Tuesday, December 29, 2009

REPUBLICAN COMMEMORATIONS:JANUARY 2010.



Dáithi Ó Conaill Commemoration , Friday, January 1st 2010 (New Year's Day) : Assemble at the Gates Of Glasnevin Cemetery , Dublin , at 12.45pm . Main Speaker - RSF President Des Dalton.


Seán Sabhat Commemoration , Sunday, January 3rd 2010 : Assemble at Bedford Row , Limerick at 1.45pm for Parade to Mount St Lawrence Cemetery. Main Speaker - Cathleen Knowles McGurk.


Feargal Ó hAnnluain Commemoration, Sunday January 10th 2010 : Assemble at the Cathedral , Monaghan, at 2pm , for the Parade to Latlurgan Cemetery. Main Speaker - Des Dalton.
Thanks!
Sharon.






Saturday, December 26, 2009

CABHAIR does it again for our Republican POW's : 25th December 2009 , Dublin.
Santa raises the National Flag over some of the CABHAIR swimmers!

Where to begin about this 4-hour CABHAIR Christmas Day marathon ? At 10AM , of course - because that was when the CABHAIR Christmas Crew arrived on site , having driven through freezing fog , on icy but otherwise deserted roads , in Minus 2-degree temperature. The various cars parked as best they could in the immediate vicinity and the work began : the fire material was laid in place , the two tables for the 'goodies' were set-up and the food and drink etc displayed on them , the National Flag and two banners were secured in place , the music system was assembled and tested - then the fire was lit and the CABHAIR Crew opened a can or two of 'soup' and had a brief rest , before the madness properly began....

....and it began at 10.50AM , when two Special Branch cars 'parked' at the entrances to the Swim site , blocking off both access points , as they always have done. They stayed where they were , making no attempt to venture up the twenty metres or so to where the CABHAIR Crew were having a 'private party' , with the fire blazing , the music blaring , and the freezing fog beginning to lift. Then the crowds started to appear - they came down from the opposite end of the Canal whilst others practically formed queues at both Naas Road access points , where the political police were doing their 'best' to harass them and turn them back home. But to absolutely no avail - the Mammies and Daddies , kids and teenagers, just kept coming in their dozens , the cars and trucks driving past on the near-by Naas Road sounded their car-horns loudly and repeatedly , the Rebel songs were pouring out at high decibels from the sound system and , in the sky above us , a weak watery sun was trying its best to shine on us !

CABHAIR had ten swimmers this year , all of whom took to the freezing water between the hours of 12 Noon and 1.30PM , some more than once or twice - all were watched eagerly by a core of at least 100 on-lookers , with about half that amount again coming and going over the duration of the 4-hour event. The swimmers are Joe Snr and Jnr , 'Rubber' , Stephen , Ciaran , Anto , Garry , Dougie , Jimmy and David - all of whom enjoyed a cup of warm 'soup' after they were finished swimming , and we all of us enjoyed a wee sup of that heart-warming brew , and mince pies , crisps , beer , ale , stout, lemonade and loads of chewy sweets 'and stuff'
(!) , all courtesy of CABHAIR and local suppliers. Towards the end of all this good-natured freezing-cold noisy madness and mayhem , a raffle was held, for which only the ten swimmers had tickets : the prizes , all of which were made in Portlaoise Prison in recent weeks , consisted of three items - a bodhron and two etched and framed mirrors . And, as expected (!) - we had three winners , who were thrilled to receive their prizes.

This, the 33rd consecutive such event, was one of the busiest , noisest and hectic CABHAIR Swims in recent years , and left the organisers exhausted by the time it had finally ended , at about 2PM - but in a 'good' way ! There were really only three 'downers' about the Swim :one of the swimmers cut his knee , not seriously , and was 'bandaged'-up on site , not a bother on him ! The other two 'downers' concern the presence of the political police - that they should be there
at all is a waste of tax-payers money , plus the manner in which they ambushed Santa : they took the four-inch brass bell from him , broke the 'chimer' in the centre of it , and gave it back to him , threatening him with arrest the next time they see him at the Swim site. He rightly replied with a 'Greeting' , which we won't repeat here....

