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 .
James Lalor , who was in the Bridewell Garda Station at the same time as those arrested for the Sallins mail train robbery , gave evidence at Brian McNally's trial to the effect that he heard shouting and screaming in the Bridewell around midnight on the day in question : he said that he banged on the door of his cell in an attempt to get the disturbance stopped , and that a Garda whom he could not now identify told him to "...mind his own business.." .
At the time of the trial in October 1978 , James Lalor was serving a 12 month sentence in Mountjoy Prison , Dublin , having been convicted of pick-pocketing . Lalor further stated under cross examination that he had appeared in the District Court the morning after hearing the screams and shouts , and that he had received a 12 month sentence . He had not been contacted about the incident until almost two years after the event .
At the time of his giving evidence , Peter Harrington was serving five years penal servitude for armed robbery and had served a year and a half of his sentence ; he gave evidence at Brian McNally's trial to the effect that he had been re-arrested , along with his co-accused who included George and William Royale , outside the Bridewell , after their case had been thrown out of court . He admitted that he had been in the Bridewell thirty times . When questioned about what he heard in the Bridewell on the Wednesday morning , he said that he heard screams and shouts and the sound of something banging off a door , and that it lasted for about two hours . He also said that he had been in the Bridewell on a number of occasions since that night but had never heard anything like it since.......
(MORE LATER).
SPORTING NATIONALISM .A look at the political origins of the GAA .
By 'Celt' .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982 .
Almost 100 years old (ie 1884 - 1982) , the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)- the largest and most influential sporting body in Ireland - has from its inception to the present day been considerably influenced by political events in its ideals and policy . In recent years , concerted attempts to curb the intensely nationalist beliefs of many GAA members and some clubs have hinged on the demand that the GAA observe the gulf between 'sport' and 'politics' . This article argues that in the history of the GAA no such gulf ever existed .
The earliest driving force behind the GAA was provided by Michael Cusack , who founded the Association in Hayes' Hotel in Tipperary , during 1884 . A pioneer of Irish language revival and a founder member of the Gaelic League , Michael Cusack was inspired by the ideal of restoring pride in the national games of hurling and football , and - through them - instilling hope and determination among Irish manhood in their ability to control their country's destiny .
The cruel hardships of the Great Hunger , less than forty years earlier , bringing death and emigration to two-and-a-half million people , had shattered the national strength . Traditional games like hurling and football - prohibited under law by police and magistrates deeply suspicious of any organised activity which could act as a front for nationally-minded bodies - had been severely disrupted or extinguished altogether in many areas . Restoring these was the end to which Michael Cusack's efforts were directed.......
(MORE LATER).
THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .
The important thing as far as this election - and the next - is concerned is that Sinn Fein's housing and welfare blitz is likely to win them support outside the republican ghetto and bite into the SDLP's traditional support , but the SDLP are hitting back as hard as they can - they are hammering away at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis resolutions passed after the Assembly elections and committing future candidates to "...unambivalent support for the armed struggle.." (' 1169...' Comment - there is no need now for such a declaration from PSF candidates as their objective - reform of the Six County 'state' - is not worth waging an armed campaign for.) .
The SDLP are pointing hard at the killing of a British soldier's wife in Derry who was shielding her husband , and at the breaking of a man's hands with concrete slabs , also in Derry , as examples of the effects of that armed struggle . The Catholic Church has weighed in with its strongest condemnation of Irish republicans since the Civil War : these attacks may hurt Sinn Fein since , to beat or even draw level with the SDLP , Sinn Fein will have to reach out well beyond those who support the IRA's military campaign and the Sinn Fein leaders admit they are unsure of the effect the Catholic bishop's onslaught may have .
But the attacks on Provo violence could be a two-edged weapon : if the Catholic Church and the SDLP escalate their attacks too much they may seem to be ignoring the violence from the loyalists and the 'security forces' which most North of Ireland Nationalists see as the root of the problem . ('1169...' Comment : as far ar Republicans are comcerned , 'the root of the problem' is the British presence , not how they 'behave' whilst here .) And , if they stress too strongly that 'a vote for Sinn Fein is a vote for violence' , they will have a lot of explaining to do if half the Nationalist population does vote for Sinn Fein.......
(MORE LATER).
PLEASE NOTE : The '1169...' crew will be taking a wee break from operations today , Friday 22 December 2006 . We will return in early January to continue on from where we left off . We trust our many readers will have a peaceful and happy Christmas , and that you will continue to support , in whatever manner you can , the struggle of Irish Republicans in our quest to bring a lasting peace to all on this isle .
Go raibh maith agat .
John , Sharon and 'Junior' .
