SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 1

The Betrayal of Derry • During the Drumcree stand-off and the Apprentice Boys march in Derry last summer “a revolutionary situation developed as the British government illustrated to another generation that it was prepared to murder to stay in Ireland”. See page 9 inside on how the Provisionals, the SDLP and the Catholic hierarchy combined to defuse and attack those who actively opposed the British Crown Forces. Resist British

AS we face into 1997rule there are opportunities for true Republicans to press the message home that British rule in Ireland must end for a just and lasting peace to emerge. The past twelve months has shown that the nationalist community and used all the nothing has changed in regard to British pressure at their disposal to stop resistance colonial interference in our country. The to British rule. In Derry this amounted to same overwhelming apparatus of repression acting as an auxiliary police force for the is being used by the British to crush the British during August’s Apprentice Boys nationalist community in the Six Counties. parade (see page 9 inside). Their intentions can be clearly identified Those who argue that the Provisionals in the announcement at the end of 1996 that will return to a demand for a British there would be an increase of £120 million withdrawal and to active resistance to that in military spending in the Six Counties over presence if their current policy fails received the next three years. It is their overriding their answer at Drumcree. They are totally priority, as befits a colonial occupier, just committed to the constitutional, reformist like the Israelis in the Occupied territories or road and the futile process they are still the Indonesians in East Timor. pursuing with their constitutional allies is As the photograph here shows, punitive based on a lie. It is not their new friends raids on nationalist homes in Belfast and who are being deceived, but their own elsewhere have increased over recent weeks supporters. with the British Crown Forces showing great But Drumcree placed the demand for a zeal in destroying property and abusing British withdrawal back on the agenda and residents. No ‘peace process’ there. showed that a solution in the Six Counties Britain’s supremo in the Six Counties, that delivers equality and justice for all is Patrick Mayhew, said on New Year’s Eve that impossible. • The damage caused by a British Crown Forces raid on a home in Ballymurphy, Belfast the active resistance of Republicans in the The Leinster House political parties once on December 6 last. past year and over 25 years had achieved again showed in December that the only time nothing. The reality is that were it not for they act with cohesion and vigour is when the tremendous efforts and sacrifice over they want to vote themselves millions in extra that period the British would still have their (and backdated) expenses. Equally the colonial governor in Hillsborough Castle, evidence of corruption in the current 26- 1997 RESISTANCE and their puppet ‘parliament’ in Stormont County administration has only intensified overseeing a squalid sectarian statelet. people’s disgust with Leinster House. That achievement, and the international The imminent British general election and CALENDAR attention which it has brought to bear on the minority position of the Tory government Ireland’s British problem, owes nothing to dependent on the UUP will entrench the NOW AVAILABLE the bankrupt political policies of the Dublin British imperialist position over the coming administration. They were exposed as never months. £2.50 plus p&p before during 1996 when Orange mob rule Republican Sinn Féin provides the only Calendar marks 27 years of prevailed during the Drumcree stand-off in alternative to a partitioned two-state Ireland resistance to British July and the citizens of the Garvaghy Road and its political, social and economic ills. occupation and the 16th were terrorised and attacked by the armed As Pádraic Pearse said of his own time there forces Patrick Mayhew unleashed on them. are but two parties in Ireland: those who anniversary of the 1981 The Drumcree stand-off also exposed the support the British presence and those who hunger strike. Special rates bankruptcy of the Provisionals who held their oppose it. for bulk orders. Contact 223 military organisation in check while a Those who continue to oppose it must Parnell Street, Dublin 1. revolutionary situation developed. increase their efforts to resist British rule in Not only that but they actively policed 1997. Athbhliain faoi mhaise dár léitheoirí go léir SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 2 Ardoyne man injured in booby-trap car-bomb Gearrscéalta THE UDA/UFF pro-British is believed to have On October 26, 1993 The British army tried to been responsible for a car-bomb attack on a Copeland was shot twice by a claim at the time that the two Hunger strike movie Belfast Provisional on December 22. Eddie British soldier as he stood civilians were armed but this Copeland (25) was starting his car which was outside the home of Provisional was refuted by local people wins top award parked outside his parents’ home at Ladbrook Volunteer Thomas Begley who who witnessed the incident. In THE film, Some Mother’s Son, which depicts the epic hunger Drive in the Ardoyne area of Belfast when it had been killed in a premature November 1973 the inquest into strike of Bobby Sands and his comrades in 1981 has scooped a explosion on the Shankill Road. his killing was told that he was prestigious industry award in Berlin, Germany. Director Terry exploded. He suffered leg injuries. Residents say The soldier who fired the shots, unarmed. the RUC arrived on the scene nearly an hour later. George beat off strong opposition to win the Young European Trooper Andrew Brian Clarke, Film of the year award which is for first time directors. George was jailed in February 1995 for No claim of responsibility received his prize in Berlin on Saturday, December 7. The New In a second UDA/UFF commercial explosive to make 10 years for attempted murder. was made for these attacks, as York premiere of Some Mother’s Son took place on Monday, booby-trap car-bomb attack, a several under-car bombs. that would result in the political December 9 and the film went on general release on St Stephen’s Derry nationalist, Liam Duffy, Eddie Copeland (25, a Eddie Copeland’s own organisations associated with Day (December 26) in the US. discovered an explosive device Belfast Provisional, was father, John, was shot dead by the death squads, the PUP and with a magnet attached which starting his car which was the British army in Ardoyne in the UDP, being ejected from the had apparently fallen from parked outside his parents’ October 1971 at the age of 23. Stormont talks as the loyalist BA helicopter crossing of underneath nis car on December home at Ladbrook Drive in the He and another civilian, Michael ceasefire is clearly ended. 28. It was placed there at some Ardoyne area of Belfast when McLarnon (22) were shot near It remains to be seen how Border ‘approved’ by Dublin stage in the preceding few days. a car-bomb exploded. He their homes on October 28, long Senator Mitchell and the TWO British helicopters crossed the Border and flew southwards According to a Belfast suffered leg injuries. Residents 1971. John Copeland died in Dublin and London for about 15 miles to Ardee in County Louth where they hovered newspaper the UDA/UFF has say the RUC arrived on the hospital two days later from his administrations will go along over some houses on December 2. The incursion by the British acquired sufficient Powergel scene nearly an hour later. injuries. with this pretence. army into the 26 Counties was “approved” by the Dublin administration, according to the Irish Times newspaper of December 3. No details of the reason for this “approval” were Death squad banner at given but the incident has caused distress to local people. Derry Orange parade Kerry Republicans fined THERE was considerable anger in Derry over Waterside to Bishop Street on in a row. for Lily collections the morning of the Apprentice There was intimidation of WHILE members of the Dublin administration think well of sport- the appearance of uniformed men carrying a UFF ing the poppy and others think well of the narcotic that emanates banner at an Orange parade in the city on Boys parade and during the local nationalists during the main parade it joined the final parade and early the following from the poppy, Republicans are continuously being harassed for Saturday, December 14. Such open identification march into St Columb’s morning a full-scale riot took selling the Easter Lily — symbol of resurgent Ireland. Eight mem- between a pro-British death squad and the Cathedral. place between different parade bers of Republican Sinn Féin were fined £50 each on charges of Orange Order in the Six Counties is not The parade, which marks factions in Derry city centre. carrying out a collection without permits in Cahersiveen District infrequent and there was no attempt by the the closing of Derry’s gates, Two hundred Apprentice Boys Court on Thursday, November 28. The eight, James O’Shea, James British Crown Forces to hinder the UFF culminates every year in the battled in the Diamond area. Coffey, Christina O’Sullivan, Thomas O’Sullivan, John Walsh, contingent. burning of an effigy of Governer Again, no arrests were made by Eoin Ring, Michael O’Sullivan and Eugene O’Neill, were all con- Lundy, regarded as the traitor the British Crown Forces. victed of collecting without a permit on different dates in April. The British paramilitary ‘Ulster Freedom Fighters - of the Siege of Derry (1688-89) The defendants were noticeable by their absence. police (RUC) later announced South East Antrim’, was carried by the loyalist Apprentice These incidents highlight that they seized the banner on the parade by a member of Boys. No representative of the the contrast between the velvet from a bus on the outskirts of an east Antrim band who was Apprentice Boys would glove treatment of the loyalists Charlie Kerins Derry after the parade but made flanked by six men in black comment to the media on the and the frequent attacks on no arrests. uniforms and berets. The banner appearance of the UFF banner nationalists by the British Commemoration The banner, which read was carried from Derry’s in the parade for the second year Crown Forces. THE annual Charlie Kerins commemoration took place in Tralee on December 6 last. Led by a five- man colour party the large crowd marched from Denny Street to the park at Strand Road where Sex abuse victims to pay for Drumcree compensation claims the ceremony was held. INCREDIBLE as it may seem, the British difficult to come forward and education and housing on physchological problems The ceremonies were chaired by Liam Cotter. Wreaths were government has penalised sex abuse victims Republicans who resist British laid by Lena Kerins, sister of Charlie, on behalf of the Kerins would surface many years later rule. seeking compensation in order to pay when they were in their 20s and The budget for the coming family and by Jacob Lovett on behalf of Republican Sinn Féin. compensation claims arising out of the Drumcree 30s. year for the RUC alone stands Éamon Breen said a decade of the Rosary and Cathleen Knowles, stand-off. The British public meeting at £667 million. The main cuts Ard-Rúnaí, Republican Sinn Féin, gave the oration. The ceremony British minister in the Six concerned that to go down this plans for the Six Counties imposed by the British Tory ended with Amhrán na bhFiann. Counties, John Wheeler, route would be taking on an revealed on December 10 last, government are as follows: announced on December 16 unknowable financial showed that an extra £42 million • 4,000 training places to that the law on compensation commitment at a time when has been allocated to the be cut for the long-term and for victims of childhood sex there is tense competition for compensation fund to pay for youth unemployed, £73 million abuse would not be changed so limited public funds with the claims arising out of the cuts in total; that adult victims of previous compensation budget under Drumcree stand-off and the • the housing budget is cut sex abuse would be eligible for particular pressure . . .” This is upsurge in conflict. Top priority by £22 million and public compensation. a reference to the hundreds of for the British in the Six housing rent is increased by 4 In England, Scotland and compensation claims arising out Counties is the spending on per cent; Wales adult victims are eligible of the Drumcree stand-off in military occupation with an • the urban regeneration but in the Six Counties Wheeler July. overall increase of £120 million scheme, Making Belfast Work, said, the law would remain A spokesperson for the in the ‘security budget’ over the is cut by £5 million with a total unchanged meaning that unless Rape Crisis Centre, Eileen next three years. The ‘peace £29 million cut in community allegations were proved by the Calder said: “I don’t believe dividend’ has been reversed, jobs programmes; time the claimants are 21, no that survivors of sex abuse Patrick Mayhew said, in • the library book budget is compensation would be paid. should have to pay for any kind announcing an extra £77 million cut in half and there will be cuts A letter to claimants of civil unrest which happens for the British paramilitary in youth services, university explained why the system was in Northern Ireland.” police (RUC) over the next research and post-graduate • Na daltaí atá ag freastail ar Ghaelscoil Phádraig. not being brought into line with Psychiatrists objecting to the three years, and he attempted study grants; Britain: “the secretary of “disgraceful” decision said that to place the blame for sweeping • Roads budget will be cut State[Patrick Mayhew] was child sex abuse victims found it cuts in spending in jobs, by £6 million over three years. Gaelscoil nua i mBaile

I would like to join Republican Sinn Féin OUR AIMS Breac Ba mhaith liom bheith i mo bhall de Sinn BUNAÍODH Gaelscoil nua i mBaile Breac i ndeisceart Baile Átha Féin Poblachtach Cliath an bhliain seo caite. Cé go bhfuil níos mó ná fiche daltaí óga For a full British withdrawal from ag freastal uirthi le múinteoir amháin tá Gaelscoil Phádraig gan Ireland . . . The establishment of a aitheantas ar bith ó rialtas Baile Átha Cliath, ach go háirithe ón true 32-County FEDERAL Aire Oideachas, Niamh Bhreathneach , a chónaíonn sa dáilcheantar Ainm ...... DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST chéanna. Nach mór an náire í! Ach mór an ghlóir ar thuismitheoirí REPUBLIC . . . The establishment of na páistí agus a lucht tacaíochta sa cheantair atá lán-dáiríre chun an Seoladh ...... a new all-Ireland parliament, bunscoil seo a choimeád oscailte in ainneoin cur in aghaidh rialtas completely outside the present BÁC. Beir bua leo! ...... partitionist set-up, to oversee the running of the new neutral non-aligned ‘Famine’ forum ...... Ireland . . . AN ALL day forum on Ireland’s ‘Famine’ was held in New York on November 23. Republican Sinn Féin Patron George Harrison OUR HISTORY was invited to attend and was given an ovation when introduced Send to: by Áine Grealey, daughter of Capt John Grealey, East Mayo Batt. IRA. Also present was Irish stage and film actress Fionnuala Ó Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill For a full Formed in 1905 . . . We are the oldest Flanagan, daughter of Terry Flanagan, IRA veteran and veteran of 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 British political organisation in the country . . . the Connolly Column, International Brigade, who fought in de- Teil: 01-872 9747; Facs: 01-872 9757. Organised throughout the 32 Counties fence of the Spanish Republic in the 1930s. e-mail: [email protected] or withdrawal . . . We have continuously rejected the [email protected] failed political entities of the Six and or contact your local paper seller for from 26 Counties in existence since the SAOIRSE February edition details Ireland British partitioned our country . . . published 30/1/1997 SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 3 Communities under attack Crown Forces from fascist mobs destroy people’s homes AT 10am on Friday, December 6 the hated British paramilitary police (RUC) launched an attack on the home of Elizabeth McGinn at Springmadden Court in Ballymurphy in Belfast which damaged every room. Carpets were lifted and began a series of raids from walls and ceilings completely early morning to 7pm on knocked through. Elizabeth December 5. During a raid on a McGinn lives in the house with terraced house on the Westrock her four children, aged from five Road in west Belfast three to 15. Her brother Thomas horizontal Mark 16 mortars, a Morrison said she was hand-held grenade launcher, 34 “completely distraught and the incendiary devices and a house is completely unliveable quantity of ammunition were in.” Despite the fact that the found. search lasted from 10am to 2pm Local people said an informer nothing was found. must have been involved as the Also in the Poleglass area the RUC knew exactly where to house of Ita Gray was badly find the arms. A 55-year-old damaged in a day-long search. woman was charged in She was present throughout. connection with the arms find “They started digging up holes, at a Belfast court on December ripping up the stairs and then 7. went out and ripped the slates She was remanded in off the patio. custody. Also on December 5 a “It was a very frightening sawn-off shotgun, a revolver experience,” she said. Also in and ammunition were found in the Ballymurphy and the Logmore Road area of Twinbrook areas the RUC Poleglass in Belfast.

