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 .
(Garda C) made a statement in relation to the same incident -
" As we moved away from Harcourt Terrace , (Michael) Plunkett said 'You fixed that nicely' and (Garda B) replied - ' Is it not true that you were free and you asked to go back to collect property? ' and Plunkett said ' That's right' . (Garda D) then said - 'I don't know what you're talking about , but I can assure you one thing , we fixed nothing . What are you talking about anyway ? '
Plunkett replied - 'A man in there has identified me as being one of the men in his home on the night of the robbery .' (Garda D) asked is that so . (Garda B) said to Plunkett - 'It was you who delayed leaving the station .' Plunkett said - 'That's right , it's my hard luck I am finished now after that.' They then had a general conversation... "
Another Garda - 'Garda D' - then gave his version of events.......
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A PEOPLE'S ARMY ....... 'IRIS' magazine talks to two active women Volunteers in the Irish Republican Army about their involvement , their political attitudes , and their observations on the role played by women in the liberation struggle. Both Volunteers are from the Free State , where they live , and are in their twenties . 'Mary' comes from a country area and has been in the IRA for six years ; 'Anne' comes from the city and joined the IRA about a year ago .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982.
'IRIS' magazine : " What sort of social problems face young women who get involved in the IRA ? "
MARY : " If the Volunteer is a married woman , and her husband isn't in the Army , the situation is obviously a lot harder to cope with than if it's the other way round . Though I would say that it's incorrect to say that the family comes second . If you look at the war in Vietnam , the women fighters went out with their children on their backs . We are fighting for our children . If your family's not vitally important then you have to ask what you are fighting for . Even if we don't benefit from what we're fighting for* , our children will ." (*'1169...' Comment - holiday homes , salaries and expenses from Leinster House , Stormont and Westminster , a jet-setting lifestyle: no Volunteer , male or female , purposely set out to obtain financial benefit for those associated politically with them but that is what has happened thanks to those Provisional Volunteers.)
ANNE : " Well , obviously you are not able to make definite arrangements as regards meeting people , going out , etc . It really depends on how involved a woman Volunteer is but , anyway , you are made aware of what your commitment will mean , before you actually become an IRA Volunteer , so it's up to you ."
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NEW DEPARTURES FOR SINN FEIN....... ? Sinn Fein's recent election success in the North of Ireland have focussed attention on the Provisionals' new turn to political activity at local level . There have been parallel developments in the organisation in the 26 counties .
'GRALTON' magazine spoke to Paddy Bolger , Ard Comhairle member and National Organiser for Sinn Fein ,with special responsibility for Dublin , about the changed perspective .
From 'GRALTON' magazine , August/September 1983 .
'GRALTON' magazine : " Do you think the memory of what has happened the Officials in the late 1960's was in some people's minds as well ? "
PADDY BOLGER : " Some people went further back than that , even , and looked at Fianna Fail, but the gradual development - and it could be called that , rather than a dramatic change - took several years , through a process of debate and education . The people who were dubious about these moves were quite sincere in their doubts , but there has been an acceptance at the last few Ard Fheiseanna that the strategy that had been unfolding is correct and what's wrong with people who go into Leinster House and betray and what's wrong with politicians who renage even on the partition question , not to mention armed action against the British, is that their ideology was bad before their tactics were bad . What was wrong with the Officials , for instance , was that they wanted to reform the Six Counties .
Our attitude is that as long as our basic republicanism is not diluted we have no reason to fear for the future . The new outlook is accepted throughout the organisation . It's not just a question of a few radicals* in Belfast holding these views . " ('1169...' Comment * - as it turns out , those 'Belfast radicals' were looking for civil rights from the British rather than national freedom !)
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