1169 And Counting.....

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

LEGAL DRUG TRIALS : ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. (The following information was brought to our attention by a reader of this blog , and was published in a Sunday newspaper in December 2009 : the person who contacted us did so on reading our 'Death of Niall Rush' article and , upon checking to the best of our ability, we are satisfied that that person has no 'axe to grind' re the newspaper in question and/or to the companies or individuals mentioned in the piece.......)

Five people in Britain have died from possible side-effects after being given 'Omniscan' , according to the 'Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency'. Patients have launched legal actions in America involving more than 170 deaths where it is claimed 'Omniscan' and similar drugs may have been a factor.

Safety problems with the drugs have been highlighted in the US by the independent investigative news organisation 'ProPublica'.

Paul Flynn, the Labour MP , said - " It is a scandal that a company should take action against someone acting in the interests of patients..." but 'GE Healthcare' said it had launched a libel action against Henrik Thomsen as a "last resort...."
(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

MID AUGUST 1969 :
" I informed Mr O Morain that I contemplated retirement from the Secretaryship of the Department of Justice in the following January , when I would have completed a full 43 years in the public service, as it would be my entitlement to retire having attained 60 years of age. I did not give any reasons to the Minister but he would have been well aware of my general dissatisfaction with the way that the Department was being conducted and , in particular, with the way that I had been treated by him and his Government in the previous November when I had been made the scapegoat for a Ministerial decision for which I had been pilloried in the Dail and the public press......"

'Magill' Comment :
This was a reference to the controversy over the Comptroller and Auditor General's report which referred to the refusal of the Department of Justice to reveal the contents of a file which dealth with the operation of the Secret Service Fund. The specific issue was an arrangement with the former head of the Special Branch , Phil MacMahon , whereby he was paid from this fund for 'consultancy services' to the Special Branch after his formal retirement from the force.

This arrangement had been made by Brian Lenihan, then Minister for Justice , and with the specific knowledge and approval of the Taoiseach. When controversy arose in connection with this file , Mr Lenihan repeatedly avoided accepting responsibility for the arrangement and the then Taoiseach , Mr Jack Lynch, also failed to explain that Mr Berry was merely acting in accordance with a Ministerial decision.

This refusal to stand over a decision infuriated Mr Berry , for it vitiated the very essence of the relationship between members of a government and civil servants.....
(MORE LATER).

'TWO ILLEGAL WAGE CUTS BY STATE ON LOW-PAID WORKERS......' : TRADE UNION.

For the second time in two years , low-paid workers in the 'Community Sector' (JI / CE) in this State have had their wages reduced - illegally - with no consultation , negotiation or agreement.

Trade unions involved in this issue have asked their members to use the present State election campaign to their advantage and , instead of being canvassed by politicians , to canvass them instead ; JI / CE workers have been asked to present the following 'pledge' to all candidates , for their signature -

"Dear Candidate,

As Job Initiative workers , we deliver vital community services including childcare , after-schools and eldercare. However , as workers , we are denied the basic workers right re negotiating our pay and conditions ie collective bargaining.

Over the past two years our pay has been illegally cut , twice , on the direction of FÁS , without negotiation , agreement or consent.

As constituents , we are seeking your support so that Job Initiative workers and their union representatives can negotiate directly with FÁS , the agency that currently determines pay and conditions.

We ask that you contact the Minister for Social Protection in relation to this matter and strongly urge that Minister to respect the basic right of Job Initiative workers to negotiate their pay and conditions.

Signed (by candidate/politician)-

-------------------------

On behalf of Job Initiative workers."

Republican Sinn Féin has voiced its support for these and other low-paid workers , and is proud to have been on the streets with them , at protest marches , pickets , meetings etc and intends to maintain its position in favour of these workers , in this and any other campaign that seeks to obtain justice for them.

RSF's track record in relation to this particular issue can be seen here .

Thanks for reading ,
Sharon.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

LEGAL DRUG TRIALS : ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. (The following information was brought to our attention by a reader of this blog , and was published in a Sunday newspaper in December 2009 : the person who contacted us did so on reading our 'Death of Niall Rush' article and , upon checking to the best of our ability, we are satisfied that that person has no 'axe to grind' re the newspaper in question and/or to the companies or individuals mentioned in the piece.......)

