IRISH ISSN 0790-7672 September 2004 Biological Politics POLITICAL (Senator Mansergh and others) Says Collins To De Valera . . .

Volume 19 No 9 Story Of ILDA REVIEW (back page: Labour Comment) Incorporating Volume 18 Number 9 The Northern Star Workers' Weekly ISSN 0954-5891 Contents: See Page Two

The Secret Cult Of . Statecraft The Irish Times When suggested the disbanding of the IRA in order to deprive the In the July 2004 issue of the Irish Unionists of an excuse for not working the Agreement, Peter Robinson responded by Political Review I revealed that Article 50 confirming that the existence of the IRA was only an excuse. The Irish News headline of the 1974 Articles of Association of The on 11th August was Robinson: End To IRA Not Enough: Irish Times Ltd required all Directors to “The DUP, he said, simply will not sign up to go back to the kind of political institutions swear an oath. The relevant article and that exist in the Good Friday Agreement just because the IRA does what it should have oath ran to three pages and included a done years ago”. paragraph on secrecy and a requirement not to be active in politics or to be a Disbanding the IRA is a necessary precondition to the negotiation of further clergyman. concessions by the nationalist side which would lead to the re-establishment of devolved institutions. The disbanding would have to be done in public: “Unionists want to weigh At the time I wrote my review of the the decommissioned semtex”. 1974 Articles I was aware that such an oath had been in force for at least five Robinson did not spell out the further concessions in this statement, but it has various years after 1974. But I assumed that Article other ways in mind of humiliating the republican movement. But, more important, the 50 had been deleted some time in the DUP statement of its strategic position following its electoral victory over Trimble’s 1980s. I couldn’t believe that any self party made it clear that its object was a form of devolution which operated by majority respecting Director who was not a member rule, with the Ministers of the various departments acting under the authority of the of the Freemasons or some other secret Assembly. organisation could swear such an oath year after year without kicking up about This means that its rejection of the Agreement in 1998, before the IRA had the it. opportunity of disbanding under it, still holds. It will not agree to the restoration of continued on page 2 Also a lot has happened since 1974. The first Catholic, Conor Brady, was appointed Editor and Director in Decem- ber 1985. He was succeeded by another Catholic, Geraldine Kennedy, the current Editor. I can’t remember whether swearing such secret oaths was a venial or mortal sin but I know that it was generally frowned upon by the Catholic Religion. But maybe in these “enlightened” times such obscur- antism is perfectly acceptable. (Incident- ally, the oath requires Directors to affirm Christian values, which sits strangely in this modern multi-cultural era.)

The other reason why I had assumed that it had been deleted was that around 2001 the affairs of The Irish Times came continued on page 4 purpose was not to prosecute crime but C O N T E N T S exert political pressure. Then, in a bizarre Page turn of events, the alleged victim of the Statecraft. Editorial 1 alleged kidnapping was arrested and The Secret Cult Of The Irish Times. John Martin 1 charged with murderous intent. It was A "Get Ó Caoimh" Campaign. Criostóir de Baróid (Unpublished Letter) 3 generally understood that he was being punished for failing to substantiate the Moral Outrage. Pat Muldowney (Unpublished Letter) 3 allegation of kidnapping—an allegation The Irish Times Declaration Of Commitment. The Oath sworn by the Editor et al 5 over which the Minister for Justice in Michael Smith And The Indian Mutiny. Archon 6 and the leader of the Opposition waxed eloquent. The Bobby Tohill case Planning Gone Mad. Jack Lane (report) 7 was very much in the news for a while. It An Cor Tuathail: The Contest Of Oisín And Patrick. Part Two 8 was taken up by the Independent Monitor- (Compiled by Pat Muldowney) ing Commission, a subservient group Said Collins To De Valera. Joe Keenan 9 consisting of Lord Alderdice and a few other time-servers, which tried to confuse Old Habits. Seán McGouran 12 itself in the public mind with General de Was Elizabeth Bowen Irish?. Ivor Kenna 13 Chasterlaine’s really independent Biological Politics, On Martin Mansergh And Others. Brendan Clifford 14 International Monitoring Commission (which has its status under the News In Brief. (Capt. Kelly: Petty Vindictiveness; D-Day; Munster Joinery) 17 Agreement). On 20th August the charges Israel: Time To Act On EU Association Agreement. Report 18 against Tohill were withdrawn without Censorship. Seán McGouran 18 explanation, but the fact hardly registered in the news. Such is public life in Belfast Labour Comment, edited by Pat Maloney: under the suspended Agreement. Off The Rails: ILDA Brian Feeney, who is by far the best devolved institutions under the Drumcree ten years ago. political commentator writing for the press in Ireland, suggests that Adams, in his Agreement, regardless of what the IRA Adams has said that the transfer of does. remarks about disbanding the IRA, is not police powers to a devolved government primarily concerned about depriving the Trimble appears to be a spent force. is a condition of further progress. Robinson Unionists of an excuse. (And it has been We described his position from the start as is in favour of the transfer of policing in our opinion ever since Trimble’s first post- that of saboteur of the Agreement from the long run, which means after majority- Agreement press conference that one within, and we see no reason to revise that rule devolution has been regained. excuse would be followed by another in opinion. He signed the Agreement under an infinite series.) He says in the Irish duress. Blair cornered him personally and IRA Show No Signs Of Going Away News of 25th August: “If the IRA has to Says Orde. Orde is the Chief constable of threatened that the alternative for Union- stand down the DUP may provide a useful ism would be worse if he did not sign. So the RUC in its new guise. He is quoted as excuse but the real reason is to be found in he signed. And within minutes he gave a follows: Dublin”. press conference which was essentially an “There is nothing to say currently anti-Agreement speech. And so he that the Provisional IRA have done Sinn Fein now has eggs in two baskets. anything to shut up shop” (Irish News, continued for four years. And then, with And it is the only party in Ireland engaged 24th August). the Agreement reduced to shreds, and in what might be called statecraft. Blair preoccupied with the destruction of The IRA is of course a legal body since Iraq, the way was open for a straight- 1998, and the 1998 conditions under which forward Unionist rejection of the it undertook to fade away were not met. Aspects Of Agreement. British Propaganda During Orde made his statement after Gerry The War Of Independence In truth, the Unionist electorate never Kelly and his colleagues had stood between agreed to the Agreement. It was bam- his policemen and nationalists who were A talk by boozled and manoeuvred into voting for it attacking them in Ardoyne on the famous by Tom Kelly, who was recruited from the 11th Night, the night before July 12th. BBC by Blair to be his Dr. Goebbels. “Thank heavens they were there”, said Dr. Brian Murphy OSB Having gained the spurious assent of the the Chief Constable, after Kelly had on Unionists to the Agreement, Tom Kelly incurred injuries from police (a broken wrist) and from nationalists (bruises) while was promoted to Downing Street where th protecting the coercive apparatus of the Friday, October 15 , 8pm he deployed his black arts against Dr. at Kelly, who had blurted out the truth about State. The Teachers Club, Blair and Iraqi w.m.d. to Andrew Gilligan. Orde has become a very political policeman. At the end of last year he 36 Parnell Square, Dublin Trimble sacrificed his party to the cause fuelled a particular anti-Sinn Fein of fundamentalist Unionism. The cause campaign with a statement that the IRA All welcome has now been taken up by the partner with had engaged in kidnapping in central Sponsored by Athol Books whom he danced the Orange jig at Belfast. No prosecutions followed. The 2 · Biteback · Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback

The following letters failed to receive He would have learnt that there were quite Moral Outrage publication in the Irish Times a number of good reasons pertinent to Cuív’s job why he had to stay in Farmleigh. The nation is in the grip of moral A "Get Ó Caoimh" Campaign ? Only editorial limitation on column space outrage. I never cease to wonder how the “Irish prevents me from detailing these at length Because it was recently revealed that Times”, which preens itself on its self- – although Mr.Wall has, of course, direct the Irish government participated in a proclaimed journalistic standards, can access to that information. public ceremony to honour a Co. Mayo condone the kind of spin-journalism The additional cost to the taxpayer for recruit to the Waffen SS who was awarded practised by some of its columnists. For his accommodation in Farmleigh is I the Iron Cross by Hitler for his military instance, I have consistently submitted reckon a matter of two Euros per night. exploits on the Eastern Front in 1942. and have been as consistently denied Minimal research would also have Far-fetched? An unfair comparison publication of protests against the spinning revealed to Mr.Wall that Éamon Ó with the Irish government’s participation of facts and flagrant disregard of in- Cuív is entitled to the standard, in the commemoration of a Co. Mayo controvertible, refuting evidence by such temporary accommodation expense of soldier who received the Victoria Cross columnists as Kevin Myers, which is E134 per night – which he has for his role in the suppression of the 1857 supported by Editorial compliance in his consistently refused to draw while Indian Mutiny? character-assassination of the heroic men staying in Dublin. It is well known that Hitler’s and women of our Independence struggle. unsuccessful project in Eastern Europe And the ne plus ultra in magnanimity! On this occasion I refer to an article in was based on and copied from the very criticism of Minister Éamon Ó Cuív by Some short years ago Ó Cuív was successful – and hence generally your columnist Martin Wall, in your bequeathed a house valued at E500,000. uncondemned – British genocide of the edition of 9 August, which has only now The Minister – not a rich man by any native populations of several continents. come to my notice. Although hopelessly standard, I understand – investigated the The subjugation of India, the millions unfocussed and demonstrably unresearch- circumstances of the relatives of the who died in the multiple famines caused ed, Wall’s commentary snidely infers that testator and donated the house to be divided by the British destruction of Bengali Ó Cuív has been guilty of improper use of between them. Now here was an inspira- agriculture in order to substitute opium the State’s official guest accommodation tional example of almost unprecedented crops for the Chinese market – which at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park, magnanimity and professional probity Britain fought several wars to promote – allegedly using the facility on “a more which a sensitive pen could have used to further confirm the validity of the Hitler frequent basis than any of his colleagues lift us, even for one brief hour, out of the model. in Government” . The stricture was penned quagmire which threatens to suck our Today the so-called Mutiny is despite the fact that it was known to the society into the Slough of Despond. remembered in India as a heroic freedom writer that the Minister’s use of the Farm- The sum total of Martin Wall’s’article struggle. leigh accommodation was strictly in is that it is somehow beyond his under- Given the context of starvation-ridden accordance with the Cabinet’s authorisa- standing that Minister Éamon Ó Cuív 19th century Mayo, perhaps it is gratuitous tion and for Government business. does not doss down in his sleeping bag in now to take Sergeant-Major Cornelius Coughlin (Victoria Cross) to task for I hasten to forestall the predictable- if his Departmental office or even in the fighting on the side of brutal oppression in irrelevant - response that, by coming to Phoenix Park. India. the defence of Éamon Ó Cuív, I must have And, Madame Editor, may we look (In the circumstances the charitable a Party interest in this matter. I am not a forward with expectation to the next thing is to draw a decent veil of oblivion member of any political party nor have I exciting episode of the Irish Times “ Get- over the affair. ever made the acquaintance of Minister Ó ”Ó Cuív” project, which might be an in- But Madam, how do you suppose Cuív. My motivation is the simple concept depth exposé of some other newsworthy Ireland would react if the Indian of “Cothrom na Féinne” or fair play. revelation of National concern – a la the government were to gratuitously honour When my work of 35 years in defence of Irish Times – such as the frequency of some Hindu mercenary who distinguished human rights and in promotion of Minister Ó Cuív’s visits to the Leinster himself in General Lake’s bloody reconciliation, particularly in the context House Toilets! suppression of the 1798 “Mutiny” in of the conflict in the North of Ireland, Meanwhile we can only continue to Ireland?) called for criticism of Southern Parties speculate – but gradually with clearer However, no such mitigation is because of their neglect of the rights of our light – as to what is the objective of these available to sleek, well-nourished Fianna Northern people, my public strictures of ill-conceived sorties against the Fail Defence Minister Michael Smith. some Party colleagues of Éamon Ó Cuív reputations of honourable men. were as unequivocal as my defence of the Is mise, Criostóir de Baróid Pat Muldowney Minister is now. Corcaigh. 18 August, 2004. Derry, 9th August 2004 If truth had been Mr.Wall’s criterion, a few simple phone calls would have Check Out the ATHOL BOOKS website: confirmed much of what most reasonably - informed people – especially professional journalists – should have known, anyway. www.atholbooks.org

3 reads something that is outside the normal range of experience it can be difficult to The Secret Cult Of absorb its meaning. For instance, when the Directors are The Irish Times continued gathered together at a General Meeting every year what is the atmosphere like? under scrutiny because of its financial ‘independent’ or ‘unbiased’, the Board of While they are uttering the words “search problems in the midst of the economic Directors should not have people with a for truth”, “strive for a better quality of boom. Around this time Major McDowell political axe to grind. But another way of life for everyone” and “the promotion of the “Director for Life” and “Governor for ensuring ‘unbiased’ reporting is to have a understanding of other nations and Life” had voluntarily relinquished these Board consisting of a sprinkling of all peoples and a sympathetic concern for titles and ascended to that metaphysical substantial political tendencies within the their well being” does anyone break out “state of grace” otherwise known as society. In my opinion The Irish Times laughing? Perhaps not, after all the “President of The Irish Times for Life”. Ltd Articles of Association ensure that declaration must be made “solemnly and only people who are not engaged with the sincerely”. But of all the articles on The Irish society can be Directors of The Irish Times Times by journalists from that newspaper Ltd. I would also think that such people Are the words uttered in a dull and other journalists written at this time are totally unrepresentative of the society. monotone or with the enthusiasm implied there was no mention of such an oath. So by the words “Declaration of Commit- naturally I assumed that the oath must I don’t think it would be possible to ment”? Maybe at the beginning of the have been deleted. think of a more unrepresentative person in ceremony the words are spoken softly and Irish society than Major McDowell, the at key points the tone rises to a hysterical Nevertheless, I requested a copy of the most powerful person in The Irish Times shriek? current Memorandum and Articles of Group during most of the last 30 years. Association of The Irish Times Ltd from And then there is the choreography. the Companies’ Office and discovered With all due respect to the defenders of Are individual copies of the “Declaration” that, unbelievably, the oath is still in oper- The Irish Times, the oath of secrecy handed out before the meeting or are the ation. The Irish Political Review has a requires a lot of explaining in an institution words projected on a giant screen so that transcript of the relevant Article on Page “believing in the duty of society to search everyone’s head is raised during the for truth”. In my view, it re-enforces the 5. It must be re-sworn by existing Directors ceremony? Can the words be uttered independence of the institution from Irish every year before a licensed Commissioner standing up or sitting down? Is it necessary society and enables it to act with the for Oaths. to raise your right hand or have some other minimum of restraint from forces within gesture such as the Boy Scout salute? Where does one start? How could that society. Was it Aristotle who said that someone who is independent of society grown men and women associate them- In what formation are the Directors? must be either a God or a mad man? But selves with such a pompous oath? The Do they stand in a row facing the Commis- there is another possibility: he could be last time this writer encountered an oath sioner for Oaths, or is there some other part of a different society. (or was it just a prayer?) was in the Boy arrangement? I can see that there might be Scouts. Perhaps all good Boy scouts and some logistical problems if they are Although, the current Articles are Girl Guides become directors of The Irish required to stand in a circle holding hands. similar to the 1974 Articles there is one Times Ltd when they grow up. But even But to avoid neck strain and other problems substantial change. The Articles, dated Boy Scouts and Girl Guides don’t have to the words of the declaration could be 20th June 2002, allow in the second part swear an oath of secrecy. projected at strategic points in the room. of clause 4 b a connection with a “news- paper, periodical, or other publication The other thought that occurs to me is: This brings me to the question of the other than The Irish Times”. I can only how could grown men and women abase room. Is there a special room set aside for think that this was put in to facilitate the themselves by swearing such an oath and such ceremonies, maybe one with soft appointment of the Chairman of The Irish by implication accept that they were not to lighting, a giant portrait of President Times Ltd, Brian Patterson, in April 2002. be trusted, if they didn’t swear such an McDowell and ambient music to put Patterson is a Director of Waterford Wedg- oath? everyone in the mood? wood Plc, which is associated with the O’ I have already reviewed the 1974 oath Reilly family who, of course, are Directors And finally when the ceremony is over in the July 2004 issue of the Irish Political and major shareholders of The Independ- how does everyone feel about it? Do they Review and very little has changed since ent Newspapers Group. I can’t say whether feel better than other members of human- then. As I indicated in that article, the this connection alone required a change in ity? Do they shake each other’s hands and most interesting parts are the requirement The Articles or if he owns more than 1% if so how? Are they weighed down by the to be almost independent of society. You of Independent Newspapers which also burden of the responsibilities imposed on cannot: be a “minister of religion”; have would have required a change. Either way, them or is there that warm after-glow of “been an elected member of any national all very cosy when it is considered that he satisfaction, pleasure even, that consenting or regional parliament or similar body” is also Chairman of the National adults sometimes feel when they have in the last five years; and be “more than a Competitiveness Council! done something in secret together? But I mere member of a political party or suspect that in these puritanical times a group”. But aside from the above, the oath has post coital cigarette is definitely out of the Arguably, if a newspaper affects to be not changed much in 30 years. When one question! 