1169 And Counting.....

Thursday, April 13, 2006

EASTER RISING 1916-2006 : 90th Anniversary Events organised by the Republican Movement -

Easter Sunday , 16 April 2006 : Deansgrange Cemetery , Dublin , 1 pm . Assemble at Cemetery gates and march to Republican Plot .
Easter Monday , 17 April 2006 : Assemble Garden of Remembrance , Parnell Square , Dublin , 2 pm . March to GPO .
National 90th Anniversary Rally , Saturday , 22nd April 2006 : Assemble Garden of Remembrance , 2pm .
Musical Night , Saturday 22nd April 2006 : 'Saints and Sinners' pub , North King Street , Dublin . Doors open 8.30pm . Admission EURO 10 .
"Damn your concessions , England . We want our country!"

MacGIOLLA's GUERRILLAS .
Fifteen years ago , the leadership of the 'Official Republican Movement' (now 'The Workers' Party') stated that their armed wing , the 'Official IRA' , went out of existence .
Today , the 'Official IRA' is alive and well and living mainly in Belfast and Newry . In the days when both organisations were operating in an overt way , the leadership of 'The Workers' Party' and the 'Official IRA' overlapped to a certain degree .
Tomas MacGiolla , the man who led the 'Official IRA' for the last twenty-five years has always maintained the position that the 'Official IRA' went out of existence in 1972 . But the 'Official IRA' still march on , not an army fighting the British , but as a fund-collecting agency .
DEREK DUNNE traces the roots of the 'Official IRA' and 'The Workers' Party' .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , October 1987 .

Tomas MacGiolla took his organisation through some extraordinary changes in the quarter of a century that he was President : he was elected President of Sinn Fein without opposition in 1962 , and recently announced his imminent departure from the Presidency of the Workers' Party .

He presided over a party which had changed its name and its policies on a number of occasions , and has given the party a clean image * in the South at any rate . ('1169...' Comment : * .....a 'cleaner' image with some , perhaps : but never a 'clean' image.) His party came through the sixties with its sister , the IRA , and emerged into the 1980's to take seats in Leinster House .

It is arguable that it was time for Tomas MacGiolla to go , that he could bring the party no further , and that it was time for a younger man to take over . The party has always maintained that the Official IRA went out of existence in 1972 , after a ceasefire was called .......
(MORE LATER).

SEAN O' CALLAGHAN : AN UPDATE .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , February 1998 .
By Ursula Halligan.

State Justice Minister John O' Donoghue has received the garda report he ordered six months ago into claims by Sean O ' Callaghan , the IRA informer , that he murdered another IRA informer , John Corcoran , in 1985 . A spokesman said the minister received the report last week .

However , 'Magill' has learned that the gardai only contacted Sean O' Callaghan for the first time on Monday 19 January and that , at the time of going to press , he has still not been questioned by gardai . Following controversy early last year about the failure of the gardai to question Sean O' Callaghan about his role in the murder , the then opposition Fianna Fail spokesman , John O' Donoghue , promised to have the matter fully investigated on the party's return to power .

Two months ago , on December 8 (1997) , a spokesman for the minister told 'Magill' that the minister had sought a full report on the case from the garda authorities within weeks of coming into office and that a report was "...imminent....... "
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

ON THE TAKE....... !
The question is no longer whether there is corruption within our political establishment but whether the political establishment is itself corrupt .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , February 1998 .

Capital Gains tax was reduced from 40 per cent to 20 per cent either to benefit the rich generally - on top of the benefit they gained by the reduction in the top rate of income tax - or perhaps for the benefit of a particular individual : either way , it is a disgrace , and particularly a disgrace given the paucity of the increases in social welfare and the deferral (again) of the implementation of the benefit , such as it was .

In that vivid phrase of the hapless Michael Lowry , the cosy cartels are indeed very cosy : they have three parties to represent their interests - Fianna Fail , the Progressive Democrats and Fine Gael and they have little to fear from a tame Labour Party and a timorous Democratic Left .
[END of 'ON THE TAKE'].
(Tomorrow : 'SEAN O' CALLAGHAN - AN UPDATE' . From 1998.)