Evan Harris , a former hospital doctor and the Liberal Democrat science spokesman, who is leading the parliamentary campaign to reform the libel laws, said : "It is hard to conceive a stronger public interest than scientists and clinicians being able to discuss freely their concerns about drugs or devices used on patients. Libel laws should not be used in this way."

More than 48 million doses of Omniscan have been given worldwide and it is safe for the vast majority of people. It is one of a number of 'contrast agents' containing the potentially toxic metal gadolinium , which are used to enhance images for magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Omniscan and other products have been linked with a skin condition in kidney patients , known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Sufferers can be confined to a wheelchair and may even die from related causes. Regulators in Europe and the US are now taking action over the potential risk from Omniscan and two similar products.......
(MORE LATER).

'BLOODY SUNDAY' PROTEST IN DERRY TO BE HELD AS USUAL.....

The 'Bloody Sunday' protests and pickets that have been held since 1973 in Derry , Dublin and elsewhere take place to highlight the fact that , on that day (Sunday 30th January 1972) , the British State massacred 14 unarmed men who were taking part in a peaceful 'Civil Rights' march. The best manner in which to keep that issue fresh in people's mind is to take to the streets in remembrance of what took place that day and , with that in mind , we are delighted to be able to publish the following statement from the Republican Movement :

BLOODY SUNDAY :
Republican Sinn Féin oppose the decision to end the annual "Bloody Sunday" march in Derry. We view this as an attempt to sanitise the deaths of 14 Irish people at the hands of the British Army.
We support the relatives who are calling for the annual march to be continued and Republican Sinn Féin will facilitate a march in Derry to mark the 40th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" next year and in future years.
The Saville Inquiry did not mark an end to the story of "Bloody Sunday". It failed in the crucial task of holding to account the British government and the political and military chain of command.
Ends/Críoch
For confirmation contact:
RSF/Sinn Féin Poblachtach ;Phone: +353-1-872 9747//Fax: +353-1-872 9757.

As stated , we welcome this development from the Movement.

A sneak preview of the forthcoming updated 'Saoirse' website - still needs to be 'tweaked' a wee bit , but will be a powerful addition to the Movement when fully completed!
Congratulations to all involved : if the new website is as successful as the monthly newspaper itself , the hard work will be justified !
Thanks for reading (the blog and 'Saoirse'!),
Sharon.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

39TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'BLOODY SUNDAY' : DUBLIN GPO PICKET , SATURDAY 29TH JANUARY 2011 - BRIEF REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPHS.

At 11.30am today , three RSF members met , as arranged, beneath the Pillars of the GPO in O'Connell Street , Dublin , where they were each given 300 leaflets and were allocated an area in which to distribute those leaflets. As that was being arranged , about twenty-five other RSF activists were leaving Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill in Parnell Street to make their way to the traffic isle facing the GPO and, once there, proceeded to take up position , facing the GPO , and began a picket to commemorate the events of Sunday , January 30th , 1972 : 'Bloody Sunday'.

RSF 'Bloody Sunday' leaflets -

'Occupation Breeds Resistance...'

'After a peaceful Civil Rights march..'

Five 'Special Branch' operatives were 'on hand' for most of the two hours and fifteen minutes that the RSF members were 'on site' for , and they recorded the details of all present and attempted to intimidate on-lookers and tourists from approaching those on the protest , but with little success : dozens of people came over to the traffic isle to speak with the RSF members , take leaflets (of which almost one thousand were distributed) and posed between the placards and banners for photographs.

'Ownership of Ireland...'

'Never Forget...'

RSF President , Des Dalton , saying a few words at the 'Bloody Sunday' picket in Dublin , Saturday 29th January 2011.

'Declaration of Ownership' placard at the picket.

'A Nation Once Again' : one of the RSF placards on the 'Bloody Sunday' picket.

Full marks to Republican Sinn Féin for their work in Dublin City Centre today ; about 30 of their Dublin members and/or supporters stood their ground at the GPO today for over two hours, withstanding the icy breeze that seems to be ever-present in O'Connell Street , refusing to be 'moved on' by the political police and distributing almost one-thousand 'Bloody Sunday' leaflets - a 'job' well done , and appreciated by the dozens of people that came over to talk to these representatives of the Republican Movement. A full report , and more photographs , will be published in the February 2011 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday , 9th of that month.
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

LEGAL DRUG TRIALS : ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. (The following information was brought to our attention by a reader of this blog , and was published in a Sunday newspaper in December 2009 : the person who contacted us did so on reading our 'Death of Niall Rush' article and , upon checking to the best of our ability, we are satisfied that that person has no 'axe to grind' re the newspaper in question and/or to the companies or individuals mentioned in the piece.......)

