BRIEF REPORT ON THE TWO DUBLIN PROTEST MARCHES HELD ON SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2007 :


One of the placards carried by an RSF protestor outside Croke Park on Saturday , February 24 , 2007 .
Incidentally - and apparently , under "...Section Eight of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004..." (which was quoted and used by the Gardai against the protestors outside Croke Park) a member of the State Gardai can deem it an 'offence' to put the hood of your jacket up and can not only request , demand and/or insist that you remove your hood , but can - and did at the protest , a number of times - actually physically pull your hood down . The rain on Saturday , February 24 , at Croke Park was heavy and prolonged and the Gardai took great delight in pulling down the jacket hoods of the protestors and telling them that , should they put the hood back up , they would be arrested immediately . However , those with umbrellas were left unmolested.......



John Horan , Republican Sinn Fein , Dublin , photographed today outside the Garden Of Remembrance, Parnell Square , Dublin .

At approximately 12.15pm , RSF members and supporters gathered at the Parnell Monument in O'Connell Street (near Parnell Square) holding banners in support of the 'Shell 2 Sea' campaign , whose protest march was due to leave from outside the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm . There was about one dozen RSF people at the Parnell Monument when , at approximately 1.20pm , a Garda Superintendent and nine of his fellow uniformed colleagues bustled their way into the centre of the RSF people and announced that they were all under arrest for breaching the 'Public Order Act' !

The Gardai were immediately challenged on their assertion , and replied that this particular RSF gathering "....was an illegal street meeting held without notification to the proper authorities.." . 'Verbals' ensued between both groups , with the RSF people insisting that they would not be detered from showing their support for the 'S2S' campaigners , and the Superintendent and his colleagues demanding that the RSF group should proceed to the white Garda 'Transit'-type van (parked outside the Parnell Mooney pub a few metres away) or else they would be man-handled to the vehicle . It should be noted here that no traffic was being blocked by the RSF people , nor was there trouble of any kind , before the Gardai arrived on the scene .
Eventually - after more brief discussion - a compromise was reached : the dozen or so RSF team were 'allowed' by the Gardai to continue with their peaceful picket on a spot which was practically just across the road (nearer to the Ambassador Cinema site than they had originally been) and the Superintendent and his colleagues 'escorted' the RSF people to their 'new' position ! The combined group had barely taken a few steps when the Gardai stood in front of one of the RSF supporters and accused him , amongst other things , of being "cheeky" . The young lad in question was surrounded by the Gardai , roughly searched and told he would be immediately arrested if he was seen in the city centre anytime that day !

In the event , the RSF people decided to add their presence to the numbers already gathered a few metres up the road , nearer to the Garden Of Remembrance . The Superintendent and his men did not object.....

Republican Sinn Fein had approximately fifty members and supporters on the 'S2S' protest march , but left said march early to make their way to Croke Park for the picket which they were holding there to highlight - for one thing - the fact that the visiting team were representative of a country which continues to claim jurisdiction over Irish territory . Again , an 'escort' was provided by about one-hundred Gardai : on arrival at the protest site - by which time the RSF contingent now numbered approximately 100 people - a group of RSF members and supporters , who had travelled separately to that area , brought the number of protestors to between 100 and 150 people . The protest was lively , colourful , loud - and peaceful , despite the predictions of doom announced and forecast by the majority of media commentators . Dozens of flags , banners and posters were held aloft by the protestors in the , by now , heavy rainfall . A letter explaining the reasons for the protest was (as near as possible!) handed in to the GAA Office , and Ruairi Mor O Bradaigh and Des Dalton delivered a fine principled speech and/or interviews to the dozen or so media representatives present .
Also , it was particularly heartening to see a group from the IRSP standing , with their own banner , shoulder-to-shoulder with other Irish Republicans at this protest.
The Garda Riot Squad and their 'ordinary' uniformed colleagues , and their 'betters' in the Special Branch (political police) 'provided' an 'escort' out of the area for the protestors , when the latter had decided that they had made their point .
All in all - apart from the weather (!) it was a day well spent , in putting across a message that needs to be put across : that , as long as any foreign entity claims jurisdiction over any part of this island , there will be those amongst us who will object . No amount of 'sporting fixtures' or other such 'niceties' will change that fact , and no amount of State harassment will prevent us from doing so !

