easier number CENTRAL EDITION DISBAND THE THEY KILLED SPECIALS' ARTHUR LEONARD KEEP UP PROTESTS! « Connolly Assoc'n call for Unity CO far as is known no disciplinary measures ** have been carried out against the 'B' Specials who were responsible for the death of Arhtur Leonard. Storm of protest rises on a world-wide scale—but the Stormont Government stonewalls all criticisms, dis- regards all representations. Therefore the protests must be stepped up. Arthur Leonard was bringing a friend home from a dance, and gave two young girls a lift just before he saw a blockage in the main road. According to one of the girls, shots were fired as RESOLUTIONS he turned into a side road; he brought his van Resolutions along these lines were passed in to a stop, and shots continued. Later he was Manchester, London, Nottingham and Birming- found dead over the steering wheel. ham; at the Acton repair depot of the London The "B" Specials claim he refused to stop—so Transport Authority a hundred and fifty they shot, instead of taking their car and pur- workers signed a petition demanding the dis- suing him. bandmcnt of the "B" Specials and a thorough BUT—they admit the van came to a standstill enquiry into the whole affair. A deputation of steadily and in a normal manner. workers was elected to visit the House of Com- AND—medical evidence is that Leonard suffered mons, led by Mr. Eamonn MacLoughlin, Gn injuries which Tuesday, March 29th, and make representations (1) blew away part of his brain; to friendly M P.s. (2) injured the leg he would use to apply the brake. West Ealing No. 2 Branch of th? National So a juryman asked the key question: — Union of Railwjymen passed a resolution of "The driver had a bullet in his brain! How protest. could a van with such a driver stop in an But the British Government is pretending ordinary way?" the issue is an internal one for Northern Ire- land, in which they have no power to inter- PECULIAR STATE vene. The Government of Ireland Act is specific that Westminster is the paramount AWYER Curran demanded a verdict of authority. j-J murder. The Specials had deliberately ex- ceeded their duty. Said the Coroner: "The law The Northern Ireland Government not only which Mr. Curran quoted applies only to Eng- should never have had any powers, but it is land. The law in the Six Counties is in a pecu- abusing them now it has got them. Britain liar state . ." He then explained the provisions cannot escape responsibility. of the notorious Special Powers Act. Speaking at the West London protest meeting Within three days of the occurrence the Con- held in Paddington and attended by a fair MISS NANCY O'GEOGHcGAN, who is engaged nolly Association had printed thousands of sprinkling of English people, Mr. Patrick Clancy leaflets giving the essential facts, and protest said: — to be married to Mr. Jeremiah Murphy. meetings were held in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham. " The British workers will demand that Speakers demanded:— while the Westminster Government both The responsible persons be put on trial. asserts and maintains its paramountcy in GHOSTS HAUNT CAMP The "B" Specials should be disbanded. Northern Ireland, civil liberties in the areas Pending their disbarvdment, no more patrols. should be no less favourable than they are in The repeal of the Special Powers Act. Britain". SITES The ending of partition. —Continued on Page Two CPEECH of the day at the " Irish Democrat" conference on the health and social conditions of Irish BIRMINGHAM TRADES COUNCIL immigrants was Eamonn Smullen's witty description of Northern Scot- land hydro-electric camp-site condi- DISCUSSES PARTITION tions, and "digs" in London. A stretch of 36 hours' continuous work Editor criticises Councillor's challenge is quite common in Scottish sites, and IRISH DEMOCRAT REPORTER men refer to it as a "ghoster"— because that's what you look like NEVER saw a finer body of men in one room," commented afterwards. Eamonn Lyons after attending the Birmingham Trades Irish-born peop'.e living in London have Council meeting as a visitor when Desmond Greaves, Editor of three to four times as much tuberculosis as London-born peool?. said Dr. Mar- the Irish Democrat, addressed the Council on the subject of the Donald, Scottish tuberculosis expert. partition of Ireland. This was a challenge to the Connolly ... .. time, and was imposed by trickery and Association and social service organisa- Mr„ Lyons considered the level of ' , , T - J. ,, . tions. Sean MacDermott . .. , „ maintained by force. It has meant that Most important decision of conference debate well above that of the House Ire]and had forma, indcpendence in came from Mr. Lyons, who deputising for of Kilticlogher, Co. Leitrim, one of Commons, whose visitors' gallery Twenty-Six