The company admits that its product has been linked to serious side-effects in some patients , but said Henrik Thomsen accused the company of suppressing information in a presentation at a scientific congress in Oxford in October 2007.

A summary of Thomsen's presentation for the High Court writ, provided by GE Healthcare, appears to show that it was an even-handed account of his clinical experience and , when asked by this newspaper to highlight any part of the presentation that explicitly stated wrongdoing by GE Healthcare , the company was unable to do so.

The writ states that the defamation may have been "by way of innuendo.." , and this case will trigger a fresh row over the draconian use of Britain's libel laws to stifle scientific debate and silence critics. Henrik Thomsen now refuses to discuss the possible risks of the drug in any UK public forum.......
(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" It (the memorandum) mentioned the steps that might have to be taken to enforce the rule of law and I was satisfied that re the problems, in all their seriousness, the various options open to the Government to contain them and the necessity for decisive action were fairly set out.

The arguments indeed were a repeat in a general way of arguments put to the then Minister for Justice , Mr Haughey , and in turn to the then Taoiseach , Mr Lemass , in November 1961. In particular it emphasised again that the time had become opportune to drive a wedge between the rural members - the old faithfuls - and the doctrinaire republicans , mainly based in Dublin , who were sedulously propagating the gospel of a 'Workers Socialist Republic'.

I was given no indication of Government thinking following their consideration of this document . The IRA split in December 1969 into the 'Officials' - the socialists - and the 'Provisionals' . In December 1972 , Mr Blaney was to claim in the Dail that he and a lot more with him had set up the 'Provisionals'......."
(MORE LATER).

"IRISH REPUBLICANISM ? YEAH , RIGHT! UP YOURS......"

British Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead , Gerard Adams, to seek a seat in Leinster House....

Good news at last!
Amidst all the election chatter and the announcement of the IMF's 'new boy' in Fianna Fail , it was announced today that one Mr Gerard Adams , late of the parish known as 'Irish Republicanism' , had been granted , and accepted, an 'Office of Profit under the Crown', thereby publicly acknowledging that he is an "Employee of the Crown".
This indeed is a glorious day , politically speaking , for us little people : the IMF's Mr Martin will 'fix' this corrupt State and take it back , morally , physically and financially , from the clutches of the bigger crooks in Brussels and Washington that , only a few months ago, he couldn't wait to hand it over to, and Mr Adams has at last received his just rewards , and will herald yet another 'historic' day when he becomes the first ever Belfast-based 'British Crown Steward and Bailiff' to campaign for a seat in Leinster House , a 'parliament' which his now-public employers , the British Crown, actually established - some would say "inflicted on us" - in 1922.
We trust that Mr Adams will be proud enough to give his full name and title in his nomination forms and on the ballot paper : Gerard Adams - Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
We hope he does , as it suits him.
This just in from Crown Steward Adams' employer-
'26 January 2011
Manor of Northstead

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Gerard Adams to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558 or by e-mail to public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk

This Press Release and other Treasury publications are available on the HM Treasury website hm-treasury.gov.uk For the latest information from HM Treasury you can subscribe to our RSS feeds or email service.

Media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Press Office on 020 7270 5238.'

...and a few words from Crown Steward Adams' employers can be heard here.
Once again , Gerry , a Chara - Congrats! We always knew you had it in you.....
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

GOGARTY CUTS.......GOOD NIGHT !

The above bus-shelter election poster , located in the Cherrywood area of Clondalkin , Dublin , was recently 'adjusted' (by persons unknown) by the addition of that speech-bubble , reminding passers-by that the Green Party , although ever-ready to give the impression that they are in coalition with Fianna Fail to 'safe-guard the working class' and/or some such nonsense are, in fact, in coalition with Fianna Fail to simply secure careers and pensions for themselves : a State election ('General Election') will be held here on Friday 11th March 2011 and , as before, we repeat our call for a 'None Of The Above'-vote re same.