• A pro-British mob riots in Ballymena after blockading the Catholic church in Harryville. was walking his dog when he The previous night two IN THE early hours of Monday, December 9 Our they make their last stand Her male friend confronted discovered a fire. nationalist homes and a Lady’s Church in Harryville came under attack against the inevitable — British the attackers who then lifted According to Principal Liam Catholic school were attacked from a frenzied Orange mob who broke a window withdrawal. the TV set and threw it at him. Raven: “The school was by loyalist petrol-bombers in to make way for flammable liquid which was Also in Ballymena, a The crazed gang immediately actually in operation at the time. Ballymena. St Mary’s primary nationalist family was forced to turned on her daughter Kerry There was a basketball game school was targeted by a gang ignited, damaging a door and walls. flee from their home in the (18) as she lay on the bed taking place in the school and who broke into the rear of the loyalist Ballykeel estate — the “thumping and kicking her,” we were having a board of building and used a wheelie-bin Commenting afterwards turn up. third household to be evicted she said. governors meeting as well.” to start the fire which damaged parish priest Fr Frank Mullen A force of 300 British in two days. Rosaleen Downey “I just kept on screaming. I A caretaker and a member of one corridor containing a crib, a said “They’re doing this paramilitary police (RUC), 70 said she thought she was going thought they were going to kill the basketball club were able to Christmas tree and a post box because they hate Catholics — Land Rovers and 10 ‘prison to die as a crazed gang burst me, the blood was dripping contain the fire with for children to send letters to in Dunloy nobody was vans’ saturated the area for the through the door of her home from my mouth. I thought I was extinguishers until the arrival of Santa Claus. prevented from attending a 6pm Mass. Four men appeared on Staffa Drive early on Friday, going to bleed to death.” the fire brigade. Liam Raven Shortly before 4am a place of worship”. On in court the following day December 6. Rosaleen Downey had been said: “It had been fortunate that nationalist couple and two Saturday, December 7 Mass- charged with Public Order The 43-year-old mother, her living in the neighbourhood for a visiting referee had a mobile small children, aged six and four, goers were joined by Protestant Offences and two youths were daughter Kerry and a male 22 years. “I don’t know where phone which he used to alert had to flee their home in Orkney neighbours in a show of being questioned about the friend were in the house when I’m going to go,” she said. the emergency services.” Drive in the Ballykeel estate, solidarity. Protestants, who destruction of a greenhouse she heard a smash and she was St Patrick’s College on the Damage was limited to a storage Ballymena when a petrol bomb included councillors and belonging to a nearby school, hit in the face by flying glass. Broughshane Road, Ballymena area in a classroom. was thrown through their living- clergymen had to run a gauntlet St Patrick’s College. “I saw five people but was attacked by arsonists on And at midnight St Joseph’s room window. A short time of stones, spit and threats from These ongoing attacks on the apparently there were six. The the night of December 5, the primary school in nearby later another petrol-bomb was a 50-strong Orange mob. nationalist community in next thing was that the front third school to be targeted in a Ahoghill was damaged in an thrown through the window of Progressive Unionist Party Ballymena and elsewhere in the window came in, and there just week and the thirteenth attack arson attack. The fire brigade another nationalist family in spokesperson David Ervine did Six Counties is a jostling for seemed to be people on a Catholic school in recent were able to contain the fire to nearby Staffa Drive. It failed to a political U-turn and failed to position by Orange fascists as everywhere.” weeks. At about 9.50pm a man one classroom. ignite. Lawyer forcibly removed Garvaghy residents face British perjury slated from RUC barracks British harassment by rights body A BELFAST lawyer is taking legal action against the RUC’s RESIDENTS of Portadown’s Garvaghy Road, IRISH-American human rights activists who chief constable after she was forcibly removed by a sergeant who suffered the terror of Orange visited Belfast in the second week of December from an interrogation room in Belfast’s Grosvenor Road triumphalism during the marching season claim to have unearthed evidence of perjury in RUC barracks on December 18 as she was advising a client when British paramilitary police (RUC) forced extradition proceedings involving Long Kesh not to submit to a DNA test. through an Orange parade, claim that the escapees Terry Kirby and Kevin Barry Artt. New legislation in the Six members told him the swabs are British paramilitary police are carrying out “a Counties allows the RUC to also being taken for intelligence systematic campaign of harassment” against John Fogarty and HB Irish-American Lobby when carry out DNA tests on gathering purposes with the O’Keady of the Irish American we return home,” John Fogarty detainees, usually in the form information obtained being them. Unity Conference who were in said on December 12. of swabs taken from a suspect’s stored in a data bank for future According to Garvaghy press, using emergency mouth. reference. Road spokesperson provisions legislation to Occupied Ireland on a fact- Many lawyers in the Six The Committee on the Breandan Mac Cionnaith arrest nationalists for finding mission, said they had Meanwhile at the Counties feel the legislation Administration of Justice 18 people had been minor offences and been following the cases of extradition hearing in San only permits the RUC to take (CAJ) said on December 20 that arrested so far in drawing attention to Kirby and Artt and, while in Francisco on December 12 the swabs if it is believed they will “to subject a solicitor connection with the Catholics by visiting them Belfast, had discovered lawyer for Artt, James link the suspect to a particular discharging her professional protest against the march at their workplaces in anomalies in evidence given by Brosnahan, told Judge Charles offence. However at least one duties to assault is a disturbing in July of 1996. loyalist areas when their the British. Legge that his client would not Belfast lawyer has claimed in a development in police He accused the RUC of home addresses were “We will be taking our be safe if a US federal judge sent sworn affidavit that RUC practice”. leaking stories to the known to the RUC. findings to Capitol Hill and the him back to the British. Unionist wanted ‘gun to shoot taigs’ WHILE Provisional spokespersons try to placate taigs”. down her sectarian remarks by wanted a gun to shoot the of discipline had occurred.” It the British and unionists with talk of “foundation Two unionist coun-cillors, saying they were taken out of “taigs”. Rodgers also claimed will surprise many people that Fred Rodgers (Belfast) and context. that after Walker made her calling for nationalists to be shot stones”, the leaders of unionism are busy Andrew Beattie (Newtown- comments another UUP does not constitute a “serious breaking up these foundation-stones to fire at abbey) found her outburst “Yes, I did say I wish I had member told the meeting he was breach of discipline” in the nationalists and bury them. embarrassing and potentially a gun to shoot them all; but I a member of the UVF. Ulster Unionist Party. damaging to the party in north only meant the IRA . . . I meant UUP secretary Jim Wilson In October 1996 the launched a tirade of abuse Belfast when it was trying to shoot the troublemakers”. Both commented: “We would only Many others would merely secretary of Rathcoole branch against Catholics saying “she reach out to pro-Union Rodgers and Beattie are intervene in the dispute if it was see it as typical of the of the UUP, Dineen Walker, wanted a gun to shoot the Catholics. Walker tried to play adamant they heard her say she considered that a serious breach supremacist unionist mindset. SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 4

‘Foundation stones’ 1996, Time running out as support grows ‘stepping stones’ 1921 THE General Secretary of the Provisionals for ex-POW Morrison political organisation, Lucilita Bhreatnach, said MATT Morrison, the former Long Kesh POW the deportation order United States.” that Provisionals would “continue our efforts to who has been a resident of the US since 1985, is suspended. Missouri City councils and establish along with others a credible peace still living in fear of deportation to Occupied Congressman William Clay, human rights activists process” on December 8. a Democrat and human across the US have added The Treaty of 1921 — the 75th anniversary fell on December Ireland as his special court hearing on January 6 last — was sold to the Irish people as ‘stepping stones’ to the 7, 1997 looms nearer. rights activist, has gained their voice in support of support across party Matt Morrison and his All-Ireland Republic, the ‘freedom to achieve freedom’ and other divisions in demanding that family. Fionnbarra Ó phrases referring to a gradual transition from British occupation to In an unusual move appearing more entrenched Morrison’s deportation Dochartaigh, founder Irish independence. Derry City Council voted than the DUP.” order be immediately member of the Civil Rights Now in 1996, the phrases are about a “process” which will unanimously on Tuesday, The case is particularly suspended. Association, who is a friend gradually bring a ‘settlement’. On December 8 Lucilita Breatnach December 17 to send a vindictive as Matt Morrison In a letter to Clinton, of the family spoke of the referred to the Hume/Adams “initiatives” as the “foundation resolution to US President had already served a 10-year Congressman Clay said family being devastated. stones” for Irish unity and independence in the “future”. In another Clinton asking him to stop sentence in Long Kesh “Over the years my office 75 years perhaps? The historical irony of these words will not be the deportation. Both Concentration Camp. Upon has been overwhelmed by “The family has been lost on true Republicans in Ireland and abroad . . . Matt’s brother Jim and sister his release in 1985 he married testimonies from thousands struggling against odds to Ailish made representations American Francie Broderick of St Louisians who know remain in America and had to the council. who had been Blanket ban on journalists lifted Mr Morrison and his family to raise thousands of dollars A LONDON High Court judge has ended the blanket ban on jour- Speaking of the communicating with him and strongly believe his to meet legal fees and council’s decision which while he was in prison. The nalists visiting prisoners in English jails, it was reported on De- request for permanent campaign expenses. . . A cember 21. Judge Latham said the situation where journalists had was supported by DUP and couple have lived in St residency should be major campaign is now afoot Official Unionist members, Louis, Missouri with their granted. Mr Morrison, a and hundreds of messages to promise not to publish any account of their visit before they Matt Morrison’s wife two children, Matthew (8) victim of civil and human of support are arriving at the were allowed access to a prisoner was not justified and interfered Francie Broderick remarked, and Mary Kate (5). rights violations in Northern White House from all over with the right to free speech. The move does not prevent journal- “It is quite an amazing thing Support is mounting Ireland, should be allowed America,” Fionnbarra Ó ists from being barred, on a more selective basis, from visiting when Bill Clinton is throughout the US to have political asylum in the Dochartaigh said. political prisoners.

Ballymena, Co Antrim to heckle Massgoers for the fourteenth consecutive week.. A group of 60 people from cross-community groups formed a counter-demonstration against the loyalists. The FOR counter-demonstration was taunted by the loyalists with shouts of “traitors”, “no surrender” and “don’t forget to cross yourselves”. SUN. DECEMBER 15: A full-scale riot took THE place between different loyalist parade factions in Derry city centre. Two hundred Apprentice Boys battled in the Diamond area but no arrests RECORD.. were made by the British Crown Forces. St Colman’s primary school in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of Belfast was attacked by pro- British arsonists on December 14/15. SUN. DECEMBER 1: A north Belfast family It was reported that all three battalions of escaped injury after their home at Silverstream the British parachute regiment are to be deployed Avenue was petrol-bombed. in the Six Counties in 1997. WED. DECEMBER 4: Two nationalist homes A British army search operation in the and a Catholic school were attacked by loyalist Monaghan/Fermanagh Border area lasting eight petrol-bombers in Ballymena. St Mary’s primary days resulted in the discovery of a “small amount” school was targeted by a gang who broke into the of home-made explosives in vehicles abandoned rear of the building and used a wheelie-bin to in a field at Rellan, County Fermanagh. The lorry start the fire which damaged one corridor and a four-wheel drive vehicle, stolen earlier this containing a crib, a Christmas tree and a post box year in the Six Counties, also contained “booster” for children to send letters to Santa Claus. tubes, part of the firing mechanism of a mortar. Shortly before 4am a nationalist couple and The vehicles were found between Roslea, County two small children, aged six and four, had to flee Fermanagh and Scotstown, Co Monaghan. their home in Orkney Drive in the Ballykeel TUES. DECEMBER 17: In an unusual move estate, Ballymena when a petrol bomb was Derry City Council voted unanimously to send thrown through their living-room window. A a resolution to US President Clinton asking him short time later another petrol-bomb was thrown to stop the deportation of Matt Morrison. through the window of another nationalist family The British government have decided to in nearby Staffa Drive. It failed to ignite. refuse to refer the convictions of 14 Irish political THURS. DECEMBER 5: St Patrick’s College prisoners in Britain, after an independent inquiry on the Broughshane Road, Ballymena was • Holes were punched in the walls of the home of Ryan McCann (3) (above left) during a found that forensic material used to convict them attacked by arsonists, the third school to be was contaminated, to the court of appeal. targeted in a week and the thirteenth attack on a five-hour British police raid on his mother's house in Twinbrook, Belfast on December 5. WED. DECEMBER 18: A Belfast lawyer is Catholic school in recent weeks. Springmadden Court in Ballymurphy in Belfast McAliskey. taking legal action against the RUC’s chief At midnight St Joseph’s primary school in and damaged every room. TUES. DECEMBER 10: Joe Mounsey, a 36- constable after she was forcibly removed by a nearby Ahoghill was damaged in an arson attack. The home of a couple and two children in year-old Republican prisoner in Limerick Jail was sergeant from an interrogation room in Belfast’s The fire brigade were able to contain the fire to Orkney Drive, Ballymena, Co Antrim was brought to Limerick Regional Hospital for tests Grosvenor Road RUC barracks as she was one classroom. damaged by a petrol bomb thrown through their in relation to a serious stomach complaint. After advising a client not to submit to a DNA test. In the Poleglass area of Belfast the house of living room window. several hours the hospital asked for Joe to remain Protesters took to the streets in Ita Gray was badly damaged in a day-long search. The Tory government lost its official in their care for a longer period in order to undergo Ballymurphy, West Belfast to demonstrate In the Ballymurphy and Twinbrook areas majority in the British House of Commons at further tests but their request was denied by the against widespread raids by the British police the RUC began a series of raids from early Westminster when the MP for Hendon North, Special Branchmen accompanying him and Joe (the RUC). morning to 7pm. During a raid on a terraced house John Gorst, resigned from the party in protest at Mounsey was immediately returned to Limerick FRI. DECEMBER 20: Róisín McAliskey’s third on the Westrock Road in west Belfast three the downgrading of a hospital in his area. Prison. bail application was turned down in Bow Street horizontal Mark 16 mortars, a hand-held grenade The resignation left John Major’s WED. DECEMBER 11: The 200-strong Grand Magistrate’s Court. launcher, 34 incendiary devices and a quantity of government with a one-vote minority as another Orange Lodge at a meeting in Belfast’s House of An RUC British policeman was shot and ammunition were found. Tory MP, Terry Dicks, launched a savage attack Orange unanimously elected 61-year-old Robert injured in an attack by the Provisionals’ military A sawn-off shotgun, a revolver and on John Major and warned that he was on the Saulters as its new Grand Master. wing in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. ammunition were found in the Lagmore Road brink of quitting the whip too. THURS. DECEMBER 12: A primed mortar SUN. DECEMBER 22: Members of Republican area of Poleglass in Belfast. SAT. DECEMBER 7: Mass-goers at Harryville bomb was found close to Girdwood British army Sinn Féin held a vigil on the steps of the Irish A paid informer, Seán Callaghan (42), from church in Ballymena were joined by Protestant barracks in north Belfast. Free State Embassy in London in solidarity with County Kerry, who operated within the IRA in neighbours, who included councillors and FRI. DECEMBER 13: Scorch and smoke damage the Republican prisoners of war in Limerick jail the 1970s and 1980s was released from clergymen, in a show of solidarity and had to run was caused when a petrol-bomb was thrown at vigil. Maghaberry prison in County Antrim after a gauntlet of stones, spit and threats from a 50- St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church at Whitehouse Eddie Copeland (25), a Belfast Provisional, serving eight years of two life sentences for killing strong Orange mob. in north Belfast early in the morning. was starting his car which was parked outside two members of the British Crown Forces in A 55-year-old woman was charged in A doctor’s report submitted to Bow Street his parents’ home at Ladbrook Drive in the 1974. connection with the arms find in Westrock Road magistrate’s court in London at a bail hearing on Ardoyne area of Belfast when a car-bomb A survey conducted by the Northern Ireland on December 5 at a Belfast court and was December 13 said that Róisín McAliskey was exploded. He suffered leg injuries. Residents say Police Authority found that 82% of nationalists remanded in custody. showing signs of “advanced starvation” due to the RUC arrived on the scene nearly an hour in the Six Occupied Counties believe that the Mandy Morris (27), a homeless nationalist repeated vomiting, dehydration and fresh bleeding later. RUC should be disbanded or replaced. woman, was forced to leave Sydenham House from a stomach ulcer. The report also said she TUES. DECEMBER 24: Eighteen Catholic A mortar tube and mortar plates were found hostel in Belfast because of repeated abuse from had no access to natural light and was in danger graves were desecrated and daubed with sectarian by 26-County police near Hackballscross, Co loyalist residents. of losing her baby unless she was admitted to slogans in Redburn Cemetery, Holywood, Co Louth. MON. DECEMBER 9: Our Lady’s Church in hospital for emergency treatment. However the Down. A member of the British royal family, the Harryville came under attack from a frenzied magistrate refused her bail. FRI. DECEMBER 27: Six people were arrested Duke of Gloucester visited the Occupied Six Orange mob who broke a window to make way SAT. DECEMBER 14: There was considerable by British police (the RUC) in west Belfast after Counties. for flammable liquid which was ignited, damaging anger in Derry over the appearance of uniformed a house was searched at Dermot Hill Road, off FRI. DECEMBER 6: The nationalist family of a door and walls. men carrying a UFF banner at an Orange parade the Whiterock Road. Rosaleen Downey was forced to flee from their At midnight St Joseph’s primary school in marking the closing of Derry’s gates during the SAT. DECEMBER 28: An explosive device was home on Staffa Drive in the loyalist Ballykeel nearby Ahoghill was damaged in an arson attack. Siege of Derry (1688-89) by the loyalist found under the car of Derryman Liam Duffy estate — the third household to be evicted in The fire brigade were able to contain the fire to Apprentice Boys. There was intimidation of local outside his mother’s house in the Gobnascale two days. one classroom. nationalists during the parade. area of Derry. The British paramilitary police (RUC) About 100 people took part in a protest at A crowd of around 100 loyalists turned up SUN. DECEMBER 29: The six people arrested raided the home of Elizabeth McGinn at Belfast City Hall against the detention of Róisín outside Our Lady’s Catholic Church in Harryville, in Belfast two days previously were released. SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 5 prison campaigns...feachtais sna príosúin...prison campaigns...feachtais sna príosúin. . .prison Hospital treatment denied to Limerick Republican prisoner