Sharon.

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TWO DESERVING PROTESTS TODAY :

Shell to Sea will be holding a national rally in Dublin today ,Saturday 24th March , 2007 .
The march will assemble at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square at 2pm and proceed down O'Connell St, around D'Olier St and back to the GPO where it will be addressed by speakers from the Trade Union movement, the Rossport community and the Rossport solidarity camp. The event will be chaired by a representative of Dublin Shell to Sea.
All supporters, members and affiliates of the campaign are asked to attend and lend their support.
For further information contact-
dublinshelltosea@yahoogroups.com



CROKE PARK :PICKET ON IRELAND/ENGLAND RUGBY MATCH .

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2007 .

RSF Croke Park protest-
Those wishing to protest at the playing of God Save the Queen (English national anthem) and the flying of the English flag in Croke Park whilst England continues to occupy part of Ireland should assemble at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade near the Sunset House pub on Saturday, February 24 at 3.30pm.

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THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GERRY ADAMS.......

The recent strike by BBC journalists over the 'REAL LIVES' programme and the dispute at RTE over the interview with NORAID representative MARTIN GALVIN have focused world attention on Sinn Fein once again .MICHAEL KELLY spoke to Sinn Fein president GERRY ADAMS at interviews in Dublin and Belfast , conducted over the course of the past month .

From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine, August 1985 .

The centre of Belfast , with its shopping precincts , resembles Dublin . The iron gates to the shopping areas are unmanned now and most shops have dispensed with searching their customers . The affluent and the trendy shop freely and the atmosphere seems no different to that of the city two hours' train journey away to the South .

This article is an examination of the phenomenon of Sinn Fein north and south of the border and was researched by talking to the party's workers both in Belfast and in Dublin's suburbs . However its major concern is an interview with Mr. Gerry Adams MP , given before the present furore about the BBC's Martin McGuinness (pictured here, with other Westminster employees) interview . A Sinn Fein spokesman last week said it is an 'insult to people's intelligence ' not to screen interviews with Sinn Fein and that people should be let make up their own minds . The interview with Gerry Adams , which we will shortly get to , is published verbatim .

Looking at Gerry Adams MP , you find it hard to visualise him as the political end of the 'Armalites and ballot-box' strategy of the Provisional IRA . Sitting in front of you in short sleeves , steel-rimmed glasses topping a ready grin , he doesn't resemble Michael Noonan's nightmares of Ian Paisley's 'Anti-Christ' . The credibility of 'The Sunday Times's' assertion that he is commander-in-chief of the IRA is also stretched . ('1169...' Comment - ....we now know that Mr Adams was never even in the PIRA, never mind being a leading figure in said organisation . Why the very idea......)
(MORE LATER).



THE ACCUSING FINGER OF RAYMOND GILMOUR.......
By NEIL McCAFFERTY.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, August 1983 .

If you came from Derry , as all the defendants and their relatives did , and all the defence solicitors did , and two of the journalists did , and Raymond Gilmour did , his halting evidence was like a slow and gentle journey round the town .

First he went to Hugh Duffy's house in Lislane Drive - of course you mentally nod , there's Hugh sitting over there , know that street well , know his mother too - a widow woman , worked as a cleaner for a while in the schools , what's she doing now , you wonder - and then Raymond Gilmour says Hugh sent him over to Ducksie Doherty's house ..... hello Ducksie , instinctively your head nods in greeting to him : grand nick-name that , terrific smile Ducksie , he's all teeth . And then Gilmour ended up in McCann's fish and chip shop down in the Brandywell. McCann's , a location to conjure with , the place where you go after bingo or a dance in the Lourdes Community Hall, a terrific place to hang around on a mild late summer's night , its glass windows comfortingly lit up during the winter .