Finally - Swim Pics ! We have posted a load of pics over on our 'Sister' site , here, and this link will take you to some pics that Paula took , and Oxana took these pics at the Swim site. As you'll see for yourself , we had one 'back-flipper' - and nine 'belly-floppers' ...;-)
And that's it for this year regarding the CABHAIR Christmas Swim : a hugely enjoyable , busy , hectic
craic- filled four hours , for which CABHAIR themselves are to be applauded , as are the ten swimmers and the approximate 150-200 people that joined-in and/or observed proceedings. And , of course - most important of all - our Republican prisoners , who are in our hearts throughout the year , every year , but more so over the Christmas period.
Thanks for reading!
Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh!
Sharon.






Tuesday, December 22, 2009

FROM NEW YORK TO A DUBLIN CANAL , DECEMBER 2009....
This is the sight that imprisoned Irish Republicans will see on Christmas Day...

The following statement has recently been issued by Irish Republican supporters in New York :

"Please help the children of Irish political prisoners this christmas. This is a rough time of year in Ireland for the children of Irish political prisoners, all of whom have been jailed thru non-jury courts. In most cases the primary breadwinner has been taken out of the household. Ten or Twenty dollars can make a difference. Those who donate a $100 will be given a home made ornament as a thank you. More information at www.irishfreedom.net
The Annual CABHAIR Christmas Swim will be held this year on Christmas morning at the Grand Canal in Inchicore, Dublin , on the 3rd Lough , at 12 Noon. This year marks the 33 consecutive anniversary of this event. Over the last few years, here in the U.S. we have growing support and sponsorship for those who take the chilly morning plunge in support of the prisoners’ families.
With the holiday season fast approaching, many families will benefit from your donation of any amount in support of the Annual CABHAIR Swim. Your contribution means something truly special to them, especially in days such as these. If you have been meaning to contribute all year, this is the time to do so. Your support will raise the spirits of a family - who have sacrificed themselves to raise the spirit of a Sovereign Irish Nation.

(Click here for additional details on who we are and our objectives)
Videos can be viewed here of NIFC member Darryl Levy talking about the importance of the NIFC's IRPAS Campaign in video One while on video Two , one of the Cabhair Swim organizers, John Horan, discusses the history of the swim at the Canal, from the actual Swim site."
_________________
Cumann Na Saoirse Náısıúnta
National Irish Freedom Committee
http://www.irishfreedom.net/


---------END OF CORRESPONDENCE---------------THANKS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS IN NORTH AMERICA , CANADA ,AUSTRALIA , ENGLAND , SCOTLAND AND WALES WHO HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH US HERE IN DUBLIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE CABHAIR SWIM : MUCH APPRECIATED - GO RAIBH MILE MAITH AGAT !

33 YEARS UNDER WATER........


It began - properly structured and organised - in 1976 ,as a ‘fundraiser with a difference’ combined with the need to gain extra publicity for a situation which was then - as now - making world headlines . Those that sat down together in early September 1976 to tighten-up the then ‘hit-and-miss’ affair were a dedicated team who fully understood that to fail in their business would not only bring derision on them and the issue they sought to highlight , but would give their enemy a publicity coup which they would exploit to the fullest extent . With that in mind , the team persevered - favours were called-in , guarantees were secured , provisions obtained and word dispatched to like-minded individuals in the near-locale . At the appointed time on the agreed day - 12 Noon , Christmas Day 1976 - a soon-to-be 33-years-young event was ‘born’…….
The CABHAIR Christmas Day Swim is , thankfully , still going strong and will be , as mentioned , 33-years-young on December 25th next!