In addition to the reasons outlined via that last link as to why a 'NOTA' vote is the only genuine protest vote - which will register as showing opposition to the political system as much as it will show opposition to those that leech a cosy living from operating that corrupt system - a 'NOTA' response will also signal the voters understanding that this State is now governed by the IMF , regardless of which shade of political gangster actually sits in Leinster House. We will return to this issue before the 11th March election....

A GOOD NIGHT OUT....

Friends of ours in Kildare have asked us for a 'plug' re a fund-raiser they have organised for Saturday , 19th February 2011 , in the 'Town House Pub' in Naas , County Kildare : a ballad session will be held on that Saturday , with the doors opening at 9pm , admission is €5 per person and a raffle will be held on the night. That is going to be one good night out , as we know the organisers and not only are they very professional in this type of work but they have secured the services of an entertainer for the night whom we know of , but we have been asked not to 'name names' , as the event could very well be over-subscribed if too much information is divulged. Suffice to say you definitely won't be disappointed if you attend!
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

LEGAL DRUG TRIALS : ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.(The following information was brought to our attention by a reader of this blog , and was published in a Sunday newspaper in December 2009 : the person who contacted us did so on reading our 'Death of Niall Rush' article and , upon checking to the best of our ability, we are satisfied that that person has no 'axe to grind' re the newspaper in question and/or to the companies or individuals mentioned in the piece.)

'General Electric', one of the world's biggest corporations , is using the London libel courts to gag a senior radiologist after he raised the alarm over the potentially fatal risks of one of its drugs.

The multinational is suing Henrik Thomsen , a Danish academic , after he described his experiences of one of the company's drugs as a medical "nightmare" ; he said some kidney patients at his hospital contracted a potentially deadly condition after being administered the drug 'Omniscan'.

'GE Healthcare' , a British subsidiary of 'General Electric', has run up more than £380,000 (€430,000) in legal costs pursuing Thomsen , who said - "I believe the lawsuit is an attempt to silence me. It is dangerous for the patient if we can't frankly exchange views......."
(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" The Minister was thoughtful and then said that he would like to see the dossiers on over 60 organisations of a subversive character with IRA or communist affiliations. A lot of them were mushroom growths and of little consequence and at points they entwined or overlapped with personnel wearing different hats to suit different occasions.

The Minister campaigned mostly in his own constituency with an odd foray to strengthen candidatures elsewhere. I noticed in the daily press that he was playing the 'commie card' and that he was being echoed by Fianna Fail candidates up and down the country , so apparently it was a trump."

2nd JULY 1969 :
" Fianna Fail was returned to power and Mr O Morain resumed as Minister for Justice. As the newly formed Government had some changes of portfolios I suggested to the Minister that it might be advisable to circulate a fresh memorandum to Government giving a comprehensive picture of the IRA. He approved , and the memorandum emphasised the seriousness of developments within the IRA , it pointed to the fact that a well orchestrated plan along three separate fronts - economic , political and military - was being promoted , it examined the financial position , the calibre of leadership , methods of publicity and orientation of policy powers under the law and said that while the morale and calibre of the security forces within the Garda Siochana were excellent there was a chronic shortage of equipment in the form of radio networks and radio controlled cars which had been requisitioned and refused again and again by the Minister of Finance on the grounds of excessive costs....."
(MORE LATER).

DUBLIN STREET RALLY TO COMMEMORATE THE 22 IRISH HUNGER-STRIKERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR IRISH FREEDOM BETWEEN 1917 AND 1981....

REMEMBERING BOBBY SANDS.....

" Things are loud and getting louder
so I don't have a lot to say
if I did you wouldn't hear me
so what's the use anyway
go fight your war and hide your whore
I'm sure Jesus understands
leave me in my own head
where I'm remembering Bobby Sands

Washington fought the British
they put him on a bill
an Irishman does the same
and special forces shoot to kill
while Amerikay looks the other way
among those who know firsthand
the price of freedom is tears and blood
and remembering Bobby Sands
the price of freedom is tears and blood
and remembering Bobby Sands

When a soldier lays down his life
so his comrades can be free
is it not us who forced his hand
by ignoring tyranny?
when men sit by and let others die
the killing will expand
so I'd like to take a moment here
to remember Bobby Sands

Tonight I'll tuck my children into bed
under liberty's flame
and soldiers will go off to kill
so ordered in my name
how do I sleep with a price so steep
and a government so bland
maybe it's time to hit my knees
and remember Bobby Sands."
(From here: thanks to 'Jimmymac' for assisting with this post.)