Then Raymond mentions a street in the Brandywell , not all that familiar really - the area is being reconstructed by the day , with new housing everywhere - and , as you puzzle this one you are jerked back into the courtroom : the rifle was hidden under a concrete block , "...there was a green tile over the block , lino over the tile , and the cooker was on top of that.." . Raymond says he was taken into the bathroom and shown how to use the rifle : " There was frosted glass in the bathroom window so no one could see through it ..." He named the men and women in that house , in that kitchen , on that day . It could be true , it might not be true . " Sorry , your honour , " Raymond Gilmour says , conversationally , " ....I forgot to mention Cathy Miller and Betty McSheffrey . They had been there , too ....... "
(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 : " Let's take Rank's as an example . You are heavily involved there . How did that arise and what's Sinn Fein hoping to achieve through its involvement ? "

PADDY BOLGER : " The situation there is that the workers had a high level of consciousness about the state of the industry . They were politically fairly advanced already , and were isolated at the start of the dispute and some of them turned to us . We did not get involved politically . We didn't want to get them a 'bad name' , as you might say . But we did provide the service of a phone , stationery and contacts with journalists and trade unionists who might assist . Our attitude is that we did not intervene , that the workers asked us to become involved . We didn't inititate any policy decisions which the workers took . We're very pleased from our own political position to see how they have responded , especially in their manifesto which is one of the best pieces of trade union commentary which we have seen for years . We didn't believe that a party can intervene in a strike if the workers themselves haven't decided on a line of action .

We are the only grouping on the Left which has a substantial base which gave Ranks' workers any help . We would have preferred if the trade union movement had given them more active support . "
(MORE LATER).

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CROKE PARK :PICKET ON IRELAND/ENGLAND RUGBY MATCH .


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2007 .

RSF Croke Park protest-
Those wishing to protest at the playing of God Save the Queen (English national anthem) and the flying of the English flag in Croke Park whilst England continues to occupy part of Ireland should assemble at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade near the Sunset House pub on Saturday, February 24 at 3.30pm.

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THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GERRY ADAMS.......

The recent strike by BBC journalists over the 'REAL LIVES' programme and the dispute at RTE over the interview with NORAID representative MARTIN GALVIN have focused world attention on Sinn Fein once again .MICHAEL KELLY spoke to Sinn Fein president GERRY ADAMS at interviews in Dublin and Belfast , conducted over the course of the past month .

From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine, August 1985 .

Do young people of one religion ever meet those of another socially ? People on all sides looked at me with polite disdain : they all know that they only ever meet in very formal school situations and none believe that contact of this type will solve the 'Troubles' . One nationalist woman told me - " It's like saying 'if you got the children of the contras and the Sandinistas together that the problems of Nicaragua would be solved' " .

When you leave the Sinn Fein offices the reality of Belfast becomes apparent - an eight-man patrol of young , nervous British soldiers weaved their way from side to side up the street , now and then crouching in doorways , their FN rifles at the ready . The few local people about - mostly old , for it's an old area - hurried about their business oblivious to everything that was happening .

If Dublin has been described by some commentators as resembling London in the Blitz, then Belfast , both in the Falls and the Shankill Road , is more like Dresden. Large tracts of land resemble the most tumbledown areas of Dublin's North Quays - old men and women hurry along the streets of terraced houses left standing and small groups of youths gather at the street corners.......
(MORE LATER).



THE ACCUSING FINGER OF RAYMOND GILMOUR.......
By NEIL McCAFFERTY.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, August 1983 .

Raymond Gilmour shunned looks and he sat concealed , and he did not look up into the public gallery , where his mother sat , and his three sisters and his brother . His father was not there - he was taken into custody (link here - see near end of page) by the Provisional IRA after Raymond Gilmour turned informer , and no one but the IRA knows where he is , and they have said they will kill him if Raymond Gilmour does not retract his evidence .

