebag- has contributed to the Irish republic out of all pro- married a German exchange student, Helmut 1920, the entire Catholic populations of Lisburn Montefiore. He had found an anti-Semitic quote portion to its size. Clissman, in Dublin in the early 1930s. Clissman and Banbridge were driven out in a single night. from Arthur Griffith and wanted to include it. After The Herzog family who originally settled in was called up during the war and served in the The forefathers of Sebag-Montefiore's newfound all, Griffith founded Sinn Fein, didn't he? So Sinn Belfast, led by Dr Isaac Herzog, moved the family to Abwehr under the anti-Nazi Admiral Canans. The friends, Orange murder gangs, were moving section Fein must have been anti-Semitic then and must Dublin where Isaac's son, Chaim Herzog, destined Clissmans are very elderiy and living in Dublin. by section, night by night, through Belfast. Hugh continue to be so now! to be an Irish-speaking president of Israel, was Helmut Clissman was not even capable of talking on Martin of the Daily News reported how on a single raised and educated. The Herzog family ran safe camera. The interview was clearly designed to show night in August 1920 he saw 2,000 Catholic men, houses for Sinn Fein leaders; leaders such as de 'unrepentant republicans working with Nazis'. women and children, driven from Ballymacarrett Valera and Collins. The He: were active within Road, their houses burnt by the Orange gangs. republican circles in the 193(K when they were But Sebag-Montefiore has no more interest in warning the world of the Nazi plans for the Jews, as This programme seemed truth and morality than those revisionists who early as 1933 when England was in the full flood of would now have the world believe that the Nazi Frank Ryan, one of appeasement and was ignoring what was going on; nothing more than a Holocaust is a figment of Allied propaganda. It the Irish anti- when the British Union of Frocks was attacking would be fascinating to learn his real motivations in fascist republicans Jews in London's East End. There were riots in blatant attempt presenting this diatribe. Maybe I am cynical. maligned In Sebag- Dublin when Oswald Mosley tried to address a Perhaps the motivation was to achieve what it has Montefiore's meeting there of the quasi-fascist Blueshirt move- to destroy the current succeeded in doing - getting everyone talking about documentary. He is ment, the movement which was vehemently anti- Sebag-Montefiore. Maybe he believes in Mae West's pictured here in republican. Republican leaders set up the Labour peace talks by stirring up philosophy - 'it is better to be looked over than the uniform of an League Against Fascism and through the 1930s the overlooked'. I have looked him over and feel that officer of the clashes between the IRA and fascist Blueshirts are unfounded hatreds this right-wing propagandist should be overlooked. Spanish Republic well documented. A leading republican, Aodh de He has nothing to offer but prejudice and lies.