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

Resuming his thoughts on propaganda , Liam Mellows wrote -

" (D). Dev's Work in America :
The time has now come for informing the Irish people what miracles de Valera accomplished there ; the attempt to belittle his work for Eire both here and abroad must be defeated . Dealing with America is a stupendous work , and tons of data is needed , but it will be labour well worth performing .

Show how it was the Republic , and the Republic only , that gained such sympathy for us there - that no other cause would have got the slightest hearing - that de Valera changed an ignorant and either apathetic or hostile people into genuine sympathisers in two years . He made the name of Ireland respected where it was despised , and the Irish Cause an ideal where it had been regarded as a political humbug .

Fr. Peter Elias Magennis of the Irish movement in America and the attitude generally of America and Americans towards Ireland at the time of Dev's coming (was all effected by him being there) .

(E). Life of Cathal Brugha :
A brief , but not a scrappy , account of above would , I think , do a lot of good . The account in 'The Bulletin' (Catholic) by Sceilg is splendid , but not detailed enough . The underlying idea should be that of 'Principle' , a word that at one time meant everything to , and conveyed everything of , the IRB . "
(MORE LATER).

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT .......
Should it become law as intended on December 1 next , The Irish Extradition Act will adversely affect the rights of many Irish citizens in the future .
COLM KEENA examines the implications of proposed legislation .
From 'In Dublin' magazine , 1 October 1987 .

One man who does not wish to be named says that some members of the Workers' Party might be concerned about being extradited up to the North , especially one member of the Ard Comhairle ('Ruling Body') whose signature closely resembles that of a man who has been signing cheques to do with an account in Newry which is believed to be connected with extortion and racketeering there .

At the end of July 1987 , Paddy Hill , one of the Birmingham Six , wrote a letter from HM Prison Gartree , where he is serving his sentence : he said that recent investigations into his conviction left him with no confidence of a change in the situation , and pointed out that the Dublin government has never expressed its belief in the mens' innocence .

Paddy Hill said that by reneging on their pledge not to implement the Extradition Act , Dublin was condemning "....Irish men and women to a lifetime of abuse and racial discrimination . To hand over Irish men or women to a British Court is to condemn them to a system where they will not receive a fair or impartial trial ; where they will be judged and sentenced by the British media before they even set foot inside a court . "
(MORE LATER).

ON THE TAKE....... !
The question is no longer whether there is corruption within our political establishment but whether the political establishment is itself corrupt .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , February 1998 .

Over the last year alone (ie 1997) the value of the estimated £8 billion worth of shares owned by private investors on the Irish Stock Exchange would have increased by about £200 million : the tax on this realisable gain alone has been cut by £40 million but , of course , the capital gain on such stock would be far greater than £40 million , taking the gain over the last several years .

And this capital gain represents only a fraction of the capital gain generated generally in the economy - it does not include , for instance , the capital gain from investment in property : therefore , the benefit to the rich by this tax reduction is probably of the order of £100 million , although Charlie McCreevy stated that the cost to the State exchequer in a single year was only £19 million ..... !
(MORE LATER).

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

Letter from Liam Mellows , dated 29th August 1922 :
" Continuing mine of 26th inst (Number 1) ; before doing so , however , I wish to point out that the matter of establishing a Provisional Republican Government has become imperative because of the probability of the English taking a hand sooner or later - no doubt they will continue to make use of Irishmen as long as the latter can be duped or dazzled by the Free State idea .

But even to this there will be an end , and then the British will , by using the arguments against the republicans that the Free State now use , cloud the issue greatly ; for the British to calumniate republicans and belittle their cause by besmirching them is one thing , but for Free Staters (and supposed potential republicans) to do it is another - and different , and worse thing .

Because the British will not use British arguments to cloak their actions , but Irish ones - ' out of our own mouths ' - etc . ('1169....' Comment - Westminster and those in Leinster House must be delighted that their 'pet rebels' are doing that job for them today : witness their constant attempted 'dismissal' of Irish Republicans as "dissidents" .) Therefore an object - a target - must be presented for the enemy (Free Staters or British) to hit at : otherwise it becomes a fight (apparently) between individuals . Hence the necessity of getting the Provisional Republican Government established at once ."
(MORE LATER).