On Monday morning , July 25 , at twenty minutes past eleven , after the British crown prosecution had outlined the bones of the case , Raymond Gilmour started to give evidence : for one hour he spoke , but not in a rush , and not in an unbroken flow . First the prosecution , taking his cue from a very thick dossier that looked like an unbound novel - Gilmour's statements to the RUC - asked a question - " On the afternoon of ... were you.... " and as he spoke a woman seated below the magistrate typed out the question .

If she did not get the full question she asked the prosecutor to repeat it and he did , and then she read it back to him to be sure . Then Raymond Gilmour answered the question and the woman typed as he spoke , and sometimes she'd ask him to repeat a phrase.......
(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 : " How do you choose issues at local or regional or national level for your involvement ? The issues volunteer themselves in the service work but how do you decide to commit resources to an industrial issue or a political issue ? "

PADDY BOLGER : " We have a general policy mapped out by the Ard Comhairle (National Executive) . So , in the industrial sphere , we are opposed to closures and in favour of occupations to prevent them . We have always been opposed to centralised wage bargaining . Strike action is spontaneous and specific - often not very different in structure from the kind of problem we get in the clientelist work - and our members have directions to support that kind of action . They do it not as a political intervention , but in support of the workers' own demands . "
(MORE LATER).

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THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GERRY ADAMS.......

The recent strike by BBC journalists over the 'REAL LIVES' programme and the dispute at RTE over the interview with NORAID representative MARTIN GALVIN have focused world attention on Sinn Fein once again .MICHAEL KELLY spoke to Sinn Fein president GERRY ADAMS at interviews in Dublin and Belfast , conducted over the course of the past month .

From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine, August 1985 .

Barbara De Brun, Sinn Fein's press officer in Belfast , has an office up the winding stairs from where you can see the derelict sites which make up large tracts of West Belfast . The problems of the young in Belfast are exactly the same as those in Dublin - lack of jobs and money , bad housing and few facilities . She says the big difference is that they have to suffer constant harassment from the British army and 'security forces'.

Anyone in Belfast will tell you that the big difference between growing up in the two cities is that young people rarely go into town - nightclubs and cinemas are unused by the young , who fear to leave their own areas , and this is particularly true of the nationalist areas . The 'Fair Employment Agency' there recently reported that , even after all the controversy over employment at the Short Brothers Plant, only one of the eight apprentices taken on this year was a nationalist .

Social workers in the city tell a story of growing deprivation on all sides in the city , with people falling into a vicious circle of more and more debt : they owe money for electricity and this is automatically debited from their welfare payments , leaving them owing more under the 'Payment of Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act', which is only in force in the Six Counties . In areas like the Divis Flats there is high mortality rate for infants , high incidence of spina bifida, and many people suffer from pulmonary diseasea.......
(MORE LATER).



THE ACCUSING FINGER OF RAYMOND GILMOUR.......
By NEIL McCAFFERTY.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, August 1983 .

Raymond Gilmour did not look like Raymond Gilmour : as lately as twelve months ago he looked just like the prisoners in the dock , the young men and women from the Bogside and the Creggan among whom he had grown up , with many of whom he had socialised , with one of whom he had been drinking in a bar on the night before the RUC came to his Creggan home and loaded him and his wife and children into an armoured car and their furniture into a removal lorry and took them into 'protective custody' .

Later that morning the RUC returned to the Creggan and took away the man with whom Raymond Gilmour had been drinking , charged him with a great many things and charged a great many other people as well . That man and the others in the dock looked now like they had always looked , as Raymond Gilmour had always used to look - like part of a working-class crowd , in tee-shirts and plain sweaters , with plain haircuts , with pale faces or a ruddy complexion , the odd tattoo on a forearm , and jeans and scuffed shoes , which were occasionally visible when they leaned back in their chairs and rested a foot on the rail of the dock .