IN A statement Republican Sinn Féin Vice- Jail which was highlighted in the President Des Long, Limerick, has criticised the Mounsey was immediately prisoner in a British jail,” Des those Leinster House returned to Limerick Prison. Long said. politicians who regularly travel Council of Europe (CPT) report 26-County administration for refusing to allow published 12 months ago. That hospital staff to keep a Republican prisoner in “A native of Ennis, County Joe Mounsey should be to England and outline the Clare, Joe Mounsey is a married given access to proper medical deplorable conditions for Irish abuse included denial of sleep, their custody to undergo tests for a serious man with children. This denial treatment before his condition political prisoners in that letters, reading and writing medical condition. of proper medical treatment to deteriorates further. It is only jurisdiction? materials and even legal visits. “On Tuesday morning, After several hours the hospital a prisoner by the Dublin vindictiveness on the part of the “They have been silent on Republican Sinn Féin has December 10, Joe Mounsey, a asked for Joe to remain in their administration is in glaring Dublin authorities which is the conditions obtaining in the repeatedly called for this torture 36-year-old Republican care for a longer period in order contrast to their appeals earlier denying him this, he said. 26 Counties, most notably the unit to be closed down. prisoner in Limerick Jail was to undergo further tests. this year for proper medical “Can we expect the same scandalous abuse of prisoners “We also call for proper brought to Limerick Regional “This request was denied treatment to be given to Paddy deafening silence in regard to — both political and ordinary medical treatment for all Hospital for tests in relation to by the Special Branchmen Kelly while he was a political this denial of treatment from prisoners — in D Unit of Cork prisoners in Limerick Jail.” a serious stomach complaint. accompanying him and Joe British state vengeance in McAliskey case RÓISÍN McAliskey appeared in Bow Street audition for a part in a television Magistrates Court in London on December 27. beer advertisement. She was remanded to Holloway prison until “German police said the January 3. rented house was used for McAliskey was arrested Magistrate’s Court on around three weeks by the on November 20 under an December 20. people who attacked the base, extradition warrant from Requesting bail, her yet Jim was with us until he Germany in connection with a solicitor Gareth Peirce, said left for the audition . . . for all mortar attack on the British McAliskey’s medical treatment we know, Jim could have been army barracks at Osnabruck in at Holloway prison had playing his guitar in front of 200 June. If the German authorities improved but that “every people when they say he was do not press charges by millimetre of this care has had in Germany.” January 3 she must be released. to be fought for”. The Róisín Speaking to WBAI radio in People demanding bail for McAliskey Justice Group said New York on December 7, McAliskey held a candlelit on December 20 that the refusal Bernadette McAlliskey vigil outside Holloway prison of bail to McAliskey, who is revealed that her daughter was on December 24. five months pregnant, was “a left for 23 hours in Belmarsh In Dublin supporters of calculated act of cruelty and prison without food or water McAliskey held a 24-hour fast vindictiveness which will shock during the previous week. She outside the German Embassy and outrage the international said that she had no doubt “that on Christmas Day. community”. through Roisin, this is the last In New York in early Meanwhile the wife of vengeance of the British state December an unbroken 24-hour James Corry, who is being held on myself and my family, picket was held outside the in Dublin on foot of a German through my child.” She called British Consulate calling for the extradition warrant for the same for access to proper medical release of Róisín McAliskey. It attack, says he was in Ireland facilities for Róisín and for the was organised by Áine Grealey during the time in question. granting of bail. • Róisín McAliskey is brought by a British policeman from a plane in London on November and Friends of Róisín Christine Corry said on The British had initiated 26 last. McAliskey. The vigil, at which December 20 that she and her the German interest in Róisín photograph to the German 0200. You can write to Róisín while in Holloway prison, Frank Durkan spoke, was held husband had hosted a dinner and now the Germans have 60 police and invited them to show McAliskey at: TG 2456 HMP despite the court’s instructions from 8pm to 8pm the following party for 16 people for her days to decide whether they it to a witness who said he saw Holloway, Parkhurst Road, at her previous appearance that day. birthday in their north Belfast want to go through with their a woman. “Now even in a Holloway, London N7 0NY, she be well cared for. Róisín McAliskey’s third home just two days before the extradition order, she said. British court, that would mean England. Refusing bail, stipendiary application for bail was turned attack. He left the next day to The British paramilitary that it could not be used as magistrate Ronald Bartle down in Bow Street go to the 26 Counties to police (RUC) had sent a evidence, it would be thrown BAIL HEARING repeated a request that out of court. The Germans A doctor's report McAliskey, who is five months issued a photo-pic in the wake submitted to Bow Street pregnant, be properly cared for of the bomb attacks on the magistrate’s court in London at in prison. He said the report [British] barracks and quite a bail hearing on December 13 presented “disturbing reading” No appeals for clearly were looking for a said that Róisín McAliskey but felt that “my public duty woman who bears a stark and was showing signs of demands that I do not alter the clear resemblance to Goldie “advanced starvation” due to previous ruling”. She was fourteen prisoners Hawn. But not to my repeated vomiting, dehydration remanded in Holloway until daughter,” Bernadette and fresh bleeding from a December 20. concluded. stomach ulcer. The report also Speaking outside the court in England Bernadette McAliskey said she had no access to natural Bernadette McAliskey said her light and was in danger of losing McNulty (26), said that his called on people to ask the daughter was being kept in THE British refused to refer the convictions of her baby unless she was client was only convicted by a German authorities why they solitary confinement, and for 14 Irish political prisoners in Britain to the court admitted to hospital for majority verdict and all the are opposing bail for Róisín. 12-hour periods was locked in of appeal on December 17. emergency treatment. evidence against him was The German Consulate her cell without even the Gareth Pierce, circumstantial. telephone number in New York warders having keys to gain The convictions of the 14 in May last were reported to McAliskey’s lawyer, said that “If the trial jury had known is (212) 308-8700. The British access in the case of an prisoners in question had doubt impinge on the convictions of a her needs had been ignored about this contamination at the Consulate number is (212) 754- emergency. cast on them after the total of 38 people jailed on the forensic laboratory their verdict Meanwhile in Dublin, announcement by the British basis of forensic evidence during could have been totally Belfastman James Anthony home secretary Michael the past seven years. Vigil at British Embassy different,” David Hammond Oliver Albert Corry was Howard in May that a All these forensic tests MEMBERS of Republican Sinn Féin held a vigil said. In McNulty’s case minute remanded in custody until centrifuge machine used to test were carried out at the amounts of explosive were on the steps of the Irish Free State Embassy in December 19. A full request evidence was contaminated by laboratory at Fort Halstead, “found” in McNulty’s jacket London on Sunday, December 22. In a statement from German authorities for his traces of an explosive known Kent, where the contaminated and car by forensic staff at the issued to the Press Association a spokesperson extradition was handed in to the as RDX, which is found in machine was discovered. In the Fort Halstead laboratory. said: Dublin District Court on Semtex. past Professor Caddy testified As a result of this so-called “We are holding this vigil here today in solidarity with the December 3. The five-month inquiry on behalf of the Birmingham Six evidence, McNulty was Republican prisoners of war incarcerated in Limerick jail in the 26 About 100 people took into the contamination by at the Court of Appeal and sentenced to 25 years in Counties, and in solidarity with all Irish political prisoners in part in a protest at Belfast City Professor Brian Caddy of acted as forensic advisor to the connection with bomb attacks Britain and in Ireland who are opposed to British rule and who are Hall against the detention of Strathclyde University Maguire family during the May on gas and oil installations in calling for a complete withdrawal of troops from the Occupied Six Róisín McAliskey on reportedly cast no doubt on the inquiry into the wrongful Tyneside, England. His lawyer Counties. December 9. convictions of the 14 prisoners. convictions of the Guildford insisted that the appeal would “We also take this opportunity of sending revolutionary The organisers of the Michael Howard made a Four. go ahead in spite of Michael greetings and fraternal good wishes to all political prisoners at Protest - the Róisín McAliskey statement in the British House Speaking on RTÉ radio Howard’s interpretation of home and abroad.” Justice Group - said the protest of Commons on December 17 news on December 17 David Professor Caddy’s inquiry Several van loads of uniformed British police men and women would become a weekly event refusing the 14 Irish prisoners Hammond, lawyer for one of findings. were present during the vigil. until there was a change in her leave to appeal. The revelations the 14 Irish prisoners, Sean circumstances. SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 6

Paras to return to Six Counties in 1997 ALL three battalions of the British parachute regiment are to be Ó Conaill rejected deployed in the Six Counties in 1997. Relatives of 14 men killed by the parachute regiment in the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry in 1972 have accused the British government of showing “complete contempt” for the wounded and the relatives by sending the Paras ON New Year’s Day, January 1, 1997 the sixth to the Six Counties in the 25th anniversary year of the slaughter. Hume’s 1972 offer anniversary of the death of Dáithí Ó Conaill, late Speaking on December 15 John Kelly, chairman of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, said: “All the relatives and the wounded Vice-President of Republican Sinn Féin, took are finding this a particularly difficult time to cope with their place at the Republican Plot in Glasnevin memories, never mind having to cope with the knowledge that the Cemetery, Dublin. regiment responsible is back on the streets”. Despite snowy weather provided an easy excuse for not conditions a large crowd giving serious examination to Loyalist arson attacks on assembled at the gate of the the political and social policies cemetery and marched to the of the Republican Movement, church, school Republican Plot where Peter in the formation of which ST Colman’s primary school in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of Cunningham, Dublin, chaired Dáithí played a big part. “What Dáithí clearly Belfast was attacked by pro-British arsonists on December 14/15. the proceedings. Wreaths were understood, and the hacks and The school secretary’s office was burned out in the attack in which laid by Deirdre O’Connell on behalf of the family and by Cllr self-serving politicians did not, thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to computer, Joe O’Neill, Bundoran, on and still do not understand is photocopying and fax equipment. The attackers also tried to set behalf of the Republican that there is no solution and no fire to at least one classroom. Movement. long-term solution prospect for Scorch and smoke damage was caused when a petrol-bomb Seán Mac an Iomaire, peace in Ireland while the was thrown at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church at Whitehouse in Galway, said a decade of the British maintain a presence and north Belfast early on December 13. Damage was confined to the Rosary as Gaeilge and Seán Ó continue to play the Orange church doors and porch. Sé, Dublin, played a lament. card. Political, social and Following the Dipping of the economic programmes are just Explosives found in Flags the oration was delivered so many words on paper if the by Frank Graham, Dublin. fundamentals of political In the course of his oration freedom are not secured. Fermanagh after eight days he said: “The day Dáithí died I “Dáithí understood this • Dáithí Ó Conaill A BRITISH army search operation in the Monaghan/Fermanagh was snowbound in Conamara clearly and saw the futility and peace process forward’, are knew him these words represent Border area lasting eight days resulted in the discovery of a “small and was unable to attend his stupidity of the Republican enthusiastically in favour of a very accurate summary of a amount” of home-made explosives in vehicles abandoned in a field funeral. I knew when I heard Movement being side-tracked ‘substantive talks’ in all selfless life dedicated to the at Rellan, County Fermanagh. The lorry and a four-wheel drive the news that the cause of into trivia such as Leinster dangers, temptations and cause of Irish freedom. He was vehicle, stolen earlier this year in the Six Counties, also contained Republicanism had suffered a House and Stormont and pan- afflictions! a serious man but not lacking in “booster” tubes, part of the firing mechanism of a mortar. The grievous blow. Since 1986, nationalist alliances. He rejected “They are obsessed to the a sense of humour. He was vehicles were found between Roslea, County Fermanagh and when a majority within the Hume’s advances in the 1970s point of delirium with a desire serious because he had serious Scotstown, Co Monaghan. Republican Movement had and subsequent events have to ‘sit down around the table’ objectives to reach and it did abandoned the Republic and proved the wisdom of his – any table – and are insistent not allow for much frivolity. joined the Free State circus, judgement. on ‘parity of esteem’. On one “Dáithí Ó Conaill lived a Provisionals bombs in Dáithí, together with Ruairí Ó “When one looks at the hilarious occasion one of the life of sacrifice and dedication Brádaigh and others stood firm present state of our country spokesmen, who sports a to the cause of Irish freedom as Belfast, Armagh not viable as a rock and provided the one is forced to wonder if moustache, gave it as his did many Republican leaders in ACCORDING to a report in the Sunday Tribune leadership and inspiration for Dáithí Ó Conaill wasted his life considered opinion that the the past and, no doubt, will in those loyal to the Republic of on a lost cause. From his teens position of the Brits, who had the future. He was in a long and (December 15) the two recent explosive devices he had endured internment, jail, left him and his friends out on planted by the military wing of the Provisionals Pearse and Emmet. noble tradition and he lived up “Leadership and the near fatal wounds on active a limb to dry and showed no to this tradition with courage were not viable as part of their firing mechanism ability to inspire others is a rare service, constant harassment by desire to haul them in again, and distinction. We treasure his was not in place. quality. When it is allied to police, and long periods on the was untenable. The man was memory and pledge out Both the horizontal mortar (Mark 16) found near the British moral and physical courage and run, separated from his wife and obviously suffering severe commitment to the principles army base in north Belfast on December 12 and the trailer bomb steely determination, you have children. And then, after having hallucinations or he had been he cherished. found in a field near Drumadd British base in Armagh on November a formidable combination. Such played a crucial leadership role fitted with the wrong “Ar dheis lámh Dé go 29 were missing battery packs and could not have exploded. was Dáithí Ó Conaill and he had in the most successful and programme before going on raibh tú, a Dháithí! Glóire don One theory advanced by journalist Ed Moloney is that this one further important quality, sustained fight against British TV. Phoblacht!”, he concluded. Provisional ‘phoney war’ is intended to send conflicting messages, unyielding integrity. This latter Occupation Forces in our The ceremonies ended on the one hand, saying to the Provisional rank-and-file that the quality served him well when history, he was betrayed by his HYMN-SHEET with the playing of Amhrán na ‘war is on again’ and on the other saying to the British that the standing firm against all erstwhile comrades for the “This characteristic of all bhFiann. Provisionals “do not yet want to resume full hostilities and regards attempts by those who wished metaphorical 30 pieces of silver. their spokespersons to sing ceasefire negotiations as not entirely closed.” to betray the Republic and by from exactly the same hymn- extension, all those who fought The historic sheet was similar to their and died for it. Republican predecessors in the 1960s who UVF shooting in Belfast “He had to endure attempted the same thing, but THE UVF pro-British death-squad is believed to be responsible humiliation at the hands of the Movement has unsuccessfully. Soon after the for a shooting on November 18 in which a 25-year-old loyalist, would-be betrayers, who in formation of Republican Sinn David Keys, was shot twice in the chest as he sat in his car in the terms of integrity and principle remained intact Féin I remarked on this shared Cregagh estate in east Belfast. He is believed to have been were not fit to breathe the same and is on the characteristic of the ‘Stickies’ sympathetic to Portadown loyalist Billy Wright, who was ordered air as him. A mutual friend, and the ‘Provos’ to Dáithí and to leave the Six Counties by the UVF earlier this year. Tony Ruane, told me in the year move again surmised that they both came prior to 1986 that he witnessed from the same stable. He said consistent humiliation of Dáithí towards its in reply to me that he thought at the hands of those who saw historic that one was Leninist and the him as the most formidable other probably Trotskyist but obstacle to their plans to objective. their basic inspiration was abandon one of the most “Despite all of this Dáithí Marxist rather than Wolfe Tone fundamental principles of would not have considered his or Pearse. Republicanism, and enter life-long work a waste of his “The Republican Leinster House, Stormont etc, talents and time and neither Movement was always in if elected. would we. Often in life varying degrees of danger of “Dáithí need not have apparent success is an being subverted by people to endured such treatment. He ephemeral thing and apparent attain a goal completely could have walked away but he failure carries within it the different from ours. The did not, but stayed and seeds of eventual triumph. The historic Republican Movement continued to oppose, from seeds which Dáithí Ó Conaill has remained intact and is on within, those who were intent sowed will bear fruit in due time the move again towards its on betrayal. The rest is history when the petty and ephemeral historic objective. and the fruits of the betrayal success of those who betrayed “Pádraig Pearse said at are daily unfolding before our him and the cause of the the grave of O’Donovan Rossa eyes. Republic are but an unpleasant that while we held the graves “When we gather to memory. of our Fenian dead ‘Ireland honour the memory of Dáithí “One is tempted to unfree shall never be at peace’. Ó Conaill we must assess him speculate as to what Dáithí’s As we stand at the grave of in the context of his life’s work opinion would be on the Dáithí Ó Conaill we reiterate and the objectives he set present political cavortings of Pearse’s words and endorse the himself. It is and was an his erstwhile comrades in the promise he made. In attempting accepted fashion of what is leadership of the Republican to summarise the life and work loosely described as the Movement. One thing that I am of Dáithí I am reminded of the chattering classes and of sure he would note is the prayer of Ignatius of Loyola, journalistic hacks who fancy common characteristic of founder of the Jesuits: themselves as political sounding as if they had been ‘To give and not to count commentators, to label Dáithí programmed in the manner of a the cost as a physical force fanatic, computer. They all use the To fight and not to heed motivated solely by hatred of same phrases, no matter what the wounds Britain and entirely lacking in question is put to them. They To toil and not to seek for intellectual and political ability. all, individually, collectively and rest.’ This dismissive attitude unanimously wish ‘to move the “To those of us who SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 7 The financial structure of the Free State twenty million dollars a year) and this money eventually found its way to Neo-Colonial Ireland the Bank of England and made a useful Part five of a series of articles dealing with the realities of contribution to England’s balance of Ireland’s position in the world. It is our contention that, payments: the more so because it was in effect ‘free money’: nothing had to while the Six-County area is obviously a colonial be exported in exchange. Also a very possession of England, the 26-County ‘Republic’ is also unfavourable exchange rate was in operation: five dollars to the pound still in large measure a colonial society, despite the sterling. removal of many of the physical colonising institutions. Sterling was a grossly overvalued unit of currency. This was done partly WHEN Saorstát Éireann was established in 1922 it had about for prestige purposes but also because 21,000 British civil servants on its territory. Under the England was a major international terms of the 1921 treaty all of these had to be offered either creditor. Third World debt is nothing continuity of employment or full pensions. Less than a new: many South American countries thousand took the pension option, the remainder opted to were massively in debt to England at remain on: they brought with them total security of high interest rates. Some European counties also owed huge sums, notably employment, guaranteed pay increases based on length of Greece and Portugal. Germany was service and the right to a generous pension. paying large war damages. Most of the lower-grade civil glance one might be forgiven for Even within the British Empire servants were Irish, drawn mainly from concluding that the leaders of it heavy payments in sterling were going the ‘Castle Catholic’ element in the regarded the economic sabotaging of to London, notably from India. The population. Going up in the ranks, the Saorstát as a kind of patriotic duty. Saorstát too was handing over large however, a larger and larger proportion Closer inspection reveals a more amounts of money each year to the of them tended to be English. It was complex situation. While they could London government under various natural enough that the English would barely conceal their contempt for the pretexts, while about as much again look after their own, and membership Saorstát and those who ran it, to them was going as private payments for of a Masonic lodge was also rumoured it was still better than the alternative. such things as ground rents. It made to be necessary if one sought rapid Rather, their behaviour is consistent sense to keep the exchange rate high. promotion. with a determination to do the best The use of the artificially high they could to ensure that England’s sterling currency was one of the main THE DEPARTMENT interests were not jeopardised. They factors inhibiting the economy of the OF FINANCE were more like London civil servants Saorstát. It meant that the price of The most influential civil service sent to run the finances of some remote Irish goods on world markets were institution in the Saorstát was the new British county council: they would try prohibitively high. Only Britain could Department of Finance, which to make a good job of it but their prime afford Irish exports, and on the British virtually ran the state for the first half- concern was to protect the interests market they had to compete with century of its existence. of the British Empire as a whole. similar goods from countries outside There had been in Dublin Castle a Apart from that, such ideas about the sterling area. ‘Treasury Branch’ which looked after trade and economics and banking and So, almost all exports went to the finances of the administration and financial matters in general as they had Britain. For the most part this which, as might have been expected, were always about fifty years out of consisted of food, and especially of operated on the principle that as little date. cattle on the hoof. In Britain itself the money as possible should be wasted government was subsidising food on the lazy and ungrateful Irish. The THE STERLING LINK production as a means of holding down • One of the most scandalous acts of the Free State government was the civil servants employed there took One point the Department of the cost of living, depressing wages reduction of the Old Age pension by a shilling in 1929. over the new Department of Finance Finance was adamant on was that and thus subsidising exports. This too It also guaranteed that sterling investigate the Saorstát’s finances and when it was set up. British currency should continue to be was to the disadvantage of the Irish withdrawn from circulation would be make recommendations. It was the The head of the department from used in the Saorstát, and that if a producers. returned to the originator, the Bank of usual sort of mixed bag: an elderly its establishment until he retired in separate ‘Irish’ currency were England, and not encashed. This so- professor from Trinity and another 1944 was Arthur Codling, an introduced then it should be a one-to- THE NOTE FUND called ‘Note Fund’, which eventually from UCD, a few bankers, some Englishmen who had worked in Dublin one duplicate of sterling and sterling The Cumann na nGaedheal exceeded a billion pounds, actually businessmen and a bishop. Castle since 1900. The bulk of his should continue to circulate freely. The government was determined to constituted a colossal loan from one A report was submitted in 1938 senior staff were also natives of usual arguments were trotted out: produce their own ‘national’ coinage of the poorest countries in the world which more or less said, well, it’s not England: TSC Dagg, CS Almond, JL Britain is our biggest trading partner, and currency notes. The Department to one of the richest and was basically very nice but there’s nothing to be done Lynd and CJ Gregg. The only Irishman thousands of tills and cash registers of Finance reluctantly agreed, but a gigantic swindle. so carry on as before. The only change to occupy a senior post was Joseph would have to be altered, an insisted that it be on the basis of a The Saorstát, like most they suggested was greater restriction Brennan: Brennan had also worked in independent currency would quickly token issue for sterling. Certain Irish governments of the time, kept what on investment in semi-state bodies like the Castle, had opted for a pension collapse and so on. banks, notably the Bank of Ireland, were called ‘external assets’. These the ESB. and had then got himself the plumb Apart from laziness and nostalgia, already issued their own notes on this assets consisted of amounts of ready However two members submitted job of Comptroller-General, while there were two practical reasons why basis. money held in various world centres a dissenting minority report. They retaining his pension. a break with sterling was opposed. A new coinage was introduced in of banking to enable rapid settlement were Professor Alfred O’Rahilly and Birds of a feather flock together. Firstly, if a new Irish currency had 1925. Copper and silver coins were of international payments. Most Seán Campbell, president of the Irish The men who ran the Department of been introduced then all the sterling in minted at the Royal Mint in London countries kept their external assets in Congress of Trades Unions. Finance of course gave preference to circulation would have been withdrawn and were struck from the same blanks gold. The Saorstát was unique in that This report recommended a break those subordinates whose views were and Britain asked to honour it in as the equivalent English coins. They it kept all its external assets in Bank of with sterling, the repatriation of the closest to their own, and to some extent bullion: treasury notes being in theory had the motif of various familiar England notes. The experts of the Note Fund, greater availability of credit the golf course replaced the Masonic IOUs issued by the British government animals; as did the coins of the other Department of Finance insisted that and more government intervention in coven as the place where preferments against gold held by the Bank of ‘Dominions’. From about 1942 the the value of gold might fall, but that and regulation of the state’s finances. were negotiated. England. Of course the Bank of England British began to withdraw the silver sterling was, well, as safe as the Bank To this minority report the So there was created a powerful. did not wish to part with any gold. coins, using the Irish banks, and of England and would never, never be Department of Finance, without the non-accountable, self-perpetuating A second reason was that the replace them with ones made of cupro- devalued. They were mistaken. permission or even knowledge of the bureaucracy that rolled on and on doing Saorstát, unique in the sterling area, nickel: the silver being needed for other signatories, appended a 136-page what it did: the inherited British had a significant portion of its native- purposes. For many years Saorstát Éireann addendum, worded in the most obsession with secrecy made sure that born population living in the United In 1927 currency notes began to had the highest per capita external insulting and intemperate language, very few people knew what in fact it States and these emigrants regularly be issued. Probably due to pressure assets in the world. dismissing the minority report as utter was doing. (Even the price of a bun in sent home money to relatives in Ireland from the British, for each note issued and complete nonsense. the staff canteen was a state secret.) and often eventually retired to Ireland an equivalent amount in sterling was THE BANKING De Valera and his associates Looking at the history of the early with their savings and pensions. This lodged with the Bank of England, so COMMISSION accepted the majority report and things years of the Department, or as much actually brought a very significant sum as to guarantee the sterling equivalence In 1934 the new Fianna Fáil regime went on under Fianna Fáil much as of it as is in the public domain, at first of money into the sterling area (about of the notes. set up a ‘Banking Commission’ to they had under Cumann na nGaedheal.

