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 .
There was evidence of mistreatment given by five people who were being detained in the Bridewell Garda Station during that same time -
Mr. George Royale gave evidence in Brian McNally's trial to the effect that he heard shouts in the Bridewell around 1.00am on the morning in question : later on , he said he heard screams and shouts coming from the tunnel under the station , the tunnel leading to the District Court , and that he heard a question being roared - "...who was driving ? " He also gave evidence to the effect that Peter Royale , his brother , and Peter Harrington banged and kicked on the cell door after hearing screams , and that a member of the Gardai came down and told them to shut up or they would get the same .
He further said that when they complained later on , they were told that they were better off keeping their mouths shut , that it had nothing to do with them . George Royale admitted under cross examination that he had seven convictions against him , including ones for housebreaking , shop breaking , assault , and possession of a firearm . He denied fabricating his evidence and could not identify the person who allegedly had told him to ' keep his mouth shut ' . He further said that he had been in the Bridewell on a number of occasions before but had not heard anything like the shouts and screaming he had heard that night and , as a result of what he heard , he joined the Prisoners Rights Organisation and took part subsequently in a picket on the Bridewell .
He denied that either he or his brother were founder members of the Prisoners Rights Organisation but admitted that he knew some of its officers , and also stated under cross examination that he had spent three months in Mountjoy Jail on remand for something for which , in the end , a nolle prosequi was entered . There was another witness who also spoke of hearing "...shouting and screaming.."
(MORE LATER).
Veteran Irish Republican , LILY MOFFATT , interviewed....... From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982 .
By John Doyle .
IRIS magazine - " What do you think of the Free State today ? "
Lily Moffatt - " Not much . " (Fergal , a 7-year old relative chimes in - " They're worse than the Brits! ") " It's awfully short of the Republic . And when I think of Liam , Rory , Richard and Joe shot in cold blood by the Staters... The people in the North are right to fight the British , they're our enemy . Now the Free Staters are more British that the British themselves . The people that died in my young days would have no regard for the Free State . Our culture , even our Irish dancing , is forgotten . "
IRIS magazine - " Do you agree with the present IRA's methods ? "
Lily Moffatt - " Yes , they are no different than in our time . In the North today they just have more up-to-date equipment . They are right to fight . I hate to see people killed but England never knew any language but the language of the gun . I wouldn't begrudge anything to get the Brits out . "
IRIS magazine - " Finally , Lily , what would you say to the girls and women who see this interview ? "
Lily Moffatt - " Do all you can for the good of your country . You could do nothing better . My one longing is not to die before the Brits get out . I'd die happy in the morning if we got rid of them . "
('1169...' Comment : Regrettably for Lily and thousands more like us , the Brits continue to maintain a political , military and jurisdictional unwanted presence on this isle , supported by those same Staters that Lily fought against . But the struggle for a re-united Ireland continues...)
[END of ' LILY MOFFATT INTERVIEWED']
(Next - 'Sporting Nationalism' : from 1982)
THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .
All of this 'election campaign business' used to be the SDLP's bread and butter - even at times when feeling ran high against the SDLP over issues like internment they held votes because of their constituency work . But they seem to have grown complacent and they can't compete with the effort Sinn Fein is putting in now .
The SDLP had no office in West Belfast until a few weeks ago - John Hume had an MEP's office in Derry but it didn't deal with purely local issues and there was no party office in the city . Even those SDLP councillors who do work hard simply haven't the time and can't call on the back-up and support Sinn Fein have .
Some of the SDLP mutter darkly about not having access to unlimited funds from bank robberies to pay all those full-time workers : Senator Brid Rogers , the SDLP's general secretary , even suggests the British administration may be going out of its way to facilitate Sinn Fein constituency work as a way of enticing the Provisionals away from violence....... ('1169...' Comment -....now the Provisionals are paid a salary to 'entice them away from violence' : but there is really no need , as the Provos themselves realise that their objective of 'constitutional reform' is not worth organising an armed campaign for.)
(MORE LATER).
PLEASE NOTE : The '1169...' crew will be taking a wee break from operations soon - our last post this side of the new year will be on Friday 22 December next . We will return in early January to continue on from where we left off .
Go raibh maith agat .
John , Sharon and 'Junior' .