4 Of course, this kind of thing might not would perhaps make such an exercise effectively to the life of the community I to be the taste of every Director, even a pointless) but, if a Director, such as the will use my utmost endeavour to ensure Director of The Irish Times Ltd. But Editor or Managing Director, decides that that the following principles govern the ‘doing a bunk’ from the annual ceremony he would rather not continue on the Board, publications of The Irish Times: i) That news shall be as accurate and is not to be recommended. Truants from Article 49 (iv) might give him or her pause comprehensive as is practicable and be the General Meeting have to go before the for thought. On ceasing to be a Director he presented fairly; shall “ipse facto cease to hold such ‘Head Master’ . . . Sorry, did I say ‘Head ii) That comment and opinion shall Master’? I meant “Chairman” and “one salaried office”. be informed and responsible, and shall other Director”. And the Commissioner Such is the rarefied world of The Irish be identifiable from fact; for Oaths must be summoned. The Articles Times Ltd: not just a newspaper but a way iii) That special consideration shall of Association don’t say whether the bold be given to the reasonable representation of life. Not just a way of life but a new boy or girl can expect ‘six of the best’. of minority interests and divergent views. “world religion” for special people, Neither do they indicate why it’s necessary promoting “understanding of other nations to have another Director present. Maybe 4. That and peoples and a sympathetic concern it’s to restrain the recalcitrant individual a) I am not and have not been a for their well being”. And how sad that all minister of religion and I do not hold and or to make sure that he doesn’t cross his its good works are conducted in secret. have not held any similar position; fingers behind his back when he is making Such modesty should not only be b) I am not connected with any news- the oath? acknowledged but proclaimed from the paper, periodical or other publication rooftops. other than The Irish Times or published I have no information on whether by the Company or broadcasting resigning Directors require counselling to Let us all join hands and praise the medium, whether as proprietor, director, help them re-integrate themselves back Secret Cult of The Irish Times! employee, shareholder or otherwise into normal society (the secrecy clause John Martin (other than as a shareholder in respect of not more than 1% of the issued shares of any class in a company the shares of which are quoted on any recognised Stock exchange, true and complete The Irish Times details of which shareholding (indicating whether the holding is direct or indirect DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT and distinguishing between legal and beneficial interests in the relevant shares) Text Of Oath Sworn Annually By The Editor And Each Director have been disclosed in writing to the Chairman); i) Every Director shall, within 42 Ireland free from any form of personal or Or days of appointment, and at each of party political, commercial, religious, I am connected with a newspaper, Annual General Meeting or within 42 or other sectional control. periodical, or other publication other days before or after such meeting, in than The Irish Times or published by the the presence of at least the Chairman 2. that I will use my utmost powers to Company or broadcasting medium, or another Director nominated by the ensure in the publication of The Irish whether as proprietor, director, emp- Chairman and one other Director, Times an editorial policy with the loyee, shareholder or otherwise (other declare before a Commissioner for following as its principal objectives; than as a shareholder in respect of not Oaths or other person authorised to a) The support of constitutional more than 1% of the issued shares of any administer oaths a Statutory democracy expressed through class in a company the shares of which Declaration within the meaning of the governments freely elected; are quoted on any recognised Stock Statutory Declarations Act 1938 in b) The progressive achievement of Exchange, true and complete details of the following form: social justice between people and the which shareholding (indicating whether discouragement of discrimination of all the holding is direct or indirect and I, being a Director of The Irish Times kinds; distinguishing between legal and Limited, do solemnly and sincerely declare c) The promotion of a society where beneficial interests in the relevant shares) and say as follows: the quality of life is enriched by the have been disclosed in writing to the a) Believing in the right of the standards of its education, its art, its Chairman) and the Board of Directors individual to liberty in his thought, in his culture and its recreational facilities, has unanimously resolved, after true and expression and in his person, to the and where the quality of spirit is instinct complete details of the connection as respect and acceptance of his fellow with Christian values but free from all referred to above (direct or indirect, legal men, to equality of opportunity and religious bias and discrimination; or beneficial) have been disclosed in full before the law, and in his duty to exercise d) The promotion of peace and and in writing, that it is in the best his rights with due regard for the rights tolerance and opposition to all forms of interests of the Company that I be eligible of his fellow men, violence and hatred so that each man to be a Director which resolution (is)/(is b) Believing in the duty of society to may live in harmony with his neighbour not) subject to (any conditions, search for truth and to strive for a better considerate of his cultural, material and restrictions or recommendations)/(The quality of life for everyone, and spiritual needs; following conditions, restrictions or c) Believing in the principles of a e) The promotion of understanding recommendations)(insert conditions); constitutional democracy, of other nations and peoples and a c) I am not and have not within the sympathetic concern for their well being; 1. that I will use my utmost powers to last five years been an elected member maintain The Irish Times as an independent 3. That in pursuance of the foregoing of any national or regional parliament or newspaper primarily concerned with and to enable the readers of The Irish similar body; serious issues for the benefit of the Times to reach informed and independent d) I do not represent and have not community throughout the whole of judgments and to contribute more represented within the last five years in 5 national politics a political party or group the Articles of Association of The Irish imperialism. But what message is the or some national political aim; Times Limited conscientiously believing Minister now sending out to our friends in e) I have no connection of such a the same to be true an by virtue of the former colonies or to those throughout the nature as to be capable of causing the Statutory Declarations Act, world who look to us as a model of anti- belief that I am more than a mere member DECLARED before me by of imperialism? Is it this: that it doesn’t of a political party or group; matter if you rape, plunder, and murder f) My views are consistent with and I who is personally known to me for an Imperial Power so long as you are am committed to the objects of the at Company and I know of no reason that this day of 20 an Irishman? would make me unsuitable to be a Director of the Company by reason of Commissioner of Oaths (or other It’s ironic that, as Smith and the pseudo my pursuing as a member of a party or Authorised person). republican establishment to which he group or as an individual some particular ii) Any Director who shall fail to belongs, stuff their revisionism down our political aim. make such declaration within such throats, they conveniently forget the real g) I will observe a strict secrecy period as aforesaid shall, on the expiry British Army heroes in India such as the respecting all transactions of the of such period, cease to be Director participants in the Connaught Rangers Company, all opinions given at meetings and shall not be eligible for re- Mutiny. These were Irishmen who protes- of the Directors and all matters which appointment unless and until he shall ted in 1920 at the excesses committed by may come to my knowledge in the have delivered to the Directors a signed their fellow British soldiers in Ireland. discharge of my duties except when undertaking to complete such required so to do by the Directors or by declaration immediately if re- Their leader, James Daly, was executed a Court of Law and that I will never appointed, but shall then be eligible to and his friends sentenced to long periods disclose any such matters by hint, be re-appointed as a Director, but shall of imprisonment. Some years ago when a innuendo or otherwise save as aforesaid. again cease to be a Director if he shall mutineer, Charles Kerrigan of Sligo, was fail to make such declaration within still living, RTE was asked on several 5. I make this declaration pursuant to fourteen days of such re-appointment. occasions to interview him. The Station and the State ignored him. steeled to resist British Imperialism after HERE and THERE a visit to Ireland where he was inspired by But then, the men who made this the Irish national struggle? country, who believed in the Republican Sgt. Major Coughlan of the 75th ideal and were prepared to die for it, mean Michel Smith And Regiment (later the Gordon Highlanders nothing to the Smiths of contemporary whose record in the Six Counties the Ireland. Republican history for them is The Indian Mutiny Minister did not mention) was far from “a more or less bunk. Their one duty, as they man of peace”. He was a representative unload themselves of the past and babble Is Defence Minister Michael Smith of murderous thugs who were let loose of “new partnerships for the next really such a “consummate eejit” or does like crazed Black and Tans on the Indian generation”, is to rewrite it But history, he sincerely believe that British soldier people. His job was to put down a particularly Irish history, is much too Sergeant Major Cornelius Coughlan spontaneous revolt by Indian soldiers and serious to be left to the likes of Smith and should be remembered “with the respect people who wanted to get rid of the British his chums and has a habit of jumping into given to every Irishman who died fighting Raj. (The Indian Mutiny broke out in their face to remind them of what the past for peace”? 1857 and galvanised the Indian sense of is and how important it still is to Irish Smith, last week-end, made hay with nationalism). people. Without knowing the past, as the his presence at a British Army military man said, we cannot understand the Here’s what historian Jan Morris says ceremony in Westport, Co Mayo present. about the British response to the (Squaddie buglers, locals dressed in British Archon insurrection. military costume, British Ambassador “The Times demanded death for Launch of new book etc.), at which he spoke proudly of Sgt. every mutineer: ‘every tree and gable- by Major Coughlan’s bravery during the end in the place should have its burden Indian Mutiny in 1857 and his winning of in the shape of a mutineer’s carcass John Minahane— the Victoria Cross. “That he (Sgt Major ...When the ground in front of every Ladislav Novomesky: Slovak Coughlan) participated in a military cannon is strewn with rags and flesh and Spring. Translation of poems and campaign that many people may frown shattered bone, then talk of mercy. Then upon today should not overly concern you may find some to listen’.” essays, 1923-1971. With a Review us” , the bould Soldier of Destiny Morris points out that no British Army in of his Literary and Political life by remarked, “nor was the ceremony about history wasso inflamed with “furious John Minahane 19th century politics or the rights and passion as were the Queen’s regiments in on wrongs of the British presence in India. It India then.. It was the most horrible of Friday, October 8th, is simply an acknowledgement of the Imperial wars”. bravery of a forgotten Irish soldier”. 7.30pm Yet Smith has the gall to say the Sgt. at Major’s actions were nothing more than Try telling that to the people of India, The Teachers Club (Room 6), or to the people of Delhi where the soldier’s “a common commitment to his comrades regiment carried out loathsome barbarities and his regiment”. 36 Parnell Square, Dublin All welcome or, indeed, to the Indian Ambassador! SMITH’S MESSAGE? Does Smith know that the founder of Ireland is much respected abroad for Belfast Historical & modern India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was its struggle against oppression and Ediucational Society 6 Planning Gone Mad

Comment Tim and Maisie Riordan have worked in London for most of their working lives and want to return and build a house in Kildare, where they come from, on a plot they have always owned and where there was once a house. Tim was a jockey when young and is now involved in training horses in the Curragh. They are the type of people who would be fully involved in whatever community they lived in and would enhance it enormously. They have been refused planning permission several times and it is worth noting the standard letters they receive, which are masterpieces in callousness and arrogance. The latest follows. These types of letters are issued in great numbers by planning authorities who seem to believe that human beings are essentially a nuisance and that the world, and rural Ireland in particular, would be a better place with much less of them. If Holland, about the size of Munster (with a third of it reclaimed from the sea) can manage 15 million, should we not be able to manage that much, at least? Jack Lane 7 The contest of OisÌn and Patrick (2) OisÌn: Not even a buzzing fly will go P.: Patrick, I would accede to your claim nor the atom in a sunbeam The time that is proper for you to go that God should have a share of power unknown to the king of majesty to see the God of Grace if you travel with me to his paradise into the holy city. is the time your soul departs from your body to see if he shares food generously. and death overcomes you. O.: Patrick: The son of Cumhall (=Fionn) was not like O.: OisÌn, your claim on God is empty; that If I get no help from God, that is not how we shall travel there; he who was the king of the Fianna - Patrick, until death arrives, until we are purified of all sin crowds of people would go in I will do without Him during my lifetime we shall not go to his house in pride. to his house without asking. and just the same for all eternity. P.: O.: P.: Your time here (on earth) is short, Patrick, wash me if you like Neither Fionn nor the Fianna will enter old man, compared with the time after; from the top of my head to the soles of my feet; ever the house of my Lord you would be well-advised to purify your soul if your God is a humane man and you, you feeble grey old fellow, or you will go to a different place. he will not bar us from his house. you will only enter it like everybody else. O.: Patrick, tell me the truth, O.: I care more that my body is without food if indeed you have true knowledge, O patrick, do not be declaiming in this world of the joyless clergy will my dog and my hound in false sermons every day than what happens to my soul be allowed into the house of the King of Grace? that your God is a good man when it departs to the other world. who will share food with us. P.: P.: You old fellow in your dotage! I will not call on him until doomsday You would suffer more in the torment of your without means or significance though great to you his name and fame, soul, your dog and your hound will not be allowed unless you come with me on a journey you senseless, grey old fellow, with you in the house of the King of Grace. to see if there is hospitality in his house. just one day in the company of the damned than your body to be without food forever. Comment On Page 13, column 3 8 all the Seats. The analysis which will enable us to determine this can be made by an examination of the last Parliament- ary and Local Elections, and I am asking O’Keefe to have it made at once. As the matter stands now the considerations in favour of each of the Said Collins To De Valera… alternatives appear as follows—at least Sinn Féin is as a matter of brute fact an Eamon Donnelly and Charlie McGleenan to me:- all-Ireland party. It has not had to think to torment Taoiseachs de Valera and “In favour of: (1) Contesting the elections with a about it to decide to organise on the broad Costello are set to appear on the order view to abstention, or rather joining up ground of the nation. It has just had to paper once more. Should the represent- with the Dail in the South: remain itself to be so. atives of northern nationalism have at (a) That the unity of Republican least a right of audience in Dáil Éireann? Ireland will be preserved—letting the The Labour Party and have And how can any refusal of that right be Elections go by default would seem to be been organised in the past as all-Ireland argued to a national body politic? the abandonment of the North as hopeless parties. They had to think themselves out for us, and the acceptance in a sense of of that state and are now engaged in Those are old questions and they have Partition; it would help to kill the thinking to decide themselves back into it. a history. By way of a calm contribution to Republican movement in the North by the almighty row that is now brewing here throwing Sinn Feiners practically into the Camp of the Nationalists—this might Fianna Fáil was never an all-Ireland are some early pages of that history. * produce, later, a dangerous re-actionary party. De Valera managed his split out of Partition was in place before