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 D) gave his version of events :
" On the way , Plunkett said - 'You fixed that nicely .' Garda B replied - ' Is it not true that you were free and you asked to go back to collect property .' Plunkett replied - 'That's right.' I then said - ' I don't know what you are talking about but I can assure you of 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 .' I replied - 'Is that so .' (Garda B) said to Plunkett - ' Now it was you who delayed leaving the station .' Plunkett replied - ' That's right , it's my hard luck , I suppose . I'm finished now.' Neither (Garda B) or I made any reply to this . "
The Book of Evidence in the case is littered with examples of these amazing similarities in Garda statements . One of the Gardai who gave one of the above statements was asked in cross-examination how there was such surprising similarity between his statement and that of another Garda : he replied that it was a "...pure coincidence.." . The identicity of the Garda statements is such as to suggest yet a further conclusion - that not alone did a significant number of Gardai perjure themselves in the trial but that there was a conspiracy among certain Gardai to commit perjury ie to subvert the course of justice......
(MORE LATER).
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 : " Can the IRA do anything to encourage women to become involved in it ? "
MARY : " I wouldn't agree with a specific recruitment drive for women , but it is important that the IRA must always be consciously portrayed and publicly identified as an army of men and women Volunteers , a people's army . "
ANNE : " I see it as part of my role to try and bring more women into the Movement - all sections of the Movement . They might respond better than if they were approached by a man . If women see other women properly and fully involved it acts as an incentive for them to join ."
(MORE LATER).
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 : " What has been happening within the organisation in the South , precisely to overcome this notion that the Provisionals' new radicalism * is a Northern phenomenon ? " ('1169...' Comment : From 1969 to 1986 the Provisional organisation was a true radical [ie outside the establishment system] Movement : the internal push by some within the group to become a constitutional political party was announced by those same people - and by 'sticky'-type media people - as a "new radicalism" . Fianna Fail and the Workers Party used much the same vocabulary to describe and excuse their departure from the Republican Movement .)
PADDY BOLGER : " We have two problems in the South ; firstly , we do not have the mass community base that exists in the Six Counties for all the obvious historic reasons and for some political reasons . We are significant for the public's eye in relation to Northern events . So , we are going through a major internal re-organisation to switch from mainly propaganda activity in relation to the North to structuring the movement in order to face local issues and political issues in the South . We now have a much more developed education programme to motivate our members .
We recognise that the political parties we are opposing don't just fool the people at election time - they actually have a real domination for instance of tenants' organisation - Fianna Fail ideology , in particular , dominates the individual members - and our first task here is to improve the public's perception of us , first of all by refining our policies and bringing them down to earth * , and secondly , by the hard slog of local organisation and by principled work on issues convincing people that our analysis is correct . ('1169....' Comment * : .....read that to mean - ' We will change our current political position to suit those who may be interested in joining our organisation' - since they left the Republican Movement in 1986 , Provisional Sinn Fein has changed its political position to such an extent that they have attracted members from organisations as diverse [?] as Fianna Fail and the RUC!)
Having broken through on that basis , we would want to make the Northern issue * count , less on the basis of moral condemnation , of those who have ignored it , but by saying particularly to Fianna Fail voters: the party's policies have not worked , the hope for British goodwill is misplaced. ('1169...' Comment * - ...it's an issue of concern to the whole isle , and should not be described as a 'Northern issue' , especially by a republican.) We have not changed our basic position but we have amended our approach for putting it to the people....... "
(MORE LATER).