Raymond Gilmour , fully visible to the press alone , was beautifully dressed in a tailored slim-line dark blue suit : his shirt was a brand new gleaming white one , the striped silver and dark red tie a little too glittering perhaps . His skin was evenly tanned , the newly grown black beard trimmed neatly to his jawline . His hair was glossy , parted in the middle , but blow-dried so that it rose softly above the parting and fell gently on either side . His finger-nails were manicured . He looked , as they say in Derry , a 'credit....'
(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 find in your service work when acting as intermediaries between the consumers and the state or the local bureaucracy , you get a response as Sinn Fein ? "

PADDY BOLGER : " Certainly in Dublin Corporation we haven't experienced any prejudice from the administrative people . A lot of them are very helpful , and even at this low level of servicing they recognise that there is a real concern . The average TD (sic - Leinster House member) will deal with problems by correspondence whereas we have two full time people working with Christy Burke in the No. 6 electoral area who actually go to the Corporation every morning and work through the files with the Corporation people . We certainly have credibility with them , and have been very successful in housing matters , particularly with transfers .

The Labour Party and The Workers Party won't deal with such cases because they are transferring votes out . We have a woman working in the Ballymun area part-time who is likely to be the candadate there , but she is handling transfers out of the constituency . We also involve the community in the work we are doing , and have advisors invited on to tenants' associations in three city centre areas . "
(MORE LATER).

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THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GERRY ADAMS.

The recent strike by BBC journalists over the 'REAL LIVES' programme and the dispute at RTE over the interview with NORAID representative MARTIN GALVIN have focused world attention on Sinn Fein once again .MICHAEL KELLY spoke to Sinn Fein president GERRY ADAMS at interviews in Dublin and Belfast , conducted over the course of the past month .

From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine, August 1985 .

A wet morning in Belfast . The passengers who boarded the eight o' clock train in Dublin turn up their collars against the stubborn drizzle . The drivers of the big black taxis cluster in the concourse of Central Station looking for business - but not my sort of business : " The Falls, that's where you want to go ? " replies one taxi driver on hearing my destination . " Hang on a minute , we'll see if anyone will take you..."

Finally , after a careful examination , one of the dozen drivers agrees to take me there . Sammy , chatty but alert , says few other drivers would take you to West Belfast, and none operate there except the drivers of the Catholic taxis who operate a shuttle service up the Falls Road . Ten minutes later he drops me off with directions on how to reach the city centre on my return and where the best value is for shopping - " You want to watch out , you could get shot around here " , he says , joking . I think .

Sinn Fein's offices in Belfast are in a squat concrete building at 51-53 Falls Road , surrounded by steel grilles and barbed wire . The first step to entering is through an electrically-opened gate then , having been examined , through a heavy steel door . Down the hall there is a room with the notice - 'Ciuneas : rang ar siul' on the door . There the elderly drivers inspect the racing pages while they wait for parcels to be handed in to be brought to Long Kesh for IRA prisoners . Relatives bring newspapers and other items daily . Murals cover the walls of the office showing men in balaclavas and combat jackets carrying machine guns and tributes to 'the men behind the wire' are fixed to the wall beside them.......
(MORE LATER).



THE ACCUSING FINGER OF RAYMOND GILMOUR.
By NEIL McCAFFERTY.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, August 1983 .


Magistrate John Fyffe said dispassionately - " If there is any disruption by any member of the public , or any relative - any person guilty of disruption or harassment will be excluded from the court ." He sat back and the door in the wall to his right , a few steps up , opened : three men in civilian clothes came out and down , quickly , smoothly , and were in place below the magistrate , still on his right , within seconds . The third man was Raymond Gilmour.

He could not easily be seen from the body of the court . He sat into the chair in the witness box , effectively at ground level , and the two 'civilians' , members of the RUC Special Branch, stood shoulder to shoulder with their backs against the box , staring out and up into the body of the courtroom . The 28 prisoners in the raised dock , and their relatives packed into benches behind them - that rose even higher like seats in a football stand - were faced with a human curtain.......
(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 not recognise that this concern for electoral achievement imposes certain patterns of work and obligations to engage in 'service politics' ?* Is that a price you reckon you have to pay ?" ('1169...' Comment * ie 'Clientelism' , where a local political representative promises , for example , that he/she can get the street light outside your house fixed faster than the political rep from the other party : in other words , 'jobs' that can be organised by the house-holder themselves if they could be bothered . All Leinster House parties depend on 'Joe and Josephine Soap' NOT being bothered .)