Monday, April 10, 2006

THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT .......
Should it become law as intended on December 1 next , The Irish Extradition Act will adversely affect the rights of many Irish citizens in the future .
COLM KEENA examines the implications of proposed legislation .
From 'In Dublin' magazine , 1 October 1987 .

Professor Mary McAleese is against the Extradition Act in principle , and does not like the 'selling off' of that Act in return for British changes requested by the Dublin government .

A spokesman for the Workers' Party says that the Diplock Courts are hardly much different from this State's Special Criminal Courts , and points out that the Guildford , Birmingham and Maguire cases all happened in jury trials ; and anyway , the WP spokesman says , the Extradition Act is unsatisfactory , and should be amended to include a requirement for prima facie evidence .

That will require a vote in Leinster House ; The Workers' Party and the Progressive Democrats say that they will vote in favour of such an amendment . Mary McAleese stated : " The Irish government (sic) seems to have taken the line of least resistance , which is surprising * in the light of the existing situation " . ( * '1169...' Comment - the only 'surprising' thing about that is that Mary McAleese should find it surprising.)

Republican spokespeople and members of the Anti-Extradition Campaign say they believe that the RUC have a list of some 300 to 600 people living in the 26 County State that they would like to extradite up to the North to 'question' .......
(MORE LATER).

ON THE TAKE....... !
The question is no longer whether there is corruption within our political establishment but whether the political establishment is itself corrupt .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , February 1998 .

The second of these decisions was the refusal to permit the Moriarty Tribunal to investigate the source of all funds in the Ansbacher Accounts - these were held in a Dublin bank , where the holders of the deposits were un-named , where the monies had been routed through London , the Cayman Islands and then back to Dublin !

In this (ie the refusal) Fianna Fail was supported by its partners in government , the Progressive Democrats , and by Fine Gael : Fine Gael is now busily trying to 'rewire' its involvement in that piece of infamy . The third decision was the announcement in the budget of a reduction in the rate of capital gains tax , from 40 per cent to 20 per cent : the scale of this tax change is staggering - in one fell swoop , a government that made such a fuss about reducing the top and standard rates of income tax by two percentage points reduced the tax that most affects the rich by a full 20 per centage points !

At present , private investors on the Irish Stock Exchange own shares to an estimated value of £8 billion.......
(MORE LATER).

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

" The Irish hierarchy are blood-guilty ; they were against the 1916 Easter Rising , with their denunciation of Padraig Pearse , who was the great example of Christian idealism . The hierarchy only opposed Conscription when forced to do so by the attitude of the people . That same hierarchy were against the IRA during 'the Terror' in Ireland - witness Bishop Cohalan's excommunication decree of December 1920 . That hierarchy's abandonment of principle , justice and honour by their support for the Treaty , and the danger caused to Catholicism in Ireland from their bad example : their exaltation of deceit and hypocrisy , their attempt to turn the noble aspect of Irish struggle and bring it to the level of putrid politics , their admission that religion is something to be preached about from the pulpits on Sundays , but never put into practice in the affairs of the Nation , their desertion of Ulster etc . 'Sceilg' could , I think , do the above best !

Excuse the change of writing : I had to get the above copied by someone else from a letter I am sending to Sighle , lest anything should happen to this one . I will close up now , but will continue ideas on propaganda and other things tomorrow . "
Regards , L.O'M .
Provisional Government :
The ideas developed under 3. (A) , (B) and (C) , were continued in a further letter despatched on 29th August 1922 .......
(MORE LATER).

Friday, April 07, 2006

THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT .......
Should it become law as intended on December 1 next , The Irish Extradition Act will adversely affect the rights of many Irish citizens in the future .
COLM KEENA examines the implications of proposed legislation .
From 'In Dublin' magazine , 1 October 1987 .

The Workers Party and the Progressive Democrats seem to be willing to indulge in the 'selling off' of the new arrangements in return for 'advances' in the cases of the Birmingham Six , the Guildford Four and Annie Maguire . Recently , Labour MP Chris Mullin , who has long been campaigning on behalf of the Birmingham Six , said that he was surprised that the Haughey government was going to implement the new extradition laws while there was still no significant progress in the three cases which have been of concern to * the Dublin government for some time . ( * '1169...' Comment : a good example of their level of 'concern' . )

Chris Mullin said that he had discussed the cases with Charles Haughey and Brian Lenihan in October 1986 , and he was now surprised that they were "...so easily satisfied . I do wish the Irish government would be a bit more robust , " he said . Chris Mullin has long been campaigning to "...tip the balance of inconvenience .. " so as to make it more embarrassing for the British government to keep these people in prison , than it would be to admit that its courts got it wrong .