Annual CABHAIR Christmas Morning Swim : 12 Noon , Grand Canal , 3rd Lough , Inchicore , Dublin 8.

Photographs of last years event can be viewed here and , if you can’t make it to the actual swim itself , you might consider posting a donation to the following address (please note that all monies raised goes to the republican prisoners themselves and to their families - no expenses or admin fees etc are removed) :
CABHAIR
Irish Republican Prisoners Dependants Fund
223 Parnell Street,
Dublin 1,
Ireland.

Thank You,
Go Raibh Maith Agat.

Sharon.






Sunday, December 20, 2009

BRIEF REPORT ON FLUTE BAND FUND-RAISER (and BIG praise for Chris!)
Chris Carney on stage : one of the best preformers I have ever had the pleasure of listening to !

The fund-raiser to benefit the new 'Tom Maguire / Dáithí Ó Conaill Irish Republican Flute Band' was held last night (and this morning!) and, while it was a financial success , it was a 'success' in another way , too - in that it introduced most of us , for the first time , to Chris Carney , the ballad singer. Or should that be THE Ballad Singer ? And it should read like that because , like nearly all of those present , I have attended dozens of ballad sessions over the years - from the Wolfe Tones to the Barleycorn , to Eire Óg and all types in between - but I have never witnessed such a performance from any one person , 'armed' simply with a guitar and a microphone !
For almost three hours , Chris quietly introduced each song , sometimes giving a wee history of the words ....and then ,
honestly - proceeded to lift the roof and stun the audience into silence , with a rendition of whatever Irish Rebel song he was singing , the likes of which we had never seen or heard before , on any stage , in any city , at any time. This young man is talented beyond belief , beyond mere words can describe - a master at his craft , simply unbelievable. It was our good fortune that we happened to be in the right place , at the right time , and we look forward to the next time when our paths cross. If there is any 'justice' in the field of the Irish ballad scene , this young man - Chris Carney - will be its 'King' , the one that others struggle to impersonate.
(Chris can be heard here in action , but it doesn't do him justice at all!)

Now for the formalities (!) : we could not have enjoyed such a fantastic night without the welcomed input from the staff , management and owners of 'The Phibsboro House Pub (Davys)' (36 Phibsboro Road , Dublin 7 ; 'phone 01-8303372) , local organisers Kevin , Brendan , Shane , Frank and Morris and , of course , the 'management' and members of the 'Tom Maguire / Dáithí Ó Conaill Irish Republican Flute Band', and for all those who braved the ice and frost to make it to the venue. Much appreciated!
Thanks!
Sharon.






Saturday, December 19, 2009

FUND-RAISING GIG FOR IRISH REPUBLICAN FLUTE BAND...


....on Saturday 19th December 2009 , a ballad session will be held in 'The Phibsboro House Pub (Davys)' (36 Phibsboro Road , Dublin 7 ; 'phone 01-8303372) to further the establishment of the new 'Tom Maguire / Dáithí Ó Conaill Irish Republican Flute Band', who are in the process of acquiring newer instruments and uniforms.
The main session will be courtesy of 'Chris' , and I'm told that various members of the Flute Band will be on stage themselves during the course of the night. A raffle will be held , doors open at 9pm and admission per person is only €5.

If you are in a position to attend , please do so as funds are urgently needed to ensure that this new(ish!) Flute Band look and sound as best they can , as they will shortly be seen in O'Connell Street in Dublin , and at other Republican events elsewhere.
Thanks!
Sharon.






Wednesday, December 16, 2009

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.

Another man from Derry has also been arrested ; he had been arrested in 1984 in Derry and had been in RUC custody but was not charged on Kirkpatrick's word at that time. Now that man and Liz Le Guria both face 'trials' based on the informer's 'evidence' .

