BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......



.......in June 1920 ,a provincial newspaper , ' The Westmeath Independent ' , published a pro-Irish freedom Editorial ; Dublin Castle 'spin-doctor' Basil Clarke did not like the point made by that Editorial and sent the Black and Tans in to convey that message .......


The owners wife , a Mrs Chapman , and the house-maid , were living next to the printing works ( in Garden Vale House ) when , at one A M on a Sunday morning , the two women noticed flames coming from the works ; some of the employees lived in nearby Mardyke Street , and Mrs Chapman ran there for help but , due to the British-imposed street curfew (ie anyone on the street during certain hours was shot at) she got no offers of help .

She ran back to the works and herself and the maid worked through the night trying to put the fire out . Both women reported seeing about a dozen Black and Tans at the building when they first noticed the fire . As dawn broke on that Sunday morning , and the curfew was lifted , the 'Westmeath Independent' Works Manager , a Mr. James Martin and a warehouse worker , a Mr O' Brien , rushed to the plant and worked with the two women in salvaging what they could from the ruined building .

Other newspapers also received a knock on the door from Basil Clarke and his 'censorship board' ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

A QUIET PERIOD.......

".......I remember one IRA Volunteer in particular ; a small man , past middle-age , who had worked all his hard life on a farm , every day . Now he also worked at night for his country ......."


" His name was Neilus O' Connell , but he was known to us by his nom de guerre , ' Louth '. During his long service for Ireland , he saw many a day breaking . It was his greatest pleasure . May he enjoy the brightness of an eternal dawn .

In the autumn of 1917 , the time had come for me to leave home and go to a secondary school . I viewed the prospect with dismay , as Volunteer re-organisation was in full swing . One of my sisters , a secondary teacher , stepped into the breach and saved me . She taught a younger sister and myself and prepared us for the 'Junior Grade' examination .

We had a most enjoyable school year , and I had plenty of time for Volunteer work . But good times come to an end and June 1918 came quickly . We passed our examination and were free from study for the summer months . The attack on the RIC at Beal a' Ghleanna early in July 1918 and a little subsequent martial law activity brought on the autumn again .

The 'Conscription Bill' , passed on 16th April 1918 , had caused a scare amongst people opposed to , or not interested in , the cause of Irish independence . It had caused a good deal of amusement amongst the rank and file of the Volunteers , and had provided extra work for their Officers who had to deal with a large influx of recruits while the scare lasted......."

BHOPAL.......

(From an article by Richard Douthwaite , published in 'ALPHA' magazine , 30th March 1989 , page 10).

(2 of 3).



Even R. S. Pathak's (the Indian Government's Chief Justice) immediate predecessor as Chief Justice was appalled - " The court order places a ridiculously low price on Indian life ," wrote P. N. Bhagwati , " the order is breathless in its sweep . It defies comprehension how criminal proceedings against Union Carbide can be quashed without even examining if there is a prima facie case " .

Not unexpectedly , government officials argued that , although 592,000 people out of Bhopal's population of 680,000 have claimed compensation , most of the claims are bogus ! They estimate that 3,410 people have died (deaths still occur every day) , 25,000 people will be seriously ill for the rest of their lives , mostly as a result of damaged lungs , and that 80,000 people are less badly affected .

If the $470 Million dollars is divided up among the " 100,000 real victims ", they say , the average figure of £4,700 dollars should be enough to give the bereaved £13,000 dollars each , with smaller sums to look after the permanently ill and the partially incapacitated ........ (Part three of three tomorrow ...)

---

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......


.......The new British 'Chief Secretary for Ireland' , 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood , is believed to have worked closely with Dublin Castle 'spin-doctor' , Basil Clarke to produce a propaganda 'newspaper' , ' The Weekly Summary ' ; Clarke was a devious character who would 'cosy-up' to the journalists and become their 'new best friend '........


He would then attempt to politely advise the journalists on how best to report a certain story , or if same should be reported on at all .....