Professor Mary McAleese said - " The experiences of the Guildford Four , the Birmingham Six and Annie Maguire are precisely the sort of things that a country should worry about when extraditing its citizens to a jurisdiction with that sort of track record . I would be considerably concerned about these matters being outstanding , and the 'Act' going through . "
(MORE LATER).

ON THE TAKE....... !
The question is no longer whether there is corruption within our political establishment but whether the political establishment is itself corrupt .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , February 1998 .

The 'on the take' malaise is represented perhaps best by three extraordinary decisions taken by Fianna Fail-led governments in recent years : the first of these decisions was the tax amnesty of 1993 , whereby tax defrauders were given a total amnesty on payment of just 15 per cent of the tax they owed to the State and a guarantee of absolute confidentiality hereafter !

The scale of this benefit to the richest in society cannot now be quantified , but it may be assumed with confidence that it was massive - but of more concern is what motivated the introduction of the tax amnesty in the first place : was it done to accommodate a single mega-rich taxpayer who was in trouble with the Revenue Commissioners and whose generosity to Fianna Fail and perhaps to individuals within the party was considerable ?

So troubled was the then Minister for Finance , Bertie Ahern , with the proposal to introduce the scheme that he considered resignation , and he was talked out of it only by a representative of the Labour Party , which was then in government with Bertie Ahern's party , Fianna Fail ; how ironic that a Fianna Fail finance minister should be encouraged to accept a measure that was so manifestly unfair by a representative of a party that purports to represent the quintessence of fairness !
(MORE LATER).

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

POINT 3 (b) : Work of the Republic -
" To show it was - and is - a reality . This is an antidote to the hypocrites who now pretend that it never existed . Some pamphlets have already been published by direction of the Dail last year showing how the Republic functioned - Courts , Land Settlements , Decrees etc . These were sold for 6d each , I think , and they could be reproduced or used again . The 'Bulletin' , published by D/Publicity all through the war up to the signing of the Treaty does , I think , contain heaps of dates .

POINT 3 (c) : Hierarchy -
Invariably wrong in Ireland in their political outlook ie against the people in 1798 . Frs. Murphy (2) , Roche , Kearns , excommunicated by the then Bishop of Ferns : against Emmet , "condoning outrage" . Against Young Irelanders , "Godless young men " , support of Sadlier and Keogh , against the Fenians - Dr. Cullen , Bishop Moriarty : "Hell not hot enough or eternity long enough ... " . Against Sinn Fein , against the Irish Volunteers . Supported England in European War , 1914 , morally to blame for the deaths of thousands of Irish youths in France , Flanders , Mesopotamia , Gallipoli , Macedonia etc : nothing can condone this - the European War was a hideous holocaust on the alter of Mammon , a struggle between Europe for power . "
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, April 06, 2006

THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT .......
Should it become law as intended on December 1 next , The Irish Extradition Act will adversely affect the rights of many Irish citizens in the future .
COLM KEENA examines the implications of proposed legislation .
From 'In Dublin' magazine , 1 October 1987 .

The Fianna Fail government who , in opposition had stated that they were opposed to the Extradition Act , especially in regard to its not having a demand for a prima facie case , has not said that it will delay its implementation or amend it . To do either would require a vote in Leinster House . ('1169...' Comment - for Fianna Fail "to do either" would require Fianna Fail to take a principled stand , one way on the other , on the issue . An altogether alien proposition for them .)

In the last number of weeks the (Westminster-appointed) Northern Secretary , Mr. Tom King , has repeated his view that the number of judges sitting in the Diplock Courts is not to be changed from one to three ; the Dublin Administration has been pressing for this , but the 'British Council for Civil Liberties' sees little difference between three judges or one : they want more jury trials . Professor Mary McAleese sees little difference between one judge , three judges or sixty judges : 'the law is being implemented correctly , but there are problems with the law' !