Since 1982, almost four hundred men and women have been arrested , charged and remanded in custody on the 'word' of informers , and have been held for an aggregate of one thousand years before coming to 'trial' . It can take up to two years to have an appeal heard , and some of the victims in the Kirkpatrick case will have served six years by then - twelve years in real terms. Such is British 'justice' , as practised here in Ireland.
[END of 'The Trouble With Harry'.]
(NEXT : 'Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard Fheis of Sinn Fein , October 1989'.)



WHERE DO THE DRUGS GO ?
The official line is that the evidence is finally taken under guard to a certain multinational chemical-processing company that is under contract to the State Department of Justice to dispose of the substances and the packaging.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1988. By Marguerite Barry.

Everyone has heard tall tales about a big incinerator in the midlands , proud display cases in the 'National (sic) Drug Unit' and bits going 'missing' along the way ; officially , only small 'street deals' are taken into garda stations , and only 24-hour stations , at that. Bigger hauls require the expertise of the Garda Technical Bureau , which is called in to photograph the scene and examine other evidence left behind.

Then the drugs haul is taken to the garda forensic-science laboratories at the Phoenix Park headquarters in Dublin , where substances are examined to confirm quality and quantity and analysed for fingerprints , hairs and fibres. These should be the first non-garda hands to come into contact with the contraband since they were confiscated.

While the file is being prepared about the investigation and arrests (if there are any) for the State DPP, the evidence is stored at Phoenix Park HQ. Once the file is complete , a request can be made to the DPP for permission to dispose of part of the seized amount ; the rest of it is kept - usually about 20 kilos of cannabis or 1 kilo of cocaine , heroin or other controlled substances . Ten per cent of the excess is also kept as a reference to the size of the seizure and the rest of it can be destroyed. The State DPP may, on the other hand, refuse permission if the case requires all the evidence to be kept, rather than just sample amounts.......
(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 : " Were drug pushers who were living in the flats barred from the area , as happened in some other places ? "

Noel Sillery : " Nobody was really barred from the flats. The people that were pushing drugs were ostracised - we let them know in no uncertain terms that we didn't want them here , and it was very effective.

We had one drug pusher ,
Jamie Gantley, who actually burnt his flat in order to get rehoused out of the area. We had a number of pushers moving out . So that action was effective for us. There was also the community pressure ; if something came up at a meeting about either drug pushers or addicts being seen to go to one particular flat , it would be discussed and it could be decided that we'd march on that person's flat to see what was happening there .
But at the same time , everyone had the right at those meetings to defend themselves. "


(PLEASE NOTE - this will be our last '3-in-1' post for 2009 : we will be posting other material over the Christmas period , but our usual '3-in-1' posts will not be returning until early in the New Year.)
(MORE LATER).







Tuesday, December 15, 2009

FUND-RAISING GIG FOR IRISH REPUBLICAN FLUTE BAND...


....on Saturday 19th December 2009 , a ballad session will be held in 'The Phibsboro House Pub (Davys)' (36 Phibsboro Road , Dublin 7 ; 'phone 01-8303372) to further the establishment of the new 'Tom Maguire / Dáithí Ó Conaill Irish Republican Flute Band', who are in the process of acquiring newer instruments and uniforms.
The main session will be courtesy of 'Chris' , and I'm told that various members of the Flute Band will be on stage themselves during the course of the night. A raffle will be held , doors open at 9pm and admission per person is only €5.

If you are in a position to attend , please do so as funds are urgently needed to ensure that this new(ish!) Flute Band look and sound as best they can , as they will shortly be seen in O'Connell Street in Dublin , and at other Republican events elsewhere.
Thanks!
Sharon.






Sunday, December 13, 2009

MUTINY ? Not a chance , unfortunately....