A March and Rally will be held in Dublin City Centre on Saturday 7th May 2011 in remembrance of the 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers ,a commemorative function will be held that same night and the Annual Bobby Sands Lecture will be held in a Dublin City Centre venue on Tuesday night , 10th May 2011 - full details on these events will be published here in the near future.
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

A PICKET TO COMMEMORATE THE 39th ANNIVERSARY OF 'BLOODY SUNDAY' WILL BE HELD IN DUBLIN ON SATURDAY 29th JANUARY 2011.....

A picket in memory of the 14 people massacred by the British Parachute Regiment on Sunday , January 30 , 1972 , will be held in Dublin on Saturday January 29th , 2011.
An intercepted letter to the commander of the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment , Lt. Colonel Derek Wilford , was printed on the front page of 'The Sunday Press' newspaper on the Sunday following the massacre in Derry .
It was penned by Brigadier F.P. Barclay , DSO , MCDL , Colonel , The Royal Norfolk Regiment , and says -

"1/2/'72.

Dear Wilford ,

As an ex-parachute Brigade Commander I write to say how proud it made one feel to see the way , on TV , which your lads went into action against those blighters last Sunday . They looked splendid and , as usual , bang on the ball .

It seems to me and many others that prompt retaliatory action such as this is long overdue . It will have , I've little doubt , a most salutory effect . Should have happened long since!
I sincerely trust you successfully weather those thoroughly unjustified but seemingly inevitable brickbats and recriminations emanating mostly from those who either have no sense of law and order , duty or perspective , or who are spineless .
With best wishes to you and yours ,
Sincerely ,
Peter Barclay ,
Little Dunham Lodge ,
Kings Lynn , Norfolk."

The 'Bloody Sunday' picket will be held on Saturday , January 29th , 2011 , from 12 Noon to 2pm , on the traffic island facing the GPO in Dublin .
All Welcome!
Thanks!
Sharon.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

AN EXPERIMENT IN JAMES STREET : THE DEATH OF NIALL RUSH.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1984.
By Derek Dunne.

Following amendments to the 'Food and Drug Act' in America , many pharmaceutical companies took their testing overseas due to the controls that were placed on them.

Shortly after the death of Niall Rush , it was envisaged that the proposed new 'Safety Bill' for this State would include some sort of licensing system but the man in charge , Barry Desmond (Labour Party) , stated that ".....no trials should commence unless they had been notified to the National Drugs Advisory Board...." . His Department says that the draft legislation is now at an "advanced stage" but , following extensive discussions and consultations with various interested groups such as the NDAB , the bigger hospitals in the Dublin area , and the pharmaceutical industry, it has been decided to change the direction of the proposed Bill - it is now intended to have "a statutory clearance scheme" instead of licensing , according to the State Department concerned.

That Department refused to say exactly what that means.

('1169...' note - this is the end of the above 'MAGILL' magazine piece but, over the course of same , we have been contacted by three readers who have sent us in related material , which we will post here , beginning next Wednesday , 19th January 2011.)
(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" On May 22nd , 1969 , the Dail was dissolved and a general election was fixed for June 18 : when the election campaign got underway , the Minister for Justice , Mr. O Morain , asked me for material with which to highlight the left wing tendencies of some members of the Labour Party and its camp followers and the communist infiltration and indoctrination of the inner circles of the IRA.

I did not encourage him. I said that while there was plenty of material , I thought that, in his personal interest, it would be unwise for him to make such an attack. I recalled the general election campaigns of June 1943 and May 1944 in which Seán McEntee , a Fianna Fail minister , had campaigned vigorously and with considerable success on the infiltration of communists into the Labour Party and the trade union movement ; I said that he had never been forgotten or forgiven for that and that the 'commies' , their fellow-travellers and the rabble of intellectuals in the news media never lost an opportunity of denigrating him.

I said that Mr. McEntee was sui-generis in this kind of campaigning but even he, at times, must have felt a gut-ache at the constant stream of insult and abuse which was still flowing in publications such as 'The Irish Times' over 20 years later , in which he, an elder statesman who deserved respect, was being sneered at as "Old Mischief McEntee......"
"
(MORE LATER).

"INTERNEES SAY NO!"

