THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .......There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .
Dr. Sean O' Cleirigh gave evidence of the injuries he found on examining Nicky Kelly -
" There was bruising between the middle and the lower third of the thigh . That is about two-thirds of the way between the hip joint and the knee joint on the left thigh , which was approximately two inches in diameter . There were also two small bruises on the front of the body , one just below the breast bone - the sternum - about an inch below the sternum : the other about three inches above and one inch outside the line of the left nipple . They would have been at most one inch in diameter - like small bruises .
He had extensive bruising of the left ear itself and behind the left ear . In other words , the discolouration extended from the ear itself . It extended for a couple of inches but it also extended down below the level of the ear . There was discolouration behind the right ear - it was a light brown . I describe it as 'browning'....... "
Referring again to the left ear , Dr. O' Cleirigh said - " I discovered that there was a swelling there and some discolouration and it was tender . He was in a state of very acute anxiety . I have quite a clear recollection of Kelly being particularly stressful . "
Dr. Sean O' Cleirigh was further questioned by Mr. Seamus Sorohan , State Counsel - '...those various injuries present ...matters that you noticed...distressful state ....what were all those matters consistent with in your opinion as a doctor...? ' Dr. O' Cleirigh replied - " They were consistent with beating of the type which he (Nicky Kelly) had described to me ." The doctor further put the ages of the bruisings found at one to three days : his evidence was corroborated by Dr. Sean Magee , who also examined Nicky Kelly at the same time.......
(MORE LATER).
BEYOND BREAKOUTS AND SUPERGRASSES .......From 'FORTNIGHT' magazine , October 1983 .
The UDA and the UVF recognise that the IRA is* a revolutionary organisation ('1169...' Comment* - ....at least it was then (1983) : in 1986 the PIRA became the military wing of a Leinster House-registered political party , and remains so to this day ) - with all the long-term dedication and 'fanaticism' such a term entails . Loyalists believe that the revolutionary violence of the IRA has to be fought with the 'defensive violence' of a united loyalist community .
We (ie 'Fortnight' magazine) believe that is the way to bloody sectarian civil war : we must believe that there are still political moves the (British) government can make * which could begin to create an atmosphere in which the nationalist working class could be weaned away from Sinn Fein ('1169...' Comment - ...as it was then , in 1983) , and support for the IRA's campaign could be correspondingly reduced . ('1169...' Comment * -...the only such "political move" would be an announcement from Westminster of a date for political and military withdrawal from this island.)
The British government - or even better , all the British parliamentary parties in a joint statement - should make clear once and for all that there will never be any return of powers to a Stormont Assembly until there is guaranteed nationalist (not 'Catholic') participation in any devolved administration . ('1169...' Comment -....by which , then [1983] , was meant that the SDLP and the then Sinn Fein organisation would both have to implement British policy in that part of Ireland . And the Provos are now attempting to do so.) A 'formal' three-tier 'Anglo-Irish Council' , with its own budget and officials , should be set up as quickly as possible and charged with specific political and economic tasks *....... ('1169...' Comment*...a salaried 'talking-shop' , in other words , as that proposed body would be tasked with implementing British policy rather than finding ways of ending same.)
(MORE LATER).
THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .
The Battleground .
There are six constituencies where the SDLP or Sinn Fein have a chance of winning a seat :
West Belfast -
Candidates : Gerry Adams (SF) : Gerry Fitt (IND) : George Haffey (DUP) : Dr. Joe Hendron (SDLP) : Mary McMahon (WP) and Thomas Passmore (OUP) .
Once a fairly marginal seat in 'religious' terms , the new boundaries have given this seat a solid 'Catholic' majority, removing the Unionist Shankill and Donegall Road areas and adding the Nationalist Lenadoon Estate .
It is based on the Falls Road , Andersonstown and Ballymurphy/Turf Lodge : with a split Unionist vote , Gerry Adams , who topped the poll in the Assembly elections , should have no difficulty winning the seat .
Assembly Election 1982 : (First Preferences) SF 10,367 , one seat : SDLP 8,368 , one seat : OUP 4,505 , one seat : DUP 4,394 : Alliance 2,733 , one seat : Workers' Party 2,493 : Progressive Unionist Party 1,255 : PD 144 .
(MORE LATER).