PADDY BOLGER : " The problem that the left here and through-out Europe has to face is that in a non-revolutionary situation - and that's what we have in the 26 Counties - you can't always advance as far along the lines of your programme as you would like . We are very conscious of the dangers of slipping into reformism. At the moment , we are providing in Dublin what could be called a 'clientelism service' , but it is better and more principled (translation: '....we get it done quicker than the other crowd..' !) than the service which the other parties are providing , including the Workers' Party. We see this simply as a means of establishing our presence and our credibility in the areas . People are extremely cynical of all parties .

We do not believe that revolutionary sloganising , however correct its content , will produce results . ('1169...' Comment : depending on how you rate 'playing the constitutional game' [ie a 'success' or a 'distraction from the main issue'] this could or could not be described as "getting results" . We view it, and those pictured , as 'distractions' .) We are now building up our organisation to get ourselves accepted as a credible and locally informed organisation . But we see that only as the basis to build up agitational politics and would also hope to build a base for propaganda work , through publications , seminars and surveys at 26-County level . Our education programme is geared to preventing an influx of new members who don't have a definite ideology (...it didn't work!) but might be attracted to us because of the Northern successes .

We want to prevent such an influx blunting our revolutionary edge, but we have no fantasies about the possibilities for red revolution in the 26 Counties . We know it's a hard slog - the clientelist work is a principled service ('1169...' Comment - a "principled service" to assist in returning the 'server' to power!) , people are in need and even if we only provide a better service than the rest we will be accomplishing something . We need to develop , as the major left parties in Europe have done , an alternative constituency , a body of the working class who just don't accept the strategy that the other parties offer . "
(MORE LATER).

(Please note : we have had to enable the ' Captcha Settings' in our 'Guestbook' , by which we mean that those wishing to leave a comment in same must first verify that comment by copying text from a graphic and placing said text in a small box on the form . We have been plagued , in the last few days especially , by thousands of spam messages - mostly from car companies - and can find better use for the time it took us to delete those 'messages' . Apologises for any inconvenience caused....)

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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 voting for us in said category . Voting closes at 5pm this Friday , February 16th . Also , a big 'Thank You!' to the Administrative panel and the members of the IRBB for the thread on that Board in support of our campaign (on the 'Alternative' part of the Board : 'log-in' required) : much appreciated ! Go raibh maith agat !

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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 .

It is important for us to state that we are not alleging that any one of these Gardai were in any sense guilty of any wrongdoing , but we are drawing attention to the fact that these promotions took place without any enquiry whatsoever taking place into the very serious and convincing case that some of those Gardai may have been guilty of having ill-treated people in custody and participated in a plot to subvert the course of justice by conspiring to commit perjury .

The fact that the Gardai may have beaten up some people in custody is not of enormous significance to the 'body politic' , nor is even the likelihood that an innocent person (ie Nicky Kelly) may be in jail as a result of irregular Garda procedures : nor is the significance of the case in that a significant number of Gardai engaged in a plot to subvert the course of justice by planning to commit perjury - the primary significance of this case is that brutality , perjury and conspiracy could occur without any investigation taking place whatsoever or without any political controls being place on the Gardai as a result !

The conclusion must be that the Gardai are effectively outside normal political controls , able to engage in illegalities , even criminalities , without investigation , without restriction , even without censure . It has all the makings of a police state , if only in embryonic stage .
[END OF 'THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE']
(Next - 'THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GERRY ADAMS' : from 1985)


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 : " Finally , what do you say to feminists who regard the national struggle as a diversion from their own struggle for women's rights ? "

MARY : " I suppose most of those who use that argument feel that the war in the North is not geared to getting the support and involvement of all women , they feel that we alienate a lot of women . To a small degree that's true , but I believe that the fight for women's rights cannot be separated , in Ireland , from the fight against imperialism , which has generated the oppression of Irish women . It's part of the system of social domination we've inherited from a foreign enemy ."