The following pics are of a Republican poster which was used in 1972 as part of the campaign by the Republican Movement to achieve a 'NO' vote re EEC membership.
Now , due to the 'YES' vote which won the day , this corrupt State is part-owned by that very same Brussels-based institution , with the other part being owned by the IMF:

One of the 30 inch X 20 inch posters produced by the Republican Movement in 1972 , calling for a 'NO' vote re EEC (now 'EU') entry.

Top section of the poster.

Signatures on the poster......

.....more signatures...

......more of the 701 signatures and, finally...

......the bottom section of the poster , with script which reads - "701 signatures organised by the internees and inserted by the Common Market Defence Campaign at their request" .

More people should have listened to 'The Men Behind The Wire' : if they had , this State and, indeed, the whole country , would not now be in the position it is in. But it's still not too late to do something about it.....
Thanks for reading ,
Sharon.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

THREE MORE CABHAIR SWIM PICS FROM 25th DECEMBER 2010....

"If CABHAIR can hold an outdoor swim in these weather conditions , then they can do it in ANY weather conditions.....!"

Some of those that braved the elements for CABHAIR on Christmas Day 2010.

One of the CABHAIR swimmers , Karl , (right of pic) and three of his admirers!

There are more Swim pics 'out there' and, if/when we get them , we will post them here. Meanwhile , keep an eye out for the January 2011 issue of 'Saoirse' which will carry a Swim report and more pics. And check back here tomorrow where , as stated, we will publish a few pics of a poster re the EEC , which was issued by the Republican Movement in 1972.....
Thanks for the visit ,
Sharon.

Monday, January 10, 2011

VOL FERGAL O' HANLON COMMEMORATION , SUNDAY 9th JANUARY 2011 : BRIEF REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPH.

A crowd of between 80 and 100 Republicans attended the commemoration for Fergal O'Hanlon organised by Republican Sinn Féin on Sunday January 9th 2011. The crowd assembled at the cathedral in Monaghan and paraded in good order to the graveside, led by a lone piper and a Republican Sinn Féin colour party. Na Fianna Éireann and Cumann na mBán were also on the parade, in uniform, flying their respective flags. Wreaths were laid on the grave by Dan Hoban from Mayo on behalf of the Republican Movement and by Seán Moore on behalf of the local Dáithí Ó Conaill cumann. The oration at the graveside was given by Steven Daly a former Republican prisoner from Tyrone.
During the course of his well received speech he commented on the similarities between the time of O'Hanlon and his comrades and the present. The Republicans of the 1950s were seen by nationalists and even some former republicans as being irrelevant and unrepresentative. Republcians of today find themselves in a similar situation but they must draw inspiration from the men of the '50s like Fergal O'Hanlon and persevere in the struggle. Steven finished with the words of Padraig Pearse at the graveside of O'Donovan Rossa "The fools, the fools, the fools, they have left us our Fenian dead and while Ireland holds these graves Ireland unfree shall never be at peace". The parade reformed and marched back to the cathedral where the National Anthem was played.
(From here.)
A full report, with pictures, will be published in the January 2011 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday 12th January next.

The 'Monthly Raffle' was held in a hotel on the Dublin/Kildare border on Sunday 9th January 2011 and , as usual , it was a complete success , with all 650 tickets sold , most of them in advance : the organisers try and retain at least 50 tickets for sale on the day but, such is the success of this particular venture , that is not always possible!

For the record , the winning numbers are - 1st Prize 193 / 2nd 450 / 3rd 371 / 4th 533 / 5th 604 / 6th 659* / 7th 196 / 8th 452.
( * Replacement ticket , numbered as such in case the lost ticket it replaced turned up , which would have meant that two tickets with the same number would have been in the raffle.)

The next raffle will be held on Sunday 13th February 2011 , in the same hotel ; the organisers are in the 'happy' position that they have no need to 'plug' the venue in the hope that some of our readers will turn up and purchase a few tickets , as there is not usually enough to go around as it is!

See you Wednesday - we are working on a few interesting pictures re the Irish Republican attitude to the (then) EEC in 1972......
Thanks!
Sharon.

Friday, January 07, 2011

SUNDAY 9th JANUARY 2011 - REPUBLICAN COMMEMORATION AND REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISER.

"....my name is O'Hanlon, I've just gone 16, my home is in Monaghan, thats where I was weaned....its nearly 2 years since I've wandered away, with the local battalion of the bold IRA, I'd read of our heros and wanted the same so I took up my part in the patriot game. And now as I lie here my body all holes, I think of those traitors who bargained with souls, and I wish that my rifle had given the same to those quislings who sold out the Patriots Game..."

