Shameless 'PLUG AND PLEAD' Post .....!

'1169 And Counting....' has been nominated in the 'Best Political Blog' category of the 'Irish Blog Awards' competition : if you , the reader , deem us worthy of such a nomination , we would ask that you consider visiting this page and vote for us in said category . Go raibh maith agat !

---

---

---

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 .

THE INACTION OF GERRY COLLINS.

The allegations of Garda Brutality in connection with the Sallins mail train robbery came to prominence most at the time of the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in February 1977 - Fianna Fail was then in opposition .

Speaking on the RTE radio programme , the 'News At One-Thirty' on February 18 , 1977 , Gerard Collins said - " The Minister for Justice has a very grave responsibility to immediately set up a judicial enquiry into the allegations made and have the machinery there in operation ready at the push of a button to deal with allegations as they arise.....if there is any truth whatsoever in these allegations those who might be responsible for ill-treatment of persons in custody.....(the Minister should ensure)......would be disciplined as they should be . "

Four-and-a-half months later Gerard ('Gerry') Collins was (State) Minister for Justice himself : he made no attempt to institute an enquiry of any kind into the allegations that he had spoken of in February 1977 ! He did however establish in October 1977 a commission under (State) Justice Barra O Briain to make recommendations for the safeguard of persons in custody and to 'protect the good name of the Gardai' by the same safeguards : the O Briain Committee made a total of 23 recommendations - of these , only one has been implemented and that was only following a (State) Supreme Court judgement.......
(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 : " How would you assess women's contribution to the struggle generally ? "

MARY : " Fantastic , given that there's so much against them . In the North it was always women that were out banging bin-lids at four and five in the morning , warning of the Brits coming into the area . Women tend to have more patience and they have the fighting and staying power to see things through . No matter how small their involvement they understand its importance . Looking back through history you have Constance Markievicz and the whole involvement of Cumann na mBan Volunteers, and now you have the women in Armagh Jail. They have always been active in every phase of the struggle ."

ANNE : " Because of the image the Movement tends to be given , women are inclined to think that unless you are out using a gun you're not in the IRA proper . That's wrong . Everything you do is important , no matter how small the thing - it's a vital part of the struggle , and no-one should ever be made to feel they're playing an inferior role . Everyone , doing any job - providing a call house or billet , collecting for the prisoners, doing political work, driving a car - it's part and parcel of the struggle . "
(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 : " You refer to 'the public' and to 'the peoople' . Do you have within the three-and-a-half million population strategic targets you are trying to reach ? "

PADDY BOLGER : " We have two objectives : the principle one is to secure a British withdrawal ('1169...' Comment - it was , for some of us , in 1983 [and , indeed , still is] . But , for others, mere 'civil rights' from Westminster was the hidden agenda) and bring about a situation where self-determination can be asserted . In that area , we address ourselves to everybody in the 26 Counties , saying that the Six County state is irreformable and that the policy of compromise with the Loyalists not only is not accepted by the Loyalists but has failed, as history has proven.

We also have a social objective and in terms of our social policies , we would be much more specific . We are aiming at the working class base and at the small farming base . We have in a strip along the Border and down through the west , a reasonable local government base in the real small farming community . That is likely to be sustained . Our main breakthrough , we believe , must be in Dublin and Cork . The middle class in the 26 Counties is affected by factionism and the professional middle class veers between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael depending on whether the national question is a major issue at the time . And we address ourselves to them on the national question , on civil liberties and on the general issue of economic sovereignty ......." (....will finish reply in next post..)
(MORE LATER).

---

---

---

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).

---

---

---

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.......
(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 : " 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 ."
(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 : " 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 !)
(MORE LATER).

