THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY.......
Twenty-six men were convicted on the word of Harry Kirkpatrick. On their appeal against those convictions could well rest the future of the 'Anglo-Irish Agreement'
('The Hillsborough Treaty') . Based on a full transcript of the Kirkpatrick trials , the story of how these convictions were obtained shows why the 'Supergrass System' is a pale shadow of justice.
By Derek Dunne. From 'MAGILL' magazine, February 1986.

When Kirkpatrick pleaded guilty to five killings , he got five life sentences. However , there was no minimum sentence imposed. Gerard Steenson got a minimum of twenty-five years for exactly the same 'crimes' !

In cases in the Occupied Six Counties where there is just one indictment for 'murder' , a minimum sentence is usually given ; Kirkpatrick got 'life' , which means that without any shortening of his sentence , he could be out within six years. Lawyers believe that Kirkpatrick will be moved to England , as he has requested, and from there to an open prison.

They believe he will be released long before his time and be given money and a start in a new life somewhere. There is a precedent in relation to the sentence being shortened - the 'Thomas McCormick' case.......
(MORE LATER).



CIA SLAMS IRISH JUDGE.......
A Dublin District Justice was accused by American embassy intelligence personnel of encouraging left wing agitators and tolerating hostile acts against the United States.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine, 'Christmas Special' 1980.

It appears that the Emboffs open files on just about anybody who comes to their attention , and there is no doubt that this article you're reading will be inserted into the Mairin de Burca file , and that a file will be opened on the author of this piece . And on those who work for this magazine. And those who distribute it , and the shops that sell it , and on those who read it .

So , just in case , when you finish reading this piece - and after you look over your shoulder - start humming 'America The Beautiful...'
[END of ' CIA SLAMS IRISH JUDGE']
(NEXT - 'Where Do The Drugs Go?' , from 1998.)


THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HEROIN IN DUBLIN....... The drugs crisis is one of the major problems facing young people in Dublin today. In large areas of the city it has now reached massive proportions , while in the inner city there is estimated to be a higher percentage of drug addicts and drug abusers than in Harlem in New York . But it has been only recently - 5 years after this epidemic began in earnest - that any notice has been paid to the problem. And even now the Free State government has failed to confront the crisis in a meaningful way . Tony Barry of Na Fianna Eireann has been looking at the issues for 'IRIS' magazine.
From 'IRIS' magazine, December 1984.

Tony Barry : "How did the patrols stop the drug addicts coming in to the area ? "

Noel Sillery : " At the start you had people coming in openly looking for drugs. And they would be approached and told that there was no heroin to be had in these flats anymore . With the presence of the patrols , outsiders didn't want to risk coming in and getting caught."
(MORE LATER).

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¶ 9:43 PM

  (UPDATE: The next CDP/JI/CE-organised protest outside the Clondalkin office of John Curran will take place on Monday 30 November 2009.
Those attending will be meeting-up outside the County Council Offices in Clondalkin Village (facing the Mill shopping centre) at 3.30pm and will make their way to Curran's constituency office for 4.00pm.
As usual , Republican Sinn Féin members will be taking part.
All Welcome!
Thanks,
Sharon. )

BRIEF REPORT AND A FEW PICS RE THE MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2009 CDP/ JI/ CE PROTEST IN CLONDALKIN , DUBLIN.

RSF supporting the CDP/JI/CE protest in Clondalkin , Dublin , Monday 23 November 2009.

The protest today started at about 3.30pm outside the Clondalkin offices of the County Council , where around thirty protestors had gathered before making their way to John Curran's office in Clondalkin Village. Once there , they were joined by about twenty other protestors and on-lookers and a noisey picket was placed on the door into Curran's constituency office and a few metres either side of it.

" Are you listening , John Curran...."

We made our presence known with the use of two battery-powered loud hailers , which drew massive support from passing motorists and cheers and claps from the passing public , most of whom stopped to hear the speakers and shout encouragement to us - however , we had received no answer to our request that John Curran should step out of his office and listen to our concerns , so we increased the noise level as best we could...