If the 'buddy-buddy' routine failed , Basil Clarke used other methods ; in June 1920 , the 'Westmeath Independent' (a provincial newspaper) stated in an Editorial - " English rule is broken in Ireland . No English policies , good or bad , will stand . The Irish people will govern themselves . "

The (founding) Managing Director of that newspaper , a Mr. Thomas Chapman , was absent from the town of Athlone (where the newspaper and its Offices , printing-press etc were based) and was in fact convalescing from ill health . Basil Clarke did not like the tone of the Editorial , and sent in his 'boot-boys' ; the Black and Tans ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

A QUIET PERIOD

" Except for the periods of actual military activity , the ordinary IRA Volunteer attended to his everyday duties in private life . This was not an easy matter , at any time , especially for the man who had to do a hard day's work . To work hard , or indeed to work at all , it is essential to have regular sleep and rest . Youth and enthusiasm replaced sleep and rest during many of these years of preparation and conflict .

The fire of youth burned brightly in most of us . But I remember , above all , the few who had to depend on enthusiasm alone to sustain them . One of these , a small man past middle age , joined the Volunteers on the very first day of their inauguration . He had worked for a farmer for a few shillings a day since his early youth . Now , with over half a hard life behind him , he cheerfully took up the additional task of working for his country by night , without hope of remuneration but with the certainty of shortening and the chance of losing his life . " (MORE LATER).

BHOPAL

(From an article by Richard Douthwaite , published in 'ALPHA' magazine , 30th March 1989 , page 10).

(1 of 3).


In New Dehli tomorrow (ie 31st March 1989) Union Carbide will pay the registrar of the Indian Supreme Court $470 million dollars in full and final settlement of all claims - criminal or civil - which have arisen or could still arise out of the gas leak at the company's pesticide plant in Bhopal in December 1984 .

The settlement figure was reached in secret negotiations between Union Carbide and the Indian Government . However , in order to shield itself from charges of selling out , the government pretended that the Supreme Court had imposed the agreement !

It got Chief Justice R. S. Pathak to interrupt Union Carbide's appeal against a high court order that the chemical company make an interim payment to the victims . Pathak made another order - this time settling the affair for good . Union Carbide's lawyers did not even ask for time to check with the United States . They just nodded .

So did the Indian Attorney General who had been demanding more than six times as much - $3,000 million dollars ....... (Part two of three tomorrow .......)

---

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......


....... 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood gave the British 'police' in Ireland , the 'Royal Irish Constabulary' , and the Black and Tans 'official' clearance to go on the rampage and blame it all on Republican resistance to Westminster 'rule' .......


In the last few months of 1920 , Greenwood and his staff put together plans for the publication of a weekly 'newspaper' to be distributed mainly to the British forces in Ireland ; the 'newspaper' was to be known as ' The Weekly Summary ' , and , in the third week of January 1921 , the first issue was published .

It is almost definite that a Mr. Basil Clarke was heavily involved in the publishing of ' The Weekly Summary '; he was an earlier version of the now infamous 'spin-doctor' , a devious character known to the Irish and international media , whom he used to entertain twice a day at 'press conferences' in Dublin Castle , as "The Black and Tan Publicity Man . "

Basil Clarke would 'cosy-up' to the journalists and become their new best friend ....... (MORE LATER).




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......the two IRA men ,carrying their bicycles and rifles , went across country to a safe-house ; Richie Walsh's place . He was delighted to see them ...... "


" The width of the roads they crossed was the only horizontal and smooth surface they met . Even the bed of the river they crossed was rough . The little fields they met all sloped at a steep angle , and the stone fences were often ten feet high , on one side at least . Rocks , stones of all shapes and sizes , with furze and stunted black and white thorn in between the stones , covered the ground they travelled . They were giants who did it .

After tea and a talk with Richie Walsh , they filled bags with straw and , climbing further up the rugged hill to a beilic they knew , made their bed and slept the sleep of the just , not far from ' Lua's fairy lake ' where Michael Doheny had also rested . Poor Doheny's thoughts could hardly have induced pleasant dreams , since he had seen dismal defeat .

Johnny and Liam had at least tasted victory . "


[END of THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......].




DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (6 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


Finally , one of the de Valera's - not sure if it was Sile or Vivion , but suspect it was the latter , stated re 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976) ' --

-- " The effect of Section 2 of this Bill , particularly when coupled with Section 14 , will turn this State and particularly the agencies of the State , the security forces and the courts , into an agency for another sovereignty over which we have no control ."


Now that's rich : A de Valera objecting to " the agencies of this State " being turned over to be used by the Brits !

