1169 And Counting.....

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Donald and Saddam !

The world of the political wordsmith will be all the poorer for the recent political passing of Donald Rumsfeld :
In 2002 , Mr. Rumsfeld told a US Defence meeting - " As we know , there are known knowns . There are things we know we know . We also know there are known unknowns . That is to say , we know there are some things we do not know . But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know . " !
When Donald was asked at a press conference where Osama bin Laden was during the hunt for him in Afghanistan , he stated - " We do know of certain knowledge that he is either in Afghanistan , or in some other country . Or dead . "
Asked would the US go to war without the backing of Westminster , Donald replied - " Their situation is distinctive to their country and they have a government that deals with a parliament in their way , distinctive way , and what will ultimately be decided is unclear as to their role.....um......that is to say their role in the event a decision is made to use force...."

He told the New York Times newspaper - " Once in a while , I'm standing here , doing something . And I think 'what in the world am I doing here?' It's a big surprise ! "
He once replied to a reporter - " If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer and if I don't , I'll just respond , cleverly! "
He is also on record for having said the following gem - " I think what you'll find , I think what you'll find is , whatever it is we do substantively , there will be near-perfect clarity as to what it is ."
And more 'Rumsfeldisms' :
" And it will be known , and it will be known to the Congress , and it will be known to you , probably before we decide it , but it will be known . "
" I would not say that the future is necessarily less predictable than the past . I think the past was not predictable when it started . "
" I also know that stating what might be preferable...er....is simply stating what might be preferable ."
" Near my office is an American flag done in .... origami ... that's one of those words that I haven't mastered yet! "
" Well , um , somethings neither good nor bad but thinking makes it so , I suppose . As Shakespeare said . "
" I believe what I said yesterday .... I don't know what I said , er , but I know what I think and ...well , I assume it's what I said . "

As Oscar Wilde put it : " We have really everything in common with America nowadays , except , of course , language . "

Friday, November 17, 2006

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 CASE OF BRIAN McNALLY :

Brian McNally was arrested under the Offences Against The State Act , 1939 , at 7.10am on the Monday morning of April the 5th , 1976 : he was taken to Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station and shortly afterwards , he alleged in evidence , he was struck on the cheek by Detective Garda Thomas Dunne , and also shouted at by him. He said he was assaulted by Detective Garda Kieran P. Lawlor , who is alleged to have beaten him on the right cheek bone , the lip , the ribs and the chest .

McNally claimed also that he had been deprived of tablets which had been prescribed for him . He was questioned at intervals throughout the day , and alleged that by midnight he was fatigued and unsure of himself as a result of being deprived of his tablets . He was then brought to the Bridewell Garda Station .

His questioning resumed at 10.00am the following morning and lasted until 6.00pm , when he was put to his cell for tea . At 8.30pm he was taken out to an interview room where he was interviewed until 9.15pm : he alleged that during this interview he was sitting on a double seat with Detective Garda Felix McKenna , and that when he lit a cigarette it was knocked out of his mouth by Detective Garda Thomas Fitzgerald : that Detective Garda Felix McKenna stood up suddenly and that he (McNally) fell to the floor , that he was picked up by Detective Garda Felix McKenna and pushed towards Detective Garda Thomas Fitzgerald who slapped and pushed him and he fell back on the seat . Then four or five plain clothes detectives came into the room.......
(MORE LATER).

THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .

If (the then) Sinn Fein manages to topple the SDLP it will throw British and Dublin government policy on the North of Ireland into total disarray * , burying all question of power-sharing or 'cross-community support' for devolved government there . ('1169....' Comment * - ...and it very well might have done , too , had not the section of the then Sinn Fein organisation which left the Movement with Adams and McGuinness three years after this article was penned , not actually turned into an SDLP-type party themselves!) It will also force government officials to swallow miles of official handouts devoted to explaining that 'the men of violence' had the support of only a fraction of one per cent of the Northern population .

For that reason the clash between the SDLP and Sinn Fein is the real kernel of this election , overshadowing for the moment the conflicts between nationalist and unionist and that within the unionist camp itself . There will be 17 seats in the North in this election instead of 12 in the past : the SDLP will be contesting all 17 , Sinn Fein will be standing in 14 . The real battle between the two will focus on the five constituencies with Nationalist majorities - Armagh-Newry , Fermanagh-South Tyrone , Foyle , Mid-Ulster and West Belfast . Sinn Fein won one seat in each of these areas in the elections to the 'Northern Assembly' last October and all their Assembly members are standing this time . The SDLP won two seats in Armagh-Newry , Foyle and Mid-Ulster and one each in Fermanagh-South Tyrone and West Belfast .

The SDLP also dominate the three main councils in the constituencies - Derry City , Fermanagh and Newry and Mourne , but Sinn Fein already hold the Fermanagh-South Tyrone seat at Westminster . The SDLP have held no Westminster seats since Gerry Fitt defected in 1979.......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Blaming the oppressed for the 'violence' .....