The new rules in regard to the admissibility of evidence and confessions , which are 'peculiar' to the Diplock Courts , are the major problem , she says . The Workers' Party and the Progressive Democrats say that they dislike the Extradition Act , that they would like to see the inclusion of the prima facie requirement.......
(MORE LATER).

ON THE TAKE !
The question is no longer whether there is corruption within our political establishment but whether the political establishment is itself corrupt .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , February 1998 .

We know now what we purported not to know before : that senior political figures were 'on the take' and that at least one of them was 'on the take' for decades ; we now know that the manner in which this senior political figure , Charles Haughey , was 'on the take' involved the complicity of bankers , accountants and 'benefactors' .

We know now that it involved a complicated financial ruse ( the Ansbacher accounts ) that were availed of by many others as well : many of those others were associates of Mr. Charles Haughey .

But whatever the further revelations of the Moriarty Tribunal into these matters and whatever more emerges about the existence of similar financial ruses in other banks , these represent only the symptom of what seems to be a much deeper malaise.......
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT .......
Should it become law as intended on December 1 next , The Irish Extradition Act will adversely affect the rights of many Irish citizens in the future .
COLM KEENA examines the implications of proposed legislation .
From 'In Dublin' magazine , 1 October 1987 .

Ireland was one of two countries which did not sign the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism in 1977 , because the provisions for allowing extradition for political offences was then repugnant to the State Constitution : this changed with the State Supreme Court rulings in relation to the McGlinchey case , where the nature of a political offence was 'redefined' .

Now , says Professor Mary McAleese , this 'Act' " ....copperfastens a process that has been diluting the extradition arrangements in this country . Five years ago this Act would have been an immense step . Now it is not . '

The 'Act' also far exceeds anything which would have been required by our signing the Convention Against Terrorism Bill ; in fact , as the Anti-Extradition Committee point out , the 'Act' is perhaps the most extreme in all of Europe - '...it is not at all unusual to demand that the foreign jurisdiction give prima facie evidence ; it would not have been outrageous for Ireland to do so . It might make the process of extradition a bit more difficult , but the highest possible rights should be given to the individual concerned . '

The 'Extradition Act' was drawn up by Garret FitzGerald's Fine Gael and Labour Coalition Government : now Fine Gael's Peter Barry was saying that there has not been enough progress in the North to justify the Act's coming into power .... !
(MORE LATER).

BILLY WRIGHT , LOYALIST VOLUNTEER FORCE .
" I have been prepared to die for long many a year . I don't wish to die , but at the end of the day no one will force their opinion down my throat . No one . "
On August 29 , 1996 , shortly before the 'Combined Loyalist Military Command's' death threat against him expired , EMER WOODFUL interviewed LVF leader BILLY WRIGHT in his Portadown home .......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , February 1998 .

Emer Woodful : " What do you hope for your children ? "
Billy Wright : " That there would be peace and reconciliation , and that this country (sic) would flourish . "

Emer Woodful : " Are you prepared for any compromise to get to peace , because I cannot see any in there at all ? "
Billy Wright : " Well , that's because you don't know me , dear , you don't know me . I lived in South Armagh ; I lived among nationalist people , I grew up with them , I had no difficulty with them . If only the IRA and Sinn Fein would recognise our right to exist , ('1169...' Comment - the loyalist/unionist 'right to exist' was not then , nor is it now , the issue : the claim from Westminster over part of this isle was , and still is , the issue . Billy Wright and those like him put themselves 'out on a limb' by , in some cases , attempting to enforce that jurisdictional claim by the use of force) to be British , ('1169....' Comment : they have always been free to , as is their right , consider themselves 'British' if that is what they want - but they fail to recognise that they are 'British' people living in Ireland , not living in a part of the 'UK' ) then I believe the two communities could come together , and a new form of life within a British context could evolve . ('1169....' Comment - the minority of people living on this isle who consider themselves 'British' are , as stated , welcome to continue to describe themselves as such , if they want . And if that is what they consider a 'British context' , then so be it . But the jurisdictional claim must be removed by Westminster , as that is a "British context" which Republicans consider repulsive) I understand when you say how the unionist community feels under threat , but at the end of the day you have the democratic process , and there is no threat if the numbers democratically say 'no , we don't want this' . ('1169...' Comment - ....by "the numbers" he means the majority of a minority) Now , please - don't insult us . We have the Framework Document , and we've had calls for it to be imposed , and indeed paragraph 47 states that it should be imposed . What's democratic about that ? Please don't tell us that nothing will be imposed . "