judicial review on December 4 After the hearing Peter More Brit killers to be freed ? by Fisher and Wright heard in a McBride's father said: “I don't sworn affidavit by an official think anyone should be BELFAST High Court upheld an application to refer the Thain was released in interfering with the life cases of two British soldiers to the British Life Sentence in custody. The Northern in the Life Sentence Unit of the Ireland Office (NIO) had January 1987 after serving just NIO that the then British sentences for shooting my son. Review Board on December 20. Earlier in the same hearing recommended that their case be three-and-a-half years of a life secretary in the Six Counties, It seems to me that they are the British Northern Ireland Office was caught lying. reviewed in 1998, by which sentence. The NIO always Douglas Hurd, had been asked trying to find a way to let them James Fisher and Mark December 1984 of murdering time they would have served a maintained that the release was for his view about the early out of prison as soon as they Wright of the Scots Guards an innocent civilian in Belfast total of six years. ordered by the British home release of Thain and that the can. They were convicted and Regiment of the British army and Lee Clegg, who was freed The case of the two secretary after Thain had been NIO had recommended him for lost their appeals. Why should are two years into a life in July 1995 after serving three soldiers was helped on transferred to an English prison. release. they be treated differently than sentence for murdering Belfast years and one month of a life December 4 when the NIO Private Thain was the first Lawyer Peter Smith said on anyone else?” teenager Peter McBride in sentence for killing Belfast admitted recommending Ian British soldier to be convicted that basis Fisher and Wright Peter McBride (18) was 1992. Lawyers for the two teenager Karen Reilly. Thain for early release. Until of murdering a civilian while on qualified for immediate release, shot in the back as he ran away argued that they were being Taking into account time then the NIO had denied having duty in the Six Occupied and renewed the application for from a British army patrol in treated less fairly than British spent on remand Fisher and anything to do with the early Counties. their release on licence on the New Lodge area of Belfast soldiers Ian Thain, convicted in Wright have spent four years release of Thain. However a hearing for a December 20. in 1992. SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 8 Revolt in the North 1956-62 ON DECEMBER 12, 1956 in due recurrent season a Campaign of Resistance to British rule in Ireland opened in the Six Occupied Counties. As some 20 attacks took place on that day throughout the British-occupied area, the IRA stated in a proclamation that the Resistance “. . . has now entered a decisive stage.” It went on: “This is the age-old struggle of the Irish people versus British aggression. In the final analysis it is the Irish people themselves – by their sacrifices, their endurance and their will to victory – who must free Ireland.”

“Operation Harvest”, defined as in the Curragh just as were the “a general directive for a guerrilla Republican Movement people. campaign” was the Operation Plan. It Accepting the 26 County State did not provided for the raising of four flying gain them release until the Dublin columns to assist local units North of Administration felt ready to release the Border. These columns would be them. They lost three men, inflicted based in South Armagh, South no fatalities on the enemy and folded Fermanagh (north of Upper Lough in 1960 (after very few operations Erne), South Fermanagh (south of the since 1955) when Liam Kelly went to same lake) and West Tyrone. the US. The Fermanagh columns were Q. Can you briefly outline your code-named Pearse and Teeling. Ruairí impressions of Tony Magan (Chief- Ó Brádaigh was a GHQ staff-officer of-Staff 1948-57)? with a brief to raise and train the Teeling RÓB. Tony Magan is well described Column in the West of Ireland. In the in Bell. I thought highly of him. He event there was some change over of had certainly learned from the mistakes personnel between the columns of the 1940s – perhaps overmuch since operating in County Fermanagh. protests on the streets were curtailed • The British police (RUC) Barracks in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh after the IRA attack in December 1956. In commemoration of the events too much during the 1957-59 (FLN) and Portuguese in Angola my utmost respect as a Republican cause. of 40 years ago, SAOIRSE publishes internment in the 26 Counties. (MPLA). None of these are exact soldier. Q. What was morale like in the IRA verbatim the questions put in recent The quick development from June analogies of course but the situation Q. Do you feel in retrospect that it when you became Chief of Staff in the times by a third-level student to Ruairí 1954 to December 1956 – and the did not deter the movements named. may have been possible successfully autumn of 1958? Ó Brádaigh and his replies to them. emergence of the Christle splinter- Of course Partition since 1921 had to mobilise public opinion behind the RÓB. Answer to previous question Q. What do you consider to be the group – separated him from the other made a minority in Ireland into a local campaign (at least in the Republic) covers this in part. Morale was main reasons for the failure of the two members of the Triumvirate majority. This aggravated the situation following the deaths of Seán South and reasonable but the time taken in campaign? described by Bell. These were Pádraig but what the Movement of the ‘50s Feargal O’Hanlon, as previously reorganising by HQ and getting used RÓB. The ground was not sufficiently Mac Lógáin and Tomás Mac Curtáin. and early ‘60s had to face was this happened following the Easter Rising to operating “on the run” and prepared in the Six Counties for the and its aftermath? underground and getting new campaign. The only area which RÓB. This was done in the 26 personnel for active service delayed approached this was possibly the Mid- Counties for the March 1957 election matters. This did not help and the Ulster constituency. The impact of the when four of us became Deputies to rumours from the Curragh increasingly Armagh and Omagh raids on the Army an All-Ireland Parliament. But Fianna caused questioning which was (IRA) was such as to force a quick Fáil received a big over-all majority and, unwelcome. entry into the decisive stage of the viewing the situation in 1940 terms, Q. Can you confirm that you were campaign on December 12, 1956. The imposed internment by early July. mainly responsible for drafting the campaign proper began with the raid This majority left no political openings IRA’s public statement ending the on Gough Barracks, Armagh on June and internment came much too soon. campaign in 26 February 1962? 12, 1954 – two-and-a-half years earlier. The Six-County situation is covered RÓB. The definitive statement of Accordingly the provision for a by the reply to Question One. February 26, 1962 was an Army civil disobedience and non-co- Q. In view of the vote which Sinn Féin Council pronouncement. It reflected operation phase – which was spelled received in the Republic’s General their views and was endorsed by the out in the original Overall Plan (and Election of March 1957, do you feel members who went through it with a there was such a document drawn up that more emphasis on political “fine tooth comb”. As such it was a by the Military Council, a sub- organisation might have helped at that leadership declaration and not the committee of the Army Council) was stage, ie a “ballot box and Lee Enfield” property of any one individual. skipped over. This was a fatal error. strategy? Q. What does the statement mean Comparisons with the 1968-70 Civil • Arms seized by the 26-County police in a house in Harcourt Terrace, RÓB. The Movement was almost when it says in the penultimate Rights period was obvious. Dublin in April 1958. completely beheaded in the swoops paragraph that the IRA realised “that Q. Why was the campaign led from This brings us back to the reply to daunting reality. Bell admits elsewhere of January 1957. Local election the situation obtaining in the earlier Dublin and manned largely by southern Question One. We keep coming back (On Revolt: a book published in 1976 successes in 1955 helped but again the stages of the Campaign has altered volunteers? Surely the failure of the to it. where he makes world-wide situation needed much greater political radically . . . ? Brookeborough attack, for example, Q. What are your views about the comparisons) that the situation in the development. The ready-made RÓB. The Army was no longer able and the success of Pat McManus in timing of the start of the Campaign? Six north-eastern Counties of Ireland armoury of repression and the to operate in areas away from the south Fermanagh showed clearly the Was it too soon, or were the IRA as was valid for revolt although “flawed” closeness in time to the all-out coercion Border. This was the case perhaps advantages of local men controlling well prepared as they could be? by reason of the Unionist majority of the 1940s combined with the same since February 1959 and certainly operations in their area. RÓB. The choice was autumn-winter there. personnel in office (de Valera and co) since November of the same year. RÓB. The answer here arises out of 1956 or autumn-winter 1958 with the Q. As leader of the “Teeling” Flying narrowed the ground here considerably. The last two years had operations the reply to Question One. ground better prepared. Dublin Head Column, do you in retrospect feel that Q. “Control from the top had been confined to the Border areas only. Incidentally the failure of the mines at of Government Costello had issued an it was an outdated operational method lost and with it the direction of the Politically it was being bruited Brookborough was what triggered the ultimatum following Kelly’s raid on by 1956, particularly where there was 1958-59 season.” (Bell p327). Could about that membership of the EEC – over-all result while the lack of local Roslea RUC barracks in November no ‘green sea’ of support? the leadership dissension which Dublin and London had applied in July roots accentuated this. 1955. RÓB. I was Second in Command brought this about have been avoided? 1961 – would cause “the Border to Q. What are your views on Liam This played into Dublin’s hands: Teeling Column not OC. Fifteen-man RÓB. The Army leadership was wither away”. Kelly’s Saor Uladh organisation? Were “We have seen Irishmen fighting Border columns were based on the almost entirely seized in late Republicans countered that it their aims and political philosophy – Irishmen in the presence of a woman Operation Harvest operational plan September 1958. Dáithí Ó Conaill and would not remove the British garrison recognition of the Dáil – not more and her children”. He then threatened and were unsuitable. I – newly escaped from internment – from the Six Counties but in the realistic and therefore attainable? “your next move is your last!” Later it was a battle-team of two were handed the situation. After close absence of an effective campaign the RÓB. Kelly’s Saor Uladh was an IRA IRA attacks, eg Armagh, Omagh sometimes joined to another with a on two years imprisonment we had to “soft option” while obviously splinter group which tied up with and Arborfield in England had been Section-Leader in charge making up five familiarise ourselves with a new fallacious had gained ground. Clann na Poblachta in the 26 Counties against the British army and were Volunteers. Other battle-teams could situation on the ground and do our Q. In your view, would you say the and accepted the 26 County State. acceptable to the broadest section of be added in extraordinary situations. best, he as Director of Operations and average IRA volunteer who took part This was a fatal error on their part as opinion. Not so Roslea and Dublin This was Mac Lógáin’s view early on I as Chief-of-Staff. in the Border Campaign was in the basic Republican support was took advantage of this. Answer to and was accepted by Seán Cronin and The position had deteriorated and mould of Seán South – a devoted and therefore denied to it in the 26 second part of this question in the Army generally. Mac Lógáin was Pat McManus had been killed in July. pious Catholic – or how big a part did Counties apart from some immediate contained in my first answer. an Armagh man who had operated in His contribution was sorely missed. religion play in the lives of Volunteers? Border areas. Q. Do you agree with Bell’s North Antrim in 1919-21. He knew It was not leadership dissension RÓB. Moving from the particular to It also raised the question of assessment (Secret Army p284) that his people and his situation. in the Curragh which was the cause. the general is wrong as you know well pushing the confessional and neo- the campaign’s most obvious Q. What are your recollections of Pat They were all unavailable for service and using Seán South as a prototype colonial southern state on Unionists weakness was that “two thirds of the McManus and his part in the and the dissension hurt morale outside is misleading. Seán was an inspiration who found it abhorrent and population were Unionists, dedicated campaign? gradually. The dissension was due to to his generation as was Feargal Ó nationalists who felt it distasteful and determined enemies of Irish RÓB. Pat was a “natural” and it differing priorities in an obviously hAnluain. But Seán was not typical. instead of a totally New Ireland built Republicanism.” showed. He operated with Pearse deteriorating situation. All leadership Volunteers were ordinary young men by all communities on this island. This RÓB. Of course Bell is correct but Column first (Lisnaskea RUC material felt a tremendous who were idealistic and prepared for was another short-cut in this case a was it not so in Fenian times, 1916 barracks) and was later with Teeling responsibility for this position. I service and sacrifice. political one and it availed the Kelly and 1919-21? There were parallels (Derrylin barracks). A multiplication doubt if it could have been avoided in A small number of Protestants people nothing. with the Turkish population in Cyprus of Pat McManus and a “green sea” of the claustrophobic conditions of the They were interned without trial (EOKA struggle), the colons in Algeria support was what was needed. He had internment camp, but it was not the Cont on page 9 SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 9 The Betrayal of Derry Le Seán Bearna HE ease with which the Orangemen marched through the centre of Derry on TSaturday, December 14 was a sad reflection on the state of nationalist organisation in the city. Less than four months before at mass protest rallies the people of Derry were promised that the Orange Order would never march in their city again. The stand-off at Drumcree was followed by a vicious attack launched against the people of Derry by the British police (RUC) on Thursday, July 12. On the following night the youth of Derry struck back and offered the fiercest resistance that the city had seen for years. Their courage was outstanding but hundreds were injured, their bricks and bottles having little effect against armoured tanks and plastic bullets. In the early hours of Saturday, July 13, Dermot McShane (35) was crushed to death by a massive armoured British Saxon army personnel carrier, weighing more than 10,000kg. Youths who attempted to rescue him were fired on with plastic bullets. A revolutionary situation developed which could have been channelled into a dynamic movement for Irish freedom. Previously passive nationalists were jolted into reality as the British government illustrated to another generation that it was prepared to murder to stay in Ireland. Despite their courage the youth of Derry were insulted the next evening, July 14, when Martin McGuinness referred to those whom • Nationalists were “jolted into reality”: British troops firing volleys of plastic bullets at nationalist protesters in Derry on July 13, 1996. resisted as ‘drunken looters’ who Derry is unique in that it is a The Provisionals promised would inevitably do, the Provisionals shoulder with a well-known friend of threatened ‘our businesses’. He went predominantly nationalist city which Republicans throughout the Six argued that the state would be exposed Charles Windsor and blocked on to state that the majority of those previously tolerated Orange marches Counties that the Derry march would as inherently corrupt and sectarian. Butchers’ Gate. Anyone who tried to injured by the British police were but this year the people decided that, be used to expose the irreformable OWEVER, the plan to occupy pass by them was threatened, kicked, drunk. Any Republican would have in light of the events at Drumcree, the nature of the statelet. the city centre was abandoned punched or dragged away. Exactly found this to be an insult. lower Ormeau Road and in particular on Friday, August 9 at the seventeen British policemen dressed Nevertheless, the youth of Derry the murders of Michael McGoldrick They promised to facilitate a mass Hbehest of the SDLP and the Catholic in their casual uniforms stood behind fought even harder that night. and Dermot McShane, no more mobilisation of at least 10,000 people hierarchy. Instead the people were them. It is significant that so few of The resistance in Derry eventually triumphalist and sectarian marches which would occupy the city and hold called to a mass rally. Disturbingly, the them were present on a day that was died down and at the beginning of were going to be permitted in their city. it against the Orangemen and British National Flag was confiscated from thought by many to be the August attention was focused on the After the pogroms of July it was military. If the British were to oppose marchers by the Provisionals and mostexplosive in Derry for many forthcoming Apprentice Boy’s march. decided that a stand had to be made. the will of the people which they labelled as ‘sectarian’. At the rally the years. people were assured that the Orangemen would ‘ never march in this One of the protesters commented, city again’. There was also promise of “It was clear the Bogside Residents’ a counter demonstration to be held on Group were directing the bouncers and the Saturday afternoon to counteract that the RUC were directing the the Orange parade. Bogside Residents’ Group.” One Provisional was heard to say that the bouncers were in position to ‘protect The Provisionals those boys’ (the British police) from ‘them 400 drunken bastards’ (the formed an auxiliary people of Derry who had come out to wing of the British oppose the Orange march). Three times a year in Derry city police force and Catholics are forced to bow their heads and stay away from the city centre performed their duty while Orangemen, quite literally, walk all over them. The British police force willingly and have been the traditional protectors of triumphalist Orange marches but it enthusiastically. seems as if a new police force has emerged in Derry. OWEVER when thousands gathered at Free Derry corner The Provisionals formed an on Saturday, August 10 at auxiliary wing of the British police H2pm they were told to ‘go home and force and performed their duty be peaceful’ by the Bogside Residents’ willingly and enthusiastically. Group. A large section of the crowd However, a potentially revolutionary refused to go and instead walked situation still exists in Derry. Having together towards Butchers’ Gate been seen by the Republicans of the where they were confronted, not by city to have compromised themselves the British police, but by a line of irredeemably the Provisionals are now • RESISTANCE: A nationalist youth fires a petrol bomb at the British Crown Forces in Derry last August around thirty Provisional ‘bouncers’. after the Apprentice Boys’ parade. isolated, leaving a vacuum to be filled These men stood shoulder to by true Irish Republicans.