ever affect on the South. Sinn Féin onto the narrow ground of the (b) That the Republican Movement in Britain put a truce to the War of Indepen- 26 Counties. In much the same years that the North will be strengthened, dence or negotiated a single article of its Stalin built Socialism in one country, de overshadowing and, perhaps, eliminating Treaty with Griffith and Collins. Valera built nationalism in one bit of this the other National group, which will country. have a certain favourable re-action, of On the same day that the Partition Bill course, on the South—just as of an had its Third Reading at Westminster, opposite character to that which I have The Legion of the Rearguard came to November 11, 1920, the Sinn Féin party referred to in the last paragraph. power and held on to it as Fianna Fáil, the in Ulster held a convention in Omagh (c) The abstention of the entire Partitionist Party. which failed to decide upon a policy tow- National groups from the Parliament will put the Labour and Capitalist section of ards the soon to be northern parliament. There is a possible line of justification the Unionists struggling with each other Tyrone Sinn Féin members then deputed of this other matter of brute fact. De Valera for control in the Parliament; Unionists George Murnaghan to write seeking advice founded Fianna Fáil to realise Collins’ will understand, of course, even before from their TD, who was the Dáil Minister view of the Treaty settlement as ‘the the Election Campaign commences that of Home Affairs, . freedom to achieve freedom’ and this could our representatives will not enter the Parliament, and so they will be able to only be done within the jurisdiction Murnaghan’s letter to Griffith on realise in advance, each section of them, established by and legitimising the Treaty. January 4, 1921, expressed his own prefer- that on the elections will depend whether And so Fianna Fáil was founded in an ence for an electoral boycott, a policy the Unionist Capital or Unionist Labour will immediate exclusion of northern elements TD was happy to endorse. More have control in the Parliament—hence, whose priority was not the establishment importantly the letter initiated a corres- we would have by this course the of a 26 county Republic. That might very pondence between de Valera and Michael advantage of the contest between Capital well justify its long refusal to organise in Collins which was the first serious and Labour in the Election Campaign the counties of the continuing occupation. discussion within the Sinn Féin leadership itself as well as later in Parliament. This But there was, and remains, at least one of its northern dilemma. gives the first course, in my opinion, the advantage practically in full, which Mr. other question. On January 13, 1921, de Valera wrote Griffith claims for (2) It is now pretty well certain that Fianna to Collins: “(d) This course would be the most Fáil, in competition with Sinn Féin for the “With regard to the Ulster Six directly in line with our past Policy, and same vote, will organise in Northern Counties Question—I have been would best be understood both at home, Ireland. Not by way of principle but by thinking over it again this morning—I and in Foreign countries. (e) A Moral Effect—Mr. G. seems to way of power politics. And all the more will consider it further, but at the moment claim this in some special way for No. 2. tenacious of purpose for that. my view of it is that our decision should ultimately be determined by an analysis To me the balance, as far as moral effect, All-Ireland organisation of the of our political strength in these counties, is altogether in favour of No. 1, for, Republic’s governing parties and coalition unless, for instance, we were certain of surely, the effect is rather in the Boycott partners raises fundamental if long-buried a quarter, or at least one fifth (say ten of the Parliament, and the repudiation of its authority, than in the Boycott of the questions about the nature of the state Members) of the total representation, I Elections, which would be engaged in by itself. For the first time in such a long time would be for boycotting the Election altogether, that is sending no Candidates us solely for principle, and to show our the nation will have arrayed itself as an numerical strength. The extent of our all-Ireland, a national, polity. How then is forward. If we secured anything less it would be boomed abroad that these repudiation of the moral right of the the twenty-six county Dáil to arrange the Northern Parliament will be much clearer counties were practically a homogenius to the World when expressed in terms of affairs of that national array. (sic) political entity, which justified a definite number of elected partition, but if we were certain of a representatives, and a definitely The old questions which exercised Quarter or over, I think we should contest 9 ascertained electorate, than in the vague Collins replied on January 15, 1921: taxation, and powers generally for getting statistics on which we would be forced to “PARTITION ACT our decrees more widely known than at rely if we failed to take advantage of the 1. My note to Mr. Griffith in reply to present. In this regard, it will not need Election—Our failure, despite anything his memo which formed the starting very much foresight to see the vital we could say, would be attributed to a point of the question was as follows: importance of the Belfast Boycott. In the conviction on our part that we had no (This was dated 11th January, 1921. It is same way too I think the time is ripe to chance whatever. Hence, as I have said rather disjointed) make a serious effort to get everybody to me this seems a supplemental “It is quite possible that this Partition into Sinn Fein in the North—particularly supplemental (sic) argument in favour of Act will never come into force, but I in the Counties the enemy has marked (2) believe the wisest attitude of us to adopt out for partition.” (f) Our going forward would prevent is to regard it as certainly coming, and to 2. The two alternatives already set the going up of Nationalist Independents make our dispositions accordingly. It who could hardly be blocked otherwise, out are:- seems to me that two conceivable (1) Contesting the elections with a and who, if they go up are certain to positions arise from the Elections point view to forming part of the Dail in the attract a substantial section of the of view:- South. Republican or Nationalist Vote, owing (2) Boycotting the elections and the to the political animosity that exists in “(a) Elections for the Northern Partition Act altogether the North, and this would undoubtedly Parliament only. This would mean that weaken our moral position. the representatives of the rest of Ireland There is in addition:- would remain as at present (3) Taking part in the elections, (2) afterwards attending at the Northern (a) The only argument that I can see “(b) Elections for both Parliaments Parliament provided such attendance which gives a balance in favour of this “Supposing we regard it like this, that gave a majority in favour of deciding for course is that our abstention from the Sinn Feiners go forward as candidates a Parliament of all Ireland—And further elections will make it more clear to the with the pledge, as already in existence, (3a) Attending the Parliament of average Labour-Unionist that the real and a promise that they will ignore the Northern Ireland as minority for struggle for power in the Parliament will Partition Act and carry on with their obstructional tactics and with an eventual be between him and the Capitalist, and colleagues of the South of Ireland as a hope of realising an Irish Unity that accordingly that it is between him national body—in fact, as the Dail. In the and the Capitalist that the real struggle in event of (a) only, this position would be 3. It appears to me that “3” constitutes the Elections should be also. It will be more difficult, because of course the an argument of expediency, for which our business to prevent the Labour very fact of the new members for the little can be said as a matter of tactics and North being elected on a different basis element from being confused by our nothing as a matter of principle, while from the existing members for the South, entry into the elections—we ought to be “3a” is ignoble tactics, is an infringement would unquestionably make a difference. able to make him see that we are of all principle, and is a recognition of In the event of (b), and of our being able contesting these elections for principle, the Partition of Ireland. They may both, to sweep the country—which I firmly and not for actual power in the Northern I think, be ruled out. Parliament, seeing that we will not go believe we would do—we would all come together as the Dail, and we might have near that Parliament. 4. Let me start dealing with the other far greater powers than we have at I think further that the fact that the present—I mean now, powers for levying alternatives by giving the following table, elections will be held under the roughly compiled:- Proportional Representation system will diminish the danger of our entry solidifying or amalgamating the two Total Seats S.F. R.L. N L I. U. Unionist groups. I have not, so far, 1. County Councils 169 48 18 2 1 100 studied closely the P/R system, and 2. U. Dist. Councils cannot say offhand to what extent greater 3. Rl.Dist. Councils 581 142 79 17 4 339 results can be got by the amalgamation 4. Bds.of.Guardians 724 178 2 93 26 6 419 of two groups, than by the groups (NOTE: I have not the figures of the U.D.C’s) separately. If the system were even The above results were achieved by P/R—the Parliamentary contests of 1918 were (by approximately ‘proportional’ there majorities—East Down—and excluding Queens University) should be but little advantage in amalgamating. In the old system what would throw the Unionist Groups TOTAL UNIONIST S.F. NAT. together would be the fear of the results 28 20 3 5 of a three cornered contest. I think the P/ R system must tend to eliminate that Properly speaking, allowing for East Down and North Fermanagh, the figures should be:- fear, and so our entry into the contest TOTAL UNIONIST S.F. NAT. would not materially tend to drive the 28 19 5 3 Unionist groups together. If there be, of course, any analogy to the dangers of the 3 cornered contest in the P/R system, and if, never the less, the Unionist groups The proportion is not very different from the results shown in the County Councils, could be induced to keep separate, whilst Rural District Councils, and in the Boards of Guardians—viz., our Candidates are also in the field, the U. S.F. Nat result would be in our favour, as it might PARLIAMENTARY 6 2 1 give us some extra representatives. This COUNTY COUNCILS 5 3 1 could not, of course, occur at all if the U.D. “ system be genuinely proportional. R.D. “ 4 2 1 President de Valera” BDS.of GUARDIANS 4 2 1

10 In examining the above figures it is and above all it would give rise to endless Pact won six seats (the Unionists won the significant to note (apart from the arguing among our own supporters, and remaining 40 of 52). Four of the Sinn Parliamentary results which were not will inevitably lead to (a) candidates Féiners (but none of the Hibernians) were proportional) that the most representative going forward as independent elected on the first count. Those four were bodies—the County Councils—show republicans and/or (b) our people de Valera in Down, Collins in Armagh, the most favourable proportion to our supporting the antagonists of the Griffith in Fermanagh & Tyrone and cause. Outside of Belfast, the County Unionists. The result might make it MacNeill in Derry. The other Shinners Council figures will, I hope, form the appear that the Republican Idea had safest basis to go on. Outside of Belfast gone down in eclipse in the six counties. elected were Seán Milroy and John there are 32 seats with 4 for the University From an outside point of view, I greatly O’Mahony in Fermanagh & Tyrone. of Belfast. Assuming, therefore, that fear that refusal to take part in the candidates go forward, we should get 13 elections would look like an admission Collins, de Valera and Griffith were or 14 of these seats and 1 for Belfast and of defeat—would look like the skulking Southern blow-ins who quickly blew out. 1 for the University—that is to say, a of a schoolboy who had got a severe Eoin MacNeill came from the Antrim third of the total representation. drubbing and had not the grace to recover Glens and Seán Milroy was born and himself. educated in Belfast but neither of them 5. I have gone into the figures at were locally based TDs or intended ever length, for I regard the result as an 8. The simplicity of the action does to become so; they both pursued careers in important item in deciding our attitude certainly make an appeal but then we the Provisional Government/Executive towards the putting forward of have to provide representatives for the candidates. people and this involves considerations Council and helped ensure that the that we are scarcely prepared to entertain. Boundary Commission came to nothing. I 6. It is my opinion that candidates From a tactical point of view every don’t know where John O’Mahony was should be put forward, and put forward advantage that we could hope to gain born or grew up. In 1921 he was based in in every division. The programme will from ignoring the elections could, with Dublin. But I am happy to take Dr. be abstention from the Northern equal certainty, be gained from entering Phoenix’s word for it that, of the six, he Parliament and assembly with their the contests as set out above. was the only one with a substantial northern colleagues of the rest of Ireland. This is base. Certainly during the Treaty Debates an active non recognition of Partition, 9. It strikes me that we need not Miss MacSwiney made much of his being and by securing a goodly representation concern ourselves with the relations the only TD who would be excluded from will be of help to the rest of Ireland, and between Unionist Capital and Unionist the Dáil by its acceptance of the Treaty will be a hope of salvation for the North. Labour, so far as the first Parliament To put forward candidates in this way is goes at any rate. Our course would be to (unlike the other northern TDs he didn’t the only policy consistent with our past watch the cleavage and to encourage have a second southern seat). action of contesting every seat in Ireland. any elements showing leanings in our But the real importance of this course is direction. Among the Sinn Féin also-rans were prevention of the idea and acceptance of Seán MacEntee, a Belfast engineer and Partition entering into the minds and NOTE: In conversation I have already former Connolly Socialist, and Frank actions of the Irish people. The old Pale stressed the importance of keeping the Aiken, a sometime IRA chief of staff from finds its present-day counterpart in Sinn Féin Organisation at a high standard Camlough in South Armagh. At some Belfast and its surrounding country. All of perfection in these six Counties— point between the formation of Fianna that must be redeemed for Ireland, and doing everything to improve its Fáil and its coming to power they each we have to keep striving in every way organisation and working incessantly to abandoned family and friends in the until that object is achieved. The North- bring in every possible individual to the East must not be allowed to settle down Cumainn. We do not want the issue occupation and made lives for themselves in the fallacy that it is a thing apart from complicated by the entry of Hibernian in the South as cabinet ministers of great the Irish Nation. The contests to restore candidates at the election. The greater power and influence. The human aspect it to Ireland will be the surest means of the strength and the efficiency of Sinn of their decision is problematic to say the preventing this. In the course of Féin, the better the position will be— least of it. Politically it underlines Fianna subsequent policy under this idea an and this applies whether the decision be Fáil’s promotion of republicanism over important consideration will be— to accept or ignore the contests. If twenty anti-partitionism. Whether an effort should not be made to good organisers could be procured for work with the Local Bodies which are the next four months at a cost of - say - Collins then, post-Treaty, allied his Republican outside the scope of the £1700, the money would be well spent.” army to the Northern Divisions of the IRA Northern Parliament and in allegiance to lead a futile war along the border. But to Dáil (sic). At present the Tyrone and In the event, following a meeting his “active non recognition of Partition” Fermanagh County Councils are Repub- between de Valera and Joe Devlin in policy was never again taken up by any of Nat. by a fair majority. In the new regime February 1921, Sinn Féin and the Hibern- the South’s avowedly anti-Partitionist will it be possible to secure these for ians fought the northern elections together, parties. De Valera was later harried by Ireland and so reduce the partitioned allied on the Sinn Féin programme of self- Armagh-man Eamon Donnelly to stand counties to 4? The question will extend determination and . De and win South Down (while Taoiseach for even farther—to Derry Corporation to Valera did not make attendance at Dáil the first time he was also an abstentionist numerous smaller bodies, and to certain fairly large districts within Counties. Éireann for successful candidates a MP at Stormont), but only to avoid even condition of the Pact, and the Hibernians worse embarrassment. (I once thought 7. Having said the above, I find there simply stayed at home waiting out their that counted against judging Fianna Fáil a is hardly anything in my mind in favour abstentionist pledges. partitionist party, but really it was just de of ignoring the elections. This course is Valera deflecting a momentary surge to too passive for our people and our own Though Sinn Féin secured twice the much greater cross-border involvements policy. It will be counted mock-heroics, vote of the Devlinites each party to the and so doesn’t count that way at all.) And 11 then there is that other Armagh-man, in every division. The programme will “outlandish”. Though nothing appears to Charlie McGleenan, and his harrowing of be abstention from the Northern have been said about how Silcock, an the Dáil between 1949 and 1951. Parliament and assembly with their ordinary decent criminal, would have colleagues of the rest of Ireland. This is known of Garland, or his position in the an active non recognition of Partition, Those stories are for later. For now, and by securing a goodly representation Official IRA. Garland’s name was also please bear in mind that a Republican will be of help to the rest of Ireland, and mentioned in a May 1997 report on the Cabinet’s first essay at a coherent policy will be a hope of salvation for the North.” matter of the ‘superdollars’ by the US for the North produced this from Michael National Security Agency. He was alleged Never a better man nor a better plan Collins:- to have been involved “with counter- since. “It is my opinion that candidates feiting” the ‘superdollar’, which is a more Joe Keenan should be put forward, and put forward substantial charge than merely helping distribute them.