Anyway , for all their talk , Jack Lynch , GERARD Collins , David Andrews , Charlie Haughey , Des O'Malley , the de Valera's and the rest of the Fianna Fail 'republican party' went right ahead and used 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' against Irish Republicans when they got back into power .

When they made the above-mentioned statements , the 'republican party' were in 'opposition' - the State Administration at the time was composed of a Fine Gael and Labour coalition (1973 - 1977).

'Magill' Magazine (December 1988 , page 62) wrote that Fianna Fail were using 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' as " the panacea for the difficulties over extradition " despite their condemnation of same during their term in opposition !

DO AS I SAY , NOT AS I DO .....indeed .

---

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......



........ Ireland , 1920 - and the Brits were losing the propaganda war . A new British ' Chief Secretary for Ireland ' was appointed in April that year ; 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood .......


Greenwood was a careerist , determined to be at the top of the British 'social-ladder' and not at all concerned at how he would arrive there ; he viewed his post in Ireland as just another 'test' , another step , to prove to his 'betters' that he would be a worthy and faithful addition to their level of the social structure . Ireland was to be his ' meal ticket ' .

Under orders from the new 'Chief Secretary', the British 'police' and military were granted 'official' clearance to do what they had , up to then , been doing 'un-officially'-ie ignore the limitations imposed by so-called British 'justice' and dis-regard all notions of fair-play - in short , it was now British policy , as introduced and sanctioned by 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood , to 'legally' take reprisals against the population for any real or imagined IRA activity and to operate a 'shoot-to-kill' policy against suspected IRA members ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


"....... The RIC had lost whatever little respect some of the people had for them . Their name was now associated with 'bully-boy' tactics - bullet , baton and battering ram ......."


" This is how my mother taught me the English alphabet -

A for the Army that covers the ground ,
B for the Buckshot we're getting all round ,
C for the Crowbar of cruel ill-fame ,
D for Davitt , a right glorious name .

In the favouring dusk , Johnny and Liam , the slings over their shoulders and the carbines tied on their bicycles , rode down the road towards Ballingeary . At Cathair Cross they left the road and , taking the bicycles on their shoulders , crossed over Carraig na Dabhaire , down through Gurteen Owen Wood , up Coom Dorcha , down Doire na Buairce , out on the road at Scrahan Mor , near Muing na Biorrai , where Smith was buried after Cath Ceimaneigh .

Down Tuirin Lahard , across the river at Tuirin Dubh , and out on the road to Ceimaneigh . Along the road to Ceimaneigh for a short distance , then up the steep boreen to Richie Walsh's place . If they had come staggering under the weight of bags of gold for Richie , they could not have been more welcome . Apart from the events of the day , before they left the road at Cathair Cross , the cross-country march , with bicycles and rifles on their shoulders , was a feat that few could accomplish in the daytime . " (MORE LATER).



DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (5 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


Desmond O'Malley , then a front-bench member of Fianna Fail ; a Limerick man , born in 1939 , and a solicitor by profession . Educated at Crescent College in Limerick and University College Dublin , he studied at the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland .

He was Free State Minister for 'Justice' 1970 - 1973 , Minister for Industry and Commerce 1977 - 1981 , and Free State Minister for Trade , Commerce and Tourism in 1982 . Ambitious and arrogant , O'Malley had his heart set on leading Fianna Fail , but it was not to be ; he stated , re ' The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act(1976) ' --

-- " I do not propose to cover the full spectrum in its political context as has been done fully and ably and in terms with which I totally agree by Deputy Haughey . I am opposed to this Bill and will certainly vote against it . "


The words " totally agree (with) Deputy Haughey " and the name 'Dessie O'Malley' were , to the best of my knowledge , never used in the same sentence again !

---

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .


Ireland , April 1920 - the Black and Tans were in the second year of their campaign to destroy any resistance to British mis-rule in Ireland ; their British paymasters in Westminster were not happy with their 'progress' . The 'Royal Irish Constabulary'(the British 'police' in Ireland) were being burnt out of their barracks' and the Black and Tans thought it would have been all over with in a few months - morale was low .