The Annual Feargal Ó hAnnluain Commemoration will be held in Monaghan on Sunday 9th January 2011 ; those attending are asked to assemble at the Cathedral in Monaghan from where the parade to Latlurcan cemetery will leave at 2pm. A bus from Dublin to this Commemoration will leave from outside the Republican Sinn Féin Office in Parnell Street at 12 Noon - seats cost €10 each , 'phone (01)8729747 for further details.

....and THIS is the reason myself and six other RSF supporters and/or members will not be at the above-mentioned Commemoration on Sunday 9th January next -the Monthly Raffle , consisting of 650 tickets , will be held on that same day in a hotel on the Dublin-Kildare border.

Dáithí Ó Conaill and Seán Sabhat Commemorations last weekend , Feargal Ó hAnnluain Commemoration and the Monthly Raffle this weekend : it's a sure sign of the strength of the Republican Sinn Féin organisation when it is capable of holding high-quality events of this nature , and doing so successfully : An Phoblacht Abú!
Thanks,
Sharon.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

(CABHAIR Swim update : a freelance photographer took these pics at the Swim on Christmas Day last.)

AND WE'RE BACK!

We had a wee bit of a breather , although we were kept busy enough with the CABHAIR Swim which , due to the heavy snow and ice, was particularly difficult for the Organisers (and the Swimmers!) - but , and full marks to them , they managed to do a great job!
Our last '3-in-1' -type post can be read here,with the following being the continuation of same :

AN EXPERIMENT IN JAMES STREET : THE DEATH OF NIALL RUSH.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1984.
By Derek Dunne.

The 'Ethics Committee' is chaired by Professor Patrick Moore , Professor of Biochemistry at St James Hospital , Dublin , and its members include Dr Jack O'Riordan , Director of the 'National Blood Transfusion Service' , Rev Edward Kelehan SJ , Dean of Residence in Hatch Hall , Mr Arthur Lavery (Secretary) , solicitor , Mr JJ Nolan , recently retired director of the hospital care programme of the Eastern Health Board , Mrs Elizabeth Doyle-Kelly , Dr Michael Buckley , consultant physician to St James Hospital and Mrs Carmel Hennelly , Matron of the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology.

Professor Alan Browne , professor of obstetrics and gynaechology at the Rotunda, is still a nominal member of the Committee but is not attending due to other commitments. All of the members of this 'Ethics Committee' were invited on at the request of Dr Darragh.

In general , all drug trials take place under an informal agreement between the drugs industry and the State Department of Health , but there is no legal basis for this agreement. However, just over a year ago , the State Department concerned said that there was legislation pending to cover the area of clinical drug trials , but did not state what shape that legislation would take - whether or not it would follow the legislation in Germany or the United States.......
(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" While he was in Justice , Mr Haughey was a dynamic Minister , a joy to work with , and the longer he stayed, the better he got. There is a mystique all its own in the departmental establishment and the ways in which policies are formed and implemented , but Mr Haughey learned fast and was in complete control of his Department from the outset.

He did not interfere in minor details but where political kudos or political disadvantage might arise he was sharp as a razor. At the time of his becoming Minister for Justice the Department had been bogged down for quite some time , primarily through lack of adequate finance. Successive Ministers for Justice had failed to get the necessary monies from the Department of Finance but Mr Haughey proved very adroit at extracting the necessary financial support.

In a ten-point programme drawn up in his first month in office he pinpointed the crushing of the IRA as a primary objective and he re-activated the Special Criminal Court by filling vacancies caused by retirements or deaths. By February 1962 , the IRA had had enough and issued an order to "dump arms" , to which Mr Haughey responded by declaring an amnesty and releasing all IRA prisoners then in jail , including six members of the IRA Northern Command......."
(MORE LATER).

"My Dear Brothers and Sisters.
Now that I’m about to part from this world, I ask you for one favour – be kind and good to Father and Mother, and never dishonour the Cause for which I die – a Free and Independent Ireland. I bear no ill will to any person. Fond Sisters and Brothers, pray for me. Good-bye forever...."

-Curragh Camp Prison, 18-12-22.
Letter of Paddy Nolan to his Elder Brothers and Sisters.