Emer Woodful : " You have told me that you are someone who could envisage compromise . Tell me where . "
Billy Wright : " Well , I recognise there are difficulties within Northern Ireland , (sic) and that if the constitutional issue was solved , that parade issue and similar things like that could be settled without the underlying threat of it being more devious than what it appears . "
[END of ' BILLY WRIGHT : LOYALIST VOLUNTEER FORCE']
(Tomorrow - 'ON THE TAKE' : from 1998.)

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

" In our efforts now to win back public support to the Republic we are forced to recognise - whether we like it or not - that the commercial interest so-called : money and the gombeenman - are on the side of the Treaty , because the Treaty means imperialism and England . We are back to Tone - and it is just as well - relying on that great body , 'the men of no property' . The 'stake in the country' people were never with the Republic - they are not with it now and they will always be against it . Until it wins !

We should recognise that definitely now , and base our appeals upon the understanding and needs of those who have always borne Ireland's fight . Even though the decision of the election in 1918 stands ; even though the Declaration of Independence remains a fact ; even though the election of 1921 re-affirmed that Declaration ; even though the election of June 1922 was an 'agreed election' at which no issue was put or decided ; because of the interpretation put upon it by the Treatyites it is essential that the Republic be once again re-affirmed by the people , by vote , as soon as possible .

When that may be no one can tell , but we cannot look too far ahead . In the meantime the Provisional Republican Government should endeavour to carry-on . "
(MORE LATER).

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT .......
Should it become law as intended on December 1 next , The Irish Extradition Act will adversely affect the rights of many Irish citizens in the future .
COLM KEENA examines the implications of proposed legislation .
From 'In Dublin' magazine , 1 October 1987 .

Some senior Irish politicians have defended the 'no prima facie evidence required' -aspect of the new Extradition legislation by saying that demanding prima facie evidence would make the legislation impossible !

The U.S. government demands prima facie evidence off us ; Margaret Thatcher has recently refused to allow citizens of her country to be extradited to the USSR under a system where the USSR would not provide prima facie evidence . Irish Professor of Law , Mary McAleese , told this magazine that she did not see how having to present evidence of having a case would be a problem - " Surely if you have sufficient evidence to justify bringing an individual from one jurisdiction to another , you have at least a prima facie case ?" , she said .

Although , once implemented , it will apply to our dealings with all countries of the world , the new legislation is strongly connected with the creation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement/Hillsborough Treaty in 1985 : there was a strong element of quid pro quo in the discussions between the British and Dublin governments : Dublin was going to sign the European Convention on Terrorism and pass a new Extradition Act - Britain was going to 'improve the administration of justice' in the North of Ireland as it affected nationalists and look at some issues of concern in relation to Irish men and women incarcerated in British jails.......
(MORE LATER).

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

The first document from Liam Mellows , dated 26th August 1922 , reads as follows :

" Regarding the last paragraph in above programme - land - it is well to note that the IRA Executive had already taken up the question of the demesnes and ranches and had adopted a scheme for their confiscation and distribution . This scheme was mainly the work of P. J. Ruttledge . See Ernie O' Malley , Thomas O' Deirig and P.J. Ruttledge about this .

In view of the unprincipled attitude of the Labour Party , and because of the landless and homeless Irish Republican soldiers who fought against Britain , it might be well to publish this scheme in whole or part . We should certainly keep Irish Labour for the Republic : it will be possibly the biggest factor on our side - anything that would prevent Irish Labour becoming imperialist and 'respectable' will help the Republic .

As a sidelight on Johnson , O' Brien , O' Shannon and Co. , it will interest you to know that when they called on us in the Four Courts last May , they (particularly Johnson) remarked that no effort had been made by An Dail to put its Democratic Programme into execution ......."
(MORE LATER).

Monday, April 03, 2006

THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT .
Should it become law as intended on December 1 next , The Irish Extradition Act will adversely affect the rights of many Irish citizens in the future .
COLM KEENA examines the implications of proposed legislation .
From 'In Dublin' magazine , 1 October 1987 .