Willie Folan, Galway. January 1, 1957 Liam Nolan, Dublin. SL. Cont from page 8 Teeling Column at Derrylin Peadar Murray, Mayo. Seán Garland*, Dublin. OC Harry Goff, Wexford. U. were in the IRA on both sides of December 30, 1956 Dáithí Ó Conaill, Cork. 2 in C U. Vincent Conlon*, Armagh U. the Border. This was always the case Noel Kavanagh, Dublin. OC. Joe Daly, Meath. Leo Collins, Meath. U. Seán Sabhat, Luimneach. SL, Phil O’Donoghue*, Dublin. as Catholics have no monopoly on Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, Longford. 2 Dermot Blake, Meath. KIA Paddy O’Regan*, Dublin. Irish Republicanism or on idealism and in C. Des Clarke, Meath. Mick O’Brien, Dublin. self-sacrifice. Charlie Murphy, Dublin. GHQ. Feargal Ó hAnluain, The Volunteers were typical Pat McManus, Fermanagh. KAS KAS — killed on active service. Muineachán, KIA. young men of their time. Brendan Paddy Duffy, Cavan. U — Deceased. Pat Connolly, Fermanagh. KIA — killed in action; Behan was not a typical IRA Volunteer Pat McGirl, Leitrim. Paddy Tierney, Fermanagh. * — wounded; of the 1940s; neither was Seán Sabhat John Joe Ruane, Galway. Pearse Column at Brookeborough Seán Scott, Galway. SL— Section Leader; of the 1950s. Paddy Hanniffy, Galway, U Mick Kelly, Galway. UU — Deceased. SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 10 Struggle started in 1916 not finished yet SPEAKING at the annual Liam Mellows was the last surviving Republican Sinn Féin would commemoration in Athenry, County Galway on member of the Second All- bring to such a conference December 8, Declan Curneen of Republican Sinn Ireland Dáil Éireann. their ÉIRE NUA proposals Féin said that the struggle started by Liam According to Declan for a four-province Ireland Mellows and his comrades in Athenry during the Curneen, the real enemies of with maximum Easter Rising in 1916 did not finish with his Ireland were those who wore decentralisation of power to execution, nor was it finished today. the uniform of England in the regions. Ireland, as so well These three demands He said that the Free Volunteers who gave their demonstrated by their were the only path to the State government that allegiance to the Continuity behaviour at Drumcree fulfilment of Liam Mellows’ executed Mellows and his Army Council were not “the during the summer. dream and sacrifice for a free fellow prisoners (on enemies of Ireland” as John Declan Curneen reiterated and Gaelic Ireland, he December 8, 1922), as well Hume recently called them. the three basic demands of concluded. as successive governments, The Continuity Army the true Republican The commemoration had failed to win the freedom Council was recognised as Movement for peace in was chaired by Seán Kenny of Ireland, but had tried to the legitimate leadership of Ireland: a phased and of Gurteen and was followed divert, purchase, intimidate the Irish Republican Army orderly British Withdrawal, by a parade, led by a colour and criminalise those who in a statement written by a general amnesty for all party, to the Liam Mellows continued the struggle. Comdt-General Tom political prisoners and a monument where a wreath Declan Curneen, a Maguire in 1987, and constitutional conference to was laid on behalf of the member of the Ard- released last July. Comdt- decide the future of the Athenry Cumann of Chomhairle of Republican General Maguire, of Cross, country, free from foreign Republican Sinn Féin by • Liam Mellows delivers the oration at the grave of Wolfe Sinn Féin, said that the IRA Co. Mayo, who died in 1993, interference. He said that John Joe Ruane. Tone at Bodenstown in June 1922.

Some say it was extraneous, A man in Down said it lit on its own The combustion being spontaneous. i A lad who loves his King and Queen z And stands for Law and Order, Australia. Says the flames were Orange, White and Green The Ballad-Makers In that bonfire on the Border. Admiral Nelson, perched atop a pillar in O’Connell Street, Part 8 — Brian O'Higgins ‘kept his place’ until 1966. They may prance and dance in Belfast Town, BRIAN O’Higgins was born in 1882 in Cill Scire A Song of the Loyal Irish They may croon ‘Whereas’ in Dublin; in County Meath and moved to Dublin shortly They may sever the Empire from the Crown, But they might as well not be troublin’’ after leaving school. He took part in the 1916 Boys, O Boys! Listen here to me, Neither Lay Tribunal nor Legal Bench, Rising and was an active Republican for the rest We’re going to live in a State that’s Free, Nor turnkey, tout or warder, of his life. With his great friend Joe Clarke he Good English citizens all we’ll be; Nor all the Boyne water can ever quench did much publicity work for the cause of Ireland. And friends of the Princess Royal; That bonfire on the Border! For long his yearly Wolfe Tone Annual served as a counterblast If we only flop on our hands and knees to the views propagated by the ‘revisionist’ official historians in And swear by George of the lands and seas Here’s to the lads that played the game, Ireland. To wipe the green from the Irish trees Here’s to the minds that planned it, Brian O’Higgins wrote a very great deal of patriotic verse, And for evermore be loyal. much of it under the pen-name Brian na Banban. Unfortunately he Here’s to the hands that lit the flame, Here’s to the winds that fanned it: almost always wrote in response to events so that his poetical We’ll welcome George with a slavish smile May it blaze again from shore to shore writings have tended to go out of date as public memory of the We’ll greet him in real colonial style, Consuming our land’s disorder: events that inspired them fades. Nowadays an explanatory note is Back out of his presence half a mile, May it leap and roar from shore to shore usually required when one of them is published. Like English Whigs and Tories; Till it burns away the Border! The quality of his verse is very variable, but his comic songs We’ll damn the deeds of the true and brave In July 1937 the newly-crowned king and queen of England have stood the test of time best. Who are sleeping in many an Irish grave paid an official visit to Belfast. Republicans commemorated the Bow down like beggars and humbly crave event by burning down all the customs posts along the border. Victoria For a share in England’s glories.

The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown, We’ll curse the name of the rebel Tone, Song For The Brave Then up spoke the Irish Cheddar and they both came tumbling And of every rebel our land has known down And all who hated the English throne, I heard a song in Antrim, The second George departed too, from Stephen’s Green in And fought for the Irish Nation, I heard a song in Clare, town, We’ve torn up every oath and vow, And in the homes of Ireland And they’re coming for YOU, Victoria! We’re part of the civilised Empire now, I heard it everywhere. And the annals of England will teach us how The little children sang it Victoria, they’re coming for you soon, To make sure of our soul’s salvation! Beside the glowing fire Victo—ria, it may be when the moon Twas lilted in the brown fields Is shining on December frost or on the flowers of June All hail the glorious Union Jack! By son and aged sire: But they’re coming for YOU, Victoria! (Though steeped in the blood of the white and the black) We’ll paste it to Ireland’s bended back God be with the brave boys, A ‘gas-main’ burst in Belfast on the eve of Poppy Day, To prove to the world she’s loyal; God be with the true, And loyal doors, and windows too, blew rapidly away. We’ll stifle her voice, we’ll drown her cries, Who gave their young and gallant lives Came the dawn in Dublin, and the naughty — so they say — We’ll blacken her face with loyal lies, Dear Ireland for you! Sent a message to the Castle for Victoria. Throw royal dust in her angry eyes Bright be their memory And hooray for George the Royal! In every town and glen; Victoria, etc (Though written at the time of the foundation of the Irish Free God speed the day when to the fray State, this ballad has hardly dated at all!) Their likes will march again! Georgie lost the seat he had; king Billy lost his head; The lion lost his balance and the unicorn has fled, The Bonfire on the Border I heard a prayer in Ireland And as sure as you’re a stumpy humpty bumpy lump of lead When people told their beads And placed with God above them They’ll be coming for YOU, Victoria. Twas on July the twenty-eighth Their sorrows and their needs: In the year of thirty-seven, It rose from many a sad heart, Victoria, etc A fire was lit without a grate And many a proud one too, And the flames leaped high to heaven. That gave its best and dearest Nelson’s weather eye, they say, is looking out for squalls; Our King and Queen came sailing down To one called Róisín Dubh: They’re nervous in the Phoenix Park and round old Dublin’s The Lough in the best of order walls And we welcomed them to Belfast town God be with... etc But whosoever keeps his place and whosoever falls, With a bonfire on the Border. They’ve a double date with YOU, Victoria!!! I heard a call in Ireland The Queen put a muffler round her neck It rang from hill to hill, In Dublin until recently English domination was symbolised Assisted by her weemin, And where it went a warrior host by numbers of oversize monuments honouring English monarchs The King walked up and down the deck Came thronging with a will and national heroes. In 1937 the bulk of these were demolished by Surrounded by his G-men. To march along the old road, ‘persons unknown’ using ‘Irish Cheddar’ – home-made explosive. He asked “What is that glare I see?” However hard it be At that time a gigantic statue of the Famine Queen stood – or The reply was there in order: And fight again the old fight rather sat — in front of Leinster House. Panic-stricken, the “It’s Ireland united in loyalty For Ireland’s liberty. authorities ordered it removed by the Office of Public Works and With a bonfire on the Border!” hidden until the time was deemed ripe to put it back. A few years God be with....etc ago it was taken even further out of harm’s way, it was sent to Some say the spark was Ulster’s own SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 11 ‘Self-government in a four province federation ’ “NO AMOUNT of talking at Stormont will deliver a lasting peace in Ireland because the discussions there are based He continued: “The current on a British agenda and do not provide for British process then cannot produce Government disengagement from Ireland,” said Ruairí Ó British withdrawal from Ireland and therefore will not give us – Brádaigh, President of Republican Sinn Féin at a recent the people of Ireland – a public meeting in a Sligo hotel. permanent peace so dearly He travelled to speak at the “All of these give a local desired. packed public meeting along majority of 18% of the with Republican Sinn Fein population of Ireland the “History teaches us the councillors Seán Lynch, decision on the future. The lesson that as long as the British Londford and Joe O'Neill, remaining 82% count for government remains here there Bundoran. nothing. will always be those who will Following their “The Stormont talks can be oppose that British presence. contributions, there was an “inclusive, without History did not stop evolving in open, lively debate between the preconditions and within an August 1994. speakers and those who made agreed timeframe” but at the end “The obvious requirement the effort to attend. of the day are subject to Mr for a lasting peace was a public In his address Ruairí Ó Major’s “triple-lock”. British Declaration of Intent to Brádaigh said that the “This means British rule in quit Ireland. In that context Stormonttalks are confined Ireland is cemented by the Republican Sinn Féin proposes within the parameters of the requirements of a majority at an All-Ireland election to a Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985, the talks, a majority in a Six- Constituent Assembly which the Downing Street County referendum and the would frame a new constitution Declaration 1993 and the final say of a majority in the to be put to the people of the 32 • Ruairí Ó Brádaigh addressing the public meeting in Sligo. Framework documents 1994. British parliament,” he said. Counties in a referendum. Process is a modern version of 1921 Treaty “THE British government cannot rule justly in he said, the sooner it would over the last 70 years because of Irish people, the nationalists, withdrawal from Ireland is hasten the victory against the Ireland since it operates by propping up one partition.” and deny us self- being ignored by the political British State. Finally, quoting section of the community against another,” said Explaining to the audience determination.” establishments in London, an article in the Spectator by Republican Sinn Féin Vice President, Mary Ward, why Republican Sinn Féin did Therefore, it is Britain’s Dublin and Washington. Paul Johnson, written in the to a public meeting in London’s Conway Hall on not support the so-called ‘peace unwillingness to accept the Republican Sinn Féin and the early Seventies, Mary Ward December 14. She added: “How much more loss process’, she said: “With the democratic process in Ireland Republican Movement holds to said: of life and human suffering must be endured best will in the world, the which is morally wrong, she the firm belief that it is only “In Ireland over the before that simple lesson is learned?” current process cannot lead to a said. Our quarrel is not with when a “British declaration of centuries we have tried every just and lasting peace because it ordinary English people, it is intent to leave is achieved that possible formula; direct rule, Mary Ward, the main struggle for national is based on the wrong agenda. It with the British real talks can commence among indirect rule, genocide, speaker, was addressing a well- independence, which was is founded on the false belief that Establishment. The British the Irish people of all apartheid, puppet parliaments, attended public meeting on the signed by the Irish delegation one can ignore the underlying demand for ‘decommissioning’ traditions on the future of real parliaments, civil law, theme: ‘No Phoney Peace’ under Lloyd George’s threat of realities of the unjust settlement by the military wing of the Ireland, free from outside colonisation, land reform and which was organised by the “immediate and terrible war”. that caused the problem in the Provisionals is being insisted interference,” she said. partition. Nothing has worked. Republican Forum in London. “The reality of the Treaty first place — the partitioning of on because the British political Also addressing the The only solution we have not She spoke about the Irish was the partitioning of Ireland Ireland against the will of the and military establishment audience, Brian Higgins, of the tried is absolute and people’s resistance and by Britain in defiance of the will majority of Irish people. craves a surrender by its Irish Republican Forum, described unconditional withdrawal.” endurance against centuries of of the overwhelming majority “Politicians, clergy and enemies. Any surrender of the ‘peace process’ as “the Concluding her address oppression until the British of the Irish people,” she said. political observers who speak of arms, she said, would be seized modern-day version of the 1921 she said: “Today, I ask you, the government was forced to “The partitioning of Ireland has the democratic process seem to upon by the higher echelons Treaty.” He added: “We have British people, in the run-up negotiate a treaty with the disrupted the life of Ireland, forget or to ignore the fact that of the British Army and to establish and build links to a general election, to demand representatives of the Irish north and south, for over 70 both Irish statelets are the result intelligence services as meaning between those in Ireland and your government to make that people in 1921 that would years. It has cost thousands of of a negation of the democratic “we won the war” in true England who are prepared to unconditional withdrawal, so recognise the right of the Irish Irish, and indeed, British lives. process. They turn the imperial fashion. stand and oppose this British we, the Irish people, can look people to national self- Irish jails have been continually foundation of the democratic During the two years and ruling class agenda.” forward to the millennium, to determination. However, due to filled to bursting point. Several principle of majority rule on its three months since the The sooner we unite all the 21st Century, with peace British chicanery, the Treaty hundred thousand Irish men head when they say that 18% of unilateral, indefinite and struggles for democracy in and justice without having to became a devious scheme to and women have passed the Irish people, the unionists, unconditional ceasefire, the Ireland, Scotland, Wales and look back through ‘the long eye subvert the Irish people’s through Irish and English jails can veto the other 82% of the demand for a British England into one big struggle, of history’.”