Garland was also involved—as reported in IN—in a previous counterfeiting scam. In 1983 the Gárda Siochana uncovered printing presses in a warehouse in Dublin’s docklands, OLD HABITS…? churning out fake Irish fivers. One of the machines had been used to print literature When Bolshevism imploded The Irish News headlined: Allegations in the WPI headquarters, and Seán Garland Communist Parties throughout the planet link Workers’ Party President To was a director of the company renting the were thrown into a quandary. Should they Counterfeit Scam. Seán Garland President warehouse. This scandal was, effectively, remain true to the ‘old faith’, or should of the WPI, is reported as having been suppressed. Nothing is made of this by they try to become something else entirely? described as “top jolly” of the Official Scholes, though he remarks that the three The option of dissolving themselves and IRA, by Terence Silcock, jailed by WPI TDs supported Charles Haughey’s admitting they were wrong, if only in the Worcestershire Crown Court in July 2002. minority Fianna Fáil government. If large sense of having shackled themselves to His crime was ‘laundering’ what US numbers of ‘revisionist’ journalists did the Soviet Communist Party, seems not to authorities have called ‘superdollars’ (on not have Sticky skeletons in their own have been considered by most of them. the grounds that the $100 dollar bills are closets, this would be noised about as a near-perfect copies. Which tends to further aspect of Haughey’s sheer ‘evil’. The Workers’ Party of Ireland were indicate that the printers had a lot of time Haughey was not just shoring-up his own late converts to the Bolshevik Faith (having and expertise. In other words that they Government (though he had a duty to do abandoned what Pearse called ‘the Fenian may well have had the protection of some so, partly because he took himself seriously Faith’—though most of the rank and file State—or a very powerful state-agency, as the head of Government and as a Party attempted to straddle both). It annoyed the KGB, or its successor-groups, leader, and mainly because the opposition the CPI by asking for, and getting, financial maybe?). in the Dáil was rubbish): he was attempting support from the Communist Party of the to ‘house train’ the Stickies. Fianna Fáil, Soviet Union. This was organised by the One of the people involved in this in the words of one of its founders (Seán USSR’s secret police, the KGB, and there international scam is David Levin, another Lemass) was a ‘slightly constitutional’ was possibly some sort of quid pro quo, defendant in Worcestershire Crown Court party, and chose not to wag its finger at the though the Soviets seem to have played (meaning a law court which tries serious WPI. Possibly Haughey felt that an overtly the thing pretty straight. cases). Levin is described as “a former Marxist party in the national assembly Armenian KGB agent”, and the ‘super- made the Republic more like a genuinely The WPI (aka ‘Official’ Sinn Féin, or dollars’ were “transported around the ‘European’ state. the Stickies) also had other ways of world in the diplomatic bags of North subsidising electoral efforts. One was Korean officials”. Seán Garland is alleged He would also probably have the selling off the various bits of property it to have controlled the distribution of these political savvy to welcome Provo Sinn had accumulated over the years. (An fakes in “Western Europe”. As Levin Féin into the political process. What do aspect of its ‘Official’ nature was that it was given a nine year sentence for the ‘revisionists’, the PDs and Fine Gael was able to hang on to this property. A distributing (by way of banks, bureaux de think is going to happen if they turn their Georgian house in the centre of Newry change and travel agents) $27 million, we backs on Sinn Féin? sold for a six figure sum in the 1980s. are talking serious (fake) money. (Irish Another method was using the (officially News 19.03.04, reporting a BBC NI *** non-existent) Official IRA to rob banks Spotlight programme.) The BBC 1 Panorama slot for Sunday and post offices in the North—and more June 20 rebroadcast the Spotlight rarely, the Republic. The WPI, one of the The Irish News’s William Scholes programme, ‘fronted’ by Declan Lawn, smallest parties in Northern politics had reports that Garland was not available for and billed as a BBC NI production. There the glossiest, most expensive publicity interview, nor was IN able to get the WPI was more detail about some of the persons material. Even awkward questions about to respond to the claims broadcast in the involved in The Superdollar Plot. Levin, funding on BBC NI radio and television in Spotlight programme. To give them their described as a “criminal” and a “Russian”, the early 1990s merely led to a ‘blip’ in due, any response would be incriminating. had an Armenian alias, ‘Batikian’. A their use of very well-produced and A Party “spokesman” at the time of the former KGB agent, he was wanted by the designed posters. court case claimed that the assertions were Armenian authorities for “a double 12 murder”. He was said by a Birmingham else that did not ring true was the fact that banks is not going to destroy the US detective to be a “very dangerous an arrest was staged during this economy: the Mafia (an actual criminal individual”, who had arrived in the city conversation. The IRA does not have élite) would regard such a sum as petty some years ago. Silcock was heard ‘colonels’ much less ‘colonels-in-chief’. cash. Sinn Féin has a substantial sum of complaining about ‘Levin’ appearing at a Garland would hardly have told a common money, in the millions, in US banks, meeting with four “dark-skinned” criminal in England about his background, gathered openly through a US (Armenian?) heavies—all wearing black at least not in detail. There was yet another Government-approved fund-raising body. leather jackets and with a person trussed ‘courier’ (of the funny-money from Dublin Seán McGouran up in Levin’s car boot. to Britain), an “Irish-South African”. He Letter to the Editor does not simply distribute may have been WPI. He got three separate the superdollars, it (allegedly) sentences in GB, the USA and Germany, manufactures them. There was great for money-laundering. Frankfurt was a Was Elizabeth emphasis by the Birmingham police and staging-post in the trail from Pyongyang. Bowen Irish? US Secret Service personnel on the The first ‘superdollars’ were discovered Dear Editor, Koreans having acquired the “intaglio” in the Phillipines in 1989. Bowen is a Welsh name. Bowen could and “off-set” machinery to produce these also be a respectabilisation of the native near-perfect fakes. These two methods of Apart from this stacking-up of name Bohane. Bowen is certainly printing are quite common, and nobody circumstantial evidence, the commentary not an English name. As native Welsh would remark on such machinery being then claimed that what had been used for and native Irish are racially identical, this purchased by anyone, anywhere. (apparently acceptable) military / political makes little difference. This is where something of a revolutionary purposes was now going to A more interesting question is how ‘credibility gap’ opened up. It was stated a “criminal élite”. It was not clear what did her ancestors acquire a big house. that the North Korean régime regarded this ‘élite’ was, or where it was located, Probably by switching religion at the time this scam, aimed at destabilising the US Ireland, Northern Ireland, Russia or of the Penal Laws and then going on to economy, “as important as [its] nuclear wherever. eliminate, or tell tales on, their neighbours development”. And, by Secret Service who had not switched religion. agents, that $13 million, presumably in This was a rather ambiguous way to Bowen’s highly readable novel “The ‘clean’ dollars was stashed away by end the programme, and one did wonder if Last September” shows how unhappy such individuals in US banks. (Whether by the BBC really had the courage of its people felt after 1916, particularly the Seán Garland / the Workers’ Party, or all convictions. It was (even before progressive poseurs amongst them. They of those involved was not made clear. broadcasting) attempting to have its anti- helped England whenever they could. Though the method of production and Communist / Sticky cake and eat an anti- Snobbish people in England like Jane distribution, had been carefully described, Sinn Féin one. The publicity material Austen. They identify with her characters over-described, if anything, Declan Lawn mentioned “a leading Irish Republican” and not with their own ancestors, the was shown in artily-photographed ‘scenes’ being involved in this international scam millions of farm labourers who were in grand hotels, sinister Moscow centred on North Korea, which was dispossessed and forced to work hard to squares and streets, gritty downtown described in the commentary as a “pariah maintain the Jane Austen characters’ way Dublin, and slightly less photogenic bits State”. As President Bush includes it in of life. of Birminham.) his “axis of evil” maybe we now know Ivor Kenna why he is so irked by the place. London,18th June 2004 Two people were interviewed in Undoubtedly Seán Garland would still PS McDowell is a native Roscommon darkened rooms, or in shadow. They were describe himself as an Irish Republican, name I wonder when Major Tom’s captioned as, in one case, a ‘Former North and the programme made it clear that he ancestors switched religion? Korean Counterfeiter’. Strangely, this man was an ‘activist’ since the 1950s, though did not appear to be wracked by guilt, but it did not detail the Brookeborough Raid simply described what he had done. The in January 1956 (or mention Seán South An Cor Tuathail other person, described as a ‘Former North or Fergal O Hanlon), in which Garland Comment: Korean Diplomat’, said that diplomats was involved. This type of poetry is called did not know how much they were given Most people scanning the publicity Fiannaíocht. It was popular from the 13th in the way of , but would assume that ‘leading Irish to the 18th centuries. The Normans suurmised it was 50:50 real and fake Republican’ would be a Provi—in fact introduced strict Papal Christianity to dollars. He also spoke in Korean. Why there are probably millions of people who Ireland in the 12th century, and this kind not English, the language of diplomacy? have vaguely noted this in the blatts and of religious practice was associated with It can hardly have been for reasons of free-sheets who now assume that Gerry the relentless genocidal English pressure personal security. His speaking Korean Adams is subsidised by Communist on the Irish and their way of life. Until the would surely be more easily recognisable Korean Superdollars. in fact, the sixteenth century, that is, when the by his former employers than his speaking counterfeiters belonged to the other descendants of the Normans turned against English? Republicans, the Officials, who now have the centralising anti-papal Tudor There was also mention made by the leadership of the Irish Labour Party. monarchy. This conflict led in a straight Silcock of “Sean” (Seán Garland) being line to the “kill-them-all” campaign of “Colonel-in-Chief” of the “old” IRA, The Beeb, particularly the Beeb in Cromwell out of which emerged the who were “communists”—all of the Northern Ireland is going to have to learn modern Catholic Irish nation. money going to the movement. This was that there is such a thing as being too talking to undercover police. Something clever by half. $13 million in American [Contest concluded next month.]