"Come out and meet your electorate , Mr Curran..."

...and it worked ! Local business man and Fianna Fail hopeful , Thyes M. Kavanagh, came out from Curran's office and told us that his boss would not be coming out to us but he would allow three of our number to enter the premises and express our concerns : three ladies promptly put down their placards and stepped in , with Kavanagh escorting them to the desk of his Master. Some forty minutes later , three exasperated women emerged , the worse for wear : they were told that the fate of CDP's etc is in the hands of an "Independent Review" committee (who appointed them and who pays them ?) and he told the delegation that , in his opinion, the proposed (/intended) cutbacks in the CDP/JI/CE programmes will not impact the operations of the work done by same to the level that the protestors are claiming it will ! This further enraged those present , and speeches , chants and whistles were again put to loud use , cars sounded their horns in support , passing schoolkids joined in as did shoppers and other members of the public.

Protestors from Ballymun (North Dublin) taking part in the Clondalkin picket on John Curran's office.


"We want your head in a noose , Brian Cowen..."

Finally , at 5.45pm , after receiving what we all recognised as a " Tough Shit..." answer from John Curran , we decided to end that days protest but we were all adamant and in agreement that another such protest and picket be held there within the next two weeks. Those that turned out today to try and save their jobs and to stop their communities being penalised by the Robber Barons represented by Curran and his like are to be commended and should be supported by all organisations that claim to have the interests of social justice at heart. For its part , Republican Sinn Féin will continue to stand with these workers , and is proud to do so !
Thanks!
Sharon.

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¶ 10:04 PM

  PROTEST MARCH TO BE HELD IN CLONDALKIN BY CDP/JI/CE WORKERS ON MONDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2009.
CDP/JI/CE 'savings' needed to pay for the financial bonus to the political 'elite'.

RSF members and supporters were involved in the last protest (Monday, October 19th last) in Clondalkin , Dublin, and will be present again at a second such protest this Monday, 23rd November.

A protest march through Clondalkin Village , to the office of local Fianna Fail elected representative John Curran , will be held on Monday 23rd November 2009, beginning at 3.30pm.
The protest has been organised by Community Development Project groups and will be supported by , amongst others, CDP's, JI and CE workers from Clondalkin and other parts of Dublin. The groups are meeting up at 3.30pm outside the County Council Offices in Clondalkin Village (facing the Mill Shopping Centre) and will march through the Village to the office of Fianna Fail State Minister John Curran.
It will be loud and colourful - and serious ; serious, because hundreds of local people , and thousands State-wide, will be affected by the intended closure of the CDP/JI/CE etc programmes , not to mention the 'ripple effect' that losing those community workers will have for local organisations.
THOSE TAKING PART WILL BE MEETING UP AT 3.30pm ON MONDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2009 OUTSIDE THE COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICES IN CLONDALKIN VILLAGE.
Thanks!
Sharon.

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¶ 10:45 PM

  THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY.......
Twenty-six men were convicted on the word of Harry Kirkpatrick. On their appeal against those convictions could well rest the future of the 'Anglo-Irish Agreement'
('The Hillsborough Treaty') . Based on a full transcript of the Kirkpatrick trials , the story of how these convictions were obtained shows why the 'Supergrass System' is a pale shadow of justice.
By Derek Dunne. From 'MAGILL' magazine, February 1986.

Five other men were found guilty of 'murder' on the word of Harry Kirkpatrick : at the time of the killing , the area was swarming with plain-clothes RUC men , who would have had information about the killing . Kirkpatrick described the alleged parts played by each of the five men , but his description of the hijacking of a car was wrong and he neglected to mention the taking-over of a house by the 'suspects' .

Kirkpatrick said that Henry McNamee was involved in a robbery , then changed his mind and said he was not involved in that operation. Three men , including a man named McKnight , were convicted of 'attempted murder' , yet McKnight was actually in court on the day of the robbery but British Judge Carswell found that he still could have had time to be involved !