State cops and their representatives are not happy campers : they are being treated by the wealthy political elite in Leinster House in much the same manner as the rest of us ie being screwed financially to pay for their mistakes and incompetence. And they don't like it , and are now throwing shapes about doing something about it...
....but they'll back down. Unfortunately. The politicians have called their bluff, and the State cops and their reps will now try to put a brave face on their verbal shaping whilst , at the same time , tucking their tail firmly back between their legs.
We have no time for, or inclination to support, the cops , as they are the
'Front Line' defence for this corrupt wee Statelet and its political rulers , and are themselves , for the most part (in our opinion), as corrupt as their bosses, who they are now temporarily at odds with. But serious political change is needed , and if the cops supply the spark that helps to introduce that change , then we would welcome such a development. But , in this morally corrupt and bankrupt kip of a Statelet , such a change , from that particular direction , will not happen. However , having said that ,it's good to see those loyal State servants get such a wake-up call from those they previously considered to be their 'best friends' . From little acorns etc....
Sharon.






Saturday, December 12, 2009

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.

One strange aspect of the Kirkpatrick case is what happened between the end of the trial and the judgement. There was a gap of five weeks and in the interim , two other people were arrested.

Liz Le Guria is currently on bail awaiting trial on the 'word' of Harry Kirkpatrick - lawyers involved are puzzled as to why the RUC waited so long to pick her up . She was living openly in Belfast , paying rent to the local authority and collecting some social welfare payments , and her address and whereabouts would have been known.

She was also 'P-checked' (stopped on the street , questioned, searched and patted down) , and told her details will be entered into a computer and held on file : this was done once to her whilst she was in the company of an American lawyer . Now she has been charged with "conspiring to murder".......
(MORE LATER).





WHERE DO THE DRUGS GO ?
The official line is that the evidence is finally taken under guard to a certain multinational chemical-processing company that is under contract to the State Department of Justice to dispose of the substances and the packaging.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1988. By Marguerite Barry.

The State gardaí are becoming quite successful not only at making drug seizures * but also at publicising them , giving journalists and television crews unprecedented and punctual access to the details of their investigations and the results.

Freshly seized contraband is displayed with freak-show glory , and we are treated to graphic and not always entirely accurate descriptions of size , weight , 'street' value and the potential havoc to society that has been so narrowly averted etc. Then the audience claps and the show is over. But where do those drugs go ?

Who takes them away ? How many more hands do they go through ? And where is the final resting place ? The concerned citizen may ask if there is a guarantee that the capture so proudly displayed will never re-enter the market. Others may say - "Who cares...."

(* '1169...' Comment : as happens world-wide, the 'cops' will turn a blind eye to drug pushers who have been bullied into operating as their 'eyes and ears' in the community , to the mutual benefit of both: the pusher informs on his 'competition' , thus enlarging his/her own 'market' , and the 'cops' make propaganda out of 'doing such a good job'.)
(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 : " And was there any violence from the drug pushers against the people on the committee and the other locals ? "

Noel Sillery : " Yes , well at the start , as I was saying, there was a formal committee set up. The drug pushers and their fellow-travellers tried to threaten each of the members of that committee individually . So what happened was that, at our next meeting. we decided that there wouldn't be a committee as such , but that every single person in the flats who was anti-drugs would be a member of a community 'committee' ."
(MORE LATER).







Wednesday, December 09, 2009

RSF at the CDP / JI / CE protest in Clondalkin , Monday 7th December 2009.

At 4pm , on Monday 7th December 2009 , a core group of about thirty protestors took up their by-now usual positions outside the Clondalkin constituency office of Fianna Fail State Minister John Curran , to object to the proposed/intended savaging of Community Sector workers by the current Fianna Fail / Green Party Leinster House administration.

A young protestor from Ronanstown , Clondalkin.

Once again , John Curran refused to come out to explain himself , both to his local constituents and to those whom he is supposed to be answerable to in his postion as State Minister - also, he didn't see the need to dispatch a flunky to have a few words with us ; but worse than that , he was approached in his constituency office during the past week by local Community Sector workers and asked to sign a SIPTU-inspired 'Pledge',which he refused to do , having read same after it was passed across the desk to him.