13 Parnell said in her memoirs, long after the event, that his purpose was to thwart the movement that he led.

The other explanation is that Mansergh uses the word “Unionism” biologically, as a way of describing the “stock” which produced Parnell, and as applying to Biological Politics Parnell himself regardless of what his opinions might happen to be at a particular On Martin Mansergh And Others movement. I discovered this kind of usage in Northern Ireland, and I published a The re-emergence of biological politics Blue and a Friesian was a Friesian. They pamphlet on The Unionist Family almost recently is probably a sign of the times. It were what they were, and that was the end twenty years ago. Unionism was has sprung up unselfconsciously and has of it. But people were what they thought something much less, or much more, than not been remarked upon. When, a few they were. What made them interesting a political position. One might, by pedantic years ago, I came upon the reprint of was not their sameness but their difference. application of the dictionary definition, Hubert Butler’s 1955 Election Address in And the social milieu was such that, if describe a certain political position as Kildare, in which he asserts the political somebody happened to have a deep Unionist, but the pedantry would miss the superiority of Protestant blood, I took it to yearning to be mere stock, there was little substance of the case. When I first be a mere echo from the distant past. Then opportunity for him to realise his heart’s encountered Louis Boyle and heard of his Jack Lane brought it to the attention of the desire. attempt to become a Unionist, I knew by distinguished speakers at the Butler reflex that the project was absurd, and I set Centenary Conference at Kilkenny Castle, Protestantism, according to its own about figuring out why it was absurd. But who had been praising Butler as one of the stereotype—a stereotype which it imposed it was useful that he had not sensed its great liberals of his time, on whom present- on Irish affairs over many generations— absurdity, and that he had made a genuine day Ireland should pattern itself. And I means individualism and Catholicism effort, as a Catholic, to become an accepted saw Professor Terence Brown and means uniformity. And yet we have member of the Unionist Party. Professor Edna Longley racking their “Protestant stock”. brains in an effort to understand why it Lord Fitt likes to describe the Northern might be thought that there was something One of those obituaries on Gageby Ireland situation as “tribal”—but, until not quite right about Butler’s assertion. was written by Senator Martin Mansergh. he emigrated and was elevated, he was That made it clear that the universal And now I find this puzzling statement by himself a tribalist. The description applies denunciation of Nazism was little more Mansergh: “My criticism of southern in the sense that one is a Nationalist or a than a routine chant behind which an area unionism—with certain important Unionist by birth, and that one’s actual of common ground with Nazism survived, exceptions like Parnell—was that it political character is determined by the even on the issue on which Nazism was retreated without engagement, until the community into which one is born rather most abhorred—the issue of the social Irish Convention of 1917-18”. than by the political notions one happens influence of blood. to form. It is only within the structures of This statement will be found in the a securely established party-political Then I noticed the remarks of Robin Autumn issue of History Ireland in an democracy that the individual can Bury about the ”Protestant blood-pool” interview with Mansergh conducted by determine his own political position by in Ireland, and how it was being squeezed the Editor, Tommy Graham. Graham choice. Democracy is a highly artificial out. (Bury purports to speak for the does not query it, and so we are left with arrangement of the political life of states— Protestant community in the Republic. this puzzling description of Parnell as an a very recent arrangement, not yet a century He has the Irish Times and the Church Of exceptional Unionist. old, and an arrangement that applies over Ireland Gazette as platforms.) a small part of the Earth. And where the Parnell was the outstanding leader of artifices necessary to the operation of And then I noticed in obituaries on the Nationalist movement in the 1880s. democracy do not exist—and they have Douglas Gageby (editor of the Irish Times He was regarded by Unionists as the leader never existed in Northern Ireland— for many years), the statement that he was of extreme nationalism. I can think of two political life takes other forms. of “Protestant stock”. Not that he was a ways in which he might nevertheless be Protestant, but that he was of Protestant construed as a Unionist. One is that he Mansergh describes Parnell as a stock. Not that he was brought up within displaced the mild Home Rule politics of Unionist as another way of saying that he a Protestant culture, but that he was of Isaac Butt, and effected an alliance with was Anglo-Irish, discounting the political Protestant stock. the land agitation and the Irish Republican opinions held by Parnell. One might Brotherhood, for the ultimate purpose of ridicule that frame of mind, as Lord Fitt in I have never been accustomed to seeing saving Ireland for Britain—that he comfortable exile ridicules the tribalism humans as “stock”. In the easy-going postured as an extreme nationalist in order he left behind him, but it is not merely individuality of the society I grew up in, to gain the leadership of the extremists so absurd. The Ireland of the Anglo-Irish— stock was a word applied to cattle. Cows that he might disable them at the critical the Ireland of the Protestant colony—was were what they were as a result of careful moment. Something like that was never a democracy. It was not even a breeding for certain features over many suggested by anti-Parnellites after the split representative oligarchy It had no national generations. A Kerry Blue was a Kerry of 1891. And I seem to recall that Mrs. body politic, any more than Protestants 14 and Catholics form a common body politic first to say that he must go. Subsequently sovereignty of the Crown. When it was in Northern Ireland today. The Anglo- political achievement did not come outlawed, it became a mass conspiracy as Irish lived a life apart, and they continued through the unquestioning Parnellite, John a gesture of stubborn defiance of an to live their exclusive life while the millions Redmond, but through those who had not unreasonable action. It was then formally around formed themselves into a body been prepared to put up with his utterly committed to revolution. But its heart politic, and eventually into a state. They unreasonable conduct in the crisis. wasn’t in it. At the critical moment it did not respond to Davis’s call when stayed at home. Some of its leaders landlordism was their mainstay. And they Mansergh’s remark in History Ireland expressed support from prison for Pitt’s did not respond to the call of Canon was made in reply to this question about Union Bill, which was seen as a defeat for Sheehan and William O’Brien in 1910, his new book: its Ascendancy enemies which took the when they had been eased out of landlord- “Several essays in this book are sting out of their victory in 1798, and most ism and local government had been taken empathic with the Anglo-Irish tradition. of the movement accepted the Union as from them, to take their place in the life of How do you respond to the criticism the framework of political life once it was the country as Protestant country voiced in recent newspaper correspond- established—and thirty years later, having gentlemen. And, as far as I can judge, ence between yourself and Jack Lane supported Catholic Emancipation, did not many of them continue to live an exclusive and Brendan Clifford of the Aubane support Repeal of the Union. Historical Society that this tradition, life as much as they can arrange it. 1798 and the United Irishmen excepted, has contributed little or nothing to the The culture of the United Irish Parnell was an odd man out amongst emergence to [sic] modern Irish nation?” movement was rather arid. The mass of them. But Mansergh takes it that he the people were not grabbed by it, as they remained one of them—and they were the It is a strange question to come out of were by the Jacobite resurgence of Young Unionists. And Parnell did not become the blue. Were Jack Lane, myself or Ireland. Walter Cox and the Young something other than Unionist merely by Aubane ever before mentioned in History Irelanders made the United Irish leaders forming a novel political opinion. Ireland? And what does the “newspaper icons of the new national movement, but correspondence” consist of? One letter that movement itself came from a different In a letter to Jack Lane, published in by me in the Irish Times, after Mansergh source. The Burning Of Cork (Aubane Historical had twice denounced me by name in it, Society), Mansergh says: “As I have and the Directorate of the paper thought it So much for the inexact question. Here written about Tim Healy vis-a-vis Parnell, would stretch the credulity of their readers is the gist of Mansergh’s reply to it: if one wants to attack the Ascendancy why too far to expect them to assume I had not “In relation to the controversy with pick on someone talented, who through submitted a reply. Thereafter Mansergh Lane and Clifford, nation and state are her writing earned some credit for did not name me when denouncing the not coterminous; you do not have to be Ireland”. ideas I had put into circulation, and the a nationalist to be Irish, and indeed, as the Good Friday Agreement has very Directorate therefore saw no need to Now Healy, as I showed in my book on clearly said, there is no incompatibility the Cork Free Press (Athol Books), did publish my response. between unionism and Irish nationality. not pick on Parnell, either because he I don’t subscribe to the ‘two-nations came from the Ascendancy or for any The question put to Mansergh—and theory'. What they are engaging in, other reason. Parnell had led the Party suggested by him?—is not one which denying the Irishness of all the major into a tight alliance with the Liberal Party would have occurred to somebody who cultural figures of Anglo-Ireland— with a view to securing a second Home had read what I have written on these Swift, Berkeley, through to Elizabeth Rule Bill. The Nonconformist element in matters. The idea that the United Irishmen Bowen—saying essentially that they the Liberal Party, after seeing the evidence contributed a lot to the emergence of the were English, that is not the view of the state, nor is it the view of most people. in the O’Shea divorce action, made it a Irish nation is an idea which is perhaps in general circulation, but it is one which I As Fintan O’Toole effectively pointed condition of continuing the Home Rule out in the Irish Times, you would be have dissented from. I could find only one alliance that Parnell should not continue ripping out most of the cultural as leader of the Irish Party. Faced with substantial point of continuity between endeavour pre-independence or pre- this ultimatum, the other leaders of the the United Irishmen and the national 1900. A lot of our towns and villages, Irish Party suggested that Parnell should movement of the 19th century—Walter cities even, were laid out by people from step down from the Parliamentary Cox: and William Sampson through his that tradition. Then there are the leadership for the time being but resume it contribution to Cox’s Irish Magazine. scientists: Boyle, Hamilton, Parsons, when the crisis was past. Parnell, who had etc. Of course, they were a privileged misled his associates about what would Wexford was a provoked rebellion. class, and they also had a very negative emerge in the divorce court, refused this After its suppression, oblivion was offered effect, not just in terms of the landlord system but in their support for the British compromise. He demanded unconditional and accepted and a fresh start was made. The organised conspiracy around Dublin connection when it was threatened. That loyalty at the cost of breaking the Liberal delayed independence by the best part of was effectively dealt with by the superior alliance which they had all been working two hundred years. So I have no for, and launched a savage attack on the conspiracy of the state. The West was a sentimental illusions about the Anglo- Liberals. And he tried to destroy the Party military invasion and was defeated by the Irish. But if one is interested—and the through an appeal to the people against it. regular army. The United Irish movement two-nations theorists may not be, I don’t Much of his prestige was due to the work proper was what developed in eastern know—in this country coming together, of others—Davitt, O’Brien, Healy—none Ulster from about 1790 onwards. It was the whole island that is, some time in the of whom was willing to bow to his dictate. the political movement of a society. It future, you simply cannot afford to write It was Healy who had to deal with him at was in substance a movement for reform off a small but important minority the Commons meeting, but Davitt was the of the existing Constitution under the tradition, as that will be extrapolated 15 and writ large by unionists as their likely nationalism of the existing Irish state. great, persuade those who submit to it to fate too. Some of those attitudes are Telling the Ulster Protestants that they deny in the course of submitting that what pretty destructive, and a lot of them were part of the Irish nation only confirmed they are submitting to is power. These are appeal to prejudices that were their conviction that they were not. (What delicate and problematical matters. If understandable and more current 50, 60 C.C. O’Brien told them in 1969 was that they are to be dealt with they should not be years ago. The nation is not to be they were “colons”. We disagreed with treated glibly. And the condition of the understood in purely nationalist terms. that too.) Our proposal was that Articles world today—brought about by the same Even the state has to be inclusive and embrace other traditions. One of them 2 & 3 should be repealed as a preliminary power which laid out our towns in the 18th wrote that in 1922 the Anglo-Irish were measure to broaching a project of bi- century—is such that I do not see how it left high and dry. In a political sense, national political unity. I spoke at can be avoided in any earnest attempt to that is largely true. But what choice was numerous meetings around the country think about human affairs. there for those who wanted to remain? It for that purpose. TDs and journalists were was to become Irish on the same terms lobbied. And a group of Belfast Catholics Let’s take it that Williamite Ireland and on the same basis as everyone else, and Protestants (including the late Eamon was Irish, and that if one did not accept it and what was wrong with that? It did not O’Kane) chained themselves to the as Irish one “would be ripping out most of leave them ‘high and dry’, unless they Foreign Office railings to make the point— the cultural endeavour pre-independence chose to be marooned. I have taken a and were hauled off to Mountjoy. or pre-1900”—that leads to the amazing more positive, though not totally conclusion that the Irish, under the heel of uncritical, view of Elizabeth Bowen. a master race for two centuries, produced My feeling is that she has been chosen as Our proposal was rejected by all parties a plausible example to prove the theory.” in the Republic, and also by the SDLP. in their oppression some of the literary Other approaches were tried and proved glories that gave distinction to the master If I was wondering whether counter-productive. Then, 30 years later, race. Mansergh’s assault on Aubane was due to Articles 2 & 3 were amended under the accidental misunderstanding, this leaves tricky Belfast Agreement, in a way that The non-paradoxical view is that the no doubt that, whatever it might have cut no ice. The alienation of the two English who chanced to hold land or livings started from, it has now become communities from each other is now in Ireland under the Williamite conquest charlatanism. The “two-nations theorists” greater than it has ever been. Unionism continued to participate fully in the mental of 1969 gave no thought to the Anglo- has become Paisleyite. Paisley’s life of the conquering English nation, and Irish. The subject of the “theory” was the stronghold for the past 30 years is the to produce English literature, having no social development of Protestant Ulster region that was once the stronghold of the interest in what the Irish were doing for subsequent to its United Irish phase. It United Irish movement. And this situation themselves. (I had been willing, on the rejected the view, then almost general was present as a logical possibility in strength of “O Rourke’s noble feast”, to amongst Dublin ‘opinion-formers’, that resolutions adopted at the Parish meetings believe that Swift had descended into hell Ulster Unionism was an Ascendancy throughout Antrim and Down organised and made acquaintance with the natives. hangover and that it would collapse in the by the United Irishmen in 1792. Pat Muldowney takes a different view of face of popular opposition, as Unionism the translation (Irish Political Review July had done generations earlier in the rest of With regard to “our towns and villages 04), and I suppose he’s right.) the country. We held that democratic and cities” being “laid out by people from development, which had subverted the that [i.e. Anglo-Irish] tradition”—it was Ireland without the Williamites is a Ascendancy stratum of Unionism in the not as a “tradition” that they laid them wilderness for Fintan O’Toole, who rest of the country, had made Unionism a out, but as an English colony, mono- committed himself to false memory a popular force in the North East. And we polising political power in Ireland on foot generation ago and has been evolving argued that the attempt to carry the North of a military conquest. They came with towards an OBE. It is a wilderness only by force—which had very widespread the pretensions of a master-race, and they because the figures who inhabited it have support in all parties in the Republic, even behaved as the Germans were intent on been wiped out by the revisionists in though the formal stance was against behaving in Poland and the Ukraine in the academia and publishing. The half a violence—would bring to the fore the early 1940s. The difference is that the dozen generations after 1800 who forged popular forces of Unionism in a kind of German conquest was undone in the course a national movement which began the national resistance. of a few years, while the Anglo-Irish unravelling of the British Empire did not ruling stratum ran on for a couple of live in a vacuum. But their culture has That might have been described as a centuries. But, taking both in their time— been systematically taken out of circulation mere ‘theory’ in 1969, but I would have which is what historians are supposed to during the past 30 years—with the object, thought that the events of the intervening do, isn’t it?—I can see little to choose I assume, of inserting in its place, as Irish 35 years have developed it into an between them. Unless the persistence literature, the English literature produced indisputable historical fact. over time of a military conquest confers by the colony in Ireland. moral goodness on its treatment of the But Mansergh is still in denial about it. conquered, while the failure of the military I read much of this literature when I There is a kink in his conceptual apparatus, conquest in the short-term makes it evil. It was young—Congreve etc. etc. It never resulting, I suppose, from his insistence may well be that Senator Mansergh crossed my mind that it was anything but that his father’s British history is Irish inclines to the view of things. I don’t English literature. And I doubt that I history. know. But I can see that a plausible case would have appreciated it as much as I can be made for it. As I can see that those did, if it had been presented to me as Irish We argued that an all-Ireland state who establish morality on the basis of literature. could not be established through the power can, if their power is sufficiently