In an interview with what used to be an Irish Republican newspaper in August 1991 , Fr. Joseph McVeigh , from Garrison in County Fermanagh , took Fr Cathal Daly to task for declaring , in January 1991 - " If there were no (P)IRA there would be no British Army checkpoints and Fergal Caraher would not have been murdered " !
The same British apologist , Daly , also stated - " If there were no (P)IRA activities in Lurgan , Gervais Lynch ('Nelson link to four murders' , here) would not have been killed by a loyalist death squad ."
The 'Cock Daly' , true to form , crowed three times - " If there were no (P)IRA activities in Fermanagh there would be no roads closed." ! A trusted member of the 'Establishment' , ever eager to prove his worth to them . We now have 'wannabe' trusted members of the 'Establishment' who describe those who continue to fight against British interference in Irish affairs as "...micro groups.....with no mandate from the people......" , much the same as they themselves were once described ! They are in fitting company - treacherous snakeoil salespeople , prepared to turn their backs on their own oft-stated beliefs for the opportunity of an 'Establishment'-nursed career . Irish Republicans have lived through over 800 years of morally-weak and opportunistic people like those , and have always managed to survive them . These days are no different.......

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

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 .

Thus while the medical evidence on Osgur Breathnach's condition was inconsistent - although the doctors concerned insisted their evidence was not contradictory - there was nonetheless considerable medical evidence that Breathnach was suffering from injuries of some kind : at no stage throughout the trial was there any evidence to the effect that he could at any stage have inflicted these injuries on himself or have had these injuries inflicted , other than at the hands of the Gardai .

Non-medical evidence about his condition was even more compelling : Aidan Browne S.C. , who saw Osgur Breathnach in the State High Court before the Habeas Corpus application , said in evidence : " To me , he appeared to be somebody else - as distressed as anyone I have ever seen and to a degree that was frightening as far as I was concerned . It was an overall impression of somebody who was dehumanised , that the attributes of the human animal that distinguishes him from the non-human animal were missing from him . One other person that I had seen in custody , not in this jurisdiction - in Crumlin Road Jail in Belfast - where he had been lodged after sustaining seven or eight days of interrogation .... that was the parallel between the two persons that I made at the time . "

While the evidence from Aidan Browne S.C. was made to appear unspecific and vague under cross examination , his testimony was nonetheless powerful . Mr. Dudley Potter , a solicitor , also giving evidence at Osgur Breathnach's trial , said he saw the accused at twelve midday on the 7th of April , 1976 , and that there were marks and bruises on his body and that he appeared to be in a very distressed state . Taken all in all , therefore , the evidence in Osgur Breathnach's case was not just sufficient as to raise a reasonable doubt about the voluntary nature of his confession : the evidence was such as to suggest that in all probability he had in fact been beaten up . We look at the case of Brian McNally next.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

An odd aspect of blaming the Provos for 'the-impasse-of-the-moment' in the 'peace process' is that , whereas republicans (sic- read 'provisionals' instead) all but invented what they call 'the republican peace strategy' ( this is one arm of the true 'Republican peace strategy') as a way of drawing their opponents into an inversion of the conventional wisdom that the only proponents of war were in the republican movement (sic - read 'the provisional movement' instead) , the very dynamic the process created has had the effect of eroding the efficacy of armed struggle , thus removing the main bargaining counter of republicanism . (The 'main bargaining counter of Irish Republicanism' has always been that there can be no true peace until the British withdraw , politically and militarily , from this island . The Provisionals are content to obtain increased 'civil rights' under British jurisdiction - a temporary 'solution' .)

On the one hand , Irish history has shown that without violence , very little movement occurs (the republican 'violence' in this case being used , in the main , in self-defence : one cannot expect to violently take-over a neighbouring country without expecting 'violence' to be employed in self-defence) but on the other hand , while violence remains , any form of final resolution stays tantalisingly out of reach . This paradox has always divided republicans (sic - read 'nationalists' : Republicans have always understood that , unfortunately , Westminster responds to nothing else) , making their objectives unrealisable by virtue of their methods . ( " Unrealisable by virture of their methods " ? Rubbish ! The objectives of [British] imperialism - in which violence is the main plank - have never proved to be "unrealisable by virtue of their methods" ie Westminster has no hesitation in using violence to obtain its objectives and has no hesitation in employing violence to maintain 'control' over its ill-gotten gains) But there is now another paradox , whereby armed struggle has become obsolete by virtue of the peace strategy , ( armed struggle will one day become "obsolete" on this isle - that date has yet to be decided on by Westminster) thus perhaps permanently weakening the republican hand .