Westminster was adept at sending out propaganda regarding the situation in Ireland to the international press , and decided to try the same 'spin-doctoring' in Ireland itself ; this time , to its own troops . A little-known Canadian of Welsh parentage , a 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood , was appointed 'Chief Secretary for Ireland' in April 1920 ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......the RIC man that Johnny Lynch gave a thumping to went by the name of Bennett . He was known in the area to be a vicious blaggard ......."


" On the previous evening , this truculent policeman had cleaned his rifle outside the gate of the barracks . With this accomplished to his satisfaction , he had proceeded to display his skill . Catching the weapon by the barrel , he had spun it in the air and again caught it as it fell . This he did repeatedly for the delectation of the simple peasantry . Well , he had his fling . So had the RIC as a body . The people were tired of them and their overbearing , strutting tyranny .

The "Law" and the "Force." Yes , and the Crowbar and the Battering Ram. The Torch and the Buckshot . The Bayonet and the Bullet and the Baton . These tools had been always associated with the "Law." The "Force" was the eyes and the ears and the power behind the "Law." " (MORE LATER).




DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (4 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


....... CHARLIE HAUGHEY - an unprincipled chancer (and one of the few unprincipled chancers in Fianna Fail to be actually caught with his/her hand in the till) was born in Castlebar , County Mayo , in 1925 . He was educated in Dublin at Scoil Mhuire ( Marino ) , Saint Josephs CBS (Fairview ) , University College Dublin and Kings Inn .

An accountant by profession (ie "five grand for the party , fifteen grand for me .....") he's into horses and property , and was first elected to Leinster House at the age of thirty-two , in 1957 . As one of the movers and shakers of his day , the bould Charlie was a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants , the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts and Malahide Rowing Club .

He was Free State Minister for 'Justice' from 1961 - 1964 , Agriculture , 1964 - 1966 , Finance 1966 - 1970 and , before he was appointed as the Free State Minister for Health and Social Welfare (1977 - 1979) had this to say about the 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' =

" If this Bill becomes law , its operation will have the very opposite effect to that which is intended . It will be counter productive in every way . Unpalatable and repressive though they clearly are and alien to the principles to which we are accustomed , the procedures laid down in this Bill cannot guarantee successful prosecutions . "


The words " cannot guarantee successful prosecution " were coupled with the name 'Charles Haughey' in later years as well .......

---

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .......


.......captured members of The Fenians and the Irish Republican Brotherhood were treated badly by the British - although only a young man , John Keegan Casey was not healthy enough to withstand the abuse .......


He was not physically strong enough to deal with the conditions he was forced to endure in Mountjoy Jail and , although only twenty-two years of age , his health began to disintegrate ( due , perhaps , to the diseased times in which he was born). Within a few months of beginning his sentence , his British jailers were worried about his sickly demure - not because they were concerned about him , but because if he were to die in prison it would reflect badly on them and perhaps make a martyr of young Casey ; they released him .

On the 17th March , 1870 , at twenty-four years young , John Keegan Casey ('LEO' of 'The Nation' newspaper) died ; the writings he left behind join the treasured memoir's and memento's bequeathed to the struggle for Irish Freedom ; an on-going struggle . His best-known works include 'A Wreath of Shamrock ' , which he wrote when he was twenty and , at twenty-three years of age , 'The Rising of The Moon .'

He died one-hundred-and-thirty-four years ago , but is still remembered in Irish Republican circles to this day ; the British should learn from our long memories .......


" I will see my day of freedom at The Rising of The Moon ,
oh , my trusty friends and comrades , I know its coming soon .
All you freedom loving people hear this voice in many lands -
when the song-bird sings of freedom , that's the voice of Bobby Sands . "

(From ' The Birds of Freedom ' , by Tomas O'Riain ).


[End of ' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .].



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


"........the ambush was successful ; the useless material (ie helmets , batons etc) had been dumped - now the rifles and ammunition , and the men themselves , had to be got to safety ......."


" They had already decided that , when darkness fell , they would take the rifles and ammunition away to the south , across the main road from Ballingeary through Ceimaneigh to the west . This would eliminate all risk of their being found in a minute local search . They now decided to take the bicycles also .