16 In any case, it has nothing whatever to “The editorial on the subject of D-day do with the two-nations view that we (, June 7) is impatient with published amidst the heat of the conflict in the Irish State for “turning a blind eye to “Seán Moylan: the North in 1969 at a moment when we this epic event”. had taken part in the physical defence of “Are war commemorations for in his own words the Falls against the Unionist incursion. belligerents or non-belligerents? The Irish And what I recall of Ascendancy remnants State has never been at war.” in the Republic at that time is that some of J.A. BARNWELL, Dublin 9. - them were obnoxiously one-nationist out ************************************************************* of spleen against the Ulster Unionists for SIPTU has called for a review of the his memoir of having gone their own way. The Protestant work permit system after an unfair masses of the North had let them down, dismissals case on behalf of two Polish the Irish War of leaving them stranded amidst the Catholic workers in the Munster Joinery window hordes of the South, and they were taking and door-making factory in Ballydesmond, Independence” revenge. And, as between the Protestant Co. Cork. masses and the vindictive Ascendancy After working for two years with the remnants who had been obliged to take on company, the men were given 10 minutes some nationalist colouring after the to take their belongings from the third edition with desertion of their cannon-fodder, my accommodation provided by the employer sympathies were entirely with the former. and taken separately by taxi from the Introduction by I must have another look at the Irish Times accommodation in Killarney to Cork Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D. editorials of that period. Airport. Brendan Clifford There they were handed one-way PS tickets back to Poland and advised to 248pp Aubane Historical Society I did not bother commenting on return there. They claimed they were given Mansergh’s attribution to me of the view no proper reason for their dismissal. that state and nation are coterminous. It is “Asked also about claims by the too ridiculous for words. dismissed workers about being under Euro 15 “constant pressure” and about severe Sterling 12 Pounds working conditions at the factory, Mr. O’Connell said there were 240 Polish Postfree News people working for Munster Joinery in (in Europe) Ballydesmond, which has a total In workforce of 1,000. They had “integrated from totally with the workforce and locality, and had absolutely no difficulty with Brief their employers.” (Irish Times, ATHOL BOOKS 25.6.2004). ****************************************************** at ************************************************************* PO Box 339 KELLY: PETTY VINDICTIVENESS The inside story of security forces One of the last things the late Captain collusion in Northern Ireland! Belfast BT12 4GQ Kelly said to his wife was, “At least I THE DUBLIN AND MONAGHAN know you’ll have a pension”. But, when BOMBINGS or she applied for it after he died in July AND THE MURDER TRIANGLE 2003, she was told she would only get a “Joe Tiernan, the man the Security reduced pension until July 2005. The Athol Books Forces have tried to silence.” C/O Shandon St. P.O. reason was that, although James Kelly “Joe Tiernan spent two years in the had paid into a Wives and Dependents early 90s researching the Dublin and Cork Fund ever since it was established in the Monaghan bombings documentary for 1960s, he did not have quite enough Yorkshire Television and was the first Sign the Petition to call on the Irish contributions to allow a full pension to be journalist in Ireland or Britain to break the Government to clear Captain Kelly's paid out straight off. As a result Mrs. story.” name: details on website: Kelly is given just Euro 108 a week to live Twenty Euro per copy from (086) on by an Irish State that her husband 367 9300 (N.I. 00-353-86 367 9300) served with dedication and honour for 21 ************************************************************ www.captkelly.org years. THE BATT O’CONNOR BOOK! Not content with taking away his good With Michael Collins In The Fight For name and making life difficult for his Irish Independence by Batt O’Connor. young family of six children by blighting Aubane Historical Society. 142pp, 10 more surprising, therefore, that his his career opportunities, Fianna Fail Euro, £7.50. memoir has been out of print since 1929.” compounds the injustice done to Captain “Batt O’Connor of Brosna, Co. Kerry ************************************************************* Kelly in life by withholding for two years was one of Michael Collins’ inner circle “THE BURNING OF CORK: An part of the pension he expected his wife to in the War of Independence. His eyewitness account” by Alan J. Ellis. get after he died. recollections of that War read more like Aubane Historical Society. 10 Euros. an adventure story than history. All the *********************************************************************************************** ************************************************************* 17 ISRAEL: countries that had to ‘clean up’ their human rights acts before being given the access Time To Act On The to European markets currently enjoyed by Censorship? EU Association Israel. A letter was published in The Sunday Agreement Many EU member states, like Germany Times (June 20, 2004) which is really self- and the Netherlands, feel particularly explanatory. This is the text: vulnerable to the possible charge of anti- “WRONG BAN: I must correct Terry The EU sees itself as broker for peace semitism if they oppose Israeli government in the Middle East; yet it actively bolsters Wogan’s smirking piece on James Joyce policies. Hence it is particularly important (News Review, last week). The Irish the Israeli vision of themselves as Euro- that outside groups are at the forefront of peans engaged in a ‘peace process’. It government’s list of banned writings a campaign to suspend the Agreement was never called “The Index”. The does this particularly by maintaining two until such time as Israel meets its human EU-Israel Association Agreements, one Index of Prohibited Books was rights obligations. maintained by the Vatican, was on Trade, the other on Technical and In Ireland and Britain, many new MEPs Scientific Co-operation. We are concerned moribund when Wogan was at school may need to be convinced to take up the and was interested in theological here only with the Trade Agreement. issue. But, in Britain, there is also in the This agreement allows almost all Israeli writings, not novels. Joyce’s Ulysses advantageous position that large numbers was never banned in Ireland because it products free entry to the EU. Exports to of Labour Party MPs and cabinet ministers the EU now constitute some 30% of Israeli was unavailable in Ireland, having openly question Tony Blair’s subservience already been banned in Britain by the exports and are worth some 8 billion dollars to George Bush on Middle East policy. In a year. lord chancellor’s office. — David Manly, addition, pursuit of a fair and effective Dublin” This is not an issue of an economic Palestinian policy could mark out a boycott of Israel but a question of the right positive role for Britain in Europe, were The only thing wrong with this, of Israel to economic privileges not the Government pressurised to take action. enjoyed by other, much poorer, countries. presumably heavily edited version of Mr. In Ireland, there is plenty of cross-party Manly’s letter (in the Points section, the The Agreement was concluded in 1995 disquiet at what is going on in Israel. as part of the Oslo Peace Process and Letters page) is that the officer of Her / His Article 2 states explicitly that the Agree- Majesty’s Household that he mentions In other words this is something that should be spelt in the upper case: Lord ment itself "shall be based on respect for could be won, with sufficiently focussed human rights and democratic principles Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor’s usual effort. job was the censoring of plays to be staged whichSconstitute an essential element of The second world war was man's this agreement". in London. This sort of directly inhumanity to man, made manifest. We interventionist censorship was only ended swore then, ‘never again’. in the late 1960s. Mr. Manly may be There is in principle a parallel agree- Yet, today, the world stands by, as an ment allowing ‘Palestinian’ products into incorrect on this matter, as Joyce was one onlooker, whilst innocent people - albeit of the victims of Joynson-Hicks, the Home the EU tariff free, but in practice no in far different numbers - are routinely Palestinian exports reach the EU because Secretary in the early 1920s who had a bee killed by the Israeli army, as suspected in his bonnet about ‘pornography’. He of the stranglehold of Israel on the militants. Palestinian economy. ordered the Metropolitan Police to raid an Would we ourselves not be ‘militants’ exhibition of paintings by D.H. Lawrence, In April 2002 the European Parliament if our land and livelihood were taken voted to suspend the agreement, given the and conducted a virtual reign of terror in away from us; if our water supply was the theatre, and among publishing houses. numerous Israeli violations of international restricted; if our very lives from dusk to Human Rights Law. The Council of dawn were circumscribed by the laws of Ministers refused to implement this It is very useful for this sort of thing to an occupying force? appear in the ST, Wogan can hardly be decision, with Britain, Netherlands and Israel acts illegally. It has been indicted Germany as the only countries opposing unaware of the infrastructure of censorship and found guilty by the International Court in Britain. It ran from the Home Office suspension. of Justice - yet it contemptuously continues Since that time, however, the UK through the Lord Chancellor to Watch to ignore international law. Committees at Local Government level Government has issued numerous state- Furthermore, it holds a clandestine ments condemning the human rights (from City and County to Parish Council nuclear arsenal that it refuses to allow to levels). These Committees could censor violations of the Israelis and in early July be inspected by the IAEA and which is the properly constituted International anything from pantomimes to films (which therefore a terrible threat that could well had already been censored by the British Court of Justice at the Hague voted 14/1 crystallise upon the whim of an Israeli that the Israeli separation wall was ‘an Board of Film Censorship—which still administration. The world would then be exists). This is the first time in decades illegal violation of human rights’ and that in mortal danger. it should be dismantled and compensation that the ST has acknowledged that Britain How much longer is the EU going to even had censorship laws, much less an paid to the many victims. This ruling sit on its hands merely because Israel is gives all states an obligation to see the infrastructure of censorship that made Éire funded by its ally, the United States? look the tyro it was in the censorship decision implemented and effectively says The EU has the power to abrogate its that Israel’s self-proclaimed security needs game. The UK’s is still one of the most trading Agreement with Israel. It should secretive governments in the world: cannot take precedence over its human act now in order to force the Likud rights obligations towards the Palestinians. information (on any matter) which has not government of Ariel Sharon to respect been released by the government can be Israel and the US don’t accept that, but the and adhere to international law and to judge nominated by the British Govern- deemed to be a State secret and persons world opinion. We should wait no longer publishing material which the government ment agreed in full to the ICJ ruling. All and appease no more. this puts the UK’s original failure to finds irksome can find themselves being visited by the Special Branch or even support suspension of the Association * Stop all EU preferential trade with Israel Agreement in question. military ‘spooks’. Such ‘persons’ have (within the past ten years) included the We now have a new European Parlia- Internet: "Time to Act" group ment, including many new member BBC and the Guardian newspaper. Seán McGouran 18 OGLE continued concerns and allow us return to work met SIPTU members elsewhere. It was they with further silence. We protested and who had placed the first picket in this were arrested.’ dispute way back in Week One, they Street Garda Station. It was probably the “The statement laid the responsibility who had ignored all the pressure to work only occasion in the history of transport in for safety firmly at the door of the out trains during the IFI charade, and this country that the custodians of a shareholders and management, and said they who were at the meeting from which boardroom could have wielded a positive that we, the drivers, refused to carry the Des Geraghty had fled back to Dublin, influence on behalf of the travelling burden of it any longer. We would with his tail very much between his legs. And now it was they who went the extra public—and the law was called in. therefore: ‘return to work on Monday next, August 28th, 2000 at 9 a.m. mile to make the return to work of our THE RETURN together. We will be staying together members in Cork as painless as possible. “I went up to the reception desk and thereafter… ILDA members will report Gentlemen, every one of them” (p283). asked for the Chairman of the Court and for work under the LRC/Labour Court GHOST WRITERS the Chief Executive of the Commission. expectation and jurisdiction. We will I didn’t even know if they would be I have heard sniggers in relation to work the disputed agreement under Brendan Ogle’s authorship, but he has no present but suspected that, in the protest and with some relief that rail need to apologise, there wouldn’t be any circumstances, they would be. In a very safety responsibility now passes to the short period of time, they emerged, LRC/Labour Court’. book or story if it wasn’t for ILDA, Ogle, together. Finbarr Flood greeted us “Included with the statement were Masterson, Christy Holbrook and the 118 warmly, offering a firm handshake. copies of the independent safety reports members, these men wrote their own Kieran Mulvey was less warm in his we had commissioned, and which had history—they acted when the call came, greeting. formed the basis for our safety position and even today, action still counts for “The statement that our members had during the dispute, and the statement more than all the words of all the hacks, agreed that morning was then read in full continued: and by god, we have an army of them. to both men and presented to them with “‘Each week we will provide the LRC/ safety documents. The statement began: Labour Court with a detailed update ONE OF OUR OWN “‘ILDA SGM PASSES RESPONSIBILITY of our safety concerns in operation as A single request to the reader: it is FOR RAIL SAFETY TO LCR/LABOUR part of their investigation. We now important to preface this very limited COURT call on the LRC/Labour Court to review, with a plea to Trade Unionists and “‘ILDA members met today, August expedite their investigation of all followers of the Labour movement to go 25, 2000, at the end of the tenth week issues which gave rise to this dispute. of this most unnecessary dispute. In view of their new and daily out and buy the book, it may be one man’s “‘ILDA members have raised and responsibility for rail safety, we urge insight into a single dispute, but his story carried the issue of rail safety at the the LRC/Labour Court to commence encompasses the entire industrial network, cost of their own wages for the past immediately their investigations into the courts, the civil service and the ten weeks. We have invested 1,000 safety aspects of the ‘New Deal’ and, government—it is also a working man’s weeks’ wages in trying to make safety in the interests of the travelling public the focus of rail transport in Ireland. and Iarnrod Eireann, to report on all insight, which is even more valuable. matters as quickly as possible. We have tried consistently to raise THE FUTURE safety issues of the ‘New Deal’ with “‘ILDA note assurances from Iarnrod “And what of his future? Ogle is our employer, Iarnrod Eireann, who Eireann that no victimisation of any currently studying for an MA in industrial Driver will occur. Similar assurances has responded by locking us out unless relations and human resource manage- we work an agreement that we believe from SIPTU and the NBRU do not ment from Keele University in Britain, to be inherently unsafe. We have interest us. The actions of their protested, demonstrated, lobbied, and officials and some members have been and he continues to work as a train driver. on numerous occasions tried to quite disgraceful.’ Although he joined the Labour Party explain, in our own words and those “We were all dreading the return to when Pat Rabbitte became leader, he of safety expert P.G. Rayner, the work. However, in Athlone it wasn’t so does not see himself going into politics. serious safety concerns that caused bad. The ILDA members met outside “I’ve a big interest in trade unions and more than 100 train drivers to refuse just before 9 a.m. on the fateful day and the representation of workers. If that can to work an unsafe agreement” walked into work together. We were be allied to my role as a train driver, “The statement went on to outline our received politely although it wouldn’t great. Or if it develops another way, attempts over the previous weeks to have taken much to spark off an argument that’s equally great”, he says. Either way, pursue the issue of the unsafe nature of with some of the SIPTU members while the book may be the final chapter aspects of the ‘New Deal’, and to criticise present. John Keenan called me on my in the history of ILDA, a few more pages those who had apparently joined forces mobile phone to see how things had gone are likely to be written yet about Brendan to oppose us, whether through and we spoke affably at length as we had Ogle” (Sunday Tribune, 2.11.2003). condemnation or ignoring of means to done throughout a lot of the dispute. I resolve the dispute. It emphasised that told him that I was concerned that I On December 8, last year, the former ILDA had not been crushed by this would be singled out or targeted for ILDA, now members of the 3/57 branch opposition, but that we were ‘united, dismissal. He gave a verbal assurance of the ATGWU deferred plans for a series determined and organised in such a that that would not happen. Elsewhere of one-day rail strikes. manner that we will never be crushed. our members experiences were similar. Instead, the train drivers decided to We have brought Trade Union principles The day passed largely without incident. take Iarnrod Eireann to court over its to life again in the railway.’ In Cork, things went particularly well. “We stated that we had welcomed the refusal to negotiate with them. ILDA lost Our members assembled outside the a previous case in the Supreme Court LRC/Labour Court intervention despite station and walked towards the door concerns about its statutory basis, and together, where the SIPTU members in concerning its status as a Trade Union. that our members had voted unanimously Cork had assembled and formed a type 3/57 branch argue that it is legally in support of it, while restating their of guard of honour. There the applauded entitled to be recognised by the company safety concerns, continuing: ‘A further our members back into work. SIPTU now that it is part of the ATGWU. initiative intended to address the safety Cork members are unlike many of the