"Dear father and Mother, - I am writing my last few lines to you. I am to be executed to-morrow morning, and I hope you will bear it with the courage of an Irish Father and Mother. I am proud to die for the Cause I loved and honoured, and for which I give up my young life.
Six more of my comrades are to be executed. We have all been to confession and Holy Communion. Father ______ told us we would go straight to Heaven, so do not worry.

Dearest Mother, there are a few pounds in my suitcase, you can have them, or anything else in the house belonging to me.
Loving Father and Mother , good-bye for ever, - Your fond and faithful Son...."
-Curragh Camp Prison, 18-12-22.
Letter of Paddy Nolan to his Father and Mother.

"Dear Jimmy,
I hope you and Willie are well. Tell all the boys and girls I was asking for them. I am writing to my sister and father. I am to be shot in the morning, 19th December, at 8.15. Mind Mary and do what you can for her. I know this will nearly kill her. We had a priest who heard our confessions. We are all here, seven of us – Johnston, Mangan, White, Moore, Nolan, Connor, and I. We are all to go “West” together, so don’t forget to pray for us. I know you and Willie will be sorry, but it is all for the best, and I hope it sets old Ireland free. We are not afraid to die......"
-Hare Park Prison, 18-12-22.
Letter of Patrick Bagnall to his Uncle.

The history behind those letters can be viewed here. As I said elsewhere , this rotten , corrupt and morally and politically bankrupt so-called 'republic' is not what those men fought and died for.
That Republic , although declared and formed , has yet to be re-established.
(Thanks to 'Jimmymac' for assisting with this post.)
Thanks for reading ,
Sharon.

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Seán Ó Sé in Glasnevin Cemetery, 1st January 2011.

DÁITHÍ Ó CONAILL COMMEMORATION ,NEW YEAR'S DAY , JANUARY 1st 2011 , GLASNEVIN CEMETERY , DUBLIN.

Under the 'watchful' eye of six members of the 'Political Police' , contingents from Cumann na mBan and Na Fianna Éireann , accompanied by a Colour Party from Republican Sinn Féin , marched from the gates of Glasnevin Cemetery to the Republican Plot , to the grave of Dáithí Ó Conaill , where the Chairperson of the Commemoration , Andy Connolly ,from Dublin, welcomed the crowd , comprising a total of about fifty people , and mentioned that it was twenty years ago to the day that Dáithí was taken from his family and from the Republican Movement. Andy spoke for a few minutes about how he and Dáithí had worked together on various policy documents over the decades , and gave an insight into how the man could practically 'look into the future , spot the pitfalls and adjust a policy to suit...' , and of how he also used that foresight in other ways that benefitted the Movement.
Proceedings were opened when Seán Ó Brádaigh said a decade of the Rosary , as gaeilge , following which a Lament for the Dead was played on a tin whistle and, after a wreath was laid by an RSF Comhairle Laighean representative , the Chairperson called on another comrade of Dáithí's , ex-POW Seán Ó Sé , to deliver the main oration.
Seán spoke of the many years that he had travelled , with Dáithí and others, to different meetings throughout the 32 Counties , strengthing the Movement , politically and otherwise, and of the huge respect that all those they encountered on their travels had for the man , mentioning some of the obstacles they faced on the journey , and of how Dáithí always had a 'Plan B' ready to act on , when the need arose , and of how he used his sharp mind to side-step the many traps laid for them by anti-Republican elements.

Following Seán's oration , the Chairperson thanked those present for taking part in the Commemoration and asked one and all to stand for Amhrán na bhFiann , which was played on a tin whistle. Andy brought proceedings to a close by reminding those present of two other commemorations which are taking place in the next few days , and he announced that 'soup and sandwiches' had been laid-on by the organisers at a near-by pub. We publish with this brief report a few photographs from the proceedings -

Seán Ó Sé in Glasnevin Cemetery , Dublin , 1st January 2011.

Andy and Seán , Cumann na mBan , Na Fianna Éireann and an RSF Colour Party.

A section of the crowd.

Irish Republican flags on display in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Cumann na mBan in Glasnevin Cemetery , 1st January 2011.

Laying the Wreath.

Finally , a full report , with other pics , will be published in the January 2011 edition of 'Saoirse' , which will be published on Wednesday 12th January next (and not Wednesday 5th , as mentioned elsewhere) - thanks for reading!
Sharon.