Kirkpatrick claimed that the preparations for another robbery job , this one in Twinbrook , included following a worker home for two weeks , but he was wrong . The woman who was followed and held , and alleged by Kirkpatrick to be opening the Post Office every morning , had only opened the post office for the first time the day prior to the robbery . Kirkpatrick did not name two people 'involved' in that robbery in his earlier statements - he said later that he had "forgot" about them. He denied that the RUC had supplied him with the necessary details during any one of the 117 'visits' they made to him . However , his statements were allowed in 'evidence' even though some of the details he offered were glaringly wrong , and were contradicted by witnesses.......
(MORE LATER).



CIA SLAMS IRISH JUDGE.......
A Dublin District Justice was accused by American embassy intelligence personnel of encouraging left wing agitators and tolerating hostile acts against the United States.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine, 'Christmas Special' 1980.

As might be expected , the files prepared by the CIA 'Emboffs' contained a few names marked for 'special attention' - included were Thomas MacGiolla, Roy Johnston and even Jack Lynch! What might not be expected is marked references to Unionist politician Jean Coulter, and to "...dissident Deputy Joseph Lenehan."

There is one piece of irony in the file that will please those of us who remember all too well the atmosphere of a certain Free State political regime : remember when Conor Cruise O' Brien gave an interview in America in which he said that he was opening a file on letters published in 'The Irish Press' newspaper which he considered subversive ? However , tucked away in a corner of the Mairin de Burca CIA file was a letter published in 'The Irish Press' from Conor Cruise himself.......
(MORE LATER).



THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HEROIN IN DUBLIN....... The drugs crisis is one of the major problems facing young people in Dublin today. In large areas of the city it has now reached massive proportions , while in the inner city there is estimated to be a higher percentage of drug addicts and drug abusers than in Harlem in New York . But it has been only recently - 5 years after this epidemic began in earnest - that any notice has been paid to the problem. And even now the Free State government has failed to confront the crisis in a meaningful way . Tony Barry of Na Fianna Eireann has been looking at the issues for 'IRIS' magazine.
From 'IRIS' magazine, December 1984.

Tony Barry : " What did the community do to solve the problem ? "

Noel Sillery : " There was a meeting called of the Community Development Association , and on the agenda was the drugs problem . It was the feeling in the meeting hall that everything else on the agenda should be scrapped , and the drugs problem discussed . It started off with that meeting , from which there was a committee elected , separate from the Development Association Committee.

The drugs problem had been here for about twelve months prior to that , but it was gradually getting worse . It had got to the stage where people said 'enough is enough' , when you had addicts lying around the streets , getting sick all over the place , terrorising the old folks and the school kids , and then people realised that their own children were watching what was going on and might copy them. There was one incident here when a young child had actually found a needle and stuck it into herself - she was just copying what she had seen the older people doing.

The first thing we did when the committee was set up was that people started patrolling the flats , and they'd sit down outside the pavilion or by the main road and watch the whole flats complex to see what was going on and to try and stop outside drug addicts coming in to look for the stuff to 'shoot up' .

We also got in touch with the Taxi Federation and asked them to stop bringing addicts to the flats , and they were very helpful to us with that."
(MORE LATER).

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¶ 10:39 AM

  105th REPUBLICAN SINN FÉIN POBLACHTACH ARD FHEIS : NOVEMBER 14th AND 15th 2009 , DUBLIN - brief report and a few pics.

A section of the crowd voting on a motion.

The 105th Sinn Féin Ard Fheis , at which 112 motions were discussed , debated and argued over , was held on Saturday and Sunday , 14th and 15th November 2009 , in a Dublin hotel. It marked the last Ard Fheis at which Ruairí Ó Brádaigh presided over proceedings as President of the organisation , and also the last Ard Fheis at which Des Dalton (the new RSF President) was 'only' a member of the RSF Ard Chomhairle. Congratulations are due , and were loudly offered, to both men over that weekend , and no-one knows better than Des about the standards that have to be upheld. Ruairí has built-up a tight , secure and disciplined organisation during his years in charge , and without a doubt Des Dalton has a lot to live up to but , also without a doubt , he is more than capable of continuing on from where Ruairí left off.