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knew no bounds when it came Liverpool was the most hostile mass grave was reported in the Ballyseedy to supplying the wherewithal place the Irish could possibly press and then only in the for the Free State’s fratricidal find themselves in. Media Catholic Pictorial (September Memorial purge of Irish Republicans. outlets ran intense anti-Irish 6, 1981). The Free State became Éire feeling to prevent any solidarity Those Irish who escaped And in Irish, Ireland in English thus there may have been with the the typhus infection in Ireland those susceptible to the trickery Irish from the English working- and paid passage to the Dual of word play were fooled. class. Vicious Orange Lodge Americas too had reason to The magnitude of the attacks were common on the ‘thank’ Liverpool for its Carriageway wrongs committed by the Free vulnerable, murders and benevolence. Three quarters of A chara State have been shrouded and suicides were near daily the human traffic to cross the We the Trustees of concealed via state television, Ballyseedy Memorial Comm- state religion and Stalinist type ittee wish to put on record our revision which has impinged on total objection to any every aspect of Irish society. interference whatsoever to the The fact, however remains that memorial at Ballyseedy. the 26 County states existence The walls on the memorial is invalid and nonsensical, carry the names of Kerry’s equivalent to the sum that patriot dead, The O’Rahilly, 2+2=5. Ultimately everything Thomas Ashe, Charlie Daly, which stems from that source Aero Lyons, Charlie Kerins, will be fundamentally flawed Maurice O’Neill to name but a whether social, economic or few. Any county that produced academic. men of this calibre and nobility No amount of green flag should be justly proud. waving will ever legitimise the Ballyseedy is Kerry’s illegitimate puppet assembly of “Garden of Remembrance” and Leinster House. has an honoured place in the We can but aspire to rebuild freedom struggle of this upon the truth and legitimacy country. Would the Irish people contained within the allow a road through the GPO Republican Movement in the in Dublin where the historic hope of carving out a new Rising of 1916 took place. We Ireland. But until we are in a don’t think so, neither should position to do so, we must keep we in Kerry allow a road our heads above the cesspool through Ballyseedy Memorial. that is Leinster House, lest we MICHAEL O’BRIEN drown. JOHN GODLEY PAUL FINN MAURICE DOWLING Waterford MATT LEEN MAITIÚ Ó DUBHDHA Diverting Co Kerry The ‘Irish • Under threat from a proposed dual carriageway: the Ballyseedy Memorial outside Tralee, Co Kerry (see letter above). Public Unveiled in 1959 to honour the eight Republican prisoners blown up by a Free State bomb on March 6, 1923, the Question’ Memorial also carries the names of the Roll of Honour of Kerry No 1 Brigade, IRA. Mind will still be around and we will ‘famine’ years while this occurrences. Corpses were Atlantic sailed from Liverpool; Stems A chara undoubtedly be treated to more dispossessed Irish mass fished out of the Mersey daily. 95% of which were Irish. Dr News reports that the fanciful tales of royal perished less than a couple of Then the final insult: the bodies Douglas, the Medical Officer at from Prince of Wales, aka Charles, parasitism being spared the yards from where these ships would be put on display naked Grosse Isle, Canada, started in and his former spouse, Diana, consequences of the deeds of berthed with food destined for to the public from behind bars his report that in his opinion Remote were targets of a Provisional those who govern in its name. the belly of the British that opened on to the street “the filthy Liverpool slums, Irish Republican Army ROBERT E NORDLANDER bourgeoisie. In fact both food known as the ‘Drowned where poor emigrants were Causes assassination plot strongly and starving refugees were House’. No, this was the flight forced to lodge before A chara suggest that the Major Wisconsin, USA shipped out together from of the very poor, many having embarking, were one of the main Thomas Hobbes the government has concocted a Ireland bound for Liverpool. been given the small amount for causes of the ship fever Seventeenth Century story that will put it in a Liverpool Dr Duncan became the first the crossing by landowners’ disaster.” (The Great Hunger, philosopher stated in his epic favourable light with the British Medical Officer of Health ever agents to clear them off the land p 278.) political work Leviathan that electorate and public opinion in And the to be appointed in Britain from once and for all. Others were It has been estimated, “ignorance of remote causes the world by again casting the 1847-1863. His appointment carried as live ship’s ballast; though not widely known, that disposeth men to attribute all IRA in the role of villain and Great was as a direct result of the they wanted only to be fed. 100,000 Irish souls were swept events to causes immediate and nemesis to everything that is horrors of British rule in Ireland Decades after the ‘famine’ the away in Liverpool during the instrumental for these are all the “decent, right, true and British.” Hunger exploding onto the streets of Liverpool Irish ghettos were a genocidal years of the Gael causes they perceive”. After all, Major and the A chara Liverpool, horrors that were death trap; 64% of its children (Pardon and Peace by Rev Hobbes was essentially Conservatives will soon face an Where does the Irish Free seeping into the wealthier never reached the age of nine Friel). This is a city that up until saying that without an angry British electorate fed up State government get off taking districts of this city. compared to 39% in London. today has no memorial to those understanding of remote (ie with its mismanagement of its it upon itself to thank Liverpool England ‘was’ a socially For the rest of working-class in who perished in its guts nor has historical) events, then we may affairs. Surely, news that it for its benevolent role towards backward country compared to Liverpool it was 49%. much consciousness of this only see things within their prevented the demise of the the Irish refugees that arrived other European nations of that During the ‘famine’ years trauma, much to our shame. The present context without royals just might make the in the port of Liverpool during time. The English working class Liverpool’s answer wasn’t schools of the city teach the understanding how they came inevitable Tory political debacle the ‘famine’ years. “It is keen of Liverpool lived and worked medical help or sufficient food. descendants of the banished about. on the horizon a trifle less to acknowledge the city’s in the most horrendous In fact, Martial law was called Gael who survived this The “Irish Question” stems disastrous. That this news rests special role in accepting and conditions, the worst in Britain. for from certain quarters. Mass Holocaust only the ‘glorious’ from many remote causes, none upon the word of a paid Irish caring for Irish migrants” – Avril The British army complained arrests and deportations took rule of the British Empire, not more relevant and vital to our informant supposedly who had Doyle TD, Irish minister for after rejecting 75% of the city’s place. Two thousand fully the fact that it tried to wipe understanding of Irelands access to the higher councils of state. working-class men on health armed soldiers were sent north them out. present plight than the the IRA, where the plot was Their praise conjures up grounds that they ‘were unfit from London, 800 Cheshire The truth about this suppression of the Republic in allegedly hatched, has not pictures of these starving and to be shot at’. It is hard to Yeomanry, 700 Auxiliary men British-manufactured ‘famine’ 1922. prevented international news dying refugees being rushed to believe that people could live arrived and three war ships tragedy has never really been Republicans have always media from reporting this Emergency Ward Ten on arrival, in worse conditions, but they sailed for Liverpool and told. And if this revisionist argued that Collins, Griffith, probable British disinformation awash with Live Aid concerts. did. “It is they [the Irish] who anchored in the Mersey. tampering carries on, it never Barton and Gavin Duffy had as fact. As is known the truth was far inhabit the filthiest and worst Twenty thousand, mainly will. exceeded their powers as Another motive for this from that! These starving of these unventilated courts and from the lower middle-class, Just for the record, Ms plenipotentiaries by signing the probable British disinformation people were left mainly to fend cellars.” (Dr Duncan of many of them Orange Lodge Avril Doyle, the first relief ever Treaty of December 1921 (see is the success of recent movies for themselves, countless Liverpool speaking in 1842.) members were made special organised in Liverpool for Irish SAOIRSE October 1996). Of such as In the Name of the thousands died in appalling Much worse was to come with constables to bolster the already ‘famine’ victims was by Irish relevance also is the fact that Father and Michael Collins in conditions; 40 or 50 deep in the advent of the ‘Great Famine’ 800-strong Liverpool police navvies who were building a the Second All -Ireland Dáil making the international Liverpool’s pestilent cellars. looming in Ireland. force, for the sole duty of railway from Liverpool to could not be legislated out of community increasingly aware These ‘dungeons’ had already The only reason the keeping these destitute Irish Bury, Lancashire. They donated existence by either Westminster of the justice the Irish people been condemned in 1842 after ‘kindly’ city fathers didn’t contained. a day’s pay each. This is in stark or its creation Leinster House. have been fighting for during its another Irish influx from close off the Port of Liverpool They may have also been contrast to the ‘Honourable’ David Lloyd George and bitter years of association with hunger, and bricked up thanks to the Irish as did the Isle of used to dig the secret mass James Lawrence, the Tory Lord Winston Churchill realised that the British crown. Surely, it to the work of the famous Dr Man authorities was Liverpool graves that have been unearthed Mayor of Liverpool in 1845 Dáil Éireann would ultimately was time to divert the public Duncan of Liverpool. Our was the ex-African slave capital in the city and recently came to and local booze baron, who have to be suppressed if their mind with some more people had to smash their way of the world; it was well used light, the latest in 1973 refused to hold any conference treaty of surrender were to denomination of the IRA. into these cellars because there to shipping millions of humans containing 3,561 bodies stacked on relief for the Irish. succeed. Well, “dat ol’ debbil”, the was no other place for them. in stinking fever-ridden holds in order of presumed age that A book that is a must to be A rubicon in Irish political IRA just won’t go away until The living were left to lie of its ships across the Atlantic. were secretly incinerated before read on this Holocaust is The affairs was crossed on June 30, the British lion gets its bloody with the dead in these hell- There was much money to be tests could be carried out. This End of Hidden Ireland by RJ 1922 when Treatyite forces claws removed from the soil of holes. Disease was rampant. At made for the powerful was on British Home Office Scally. bombarded the Four Courts Ireland. The only question the same time, British merchant shipowners etc. orders which it now denies S RYAN with artillery supplied by available for negotiation is ships stuffed tight with quality To say people chose to knowledge of. It is now known D Ó hÉANACHÁIN British forces. Indeed it must when will that withdrawal take foodstuffs arrived at Liverpool stay on in Liverpool, rather than as the ‘Mystery’ Mass Grave. James Larkin Association be said that Britain’s generosity place? Until it does, the IRA from Ireland throughout the cross the Atlantic, is laughable. It took eight years before this Liverpool SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 13