"Beep If You Hate Fianna Fail" - one of the many placards on view in Clondalkin Village on Monday 7th December 2009.

The 'Pledge' which offended Curran so much read as follows - "Jobs Initiatives support a wide range of community based services including childcare, elder care, drug rehabilitation , youth projects and recycling to name but a few. Real and vital services are provided at a low cost to the state.
The McCarthy Report proposes that the Jobs Initiative scheme be abolished.
If implemented , this cut will have a major impact on workers , projects and communities . Many workers on these projects carry out extremely valuable work within their communities. Without the existence of J.I. many communities would not have the help and support they need. As an elected representative, if you wish to support J.I. workers in their campaign to save their jobs , please pledge your support below.
Your stance on this issue will be communicated to all our members in the Community Sector.
I ________________________ support SIPTU's campaign to defend the Jobs Initiative scheme and the workers currently on the scheme. "


Curran therefore refused to put it in writing that he believes that the J.I. scheme is worth defending and has already told us that he doesn't believe that the McCarthy cutbacks will affect local communities in the manner we conveyed to him : in short , regardless of how his constituents feel , he will do the bidding of his Masters in this Fianna Fail and Green Party administration. His complicity in the destruction of these Community Sector programmes will be highlighted by Republican Sinn Féin the next time he sends his lackeys knocking on doors for him at the next election.

Some of the Ladies from Ronanstown at the picket on 7th December 2009.

"Hang 'Em High!" - the message to John Curran at the picket on his Clondalkin office on Monday 7th December 2009.

Well done to all who kept the pressure on John Curran over this issue, which is not yet settled : this blog would like to send its congratulations to all those who took part and , week after week , made the effort to attend - the CDP/ JI/ CE workers , RSF , and the dozens upon dozens of members of the public who joined in and/or otherwise supported us in our on-going campaign. We ask that you not stray too far away : we will most likely be needing your support again in the near future.....
Thanks!
Sharon.






Sunday, December 06, 2009

PROTEST MARCH TO BE HELD IN CLONDALKIN BY CDP/JI/CE WORKERS ON MONDAY 7th DECEMBER 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, November 30th last) in Clondalkin , Dublin, and will be present again on this protest, which will be held on Monday 7th December 2009 in Clondalkin Village at the constituency office of local Fianna Fail elected representative John Curran , beginning at 4pm.
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 4pm outside Curran's office at 2a Main Street , Clondalkin (telephone: 01 459 2803 / 01 457 9913 / mobile :087 250 1980 / fax: 01 457 9805) .
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; at the time of writing, more than 50 JI employees are placed in more than 30 community organisations in the Clondalkin area alone. The types of projects supported range from football clubs, community centres, educational services, and caring organisations, all of which will be severely affected, to the point of closure in some cases, should they lose the JI /CE workers that are placed there.
THOSE TAKING PART WILL BE MEETING UP AT 4PM OUTSIDE THE CLONDALKIN OFFICE OF JOHN CURRAN ON MONDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2009 : SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY - JOIN US ON THE PICKET !
Thanks!
Sharon.






Wednesday, December 02, 2009

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.

In January 1984 , former RUC detective sergeant Thomas McCormick had his conviction quashed : he had served twenty-one months of a twenty-year sentence for hi-jacking and armed robbery , and had been convicted on the word of Anthony O' Doherty, an RUC informer inside the (P)IRA .

O'Doherty himself was sentenced to eighteen years , and was held in the same part of Crumlin Road Prison - in the annex - at the same time as Harry Kirkpatrick ; O' Doherty had asked for an eight-year remission on an eighteen year sentence.

One of James Prior's last political acts in the North of Ireland was to order the release of Anthony O' Doherty , which occurred after he had given evidence against former RUC detective sergeant Thomas McCormick.......
(MORE LATER).