Ruairí Ó Brádaigh's last RSF Presidential Speech , produced in booklet form , was a much sought-after item at the Ard Fheis , and is required reading for anyone interested in Irish Republicanism.

Starting to take their seats ,waiting for the Ard Fheis to start.

The Ard Fheis itself was a 100% success : such was the numbers of delegates , supporters and visitors in attendance that the smaller hall at the back of the main venue , where the RSF shop was set-up, had to be commandeered to accomodate the crowd -indeed, on more than one occasion the entry corridor was also suggested by the RSF 'Top Table' as a location where the overflow of people could at least find standing space ,which led to a war of words between said 'Table' and the RSF security team: the security people won that particular argument , but only just!
The State political police , the 'Special Branch' , were as expected , out in force , blocking the entry/exit to the hotel itself , and trying , unsuccessfully (!) , to mingle in the bar and dining areas with the Ard Fheis crowds , but the RSF security teams were, as usual, on top of them at all times. A full report of the proceedings , including details of motions accepted and lost , will be carried in the December 2009 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday the 2nd of that month. We publish a few pics from the weekend with this brief report , and look forward to a more detailed report in the December 'paper.

'Group' photo of most of the 'Top Table'.

Breaking for lunch....

....and coming back after lunch for 'Round Two' !

POW banner on display at the 2009 RSF Ard Fheis.

A typical Ard Fheis session - standing room only!


RSF 2009 Calendar , hundreds of which were sold (€5 each!) over the weekend.

As stated , a more in-depth report , and other (better quality!) photo's will be published in the December 2009 issue of 'Saoirse'. Finally , two of us from this blog were honoured to have been given 'Visitors Passes' for that Ard Fheis , as it was such a momentous occasion , more so than usual , and we left on Sunday afternoon with no doubt but that the new people in place are of such calibre that Irish Republicanism is , again, in safe hands.
Thanks!
Sharon.

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¶ 1:43 PM

 
The Patriot Game.
"This Ireland of mine
Has for long been half free,
Six counties are under
John Bull's tyranny.
And still deValera
Is greatly to blame,
For shirking his part in
The Patriot Game...."
(Lyrics here, listen here.)

Congratulations (and 'Thanks'!) to Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and to Republican Sinn Féin Poblachtach.

105th Ard Fheis of Republican Sinn Féin Poblachtach , November 2009.

On November 14th and 15th this year , the Republican Sinn Féin organisation will hold its 105th Ard Fheis in a Dublin venue - and will say " Slán go fóill anois" to its President , Ruairí Ó Brádaigh. Ruairi , whom we on this blog have had the pleasure and honour of meeting on countless occasions ,is a dedicated Irish Republican who is as politically honest as the day is long (a saying he uses himself in relation to other people!) and has never sought or fought for any political objective other than a 32-county socialist Irish Republic , free of British political and military interference. He - and fellow Irish Republicans - have been imprisoned , harassed and censored , amongst other disgraces , by their pro-Westminster and Leinster House enemies but have never faltered or compromised. Nor will they now , which is why this blog is so supportive of Irish Republicans of that calibre. We wish Ruairi and RSF best wishes , and offer our appreciation to them for the fantastic work they have done , are doing , and will continue to do. Ruairi will still be on the Ard Chomhairle of RSF , and has been nominated as Patron of the organisation. An Phoblacht Abú !

We have obtained two 'Visitor Passes' for the 105th Ard Fheis,where political motions , such as the following examples , will be put forward for discussion and accepted or rejected , as the case may be :
"That this Ard Fheis recognises the outstanding contribution that Ruairí Ó Brádaigh has made to Irish Republicanism and commends his selfless commitment to the goal of a United Ireland."

"That this Ard Fheis acknowledges that resistance to the British presence in Occupied Ireland must continue unabated to remove that presence no matter how long it may take."

"That this Ard Fheis calls for a total British disengagement from Ireland , the release of all political prisoners and the future of Ireland to be decided by the people of Ireland acting as a whole unit (32 Counties) . "

"That we actively oppose all British Royal visits to any part of Ireland while Ireland remains under British occupation."