of about a dozen rebels arrived in a vehicle painted as an ambulance Ghanaian to head UN immediately after the operation began, then jumped a fence and On December 13 the United Nations (UN) Security Coun- entered through the back of the building, leaving the vehicle’s engine cil unanimously elected Ghanaian UN official Kofi Annan on with a box of ammunition inside. Minutes later, the rebels set to a five-year term as UN secretary general starting on off an explosive device near the ambassador’s residence, causing January 1. General Assembly approval was expected to come many security agents to run off to the site of the explosion. within a week. Europe ditches Cuba for US The US backed Annan and vetoed the reelection of current ON DECEMBER 2 the 15 member states of the European secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali, an Egyptian whose pre- Union (EU) unanimously passed a resolution warning that ferred European language is French. Diplomats said language was business and trade relations with Cuba would depend on one factor in the US opposition to Boutros-Ghali. Annan is fluent that country’s “improvements in human rights and political in English: he got his college degree from Macalester College in St. freedom.” Paul, Minnesota and his master’s degree from the Massachusetts The resolution, which was sponsored by Spain, also called for Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been UN under secretary the release of political prisoners and reforms in the criminal code, for peacekeeping operations since 1993 and has been a strong and committed the EU to increasing support for Cuban opposition proponent of multinational interventions. groups. Both the EU and the US were careful not to confirm reports Peru rebels demand release that the EU hoped the US would reciprocate by again postponing of jailed militants AS we went to press, a commando of about 23 Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) rebels was continuing to hold 74 hostages in the Lima residence of Japan’s ambassador to Peru, Morihisa Aoki, which it seized in a surprise raid on December 17. On New Year’s Eve, after two weeks of the siege, the MRTA staged a news conference in the Japanese envoy’s residence addressed by their leader, Nestor Cerpa Cartolini. He reiterated the central demand of the Tupac Amaru: the release of more than 400 of their prisoners in Peru. Conditions in jail were equal to a “slow death sentence”, he said. Cerpa, wearing a red scarf and military clothing, urged the media to visit the prisons and report on their plight with the same concern that they had shown for the hostages. He also referred to “State terrorism that kills thousands and thousands of children from starvation.” Tupac Amaru was an Indian who, 200 years ago, nearly overthrew Spanish rule when he led a force to lay siege to La Paz, then capital of upper Peru. Claiming descent from the last Inca emperor Tupac Amaru came close to expelling the Spanish colonists with his year-long siege. His followers, made up of Quecha and Aymara peoples, aimed to restore Inca sovereignty, “the greatest empire South America has ever seen.” (Irish Times, December 19.) Peruvian President Alberto Fujimoro appeared to soften his stance on December 30, saying that he would consider granting safe passage out of the country to the MRTA group if they released their captives and laid down their weapons. • The central players in the Peruvian crisis: (left) Nestor Cerpa Cartolini, leader of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary The MRTA released 225 hostages late on December 22, Movement and (right) Alberto Fujimoro, Peruvian president who staged a “self-coup” with the military in 1992, including seven mid-level US government officials. No other US dissolved Congress and the courts system and radically revised the Constitution. nationals are thought to remain among the hostages. The rebels freed Uruguay ambassador Tabare Bocalandro residence began, its representatives had not been allowed into Peru’s implementation of a section of the Cuban Liberty Act of 1996 Yapeyu on December 24, after an Uruguayan appeals court refused prisons to visit inmates serving sentences for alleged involvement (better known as “Helms-Burton”) allowing lawsuits in the US Peru’s extradition request and freed two imprisoned MRTA in armed rebel groups. The Peruvian government has apparently against foreigners who invest in contested properties in Cuba. militants. The Red Cross subsequently revised downward by 35 suspended a March 1993 agreement that allowed the CICR to US president Bill Clinton has to decide by January 16 whether its estimate of the number of captives still held. Guatemala’s make direct visits to the imprisoned rebels and monitor their to extend the postponement for another six months. A State ambassador to Peru was released on December 26, in a gesture of treatment. The decision may have been made as a punitive measure Department official called the EU resolution “a breakthrough in support for the peace agreement to be signed December 29 by the against the rebels or to prevent communication between MRTA US-EU relations,” according to the Wall Street Journal. government and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity members in prison and those holding the ambassador’s residence. (URNG) guerrillas. Peruvian human rights advocate Francisco Soberon said that police Guatemala peace accord On December 28 Education Minister Domingo Palermo, the have detained 28 people in connection with the siege itself, and Peruvian government’s officially designated negotiator in the that no one has been allowed to communicate with these detainees. signed hostage crisis, entered the ambassador’s residence for the first time On December 29 the Guatemalan government and the since the crisis began, accompanied by mediator Michel Minnig of Tupac Amaru critical of Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) rebel the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR) and Ayacucho movement met in Guatemala City where they signed a archbishop Juan Luis Cipriani, who is a member of the far rightwing neoliberal economic policies comprehensive peace agreement ending a civil war that Catholic society Opus Dei and a close associate of President Alberto ON DECEMBER 27, the Japanese government began started in 1960. Kenyo Fujimori. seeking to create a united front of industrialised nations to Eleven heads of state and representatives of 126 countries After Palermo met with the rebels for over three hours, three pressure the MRTA to release the hostages. were expected to attend the ceremony, for which the government hostages—the ambassadors of the Dominican Republic and In response, the Group of 7 nations (G7, consisting of Britain, mobilised a security force of some 2,000 police agents. Malaysia, and Peruvian Exporters Association president Juan Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US), joined by Despite relief at the end of a war that left, by some estimates, Enrique Pendavis—walked out to read an MRTA communiqué Russia, condemned the hostage-taking, expressed support for the more than 150,000 dead, 45,000 disappeared and 10% of the announcing their own release and that of another 17 hostages, Peruvian government and reaffirmed the group’s position that no population displaced, many Guatemalans feel dubious about the mostly Peruvian businesspeople. concessions should be made to “terrorists.” peace process, which is expected to cost $215 million for There were still 74 hostages as of News Year’s Eve, including After the US hostages were released, the US apparently demobilisation of the combatants, $1.196 billion for development the ambassadors of Japan, Bolivia and nine Peruvian generals; a “slipped into the background,” according to the New York Times, of social services, $332 million for economic development and number of Peruvian Cabinet ministers, Supreme Court judges and and toned down its previous demands that the Peruvian government $293 million for strengthening democratic processes—a total of congresspeople; President Fujimori’s brother; six Japanese make no concessions to the rebels. “We’re no longer directly $2.436 billion, of which foreign aid will have to account for $1.712 businesspeople; and 16 Japanese diplomats. involved with this,” said one US government official. In fact, the billion. Despite the peace process, 1,406 human rights violations The Peruvian government has refused to restore electrical and US establishment seems split on whether to pursue the hard line. were recorded in 1996, including 112 extrajudicial executions, 785 phone service to the occupied residence, despite pleas from current “Make no mistake about it,” a Washington Post editorial says. murders, 179 attempted murders, 302 threats and six cases of and former hostages. “The guerrillas... are terrorists.” Peru’s “government is on the side torture. The lack of power also means there is no running water, since of life and law” against a “desperate band.” the electric water pumps cannot function. As of December 25, the But an editorial in the New York Times notes the similarity Clinton assembles Red Cross had installed nine water tanks inside the building for use between the Lima crisis and the M-19’s seizure of the Dominican in washing and flushing toilets; drinking water is brought in daily. embassy in Bogota in 1980—an incident that ended peacefully interventionist cabinet The Peruvian government is continuing to insist that the rebels lay after two months with the Colombian government agreeing to a On December 5 US president Bill Clinton announced the down their weapons and free all the hostages before the government large ransom, safe passage to Cuba for the hostage-takers and appointment of UN ambassador Madeleine Albright to serve will consider negotiating. fairer trials for guerrillas. “Mr. Fujimori can afford to demonstrate The rebels are demanding the release of some 400 imprisoned similar patience,” the Times advises. as secretary of state during his second term. MRTA militants, changes in Fujimori’s neoliberal economic plan, The Times also reported seriously on the MRTA’s criticism of Senator William Cohen (R-ME), who was retiring from the and safe passage back to their base in the jungle. US-sponsored neoliberal economic policies, which have left Peru Senate, will become secretary of defence, while Clinton’s current In the December 28 communiqué, its third since taking over with one of the region’s heaviest debt loads and with 85% of the national security adviser, Anthony Lake, will head the Central the ambassador’s residence, the MRTA also expressed regret that working population unable to get full-time jobs. The MRTA Intelligence Agency (CIA), replacing John Deutch. Deputy national certain political and media sectors “insist on calling us a terrorist supports regional trade accords and some privatisation but opposes security adviser Samuel (“Sandy”) Berger will move up into Lake’s and genocidal band” and asked that these sectors stop “comparing the sales of public companies in strategic industries like oil and post. us with Sendero Luminoso [Peruvian Communist Party (PCP)], electricity, according to ex-hostages. Albright, who was born in the former Czechoslovakia, will be an organisation which we have condemned repeatedly for its use The rebels “would focus economic development on the the first women secretary of state in US history. As UN ambassador of irrational violence...” agricultural and industrial sectors, which they believe would she “enthralled the Cuban-American lobby in Florida” with her The communiqué went on to emphasise the MRTA’s desire provide more jobs, as opposed to mining and capital-intensive speeches against Cuban president Fidel Castro, according to the to see its occupation of the ambassador’s residence resolved through industries,” said former hostage Manuel Romero Caro, director of New York Times. dialogue, “for which it is important to figure out why we arrived at the financial publication Gestion. Albright was reportedly one of the administration’s proponents this extreme situation, and look at the situation of the prisons, and Austrian diplomat Artur Schuschnigg, one of the 225 hostages of military actions in Haiti, Iraq and Bosnia Herzegovina; former the drama that relatives of our prisoner comrades have been living released on December 22, praised the “impressive discipline” of US military head Gen. Colin Powell quotes Albright as asking him: for years.” the rebels. Schuschnigg said there were two women among the “What’s the point of having this superb military you’re always The Peruvian government announced in the official daily on rebels in the ambassador’s residence, “one 15 years old and the talking about if we can’t use it?” Lake was another strong supporter December 27 that on December 18 Fujimori had extended other 16.” of military intervention in Haiti and Bosnia. emergency powers to the security forces in Lima and the adjacent The MRTA operation had been carefully planned. The 25 or But Lawrence Eagleburger, secretary of state at the end of port city of Callao for 60 days, allowing soldiers and police to so rebels were divided in three groups. The first group entered George Bush’s term, complained about Albright’s abrasive enter homes without warrants, search cars at random and detain disguised as waiters with the service personnel and brought in representation of US opposition to the reappointment of UN people without charges. The state of emergency was already in some weapons with the serving utensils. (Some of the freed hostages secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali. “If we want to exercise effect in much of the rest of Peru, and had been in effect in Lima said they had noticed strange behaviour among waiters, including American imperialism, we should do it with more finesse,” he said. until two years ago. clumsiness — one waiter spilled a drink on a woman’s dress.) “She’s irritated a lot of people, especially in the Third World,” The International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR) revealed The second group entered bringing the floral arrangements for notes an Arab diplomat who requested anonymity. on December 26 that since the MRTA siege on the ambassador’s the party — with guns hidden among the flowers. The third group (Source: Weekly News Update on the Americas, New York.) SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 14 HARRY WHITE APPEAL — ‘BIG JIM’ LARKIN DIES Were we ourselves in the coffin? ON DECEMBER No. We were marching in the street, 13, 1946 — the Alive — grateful to the dead one. day after Harry White was sentenced to CHAMPION death — his The champion of the Dublin workers was solicitor Con born in Liverpool in 1876 of South Armagh Lehane visited parents. He went to school in Newry for a him in the number of years while residing there with his condemned cell in grandparents. Following his return to Liverpool he worked Mountjoy. as a labourer, a seaman and a dock foreman. He He came to get Harry’s formal lost the latter job when he went on strike in signature on an application to appeal sympathy with the men he was supervising. to the Court of Criminal Appeal. Working for the National Union of Dock Such was possible under the Labourers he was sent to Belfast in 1907. Within Military Tribunal but not under the a short time he had organised a wave of strikes Special Military Court which including one by the Royal Irish Constabulary functioned from 1940 to 1945. which had been sent in to quell the strikers. The latter had lapsed with the ending of the For a short time he succeeded in getting the Emergency Powers Acts 1939-40. Harry says: workers to bridge the sectarian, political and “Very important for me, the military court — cultural divides. However, solidarity did not last death or acquittal — was terminated in the Free and he was transferred to Dublin in 1908. State in May 1945, at the end of the war in Differences with the NUDL led to the Europe.” Bowyer Bell remarks that “the time foundation there of the Irish Transport and spent (by Harry) on the banjo in Derry was not General Workers’ Union in December 1908 — wasted.” January 1909. His activities in the capital are Meanwhile a “Harry White Defence Fund” well chronicled and in 1912 as a prominent was set up because his “lawyers and their few member of the Irish Trades Union Congress, he helpers inevitably had to carry the entire cost of backed the call for a Labour Party made by James all proceedings.” Connolly. The Defence Fund Committee was as With Connolly he led the 1913 Lock-Out by follows: Ruaidhrí Ó Drisceoil, Corcaigh, the Dublin workers and in October 1914 he went (Cathaoirleach); May Laverty, Belfast and Mary on a lecture-tour of the US to raise funds. His Nelson (rúnaíthe); Charlie McGlade, Belfast; Ben “visit” lasted nine years. Doyle, Dublin; Madge Daly, Limerick; Madame Mac Bride; Mrs Buckley; Bean Chathail Brugha; • Jim Larkin ‘THE WOBBLIES’ Bean Aibhistún de Staic; Bean Thomáis Mhic it does not suit their case. the age of 71. The veteran and often controversial He worked there with the syndicalist Curtáin; Mrs Patsy O’Hagan, Dundalk; Maurice “They rehearse their evidence, just as actors trade union leader was honoured on all sides as International Workers of the World (known as Twomey; Jim Killean; Joe Clarke; Domhnall Ó do; they coach and doctor it to get convictions.” his funeral procession wound its way through the “Wobblies”) for which James Connolly had Donnchadha; Roger McHugh; Charlie Reynolds, Mac Bride in his concluding address accused the Dublin in a snow-locked land to Glasnevin laboured previously. Imprisoned for his trade Tuam; Séamus Ryan, Strokestown; Cllr DJ prosecution of falling into the error of ignoring Cemetery. union activities on a charge of “Criminal O’Driscoll, Carrick-on-Shannon; Pádraig Mac two cardinal rules of evidence. Brendan Behan was there and later wrote a Anarchy” he served several years in Sing Sing. Lógáin, Portlaoise and John Joe Sheehy, Tralee. poem in Irish which was carried in COMHAR in During his time in jail he was annually re- Harry comments that “their names still ring MATTER OF LAW March or April that year. It is rather similar in elected General Secretary of the ITGWU. From out like a Who’s Who of the Movement of fifty The first was that where the evidence was theme to his verses on Seán McCaughey: his prison cell he denounced the Treaty of years ago”, that is of the mid-1930s since his reasonably capable of two or more constructions, Surrender. In January 1923 he was released by book was published in 1985. then as a matter of law — not of discretion — order of the Governor of New York State, Al An old warder told the writer of a near- the court must give it that construction which Smith and returned to Ireland to a triumphalist dramatic event in Mountjoy while Harry was was most favourable to the accused. reception. under sentence of death. He was lodged in the It occurred to him “that in every single matter It was April 30, 1923 the day the so-called upper condemned cell, D2 Wing, while the Special to which Mr Murnaghan (for the prosecution) Civil War ended in effect. Larkin called for peace Branch with sub-machine guns occupied the had referred the furthest he had been able to put in an Ireland changed from 1914 out of all lower condemned cell on D1. it was on the balance of probability. That was a recognition. When he attempted to regain control One day Harry passed a group of warders feeble position when a man’s life was at stake.” of the ITGWU it was resisted and William and Branch chatting in their boredom at the foot No opportunity for such nice points of law O’Brien with Thomas Johnson engineered his of the stairs situated mid-way up D Wing on appeal existed when the Special Military expulsion. compound. He went down with his basin to the Court was used against Republicans. No appeal With his brother Peter and son “Young Jim” tap at the end of the wing. of any kind was permitted! Harry’s case was he organised a new union, the Workers Union of This was located outside D1 condemned cell adjourned while the judges considered the Ireland which won support from Dublin workers. and the Branch men suddenly realised they had arguments. The split in the labour movement continued into left a Thompson gun in that empty cell. Meanwhile, of course, life went on. Bread the 1930s as Larkin built up the WUI. Conversation froze until Harry returned with his rationing had been brought in (in addition to other In the ’40s he secured amendments to the basin of water! rationing) in the Six Counties the previous July. Trade Union Act of 1941 and opposed the Wages In January 1947 it was introduced in the 26 Standstill Order of that year. On September 1, APPEAL Counties. Wartime hardship continued. 1942 the eve of the execution of Tom Williams in The hearing of the appeal was fixed for Then an event of enormous significance to Belfast jail he spoke at a monster protest meeting January 26, 1947 automatically postponing the rural areas took place — the beginnings of the • Brendan Behan outside Dublin’s Mansion House. hanging from the 3rd. Judges Gavan Duffy, James rural electrification scheme which was to change A young boy of nine or ten attending with Geoghan and Martin Maguire heard it. the face of the countryside. Jim Larkin his parents remembers vividly Big Jim saying: Harry considered himself lucky to have Gavan On November 5, 1946 the first pole in this “Dinny Guiney has promised me that he will close down (Clery’s Department Store and Duffy and Maguire, men of stature with operation was erected at Kilsallaghan, in north Ba mise é! Ba gach mac máthar againné! Guiney’s of Talbot Street) tomorrow.” In fact impressive legal backgrounds. Their function was County Dublin. On New Year’s Day 1947 the Sinn féin. Láider. Mar ab áil linn a bheith, there was a nation-wide close-down as the young to review the trial to see that it was carried out in first switch-on took place at Oldtown, also in Mar ab eol dúinn a bheith. Republican was hanged. accordance with legal principles and particularly the Fingall area of County Dublin. Eisean ag bagairt troda is ag bronnadh that the evidence was sufficient to justify It was not until 1978 that all rural areas of fuascailte — Another bitter fight took place in the Labour conviction. the 26 Counties were supplied with electricity Is sinn -ne ag leanúint a chonra trí chlabbhéal movement in 1945 when the ITGWU disaffiliated “MacBride,” Harry says, “never a man to be when the Black Valley in South Kerry was the na cathrach from Congress with 15 Irish unions to establish carried away thought the chances were middling last area to receive it. The significant aspect of all I mbéiceanna móra feirge. good.” Lehane had been in his usual jocular form this was that the scheme was financed entirely the rival Comhar Céard Éireann, the Congress of during the visit in Mountjoy: swapping yarns out of native resources. Irish Unions or CIU. Larkin stayed with the WUI in the Irish TUC and re-union did not come until and telling stories. But then he had seen six other There were no Structural Funds or Cohesion Ag leanúint a chónra trí chlab na cathrach the birth of ICTU in 1959. men since 1940 in similar situations and none Funds from the EU and the rural electrification aréir Five Deputies of the Labour Party withdrew had emerged. scheme — as with the original Shannon scheme An sinn-ne a bhí sa chónra? to form National Labour at the time. Jim Larkin The prisoner is not present during an appeal. 20 years earlier — was a great example of Irish Níorbh ea: bhíomar sa tsráid ag máirseáil spent his last two years fighting rising prices The lawyers argue the case out in matters of law. self-reliance. Beo, buíoch don mharbh. Seán MacBride stated that if an illegal arrest was We could do it ourselves — and the necessary which bore heavily on the working class. Fifty years ago he was borne to his last attempted and police were killed in the course of skilled personnel in the Shannon Scheme were He was me — he was every mother’s son of resting place near the Republican Plot in it, it was not “murder”; likewise if an arrest was hired, learned from and then sent home. us, Glasnevin. Big Jim was beloved of the Dublin carried out in an illegal fashion, the offence was Winter 1947 was one of the worst on record. Ourselves alone —strong as we wished to workers whom “he found on their knees and reduced from murder to manslaughter. Cold and fuel shortages caused industrial be, raised to their feet.” He was referring to the manner in which 14 closedowns. Snow lay on the ground As we knew how to be. He was and he remains a source of pride and Holly Road was staked out in darkness and then continuously for more than three weeks in late He was threatening fight and bringing inspiration to working people not only in Ireland assailed by police without prior announcement January and for most of February. freedom, but everywhere. God rest his mighty soul. and with guns blazing. Communications were disrupted and the We following his coffin through the jaws of The prosecution would not admit that they picture of a pregnant woman about to give birth the city, (More next month. Ref. Harry by Harry withheld evidence, the record book and where being brought down the Wicklow mountains on Amid great bellows of rage. the police bullets, many of them wild, had found a sheet of galvanised iron pulled as a sled caught White; A Dictionary of Irish History 1800-1980 and A Chronology of Irish History since 1500, targets. Harry comments that police all over the the public imagination. Following his coffin through the jaws of the both by DJ Hickey and JG Doherty.) world hold back evidence where they can, where Then on January 30, Big Jim Larkin died at city last night, SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 15