When the 'Irish Extradition Act' becomes law on December 1 , 1987 , it will mean that we have a process of extradition in this country which excels probably any other in the western world in its lack of protection for its own citizens .

After December 1 , 1987 , the British or any other government has simply to request the extradition of any citizen of this country which it wants to try for a 'crime' , and the Irish 'security forces' and courts will do so , even if the alleged 'crime' is claimed to have been political . And when that person is extradited to the foreign jurisdiction there is nothing to stop the other jurisdiction charging that person with crimes other than that or those mentioned during the extradition proceedings .

The foreign jurisdiction has simply to issue a warrant and request the Irish person's extradition : it does not have to show prima facie evidence ie it does not have to show that it has some sort of a case against the individual concerned .......
(MORE LATER).

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

The first document from Liam Mellows , dated 26th August 1922 , read as follows :

Point 2 -
" The programme of Democratic Control (the Social Programme) adopted by the Dail coincident with the Declaration of Independence , January 1919 , should be translated into something definite - this is essential if the great body of the workers are to be kept on the side of independence . This does not require a change of outlook on the part of republicans or the adoption of a revolutionary programme as such .

The 'head-line' is there in the Declaration of 1919 ; it is already part of republican policy and it should be made clear what is meant by it . I would suggest , therefore , that it be interpreted something like the following , which appeared in the 'Workers Republic' newspaper of July 22nd last -

" Under the Republic all industry will be controlled by the State for the workers' and farmers' benefit . All transport , railways , canals etc will be operated by the State - the Republican State - for the benefit of the workers and farmers . All banks will be operated by the State for the benefit of industry and agriculture , not for the purpose of profit-making by loans , mortgages etc . That the lands of the aristocracy (who support the Free State and the British connection) will be seized and divided amongst those who can and will operate it for the nation's benefit . " "
(MORE LATER).

Friday, March 31, 2006

ALL AT S.E.A....... !
A light-hearted look at the 'Single European Act' legislation .
From 'The Very End' column , 'New Hibernia' magazine , May 1987.
By Patrick Murphy.

When asked how everyone in Middle Ireland was doing yesterday , a spokesman for the new state said that they were all "middling" .

And in a news story just in it has been revealed that the government has just sold off the Constitution at an auction in Sotheby's in London ; Articles 1 and 2 were sold to a British museum for £2 million and the remaining articles were sold to the National Gallery of Belgium where they will be on permanent display in Brussels .

In return for Articles 1 and 2 the government will get an EEC grant to employ two people in a factory in Mayo . Mr. Haughey said last night that he thought that two jobs was a fair swop for the Constitution . And here is the late result : Supreme Court 3 , High Court 2 . The winners will play in Europe next season .
[END of 'ALL AT S.E.A!']
(Monday , 3 April - 'THE EXTRADITION SELL-OUT' : from 1987.)

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

The first document from Liam Mellows , dated 26th August 1922 , read as follows -

" GENERAL SITUATION : We are as much in touch with this as the 'newspapers' and 'Poblacht' and 'Bulletin' permit . I am strongly of the opinion that the republican political and military outlook be co-ordinated . No doubt this has been done , but I mention it because during the past six months we suffered badly because responsible Officers , in their desire to act as soldiers , and because of an attitude towards 'politicians' , acquired as a result (in my opinion) of a campaign directed towards this end by old GHQ , could only judge of the situation in terms of guns and men .

Even from a military point of view it ought to have been apparent to such men that every situation and advantage - no matter of what nature - should be availed of to gain victory . However , I am not going to write an essay on this . Naturally we are thinking hard here , though the place and atmosphere is not conducive to thought : however - the net results of my cogitations are :

1 A Provisional Republican Goveernment should be set up at once even if it is unable to function , or to function only in a most limited way . This is to be done apart from the question of the Dail . The advertisement in todays newspaper regarding postponement of the Dail is inserted by the Provisional Government ; the impression the press and the Provisional Government want to create is that the next Dail is the 'Provisional Government' called for by the terms of the Treaty .
If at a meeting of the Dail this is not cleared up , and it is of 'Provisional Parliament' and not the 'Government of the Republic' - then the necessity of a 'Provisional Republican Government' is most urgent . "
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, March 30, 2006

ALL AT S.E.A....... !
A light-hearted look at the 'Single European Act' legislation .
From 'The Very End' column , 'New Hibernia' magazine , May 1987.
By Patrick Murphy.