ANNE : " So women have a dual role to play in the Movement : to fight imperialism and to educate the men . We're gradually breaking down these attitudes but it's a slow process breaking down several hundred years of mental oppression . "

[END of 'A PEOPLE'S ARMY']
(Next - 'THE ACCUSING FINGER OF RAYMOND GILMOUR' : from 1983)


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 : " How would you measure success for this strategy a year from now ? Given that it is long-term , what would be a reasonable aspiration in your view ? "

PADDY BOLGER : " The aspirations are internal as well as external . We would hope in Dublin to be well organised in every local government constituency and we are organising at the moment on that basis . We are already organised reasonably well at cumann level in about two thirds of Dublin city and county . A couple of corporation seats in Dublin and Cork we would see as a major step forward . We don't expect to make a great big splash because of the hegemony of the other parties . We see the Workers' Party as a problem but not a major blockage . Working class support for Fianna Fail on the national question and trade union acceptance still of Fianna Fail's project for the economy are our major problems ."
(MORE LATER).

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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 voting for us in said category . Voting closes at 5pm this Friday , February 16th . Go raibh maith agat !

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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 .

Not alone was there no investigation of any kind into the very compelling prima facie evidence that Osgur Breathnach , Nicky Kelly and Brian McNally were beaten up by the Gardai and that a significant number of Gardai conspired to subvert the course of justice by plotting to commit perjury , but no safeguards were instituted to ensure that it would not happen again . This in spite of very specific recommendations by a (State) government-appointment commission .

But the story does not end there - of the 19 members of the Garda Siochana against whom allegations of ill-treatment were made in connection with the Sallins mail train robbery , the following is a progress report on some of their careers since then :

Detective Garda Thomas Ibar Dunne is now a Detective Sergeant ; Detective Sergeant Francis Campbell is now a Detective Inspector ; Detective Garda Thomas Boland is now a Detective Sergeant ; Detective Sergeant Patrick Culhane is now a Detective Inspector ; Detective Sergeant John J. McGroarty is now a Detective Inspector ; Detective Inspector Edward Ryan is now a Detective Superintendent ; Detective Sergeant Cavanan is now a Detective Inspector ; Detective Inspector Courtney is now a Detective Superintendent and Detective Garda Michael Finn and Detective Sergeant Patrick F. Cleary have not been promoted .

Thus at least eight of the 19 Gardai against whom allegations were made were promoted subsequently.......
(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 : " Do you think that the war in the North of Ireland has led to the reduction of male domination in nationalist society , because of the role women have played ? "

MARY : " That's hard to answer , living here in the Free State , but from what I've seen of it , yes - it has . Women in the North have been liberated and involved of necessity . They've just woken up and found that their husbands have been arrested or imprisoned , and they have had to adapt themselves . Down here in the 26-counties there hasn't been the same progress . "
(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 : " (...question continued..) You refer to 'the public' and to 'the people' . Do you have within the three-and-a-half million population strategic targets you are trying to reach ? "

PADDY BOLGER : " (...answer continued..) .....the rest of that class is probably at this stage , through the development of Fine Gael , committed to anti-national and , currently , monetarist positions . But there are sections of the people who could not be described as working class or small farmer who would not be reactionary on economic issues . Fianna Fail have , through mild social democratic policies , maintained that broad constituency of working class , petit bourgeois and small farming support .

That is the base that we would we be aiming at as well , primarily because they are the people who need to be given a project for a political and economic independence , with a socialist programme - not an ultra-Left programme , but a thoughtful socialist programme with a long-term objective . "
(MORE LATER).

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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 !

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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).

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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).

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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).

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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).

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