19 OGLE continued cated and relieved. For weeks, we had how we could keep a large bulk of our been told by outsiders that our members members out past the end of the tenth felt differently from us, but here they were week of the dispute. The lack of money overdrive. Would we ask our members standing side by side with their executive. was now the key issue for our members, their views? Our members were portray- Again. As I went to announce the results to and I felt that another week would break ed as poor deluded souls sucked into the the waiting media, I was buoyant. a big section of them. That couldn’t be mire by our executive—me in particular Democracy had its day, and ILDA was as allowed to happen. We would finish this —and with no minds of their own… the united as ever” The ‘unique joint initia- united, whatever that meant doing. If it union members are portrayed as fools tive’ was rejected. meant going back to work, then it was led down a path by ‘evil people’ like much better that we do so together, with myself or some other easy target… There FINAL DAYS dignity, than through division and was never any question of not asking our As the dispute entered Week Nine, the recrimination. But there were still some members…” (p259). issues— things we hadn’t tried yet. I suspected The Train Drivers assembled in Tulla- “needing immediate resolution had that some of our members would secretly more, Co. Offaly on Sunday, August 13, now been distilled down to safety issues, welcome a proposal from me that we go 2000: with a forum now available for investiga- back. But I knew that others weren’t “Our executive discussed the initiative tion of industrial relations issues ready for that and would see such a and the Saturday-night ‘clarification’. following any return to work. As I sus- suggestion as something akin to heresy. We were at one. Working under protest pected, the Labour Court/LRC initiative I also thought we should do even more. would mean working an unsafe agree- had not been withdrawn following our The buses were hit again and, despite the ment. How could we take responsibility inability to meet their ‘expectation’ that predictions of SIPTU and the NBRU, for our trains if we knew that they were we return to work by August 14. once again we got super support from being worked under unsafe conditions Nevertheless, we had still not thought up their members in Dublin Bus. But there and with part-time drivers” a manner of dealing with our safety issues was still no further breakthrough” (p264). “Interestingly, if we had emerged from in such a way as to enable a return to “I was also very concerned about just Tullamore and said that we accepted the work to happen in the immediate term. how blatant the scabbing operation initiative and would return to work at 9 Our members were hurting though. It mounted by SIPTU and the NBRU had o’clock the following morning, nobody now seemed that every day, another of become on the rail. A press release issued would have given a damn whether or not our members was reaching financial jointly by NBRU General Secretary at we asked our members’ views or how we breaking point. At this stage, I didn’t the time Peter Bunting—before he had reached the decision. If, on the other mind when a handful of our members defected to ICTU—and SIPTU’s Noel hand, we had come out and rejected the began, through sheer financial necessity, Dowling directed at their members on proposal outright, without asking our to drift back to work. This dispute was the buses, chides them for supporting members, we would have been pilloried. now about breaking ILDA and nothing our ‘pickets’. It outlines that their support But as I said, there was never a question else, and I knew that these men still felt for workers ‘on strike for seven weeks’ in our minds. What we actually said very strong in their beliefs. Going back is understandable but misplaced and it when we emerged from that meeting was to work was harder for them than it was asks them not to support us any further. that we were convening a Special General for those of us who could stick it out for In the middle of the statement, a single- Meeting of ILDA members less than 24 another while. At this stage, I was sentence paragraph reads: ‘Our members hours later in Dublin” (p259). determined that there would be no falling totalling 245 out of a workforce of 350 “It was clear that the dispute had out with any member who was starved [in their dreams] are passing ILDA reached one of its defining moments. It back. I wondered as the week went on pickets every day.’ Some boast for Trade was therefore important not alone to without further intervention how long Unionists to make! ascertain our members’ views on new we could keep our members together. “Fergus Finlay attended his first ILDA developments, but also to allow them to Whatever happened, we could not allow Executive meeting. It was a tough reconsider their position relating to the ourselves to be split. We began to assess meeting which began at 8 pm. and lasted ‘New Deal’ itself. If—as Iarnrod Eireann every member on an almost daily basis for over five hours. Fergus Finlay still had been loudly contending—they and, for the first time, we began to con- hadn’t given up hope of producing a actually wanted to return to work the template how much more our members letter that would allow us to go back to ‘New Deal’, we needed to know that. could take. But they had been so strong work. I had. In my opinion, it had gone And so our members arrived to make on the previous Monday, and when I on too long and I suspected that Phil some vital decisions. Seventy-four spoke to them now by telephone, that Flynn and Fergus Finlay—with all the locked-out members came to this strength was still there. A terrifying best intentions in the world—were not meeting. It was incredible. The dispute thought struck me. What if they were going to get the CIE chairman to sign had been begun by 118 members, and staying out beyond their breaking point, such a letter. 106 would finish it. And here—having out of loyalty to me or to the executive?” “I thought that we needed something had less than 24 hours notice of this (p263). new and I outlined to the meeting what I Special General Meeting—seventy four “Fergus Finlay and Phil Flynn were had in mind, at least in part. I wanted a of them had come from the three corners still working on possible letters from the sit-in protest. A group of our members of Ireland in the middle of the holiday CIE Chairman to our members. We had would effectively take over a key Iarnrod season. They didn’t have one vote. They an executive meeting scheduled for the Eireann or CIE building or office and didn’t even have one secret vote. They Monday, August 21, 2000 and Fergus maintain a peaceful sit-in protest for as had three secret votes, independently asked if he could come to it. He wanted long as it took… Fergus Finlay was verified by a solicitor present specifically to speak to our executive. Normally opposed to my idea” (p266). Fergus would be happy to speak with me for that purpose” (p261). THE SIT-IN and allow me to pass on any views he had A group of the men occupied the CIE The Seventy-four train drivers voting to the rest of the members. But by now, in secret ballot gave 100 per cent endorse- I had other ideas in my head. Although I boardroom in Heuston Station on Wednes- ment to their union executive. When the didn’t fully realise it then, I was coming day, 23rd August 2000. They were results were announced, the room broke to the conclusion that the dispute needed eventually arrested and taken to Kevin to end one way or the other. I didn’t see into spontaneous applause. “I felt vindi- continued on page 19 20 OGLE continued and it was a journalist who wanted to problem. Section 26 provides for an know what our response was to the investigation of a matter in dispute by ‘unique joint intervention’ by the Labour the Labour Court only. This may happen accompanied by information on how Court and the LRC. I had no statement or following an investigation by the SIPTU and the NBRU were expecting terms of reference, so I told him we were Commission or a direct referral to the this escalation and had their senior shop considering the position and hung up Labour Court. However, there is abso- stewards prepared to face us down if we Perhaps someone from the Court or Com- lutely no provision for a ‘joint’ investig- approached ‘their’ garages. We had our mission had been trying to call me. ation involving both agencies in this own information, and it indicated that Perhaps there was a message from them section, or indeed in any other section, in we could expect some support from on my phone. I listened to all my messages industrial relations law. So why was the Dublin Bus workers who were as suspi- but they were all from the media or from LRC added to this investigation? The cious of their unions as we were. But we our members looking for a reaction. I answer to that was simple and clear to hadn’t expected anything like this. This called one of our members. Had he been ILDA members. The LRC had, of course, was a wipe-out, and it was a massive listening to the news and did he know facilitated the entire ‘New Deal’ from embarrassment to SIPTU and the NBRU. anything I didn’t? The answers were yes the outset and had even ‘supervised’ the “Just at the point where, for the first and no in that order. Fergus Finlay was ballot count. Now we were questioning time in the dispute, I had become concer- my next call” (p250). whether this agreement, brokered by the ned about events and the impact that they “Fergus simply told me to stay calm state agency, contained safety concerns, were having on the morale of our and say nothing until I knew all the facts. breached our statutory entitlements members, happenings in Dublin and He told me not to get bounced by the regarding Sunday and public-holiday Westport had injected new life into our media into giving an ill-thought-out or premium payment and was flawed in so stand. I knew from other phone calls that knee-jerk reaction. More calls with many other respects… So the LRC was our members in other parts of the country questions followed. I had to get a handle clearly a party to the agreement that from to Cork were euphoric at on this. I called the LRC but no one provoked the dispute. However, section the day’s events and were, in fact, plan- would talk to me. The Chairman of the 26 of the Industrial Relations Act ning their own escalation tactics” (p246). Labour Court was not available. I already provided for the Labour Court to “When we hit the outskirts of Dublin, smelt rats—big, smelly, diseased ones, investigate these matters alone and, in all it was slap bang in the middle of the with long dragging tails. of the circumstances, this was, in fact, evening rush hour. It was a beautiful “As Finbarr and I drove to Dublin, we the only appropriate course. sunny evening, which was just as well discussed events and tried to get a handle “But what if the Labour Court were to because as we approached Newlands on what exactly was contained in the find in our favour? Wouldn’t that impugn Cross on the Naas Road, we had still not initiative. One thing was obvious. This the work of the LRC? Of course it would seen a single Dublin bus. We continued initiative had come as a direct result of and that is why the LRC, without any into Dublin to the top of Inchicore. Still the disruption of Dublin Bus services the statutory basis whatsoever, appended no buses. In fact, we were near Rathmines previous day. No one gave a damn about itself to this ‘unique joint initiative’. —close to the middle of the city—before Westport or Kerry, or even Cork. They That was bad enough. But to portray the we met the first, single, Dublin Bus of had had few or no services for eight investigation publicly as fully in line the day. It was incredible. weeks and everyone had looked in with ‘the powers vested in them under “That evening was spent with Fergus another direction. One day of disruption the Industrial Relations Act 1990’ was Finlay. He had been speaking to an old in Dublin, however, and the Labour Court quite another matter when, in fact, the friend of his, Phil Flynn. The name had and the LRC were concocting what we opposite was the case” (p255). popped up as a possible mediator in the were told was a ‘unique joint initiative’ “The most remarkable thing about the dispute on many occasions since its onset. to deal with the ‘exceptional’ circum- joint statement is that the word ILDA, Although I had never met him personally, stances. Lesson learned! Never again which was now a word familiar and he was friendly with Martin King, and I would our members around the country known to practically every citizen in the had a good idea about how he operated. suffer while we went easy on Dublin. state, was contained nowhere in the He had also worked with Fergus Finlay “I was then shown, for the very first statement. We interpreted this as an when they were both trade union officials time, a copy of the joint Labour Court/ example of how sensitive ever these two years earlier and their friendship had LRC ‘initiative’. It quickly told me a bodies had now become to the issue of been maintained since. I also know that number of things. They wanted us back ‘recognition’, to the extent that they felt Phil Flynn had the ear of Mary O’Rourke, to work by the following Monday ‘under unable to include in their statement the the Transport Minister. It now transpired protest if necessary’ in return for a ‘joint one word on everybody’s lips… the most that both men believed it possible that investigation’ into all the issues in bizarre thing was that ILDA had as yet CIE Chairman, John Lynch could be dispute. This joint initiative was presen- received no official notification of this induced to send each ILDA member a ted as having a defined statutory basis, ‘unique joint initiative’. No phone calls; letter, but not threatening the sack as had but the detail of its workings was unclear. no faxes; no emails; nothing—just been hinted at days before. In fact, these I immediately made a few calls and questions from the media who had been letters would outline conditions, convened an emergency meeting of our issued with it, and demands for responses acceptable to all parties, under which our executive to consider these proposals to points being raised by the other parties members could return to work” (p250). and any clarification we might sub- who had been given the document. I first LABOUR COURT AND THE LRC sequently receive. The meeting was saw the document in RTE on the evening “I switched on the television and went arranged for the following Sunday, of August 10, 2000, almost eight hours to RTE’s teletext. There it was—at last, August 13, 2000” (p252). after every significant reporter and news news of an intervention in the dispute, a “Over the next few days, we needed agency in Ireland had received it… ‘unique joint initiative’ by the Labour to assess this joint Labour Court/LRC Eventually, I had to write and formally Court and the Labour Relations initiative carefully. As we did so, a seek a copy of this one-page document… Commission (L.R.C.). Immediate relief number of issues arose. Firstly, the joint I had a copy faxed to me that evening… gave way to questions. The Labour Court initiative had been made by both agencies twenty four hours since it had been and the LRC? How did it work? What ‘under the powers vested in them under issued” (p256). would they do? How soon? What were Section 26 of the Industrial Relations “Iarnrod Eireann had moved into Act 1990’. This posed an immediate the conditions? I answered the next call, continued on page 20 21 OGLE continued convened. Had he known that this With their backs to the wall on the meeting was scheduled, he said, he would Seventh Week and little hope on the hori- have objected. This major issue of natio- zon these desperate men invoked the oldest a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public nal importance was not, according to the and most lethal of all ‘isms weapons: the Deputy Stagg, a proper topic to be dealt Enterprise and Transport, which was picket and the ultimate appeal to fellow chaired by Sean Doherty, F.F. TD for with by this committee at all. He felt it should be dealt with by Iarnrod Eireann workers to withdraw their own labour in Longford/Roscommon. This was just one support of locked-out comrades. of a number of all-party committees estab- (of which his friend, John Keenan, was the ‘Manager of Human Resources’ and “It must have been around 8 a.m. lished to focus on specific issues of the ‘recognised unions’ (the largest and when I awoke and lifted the TV remote concern. Obviously a national rail dispute most powerful of which, SIPTU, included control in my room. I switched on the in its seventh week was of major concern: him in its membership). His late arrival RTE teletext service as I had done on “And so the big day arrived. The to Kildare House had allowed Iarnrod hundreds of occasions over the previous venue was Kildare House, a large Eireann, preceded by department few weeks, but on this occasion, the committee room just across the road officials, ample time to regale the com- headline hit me like a bolt from the blue. from the Dail, which housed most of the mittee and assembled media with their ‘Dublin Bus services hit by wildcat opposition TDs on higher floors. I was version of events. However, he had pickets.’ I jumped up in bed and read the there ahead of the 11 o’clock starting arrived just before ILDA had time to get page. It outlined how ILDA members in time, and was advised of the ‘running out of our chairs and outline our view of Dublin had mounted ‘flying pickets’ on order’. Department officials would be events. To my horror, Deputy Stagg then Dublin Bus garages from early that first in the hot seats, followed by Iarnrod demanded that the hearing be adjourned morning, and how services had been Eireann. Then it would be the turn of the to consider a proposal he had that no ‘decimated’. Apparently, Dublin Bus unions, and finally Minister O’Rourke further witnesses (like us) be called and workers had supported our members and would arrive. We were a little put out that that the rest of the hearing be abandoned. refused to take out their buses, leaving SIPTU and the NBRU would be there as He was supported in this by Minister the capital city with little or no peak- they were not in dispute and I didn’t see Mary O’Rourke’s nephew, proxy hour bus service. From my perspective, what they would have to offer. However, committee member Conor Lenihan. this was sensational news. The it was a small price to pay for finally “Committee chairman, Sean Doherty, despondency—which I now realised getting our say in a proper forum” (p226). my local TD who had assured me that we would have been partly fed by fatigue— “I scanned the TDs to see that every- would finally get our say at this hearing, that had washed over me as I went to one was there and was immediately struck agreed to the adjournment and ordered sleep was now erased by the need to by two factors. Firstly, I noticed Conor that everybody leave the room to allow make phone calls and find out what was Lenihan, TD, nephew of Minister Mary the committee to decide how to move happening. I called John Courtney on his O’Rourke, sitting in the middle of the forward—or backwards. I felt that it was mobile. He was outside a bus garage and row of elected representatives. As he akin to any of the many tribunals we told me that they had been there since 5 was not a member of this committee, I have in this country hearing evidence a.m. They had received spectacular was surprised to see him there. Deputy accusing people of all sorts and then just support from the Dublin Bus drivers and Doherty explained that Deputy Lenihan adjourning without giving the accused nothing was moving in or out of the was, in fact, a proxy for another commit- party any opportunity to respond. garages. They planned to continue their tee member who was unable to attend. I protest until mid-morning” (p245). was immediately uneasy, though. “When I got home that evening, “By mid-morning, however, John had However, worse was to come. We knew emotionally bruised and battered and called me back. Gardai had turned up that Jim Higgins of Fine Gael was on top very angry, I spoke to our legal represent- and our members were fearful that they of his brief but the Labour party’s trans- atives and wrote a news release, outlining might be arrested. However, the Dublin port spokesman, Emmet Stagg TD, was what had just occurred. It was issued the Bus drivers were insisting that we should nowhere to be seen… As I sat at the back following morning, and offered the not withdraw our protests and that if of the room, taking copious notes, I was opinion that the Joint Oireachtas arrests did take place, they would replace looking forward to the upcoming Committee meeting had been ‘a cynical our members’ protests with pickets of opportunity finally to put ILDA’s case and contrived propaganda exercise their own. As it was, many of them were across. I was sure that now that we finally choreographed by Fianna Fail and Labour accompanying ILDA members outside had an even playing field, the true picture members of the committee’ and that it garage gates with—what I later saw to be could emerge and the misleading has been ‘designed to assist Iarnrod be—spectacular success” (p246). advertisements in newspapers and all the Eireann and the Department of Public “To be honest, I was delighted with public relations spin would be rendered Enterprise to further misinform the public the turn of events. I could tell from the useless by basic facts, commonsense and about the dispute, its legalities and media reaction, that what had happened what I was sure the committee would see nuances.’ The news release also detailed had completely changed the face of the as our genuine, sincere and solo efforts Deputy Stagg’s interests in the matter, dispute. Very few had given a damn to bring this dispute to an end. which I felt should have been declared about the sufferings in other parts of the “His timing was impeccable and it ‘in advance of his proposal to abort the country for weeks, but now that Dublin looked to me as if it had been planned meeting’—namely, his membership of had been hit with a vengeance, the game with the precision of a military operation. SIPTU and his friendship with John had changed. I was beginning to feel for Just as Iarnrod Eireann’s ‘quiet man’, Keenan, Iarnrod Eireann’s Human the first time that we could now build Joe Meagher, was ending his very Resources Manager” (p229). momentum to force an intervention, or personalised attack on my members and an outright solution. I advised John to do me, Emmet Stagg appeared over my THE LOCK-OUT whatever he felt was appropriate and that shoulder—obviously a man on a mission Of the ten-week Lockout of ILDA in any statement I made would be to defend —and addressed the Chair. He apologi- the summer of 2000, one single event our members. sed for his late arrival, saying that he graphically illustrated the much hackneyed “For weeks, there had been specula- hadn’t known that this special sitting of terms of ‘unity’ and ‘solidarity’. The tion and rumour that we were about to hit the Oireachtas committee of which he Lockout began on Monday, June 19, 2000 Dublin Bus. Each new rumour was was a long-standing member had been and ended on August 27, 2000. continued on page 21 22 OGLE continued expect. Tony asked whether it was true former Attorney General John Rogers that we had just presented John Mullins was brought about by our professional with strike notice. I said that it was. Tony relationship with Daniel Spring & “My view of the 1990 Act is that it is stated that the 1990 Act required union Company, Solicitors, who were, in turn, a Thatcherite piece of industrial relations sanction for such action and that we were retained by *ASLEF in London, without legislation of which the Iron Lady herself required to ballot. As the union has not any input from us and before ILDA was would have been very proud. However, provided ballot papers, we were acting even formed” (p36, *ASLEF-Associated it didn’t appear to me to be the straitjacket illegally. He told me to go upstairs and Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen). that was presented to workers, by their withdraw the notice immediately. I own unions. It was obvious from it that replied that we did not require union PAT RABBITTE “In recent months, I finally joined the anything workers might do in relation to sanction and that we had conducted a Labour Party when Pat Rabbitte became industrial action was fraught with danger. secret, and proper, ballot. I then told its leader. The reason for this change was However, I was satisfied that, within the Tony that if he repeated his accusation twofold. Firstly, I agree with Pat Rabbitte Act, the basic civil and human rights to that I had acted illegally, he would be that this country needs a new political which all workers are entitled in relation dealing with my solicitor and not with dispensation and a break with the old to the withdrawal of labour were, of me at all. I could tell he was taken aback. Fianna Fail/Fine Gael politics of the civil necessity, protected as long as the workers Not alone were drivers defending them- war. Who cares any more? I certainly concerned did everything strictly by the selves but Athlone drivers of all people! don’t. However, I do care about corrup- book… the District Manager in Athlone He acknowledged that what we had done tion in our society; I care about the fact at the time, John Mullin, had agreed to wasn’t illegal but said that it was a breach that well over 40 per cent of our electorate meet us the following morning to discuss of union rules. I laughed to myself as I feel so disenfranchised from society that our dissatisfaction with the fact that the was reminded of Tony Kerr BL and his they won’t vote and that, increasingly, work was going to Galway and to explain opinion in 1994. Matters such as SIPTU’s our young people view all our political why that decision had been taken. We behaviour in 1994 were not matters for discourse and our politicians as a waste balloted for action in advance of the the courts but were simply, at best, of time and space. That’s what happens meeting. Unlike 1994, all drivers who breaches of union rules. The circle had when you engage in decades of corruption would be affected by any dispute were turned” (p47). at the very top and do nothing but obstruct offered a secret ballot on the proposed “I outline this incident in all its detail tribunals and try to spin your way out of action and were required to sign to because for me it contained so many it. People aren’t stupid. They will either confirm that they had received an firsts—my first involvement in the inde- rebel, or just switch off. The night Pat opportunity to vote in a secret ballot. We pendent use of industrial relations Rabbitte was elected Labour Party leader, returned to the mess room to count the legislation, my first involvement in the he sat on the Late Late Show and repeated ballots and actually got the foreman on issue of strike notice, my first involve- his pledge not to enter into coalition with duty to witness the short count and verify ment in the exposure of a serious manage- Fianna Fail after the next election. I that the count was accurate. The result ment mistake, my first serious negotia- decided to join at that moment” (p37). was nine to one in favour of industrial tion with Irish Rail, my first part in a action should the rosters be implemented successful outcome achieved by unity EMMET STAGG as proposed, with two drivers deciding among drivers, and my first involvement Emmet Stagg does not emerge well in not to vote. This was the first ballot P.J. in a direct tug of war with Tony Tobin as Off The Rails. The Kildare TD features or I had conducted. We hadn’t asked for my union official. It was not to be the prominently, and in particular his friend- permission from our unions as we knew last” (p52). ship with John Keenan, Iarnrod Eireann’s that such a request, in the circumstances These views certainly do not conform at that time, would be pointless. More Human Resource Director and the main importantly, we knew that we didn’t to the media interpretation of a rigid, company protagonist in the dispute with need their permission and that we had inflexible hide-bound demagogue. They ILDA. In his review of the book, Gerald done everything in accordance with the provoke more the idea of a thinking, inno- Flynn, Industrial Correspondent with the 1990 Act. We were ready to meet Mr. vative leader who, hemmed in by legal “Irish Independent” declares that: “The Mullins. technicalities and a lot of legal guff, relies background roles of Dick Spring’s Labour “.…we ‘held our whisht’ while Mr. on his own common sense, adheres to the Party kitchen cabinet shows that this was Mullin outlined his figures. We then told secret ballot process and takes his no run-of-the-mill work stoppage” him that he was wrong, forcibly, but we membership with him. (23.11.2003). didn’t produce our own analysis yet. “After that, the discussion mellowed Instead we stated that we were dissatis- SPRING ‘LABOUR somewhat, and turned to political corrup- fied, and the meeting broke up We went “In due course, various elements of tion. I made some sweeping comment to downstairs to discuss the situation. Five the media would expend much energy in the effect that there was no honesty left minutes later, we were back. P.J. handed speculating on the nature of my relations in Irish politics. John’s reply was one the District Manager a white envelope. with Donal Spring, and subsequently that I was to have reason to recall some “What’s this?” was the predictable Fergus Finlay and John Rogers. Whatever years later. He disagreed with my observ- question… ‘You’d better read it,’ P.J. the feelings of these men on that specul- ation on the low ethical standards in Irish replied. We continued to stand while ation, I was always entertained and political life and evidenced his viewpoint John Mullin read the seven days’ notice amused by it. As my own profile and that with a tale about his ‘close personal of industrial action. He enquired whether of ILDA increased over time, there friendship’ with Kildare TD Emmet our unions knew about this and we replied seemed to be a suggestion by some in the Stagg, which he believed showed great that they didn’t but that we were sure it media that we were a pawn being used by principle on Deputy Stagg’s part. What wouldn’t take him long to advice them… some kind of Rogers/Finlay/Spring interested me was that Iarnrod Eireann’s We didn’t have long to wait. As we sat in triumvirate, in an effort to either embar- Human Resource Director was a member the mess room, discussing the morning’s rass or undermine the Labour Party or of the Irish Labour Party and had events, the parcel porter entered to advise for some other unspecified reason. The connections to Emmet Stagg” (p55). me that Tony Tobin was on the phone in reality is that all three are very committed the parcels office and wanted to speak to member of the Labour Party, and any Deputy Stagg again enters the stage at me. I lifted the phone, knowing what to future contact with Fergus Finlay or continued on page 22 23 VOLUME 22 No. 9 CORK ISSN 0790-1712

The story of ILDA by Brendan Ogle Off The Rails Currach Press—2003 (18.99 Euros). Part Two 352 pp, Index. ****************************************************************** In 2002, just over 55% of all workers traffic by rail is so far down the priority “Today, after a generation of neglect in drove a car to work, up from 46% six years list of those controlling what passes for favour of the all-conquering motor car, previously. traffic policy in Ireland” (p195). the railways of the world are under- More than half of primary school 1990 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT going a revolution and are set for a children were driven to school by car in “I have already referred to the level of triumphal return to favour. Their rebirth, 2002, compared with less than one in five regulation accepted by trade unions in like their original conquests, is global. It some twenty years earlier. During the Ireland. It is such that we have more includes some of the most ambitious same period the proportion of primary restrictions placed on the operation of engineering projects ever undertaken, school children walking to school declined unions here than apply in Britain despite such as the Channel Tunnel between from 47.3% to 26%. almost twenty years of Thatcherism. All Britain and France and the combined of the restrictions and legislation that are bridge and tunnel link between Car ownership was higher in rural areas in place to restrict trade union activity Scandinavia and the European (86.2%) than in urban areas (73.3%). The are there despite the presence in those mainland. This regeneration has meant trend in both areas has been sharply governments of the Labour Party as a coalition partner that was partly funded overcoming huge logistical problems, upwards since 1991 when the relevant by the trade union movement. I believe like laying tracks over the Gobi Desert percentages were 74.6% and 59.5%, respectively. that the entire labour movement has in Mongolia… this line will provide a many questions to answer in this regard continuous rail link between London FREIGHT SERVICE and that, for example, the failure of the and Shanghai or Saigon, proving that Iarnrod Eireann — movement to secure meaningful railways can no longer be seen as “tended to concentrate what drivers legislation dealing with trade union merely a historical phenomenon. were available on passenger services as recognition, as is now in place in Britain, opposed to freight trains. This meant is an indictment of a movement which “The railway revolution is under way. that freight customers had their services has lost its focus and which is, as I say, Who said that railway dreams belonged affected disproportionately to the more interested in power for power’s to the nineteenth century?” number of drivers actually in dispute. sake than in actually delivering for its (Locomotion: The Railway Revolution While this prioritising of passenger natural constituency” (p37). by Nicholas Faith, BBC, 1993). services is mirrored in overall company ****************************************************************** policy regarding freight, it is perhaps Below, is an educative insight to Ogle’s sad that in a country with such an leadership in 1996 on the proposed ‘early TRANSPORT inadequate road infrastructure, freight Transport is the greatest political bird’ train from Galway. football in this state. In no area of public “I had decided that I needed to educate Subscribers to the magazine are regularly myself in the intricacies of the 1990 service does the ‘jobs for the boys’ syn- offered special rates on other publications Industrial Relations Act. Since I have drome operate in a totally uninhibited Irish Political Review is published been a SIPTU representative, I had often fashion—and drastically so, at managerial by the IPR Group: write to— heard workers’ demands for some action level. or other brushed aside by the union on This is another positive aspect of Ogle’s PO Box 339, Belfast BT12 4GQ or the basis that the union had to be careful book. A printer could write an eloquent PO Box 6589, London, N7 6SG. about ‘the Act’. To me this legislation and precise book about the fundamentals Labour Comment, seemed to take on the character of a of typography—but who would give a C/O Shandon St. P.O., Cork City chain that had been permanently tied to divel! With the railways its different— our union’s arms and legs to prevent it Ogle could be the driver on your next train Subscription by Post: from fighting for members’ interests. journey—you are surely interested in Euro 25 / £17.50 for 12 issues However, now the interests of my mem- standards and you and your family are Electronic Subscription: bers in Athlone were to the fore, and I wasn’t about to trust the interpretation most certainly interested in rail safety. In Euro 15 / £12 for 12 issues of those I believed had screwed up in this book, he presents a fine introduction (or Euro 1.30 / £1.10 per issue) 1994. So I went off, bought the Act, and to the working of the railway system in You can also order both postal and found it very enlightening indeed. Ireland. electronic subscriptions from: www.atholbooks.org continued on page 23