Irish unity that would in consequence Orrin Hatch had lured gullible Irish benefit the Republican Movement Americans into the trap set by whose purpose is to achieve such Margaret Thatcher and he sprung it. Fenian Notes unity. She and Hatch zeroed in on the He is once again openly supporting By our Washington Correspondent MacBride Principles, which were London. aimed at US firms’ compliance with He had used well-intentioned Fair Employment. people and then reported to British HE Irish American Community power structure that might have future The British had already Intelligence. The senator was a member (IAC) has been both directly repercussions to the US-British committed to Fair Employment but of the Senate Select Committee on and historically in support of special relationship. realised that if US groups became Intelligence which is in bed with the theT Irish Republican Movement as the In a contrived discrete low-key engrossed in the MacBride campaign Brits. truly positive tradition in Ireland. attack, Thatcher was the brains and it would cause them to deplete their It would still retain the vocal Reagan her yes-man who implemented resources and monopolise their time. ABANDONED priority regarding the demand for a her instructions. We have noted They would also devote considerable Today, the IAC has abandoned British withdrawal (or stated intent to previously how Thatcher wanted to make Irish Americans see him in a time to fund-raising. their hard-core support for the more favourable light. He planned to do so) and full self-determination for Congressman Mario Biaggi out of the The Brits had people in their Republican Movement. They have the Irish people, as an entirety, on the way because of his outspoken take an interpretative pro-Irish stance employ who could go to cities and jumped into the so-called peace island of Ireland. But the IAC has been commitment to the cause of Irish that would be seen as taking on states and speak against MacBride and process. Peace within the Union is the Thatcher. consciously diverted from this most freedom and open association with the British government had plenty of ultimate pursuit of the ‘peace’ honourable of pursuits in a typically leaders of the Republican Movement. Regarding the treaty, Britain resources. Expenditures were a drop process. It must be opposed, resisted American genre of greed and pursuit Taking his cue, Reagan used his requested the United States to remove in the bucket. and destroyed. the political offence exception from of status. political police force, the Federal ATCH was told by the British The new scenario of the IAC is Some members of the IAC were Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to set the US-Britain extradition treaty so Embassy to speak up and that it is alright to be involved and to naïve, some duped, some foolish, but Biaggi up. Mr Biaggi was framed and they could have Irish Republicans encourage MacBride while the compromise. Physical force is to be extradited. far too many were guilty of wantonly he was forced to resign from Congress. BritsH publicly opposed the campaign. condemned if an organisation wants deserting Irish Republicanism. He was placed in a conveyor belt Irish Americans were opposed to It was the seed planted to divert the to be a player in the status quo. Perhaps some self-deprecation system of justice like that in Ireland this treaty, so Hatch let the British IAC from the campaign of Irish Resistance is now interpreted as know he would oppose them, but they will somehow ignite those who cherish and Britain. freedom. an error. Peace at any price is the honour back to the solitary Nobel The next phase, breaching the Irish were assured of its passage by their It worked on the weak, but standard, and the British are to be cause of Irish freedom embodied by American community, required more point-man on the treaty, Indiana GOP committed Irish Republicans remained considered as benevolent. Senator Richard Lugar. those under the patronage of the late stealth and a plan had to be well laid true. It would be the very groundwork England is the mother country and Commandant-General Tom Maguire, out and kept secret. Thatcher decided Hatch was clever because he to the acceptance of the ‘peace process’ Margaret Thatcher is the godmother the very harbinger of legitimacy. to approach the most pro-British US wanted the Brits to have their treaty, which took a new mindset of to Hatch and yes to Kennedy. To this yet he wanted to ingratiate himself Irish American activists have Senator, Utah’s Orrin Hatch, to have compromise and appeasement. mentality the English-speaking world implied an allegiance to the Republican his input on a strategy to crack the with the IAC by opposing the treaty. A litmus test was put to Senator is superior and biblically predicated. Movement, or at a minimum, its IAC. Also, he wanted to be on record, in Hatch when he was approached to help God himself is the founder of the principle, because he could fight similar principles. Some people had a P until this time Hatch had reverse the US visa policy regarding “special relationship”. problem with some of the tactics of been vilified by the IAC as treaties which affect groups in nations certain leaders of the Republican The IAC needs an examination of the military organisation of the particularly insensitive on he personally wanted to protect. Movement. He was uneasy over this conscience to redirect itself to the Deep down he did not want to Movement because the US-British UIrish issues. He was and is so pro- issue which if rectified and justice done politically moral position of pursuit establishment dictates that they should British that he could not see the Irish help the Irish, but he would be a would allow spokespersons into the of a British withdrawal. The hidden have a problem, but just as many right on anything. hypocrite if he had different views on US who could not be controlled. agenda of the ‘peace’ process is a more the same principle depending on who accepted the use of physical force as a Hatch and Thatcher concocted a The names Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, (the equally based society in the Six necessity, without judgement, in plan that would commence with a wanted to invoke the political late) Dáithí Ó Conaill and Gerry Counties, but all parties must sign on dealing with the British. scenario which would ingratiate the exception. Adams were put to him by an IAC to Partition. Hatch spoke out against the treaty, The IAC has been polluted. A senator with Irish Americans on delegation. His reaction was not HE ‘peace’ process isdeceiving covert effort ignited a callous change selected issues. The role Hatch would but provided no concrete leadership blatantly hostile, but it was close and because it is run by peace from the pursuit of justice to the play was to be vociferous, but do little that would have delivered votes. The he returned to form. He said the British predators not peacemakers. senator was operating a state-managed pursuit of peace at any price and an or nothing to obstruct the British. regarded them as terrorists and so he TPeace as presently pursued does not attempt to dismantle the cause of Irish Prior to the solicitation of Hatch scenario intended to give no solace to had to accept their characterisation. have the good of the Irish people at freedom. by Thatcher, his associates in his home the Irish, but a well-conceived triumph When pressed, Hatch admitted Ó heart, but it is aimed to solidify the for the British. Hatch reported to the In reflection, the political success state had met with and endorsed Rev Brádaigh and Ó Conaill would be kept US-British special relationship by of the IAC in the 1970s alarmed the Martin Smyth and the Orange Order. Brits every step of the way. out because of their credibility and that publicising that the predators: London, British and they set out to destroy or This fact was in the media, but they would rejuvenate the issue of a Dublin and Washington, really want strategically divert as much IAC was not well publicised. Senator Hatch PANEL British withdrawal. Adams was a justice. activity as they were able. could have stopped the endorsement, To bolster his image further, Hatch different matter because he was Hatch and his covert circle but he chose not to. called a hearing of his Constitutional capable of compromise. succeeded in causing confusion on Irish ALLIES Senator Hatch made it quite public Law Sub-Committee which Later it was revealed Hatch had values in enough people to divert the The Brits have close allies in the how he supported Margaret Thatcher constructed a panel to give pro and been clued in by Senator Ted Kennedy efforts of groups seeking entrée to the States and they used them. These allies on all issues. He changed his line to con on the viability of such a treaty. that John Hume and Gerry Adams had Establishment away from the primacy are extreme pro-British people who support for Mrs Thatcher on all things The hearing was inconclusive and the been in consultation about a way out of a British withdrawal. Remember the see the US-British axis as a very save Ireland. Committee Chairperson made no of physical force. The stage was being three ‘Ps’ – (1) peace process plus (2) superior people. They tend to be This was the first step of the recommendation. He could have come set, and he knew Adams would be peace at any price equals (3) white, right-wing, so-called Christians. protracted Hatch incursion into the down on Thatcher. It was within his flexible. permanent partition. Be wary of the The assault on Irish America began issues of the IAC. He started to seek power to stop the treaty. As suddenly as he jumped into predators of peace during the political marriage of issues to lure Irish Americans into his Next, Hatch joined Mario Biaggi’s Irish affairs, the senator abruptly went Honest Republicanism cannot be President Ronald Reagan to British confidence in a way he could subtly Irish Affairs Committee and endorsed silent. He quit the Irish Committee and stopped by the peace perverts. We Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. manipulate them. key Irish organisations. He sought out closed his office doors to his Irish must support continuity in British Intelligence had warned their When the supplemental extradition more issues. contacts. He announced that all his Republicanism Tory supporters that Irish Americans treaty with Britain was introduced in Margaret Thatcher wanted Irish support would go to Senator Kennedy — Peadar Mac Fhínín had made serious inroads into the US the US Congress, Hatch saw a chance Americans to get off the Holy Grail of and John Hume. Jim McGinn Commemoration New ‘Führer’ for Orange Order MEMBERS of Republican Sinn Féin held a commemorative cer- A NEW ‘Führer’ has emerged in the fascist emony at the spot on Clady Bridge, on the border of Counties Orange Order. On December 11 the 200-strong A member of the Ulster appointment and spoke of a Unionist Party, Saulters said he “new era of equality and Donegal and Tyrone where IRA Staff-Captain Jim McGinn lost Grand Orange Lodge at a meeting in Belfast’s was not a bigot and described accommodation with others”. his life in a premature explosion on December 15,1973. John House of Orange unanimously elected 61-year- himself as a moderate. Another Does Adams not realise that McElhinney, Ard Chomhairle, Republican Sinn Féin chaired the old Robert Saulters as its new Grand Master. moderate, Gerry Adams, while compromise among proceedings. A decade of the Rosary was recited by Tommy Saulter, true to the tradition He went on: “He [Tony standing on his shaky equals is truly ennobling, McGinty and a wreath was laid by Sorcha McElhinney. The of his bigoted forebears, thinks Blair] would sell his soul to the foundation stone, congratulated compromise with tyranny only organisers wish to thank members of Jim McGinn’s family and it inappropriate for British devil himself. He is not loyal to the new Grand Master on his entrenches that tyranny? former comrades who were in attendance. Labour Party leader Tony Blair his religion. He is a turncoat.” to have married a Catholic. The who is sadly missed and always When challenged on his remembered by Deirdre, Fergal, new Führer made his remarks remarks Saulters defended them New Year Greetings Comhbhrón Ciara and Díóg. at a Twelfth of July rally earlier saying “I think if you can turn BEST wishes to POW Martin McGrath and all the prisoners in Lim- COSTELLO, Deepest sympa- erick. Special New Year greetings to Martin and all his comrades. thy is extended to Eddie Costello th this year. At the time he said one way you can turn on the Ó CONAILL – 6 Anniver- From Declan, Eileen, Emmet and Ciaran Curneen, Glenade, Co Leitrim. on the death of his sister-in-law sary. In proud and loving Blair, a member of the Church management of the country”. HAYDEN, New Year greetings to Josephine, from Margaret Walsh. Mary. From Republican Sinn memory of Dáithí Ó Conaill, of England, had “sold his Asked if it was disloyal for a McGRATH, New Year wishes to Martin and all POWs, from Thomas Féin, Limerick. Vice-President of Republican birthright by marrying a Catholic to marry a Protestant, Kelly and family, Leitrim. MALONE, Deepest sympathy is Sinn Féin who died on January 1, Walsh. extended to Tom and Donal 1991. From Cathleen and Romanist and serving Saulters replied “I have never NEW Year greetings to all POWs in Limerick jail. From Republican Malone, Nenagh on the death of Dermot. th communion in a Roman been a Roman Catholic to know Sinn Féin, Limerick. their brother Jim in Canada. Go Ó CONAILL – 6 Anniver- Catholic church”. whether it was disloyal or not”. NEW Year greetings to Peter Rogers, Portlaoise prison and Eddie ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam. sary. Remembered with pride on Butler, England. From Joe Lynch and Mick Hanly, Limerick. From Cathleen and Dermot. the anniversary of his death on NEW Year greetings to all Republican POWs. From Mike Quinn, January 1, 1991. A salute to you Saskatchewan, Canada. Dáithí, you were unique among Family home petrol- NEW Year greetings to George Buckley, POW. ‘Things can only get men, unbought and unconquered better’. Missing you very much and always thinking of you. Love, I gCuimhne FLEMING, McBRIDE – 12 to the end. From your comrade your fiancé Saoirse. George Harrison, New York. bombed in north Belfast Anniversary. In proud and lov- th NEW Year greetings to George Buckley, POW. Hope to see you in Ó CONAILL – 6 Anniver- A NORTH Belfast family escaped injury after their home was the New Year. Grá ó Margaret. ing memory of Vols Kieran Fleming and Tony McBride, sary. In proud and loving petrol-bombed on December 1. The incendiary was thrown at the killed in action on December 2, memory of Dáithí Ó Conaill who house on Silverstream Avenue at around 11.30pm. A woman, her 1984. From the Curneen family, died on New Year’s Day, 1991. Glenade, Co Leitrim From the Seán South Cumann, 19-year-old son and 12-year-old twin sons were in the house at Buíochas th the time. The front door and outside of the house were scorch Republican Sinn Féin, Limerick would like to thank all those who Ó CONAILL – 6 Anniver- Republican Sinn Féin, Omagh. Co Tyrone. damaged. supported the Christmas raffle and annual collection for CABHAIR. sary. In loving memory of Dáithí SAOIRSE — Eanáir / January 1997 16 Dummy disarmed in Derry about — or anyone else for that would be stupid enough to do party — we have no armed wing RUC to undermine the peace (The one that got away?) matter . . . The plot thickens, something like that.” and Fine Gael know nothing process and make the RUC almost as thick as the dummy Point taken and accepted on about guns! look good and everyone else T Derry’s Tower mu As is becoming ever more who gave the rifle to the behalf of all readers — which look bad. seum RUC men obvious their information was museum in the first place. leaves? “Searching around for an An Phoblacht carried the (Britain’s police) in fact correct. The rifle was When asked, a Continuity The ‘Good old IRA’. explanation I made phone-call story and everyone believed it? carriedA out a daring raid. Acting immediately seized however, IRA spokesperson pointed out Spokesmen were not after phone-call. No-one whom on information received the strangely, the dummy was not the rifle was definitely not available. Those former I contacted could come up with And what of the Dummy? police surrounded the building. arrested. This is believed to be theirs. members I contacted pointed a seriously believable He got a job as Santa and It appears that a normally the first time ever that a “History and museums are out there was an election in explanation as to how the RUC passed out presents to five- reliable source had informed dummy, masquerading as an about the past, we are looking progress for the last two years disarmed a Derry dummy year-olds in Guildhall Square them that a dummy carrying a IRA man and carrying a rifle to the future,” he assured me. — they had, they said an idea carrying an IRA weapon. — the five-year-olds really did Kalashnikov rifle was inside. has not been arrested — could INLA spokesmen were of a Republic in one hand so believe in him — I’ll let you Museum curators assured this, some are asking, be the aghast! were voting with their feet. Then co-incidence played into a secret, there really must the police that there were no ‘modalities of “Not ours, definitely not HICH left me with its part. Over a large Christmas be a Santa — who else would ‘dummies’ in the IRA but decommissioning’ so much ours. Come on, we’ve had a lot no alternative but to drink in the Rocking Chair bar give the RUC a present like this insisting their information was talked about recently. of bad press lately. OK, we’re contact John Bruton in Derry, the Dummy admitted at Christmas? correct the RUC entered the Whatever the facts — one not angels but — I mean —W ‘the Boss’. “I would like to he was part of a loyalist building anyway. less rifle for the Brits to worry nobody is going to believe we point out that we are a political republican force set up by the — Mac Cool Christmas Swim for Republican Prisoners Dependants • Thanks are due to the ‘Christmas Crew’ who this year exceeded themselves in their preparations for the CABHAIR Christmas Day Swim on the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin. See photograph on right. Thanks also, of course, to our swimmers – John Callaghan, Derek Lenihan, Alan Ennis, Brian Ó hÉideáin, Connolly Egan and ‘The Phantom’ Donoghue. CABHAIR (Irish Republican Prisoners Dependants Fund) would appreciate a swift return of any moneys outstanding, either by way of sponsorship or donation. The Committee would like to thank all those who took part in Christmas swims for the Republican prisoners, either in Dublin or throughout the country.

calls Mr Adams an “IRA blood brother” on the cover, it is largely favourable to him, describing him as a “consummate juggler” who “tries to turn his people from terror to peace”. — Irish Times, December 17, 1996, quoting from a 13-page profile of Gerry Adams in a She described the recent issue of Vanity Fair. Hume/Adams initiatives as If you were a the foundation stones for theologically-minded, the future in which Sinn purist Republican then you Féin’s vision is a free would believe that the Free Ireland and a free people. State was an illegal and — Lucilita Breatnach, puppet state that had Provisional spokesperson, usurped the Republic, quoted in the Irish News, which began life in January December 9, 1996. 1919. Gerry Adams gave a People like Ruairí Ó straight answer. Brádaigh, for instance, — From Hot Press don’t accept the State to this magazine’s ‘It didn’t happen day. this year’ column (page 110, — Professor John A New Year Annual). Murphy, The Examiner, Although the magazine December 21, 1996.

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