Counties, but the economic Mr. Logan on behalf of W:\st London Con- of the immortal seven who is no strange place to him. advantages of independence were denied nolly Association proposed a " lodgers' signed the proclamation. The " Irish Democrat " Editor's case was by the exclusion of the industrial areas of charter." This would bring " digs " effec- that partition was contrary to the wishes the North. To make things worse, parti- tively under the Rent Act by compelling (See Page Five). of both the Irish and British people at the tion had been cleverly followed up, and landladies to state how much ol th.'ir the one hope of reunification of the bill was for the rent o! the room and how country, a united Labour Movement, had much lor food. It was necessary to lav been bedevilled by a cunning follow-up of clown certain minimum standards oi partition. The splitting of the Labour room, food and amenitv. and ll it was GENERAL ELECTION Movement was the worst consequence of not possible to make adherence compul- partition. (Continued on Page Three) ASK THE CANDIDATE QUESTIONS IRISH DELEGATES \1THILE it looked as if Labour would be Therefore Irish men and women would Many Irish delegates took part in the at sixes and sevens over tho right do worse than attend as many election discussion, including the stalwart anti- partitionist Mr. Carleton. CHARTIST TO BE wings efforts to expel Mr. Bevan, young meetings as they can and, while making their points in a calm and persuasive man- " It was a pleasure to see delegates get- Tories decided here was the chance to get ting up and proudly declaring they were COMMEMORATED rfd o? Winston Churchill. ner. leave candidates in no doubt about Irish,' commented Mr. Lyons. The old guard of Toryism had wanted their views. Ask the candidate straight, The Editor criticised Birmingham Cor- 'PHE initiative of ths Nottingham will he demand the repeal of the Ireland " Branch of the Connolly Association is to say nothing and let the split In labour's poration policy in relation to immigrant Act. will he insist on the restoring of de workers, saying that in going to London restoring Interest In the great Irish ranks grow wider The young pups did the Labour movement, a service by warn- mocracy m the Six Counties, will lie work and asking the Government would they chartist leader, Feargus O'Connor, whose for the end'ng of partition. pass laws to keep immigrants out of Eng- statue stands in their Arboretum. He ing it 111 time of where ffce' policy of The electors are entitled t,o know. land, they were laying the basis for racial was Nottingham's first M.P. heresy-limiting leads to discrimination against those already here. This year is the centenary of his doath, But whenever the election is, May, June Every working man, Irish or British, He believed the correct thing to do was and Chris Maguire has proposed that the or October the election fever is now on. will gain advantage from the return of a to secure a proper balance between in- Connolly Association and other working- II i:, of the greatest interest to Irish Labour Government; but it is of great im- dustry and houses If there were 50.000 class organisations commemorate the people not only which government has portance that that Labour Government jobs created, 50,000 workers would come should be pledged to the most forward occasion next August by laying a wreath. p'lWT in Britain, but what policy that and they would need houses just as much The Nottingham Trades Council, with policy. A numbor of Labour spokesmen whatever place they came from. "ll-, •rnmrnl is elected on. whom Mr. Maguirc raised the question, have suggested that present policy discus- The prospective M.P. is even more cap- sions may create a more favourable atmos- Councillor Allen, Sparkhill, said he was are now pressing that the statue should opposed to partition but protested be cleaned and restored to a more able of being responsive to public opinion pHcre for a Governmant pledged against partition. (Continued on Page Two) prominent position in the city. than the clectc.1 one. April 1955 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT 3 2 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT April 1955 > * THE MEN OF EASTER WEEK 1 * I DISBAND THE * WISH DEMOCRAT > 53 Rosoman Street, London, E.C.I * 'B' SPECIALS | HEALTH OF IRISH EXILES » All communications to Subscription Rates: » Continued from Page One Dr. Simon Sevitt's opening speech at the Conference * The Edit or, • 12 months 5/6 » ELECTIONS * DESMOND GREAVES 6 months 2/9 I Mr. Desmond Greaves urged that the at the Hoi born Hall, London, W.C.J * Advertisements: 101- per column inch; or by arrangement question of the "B" Specials'5 and Special \ I OST of the emigrants from the rural areas of Ireland Let me quote an example.