The Government in Dublin has just announced that since people living within 15 kilometres of the border do not have to spend 48 hours in the North to take advantage of EEC tariff concessions , there will now be a ' Northern Ireland ' , a 'Southern Ireland' and a 'Middle Ireland' .

The new state of 'Middle Ireland' will be the 15 kilometre zone south of the border . People living there will speak Middle Irish and will pursue middle of the road policies .

The main occupation in the new State will be that of 'middle men' who will pass goods from one part of Ireland to another .......
(MORE LATER).

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

Liam Mellows was among the leaders of the Republicans who occupied the Four Courts ; he was captured when the building fell to Free State artillery (on loan from the British) at the end of June 1922 and jailed in Mountjoy . In August 1922 he smuggled out two documents comprising notes and observations on policy : later , these fell into the hands of the Free Staters and were published in a Free State ' Blue Paper' with the title - 'Correspondence of Eamon de Valera and Others' .

The 'others' are Mellows , Austin Stack , P.J. Ruttledge , Ernie O' Malley , Robert Brennan , Patrick Little and Charles Murphy . The core of the 'Blue Paper' is Mellows' 'Notes' - the point of publishing them was to brand Irish Republicans (including de Valera) as 'Communists' .

Mellows' 'Notes' , which were addressed to Austin Stack with a slightly abridged version to Ernie O' Malley , are contained in full in the excellent book , ' Liam Mellows and the Irish Revolution' , by Desmond Greaves . Those notes and documents make for interesting reading .......
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

ALL AT S.E.A....... !
A light-hearted look at the 'Single European Act' legislation .
From 'The Very End' column , 'New Hibernia' magazine , May 1987.
By Patrick Murphy.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that people from the North of Ireland can come down and vote provided they stay here for more than 48 hours ; this will allow them to take back two 'YES!' votes on the Single European Act , four 'NO!' votes in the Pro-Life Amendment and six bottles of 'DON'T KNOWS!' in the 'Divorce Referendum' .

Northern Customs Authorities yesterday seized two lorry loads of 'NO!' votes near Newry after they had been smuggled in from the South ; it is believed they would have been added to the thousands of 'ULSTER SAYS NO!' votes already in the North and Unionists along the border have recently complained that they can sell very few 'NO!' votes in view of the large numbers of them being imported from the South .

But as bus-loads of Northern voters queued to visit Dublin yesterday they scrambled for bargain 'NO!' votes throughout the city , and authorities in the North are worried that political jobs there may be lost if the trend continues .......
(MORE LATER).

LIAM MELLOWS AND THE IRISH CIVIL WAR .......
This is the bulk of a public lecture given at University College , Galway , by Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle member and Deputy General Secretary of the 'Local Government and Public Services Union' , Phil Flynn , on December 8th 1982 , the 60th Anniversary of the Free State's execution of Liam Mellows .
First published in 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

The struggle for national independence became at a certain point a struggle for socialism ; the struggle for socialism had always involved struggle for national independence . The point was reached in 1921/1922 - from this point no further progress could be made towards the achievement of an independent Republic on a 'classless' basis (which of course meant a capitalist basis) - all further progress depended on the proletariat becoming the leading force in the Republican Movement .

Michael Collins had become the political representative of Irish capitalism in December 1921 , from which time his influence on Irish affairs was reactionary . De Valera also decided for capitalism and subjection to Britain , but his fall into deep reaction was delayed for a few years by the fact that his desire for independence , or his political ambition , carried him beyond Collins , who actually became the representative of the Anglo-Irish and the bigger Irish bourgeoisie : de Valera became the representative of the small businessman and the aspiring 'peasants' .

The working class did not become the leading force in the Republican Movement , cursed as it was with a reformist and subservient leadership ; but some Irish Republicans came to an awareness that their struggle was no longer a national struggle of all classes against the British , and that the success of the fight for the Republic depended on its being transformed into a war of Irish workers against their class enemy , the Free State , and its imperialist master . The most clearsighted of these Republicans was Liam Mellows .......
(MORE LATER).