Meanwhile , what of the police ? Evidently they roused themselves up and caught the horse which had been grazing along the dykes of the road . The wounded man mounted the animal and his comrade led it by the head . Thus they made progress down by Acharus , not indeed as dignified as that of the morning . They met Mick Callaghan . With unfeigned surprise he asked " Yerra what happened ye at all , at all ? "

Under the circumstances one could hardly expect a civil answer . Compared with their polished , well equipped and martial bearing of the forenoon they now looked a total loss . " Ah , someone will pay for this , " was the reply he got from Johnny's opponent . The man scarred by the bullet said nothing . Indeed , it was a matter of regret with the Volunteers who knew him , and especially with Johnny who had experience of his courtesy during a raid on his house , that he should have been hurt .

They rejoiced when they learned that his wound was not serious . His name was Butler . There was scant sympathy for the other man's bruises - his name was Bennett . " (MORE LATER).



DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (3 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


DAVID ANDREWS (a barrister by profession) , born in 1936 in Dublin , and educated at Colaiste Mhuire in Dublin and Mount Saint Josephs in Roscrea , County Tipperary . He studied in University College Dublin and Kings Inn , Dublin . A bit of a lad for the oul' soccer , I believe .....

Mr. Andrews did'nt think much of ' The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976) ' = " The unconstitutionality of this Bill is well settled . This is a politically disastrous Bill . It could bring the whole criminal law into contempt and make a sham of our adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights . "


A barrister and " human rights " ? Only if the price is right .......

Fianna Fail against extradition ? Only if the price is right .......

---

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .......



....... John Keegan Casey ('LEO' of 'The Nation' newspaper) joined the revolutionary Irish Republican Brotherhood in the mid-1860's when he was still only a teenager - on 5th March 1867 the IRB made their move .......


Armed actions took place at , amongst other locations , Stepaside , Glencullen and Tallaght in Dublin , Ballyknockane and Knockadoon in Cork , Ballyhurst in County Tipperary , and also in Louth and Limerick .

John Keegan Casey , now aged twenty-one , was one of the thousands of Irish Rebels arrested when the Fenian Rising failed ; he was brought before the Special Court in Green Street , Dublin , where he was sentenced to seven years penal servitude in Dublin's Mountjoy Jail .

The conditions for the Fenians and the Irish Republican Brotherhood prisoners in the jails in which they were held were deliberately harsh - they were locked in their cells for twenty-three hours of every day , with the other hour being spent in forced exercise , in single-file and in silence , in a metal cage in the prison yard . (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......the fight for possession of the weapons was over ; the IRA had them - two rifles , one-hundred rounds of ammunition , belts , batons , helmets and notebooks ......."


" The whole IRA team went up the hill on the north side of the road . Here the Ballyvourney men and Tadhg Twomey had dumped their bicycles . Tadhg took his and , making a detour by Gougane Barra , came home to the village of Ballingeary .

Jamie , Neilus and Dan also cycled home around the mountain road . Johnny and Liam dumped the helmets , batons and other useless stuff in a nearby beilic - a jutting rock under which the sheep slept at night , and often many a good man as well . With the carbines and ammunition , they again came down to the scene of the ambush . The police had gone . Crossing the road , they skirted by Johnny's house .

Here , in a grove , they found Jer Shea's bicycle . Evidently Jer had gone home across country and intended to return for the bicycle that night . Liam had his bicycle also , and both were in the wrong place in case of an early morning search by crown forces - which was now a certainty . " (MORE LATER).



DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (2 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


Gerry(" Call me Gerard") Collins , a likely lad from Limerick , ex-Fianna Fail Minister for Posts and Telegraphs 1970-1973 , Minister for (Free State) Justice 1977-1981 and , as the Free State Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1982 , had no doubt but that issues relating to the Six Counties should be included in his brief (ie part of the national terrority being 'dealth with' under the portfolio of 'Foreign Affairs' ! That's the 'republican party' for ya .....)


But anyway ..... the bould GERARD had this to say about extraditing people to Britain - " It is well known that no country has been stronger in asserting this idea of non-extradition for politically motivated offences than the British themselves . Yet it now appears they are trying to foist a different rule of law on us . We believe that this Bill , if it becomes law , will remain a dead letter. What we are now attempting to legalise here is trial in which evidence will be given on commission in the absence of the accused , something which is totally unacceptable since it is at variance with the constitutional guarantees of fairness of procedures . "


YEP ! No doubt about it ; that's a definite line in the sand from our GERARD and FIANNA FAIL . Obviously made on a windy day .......

---