WHERE DO THE DRUGS GO ?
The official line is that the evidence is finally taken under guard to a certain multinational chemical-processing company that is under contract to the State Department of Justice to dispose of the substances and the packaging.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1988. By Marguerite Barry.

At the headquarters of the 'National' (sic) Drug Unit in Dublin Castle, there is a comfortably-furnished waiting room where those with inquiries wait to be seen . There are armchairs , upright chairs , a soft carpet , plants and a table where someone has kindly provided an ashtray .

Everything in the room is marked and bar-coded with a State Garda Asset number . And well they might be - the only other item in the room is a large glass cabinet displaying several large - 8 oz and 16 oz - bars of cannabis resin , bags of marijuana leaves and buds, a tube containing (and marked) 'The highest-quality Dutch seed : swazix skunk' , a bag of white tablets marked with doves , uppers , downers , a bag of a brown heroin-like substance , a 500ml bottle of methadone hydrochloride and several tubes of a white powder . A lot of money's worth , in other words.

The display case also houses a collection of smoking materials , or perhaps the contents of an ethnic crafts shop - elaborately carved bongs and water bongs, pipes and chillums, a 10-inch rolling machine , a little box marked 'smokers gauzes' , weighing scales and weights . Perhaps such exhibits are commonplace in garda offices now . Instead of being destroyed , the booty adorns the walls of the captors , like moose heads and stuffed pheasants - the fruits of other hunts - once did.......
(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 : " Would drug addicts be beaten up by the residents that patrol the flats if they did come into the area ? "

Noel Sillery : " No , nobody has ever been beaten up. If a known drug addict came in and he was approached and he was known to be going in to look for drugs , he'd just be asked to leave the flats , and they would leave."
(MORE LATER).







Monday, November 30, 2009

COMMUNITY SECTOR (CDP-JI-CE) PROTEST , CLONDALKIN , MONDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2009.

RSF at the Clondalkin protest, Monday 30 November 2009.

At 3.30pm today (Monday 30 November 2009) in Clondalkin Village , protestors against the proposed/'recommended' State cuts to the finances of those working in the Community Sector gathered outside the County Council offices and, at 4pm , marched through the Village to the constituency office of John Curran ,Fianna Fail State Minister responsible for 'Community Affairs'.

RSF were there , Curran was not!

Altogether , about fifty protestors remained outside Curran's office for approximately an hour-and-a-half , blowing whistles , chanting protest songs and sharing two hand-held battery-operated loudhailers between them , to get their point across to Curran and , more importantly, to his constituents who stopped in their dozens to listen to the protestors as, indeed, did cars etc , causing a small tailback at times. But Curran wasn't listening - because he wasn't in his office....

Two staff from Clondalkin Womens Network protesting outside John Curran's office , Clondalkin, Monday 30 November 2009.

...the protestors had been told , after trying to get in to speak to State Minister Curran , that he had left earlier 'to attend a meeting' : Grace Wills, North Clondalkin, and Rita Fagan Inchicore (St Michaels Resource Centre) were disappointed that they had been prevented from addressing Curran across his table , but made up for it by addressing what was now a packed Clondalkin street , putting their point across that way , instead.

Eamon Ó Cuív and John Curran (both Fianna Fail) : in 'competition' to see which one can do the most damage to the Community Sector.

Inchicore CDP at the Clondalkin protest, Monday 30 November 2009.

The next Community Sector protest in Clondalkin will take place next Monday, 7th December 2009 at 4pm outside Curran's office - it was felt that we were losing a good half hour of 'protesting' light on these dark afternoons by marching from the County Council offices to the State Ministers office , so we are going directly to 'Cutback Currans' office at 4pm. Republican Sinn Féin will be there again , adding our voice to that of these low-paid but invaluable workers. See you there!
Thanks!
Sharon.






Sunday, November 29, 2009

'MOOCHING'FOR A SEAT AT THE RSF BALLAD SESSION,SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2009!

'The Dublin City Moochers' on stage , Saturday 28th November 2009.