---

---

---

The following post should have been posted on Friday 2nd February last - however , due to what we will delicately call 'complications' which began on Thursday 1st February caused by the forced switch to the 'New' Blogger format we were unable to access the Administration Panel of this blog . We spent hours each day (Thursday , Friday and Saturday) attempting to fix the problem ourselves and contacting 'Blogger Support' . After almost twenty e-mails and 'request for support' tickets sent to the Blogger Team we finally received a reply - asking us to rate their 'Customer Support' 'service' !

As stated previously , our resident wannabe Nano-Scientist , 'Junior' , eventually fixed the problem* by "...allowing a sub-frame across a different domain.." or something ! For now , anyway , it seems all is back to normal at '1169 Towers'....
(*hopefully...)


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 B) made a statement in relation to that incident :
" Plunkett said 'You fixed that nicely' and I said 'Is it not true that you were free and you asked to go back and collect property' and he replied 'That's right' . (Garda D) 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.' (Garda D) said ' Is that so.' I then said to Plunkett - 'It was you who delayed leaving the station' . He said 'That's right , its my hard luck , I am finished now after that.' They then had a general conversation... "

The statement from (Garda C) is next : it should be compared to the previous two Garda statements which we have published.......
(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 : " How has your understanding of Irish society changed , relative to the views of people around you , since you joined the IRA ? "

ANNE : " My understanding of Irish society has changed immensely , from the double-standards and hypocrisy of the Catholic hierarchy to making me more conscious of my roots and culture . My family are members of Fianna Fail . They believe that Charlie Haughey is more an enemy of the Brits than the IRA ! They don't see beyond that . Since the Brits physically pulled out of the 26-counties they and people like them have been lulled into thinking the war ended in 1921 .

There's still a latent nationalism there but the only outlet many people have* is supporting people like Charlie Haughey whenever he seems to be , falsely , coming out against the Brits , as over the Malvinas and Prior's Assembly. (*1169...' Comment - ...it is not "the only outlet people have" ; rather , it is the outlet chosen by those who consider themselves to be 'polite nationalists' and/or those seeking to increase their business connections in the richest 'Club' in the State.) It's got to be a priority for republicans in the Free State to work to expose bogus republicanism in the eyes of the people , and to convince them that people like Charlie Haughey have no interest in ever confronting British imperialism . "
(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 : " Was that a difficult process ? Did you have difficulties in dealing with the traditions , and maybe even a certain traditionalism in the organisation ? "

PADDY BOLGER : " It was more of a gradual process than a difficult one . In the early 1970's there was a definite belief , supported by some of the circumstances , that a short quick push would secure a British withdrawal . The fall of Stormont was one of the major factors to influence that kind of thinking . After the Loyalist workers' strike and the period of the cease-fire with the British , we saw that the British were not going to go and that the idea that they wanted to go and were simply looking for a way out was a false one .

We also saw that it was going to be a long process . Some people realised it in prison , other people realised it in their daily activity . We had to have a long-term strategy for political consolidation of the organisation . It was only when the movement in the North got over the effects of the Roy Mason repression that we were cohesive enough to come up with that kind of strategy . The broad front around the prison issue and the hunger strike was a fruit of that .

Some people were suspicious of what they saw to be political work . The movement has always had two extremes in the past - the constitutional extreme which ran away from radicalism of any description and tended to be strictly parliamentary and the military extreme which said : 'Keep your powder dry until the day you can rise and the opportunity presents itself.' The second of them may have been more legitimate in terms of anti-imperialism but in the end was still based on short-term activity only . "
(MORE LATER).

---

---

---

Sunday , February 4 , 2007 .
TEST POST.
We have been locked-out of this blog since Wednesday 31 January last , due to issues with the 'New' Blogger format - see our comments re this issue here :
http://11sixtynine.blogsome.com/2007/02/03/end-of-days/

....our 'Junior' , who looks after the technical end of the business , has tweaked certain settings and functions and believes he has 'cured' the problem . If so , later on today we will attempt to publish the post which we should have published on Friday February 2nd .

Watch this space.......

---

---

---