"That this Ard Fheis congratulates all Republican prisoners and their families in the struggle for Irish freedom."

In total , 112 motions will be discussed at this Ard Fheis and , whilst we hope to publish a general report from same , we will not be publishing a detailed report , as the matters concerned are , for now, internal RSF matters. We respect that stipulation , and wouldn't have it any other way.
Thanks!
Sharon.

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¶ 10:17 PM

  THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY.......
Twenty-six men were convicted on the word of Harry Kirkpatrick. On their appeal against those convictions could well rest the future of the 'Anglo-Irish Agreement'
('The Hillsborough Treaty') . Based on a full transcript of the Kirkpatrick trials , the story of how these convictions were obtained shows why the 'Supergrass System' is a pale shadow of justice.
By Derek Dunne. From 'MAGILL' magazine, February 1986.

Harry Kirkpatrick described how he himself had taken over a house to ambush the RUC - but his description was wrong . He said that his companion on that job climbed into the back yard of the house and opened the door , but that couldn't have happened : there was a wire mesh covering the back yard , and a youth who was repairing a pushbike in that small yard at that time would have seen him or heard some noise , but he didn't.

Kirkpatrick claimed that the alleyway behind the house was blocked off , but that was wrong . The defence team claimed that Kirkpatrick was recounting incidents , of which this operation was one, that he had overheard secondhand. But three men were still convicted of conspiracy on the 'strength' of Kirkpatricks claims.

Three other men were convicted of conspiracy to cause an explosion : Kirkpatrick claimed that he had driven past where a bomb had gone off , that he had seen the damage it caused. But no bomb had been detonated or found in that vicinity , and even the RUC admitted that they had no knowledge of anything like that. Kirkpatrick later changed his story , but those three men still done time.

Five other men were then to be stitched-up by Kirkpatrick over an incident in which a member of the British forces died.......
(MORE LATER).



CIA SLAMS IRISH JUDGE.......
A Dublin District Justice was accused by American embassy intelligence personnel of encouraging left wing agitators and tolerating hostile acts against the United States.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine, 'Christmas Special' 1980.

It is doubtful that a file was opened by the CIA on State Justice Robert O hUadhaigh, for this reason : there are indications in the Mairin de Burca file of some of those on whom files have been opened and this does not apply to that State Justice.

Among the papers are some which mention de Burca just in passing - for instance , there are reports on meetings and conferences which she attended and on those reports her name is underlined , as are the names of other people who came to the attention of the 'Emboffs'.

As might be expected , the names marked for special attention contained those that would be regarded as 'the usual suspects' - and a few that the 'political establishment' would have considered to be their own people.......
(MORE LATER).



THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HEROIN IN DUBLIN....... The drugs crisis is one of the major problems facing young people in Dublin today. In large areas of the city it has now reached massive proportions , while in the inner city there is estimated to be a higher percentage of drug addicts and drug abusers than in Harlem in New York . But it has been only recently - 5 years after this epidemic began in earnest - that any notice has been paid to the problem. And even now the Free State government has failed to confront the crisis in a meaningful way . Tony Barry of Na Fianna Eireann has been looking at the issues for 'IRIS' magazine.
From 'IRIS' magazine, December 1984.

Tony Barry : "Did that drug pusher have a 'heavy gang' to back him up if an addict defaulted on payments ?"

Noel Sillery: "With most of the drug addicts, they're sort of helpless - the minute they become addicted it's easy enough to intimidate them . They've got absolutely no resistance. So you don't really need heavies to ensure payment.

Anyway the question of debt would hardly ever arise . With the addicts, if they went up to look for a fix without any money there was no way they were getting it. And if they went to the pusher with only half the fix money , they only got half the fix.

Now the addicts themselves had no money to buy the junk , so they either had to go and steal from other addicts , or go snatching handbags , window-shop robbery , house break-ins and/or rob from their own family homes."
(MORE LATER).

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¶ 5:08 PM