Another full , busy and noisy night at another RSF-organised ballad session in the 79'r pub in Ballyfermot , Dublin ! Two of us from this blog arrived at the premises at about eight-fifteen pm to see if we could help out in any way with the final preparations, only to find that Frankie , Liam , Robbie ,Pat and Keith had the hall ready to go , and Tom , Shay and PJ - 'The Moochers' - were already on stage , tuning-up. Happy Days! We retired to the bar...

The banner of the RSF Cumann which organised the function , the 'Anne Devlin/Robert Emmet' Cumann.

At about half-past nine , Frankie Nolan , representing the organisers of the night, took to the stage and welcomed the hundred-or-so people that were in the hall at that time (that number doubled within the following hour!) : Frankie stated that 300 tickets had been printed , distributed , sold and returned , and that this was just the first such event in a new programme of fund-raisers that had been organised by Republican Sinn Féin in that general area. He mentioned that a bus load of RSF members and supporters would be in later , as they were currently on the road back from County Armagh , where they and others had held a picket at Maghaberry Prison in support of Irish Republican POW's - this drew a round of sustained applause from all present.

Some of those at the ballad session.

Frankie mentioned the raffle that was going to be held at the gig , stating that all five prizes (three bodhrons and two framed Republican mirrors) had been made by Republican POW's in Maghaberry and Portlaoise prisons, and he made special mention of the up-coming annual CABHAIR Christmas Day Swim which , after 32 years, is still going strong and still raising much-needed funds for the families of Republican prisoners - this point was also stressed by the newly-elected President of Republican Sinn Féin , Des Dalton who, during his brief speech on the night, delivered a short report on the Maghaberry Prison picket , which he had just returned from.

The five raffle prizes , all made by Republican POW's in Maghaberry and Portlaoise Prisons.

Another section of the crowd at the ballad session.

Finally ; another issue which RSF is also involved in was highlighted from the stage by Frankie , Des and John - that of the atrocious and vicious cutbacks that are taking place in this State in order that the 'establishment' friends and business and political colleagues of the politicians in Leinster House will not have to sell their third or fourth home or , worse , downsize the fleet of luxury cars they own : the on-going pickets and protests by ordinary workers against those fatcat politicians . The 200-odd people present at the gig cheered loudly when told that RSF members and supporters will , once again, be joining in a picket on the near-by (Clondalkin) constituency office of a local Fianna Fail elected representative on Monday 30th November 2009 , beginning at 3.30pm - the poor , the unemployed and the low-paid workers will not pay for the greed of the wealthy elite and the political class which supports them.
Very 'Well Done' to the 'Anne Devlin/Robert Emmet' RSF Cumann which put the night together , thanks also to the pub management , staff and 'bouncers' , to the 'Dublin City Moochers' , to Frankie and Crew
(including Morris , Andy , Cathy , Des and John) and to YOU , for taking the time to look at our cider-induced out-of-focus pics and our rambling words! A report (and better pics!) will be carried in the December 2009 issue of 'SAOIRSE' , which will be published on Wednesday, December 2nd next.
Thanks!
Sharon.






Friday, November 27, 2009

GET MOOCHIN' IN BALLYER , DUBLIN.....



A Republican ballad session will be held on Saturday 28 November 2009 in the 79'r pub in Ballyfermot , featuring 'The Dublin City Moochers' on stage.
Admission is €5 per person , doors open at 9pm and a raffle for Irish Republican items
(framed prints , inscribed mirrors , bodhrons etc) will be held before the end of the night.
All Welcome !

Also,on a related topic ,a new Republican Flute Band has been formed in Dublin. Practice takes place on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Phone 085-8242617 for further information.
Thanks!
Sharon.






Wednesday, November 25, 2009

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).







Monday, November 23, 2009

(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.






Saturday, November 21, 2009

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.






Thursday, November 19, 2009

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).