In other words , one of the reasons republicans cannot say the war is over forever ( those that were the last to leave the Republican Movement have already said that , for them , "the war is over") is that this would leave them entirely at the mercy of those who seek to exclude them (....as indeed is now happening - the Provisionals constantly call on the Free State Administration to join with them in demanding that the British re-establish its Stormont 'parliament' in Ireland !) .......
(MORE LATER).

THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .

' VOTE JOHN HUME FOR A BETTER LONDONDERRY' , says the mocking slogans in Derry's Bogside . ' SDLP= Stoop Down Low Party' , reads a wall-slogan near Free Derry corner . The SDLP denounce the Provisionals as fascists and mafia , embezzlers , thugs and kneecappers . (......the same 'tags' now used by the Provisionals against those they dismiss as 'dissidents' !) Bishop Cathal Daly of Belfast says a vote for Sinn Fein could be seen as a vote for violence , and Bishop Edward Daly of Derry calls on Catholics (sic) to examine their consciences before voting for candidates 'associated with violence' . (...including , no doubt , the Tories , DUP , UUP etc ..)

It is going to be a rough election in the North of Ireland and the real venom is between Sinn Fein and the SDLP : " We are out to replace the SDLP as the voice of the nationalist people in the North , " says Gerry Adams , the (then) Sinn Fein Vice-President and candidate for West Belfast . For the SDLP this is the most crucial election in their history - they have been remarkably successful up to this in holding together the fissiparous strands of Northern nationalism and fighting off challenges from within or without - weathering even the defection of Gerry Fitt and Paddy Devlin .

But this is the biggest challenge they have faced so far.......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, November 13, 2006

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 .

Dr. Noel Smith , the Breathnach family doctor , said in evidence that Osgur Breathnach's head was painful and tender and that he had a lump on it , that his left leg had bruises over the top lower third , lateral , to the side and back ; that there were the early stages of bruising on Breathnach's buttocks . In Dr. Smith's opinion , Osgur Breathnach was dangerously ill , suffering from concussion as a reslt of the head injury and suffering from other injuries which could not have been self inflicted . As a resesult of an application to the State High Court , Breathnach was removed to the Richmond Hospital , in Dublin .

He was examined by a Dr. Leech of the Richmond on his arrival on the Wednesday afternoon , April 7th , 1976 : Dr. Leech said in evidence that he found Breathnach to be in an anxious condition , that there was a small bruise on the left-hand side of his chest , a small bruise on the inside left ankle , bruises over the lower one-third of one of his legs , and tenderness over the triceps of the left arm . Dr. Leech said the injuries which he found were consistent with an assault of minor degree .

A Dr. Carey , a senior neuro-surgeon at the Richmond Hospital , who examined Osgur Breathnach on Thursday morning , April 8th , 1976 , said in evidence that he found no injury to the accused's head , no evidence of loss of consciousness , no evidence of external injury to the head or neck - there was , however , tenderness of the scalp , on the left side of the jaw , and bruising on the left arm , left chest , back of the right calf and on the left ankle . The bruisings on the arms was stated by Dr. Carey to be consistent with a punch , behind the right leg would be consistent with a kick or a knock . Osgur Breathnach was discharged from hospital later that day , April 8th , 1976 . That medical evidence was to prove useful , as was the non-medical evidence : a State Counsel involved in the case described Breathnach as "....distressed .....dehumanised....a human animal..".......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

If the 'Good Friday Agreement' does collapse , Mr. David Trimble , as of this moment , looks like the one who will have to shoulder most of the historical blame . The question arises : is his failure to adequately meet the moment to do with a lack , in the wake of the 'GFA' , of courage , determination , independence of mind , or some more calculating purpose which predates the Agreement ?

Martin McGuinness states - " You've got to ask yourself , say , of , from Good Friday on , David Trimble had wholeheartedly embraced the agreement , and faced down the Paisleys of this world , then those people who celebrated the achievement of the agreement , wouuld have been justified in their view . I think they had an expectation that that might happen . And the history of the last nine months has shown that David Trimble has failed his people . But , at the same time , I think you have to give Trimble a certain amount of credit for saying 'Yes' on Good Friday , for whatever reason , and even though he has been part of this infuriating delay and stalling tactic that has been deployed over the last nine months , he still has continued to say 'Yes' , which clearly shows that that section of unionism that he represents , for whatever reason , has been shifted by the process .

Now , again , it comes down to whether or not you think that , at the end of all this , David Trimble is going to walk away from a process that he too has been part of constructing with the rest of us . I think it's inconceivable that he will do that . I think that for him the honourable thing to do is to face down the rejectionist unionists and press on with the implementation of the agreement , because in the long run , the implementation of the agreement is going to absolutely marginalise and isolate the rejectionists who are trying to destroy it . "

'Rejectionists' and revisionists too : McGuinness says - " There is a lot of anger within republican areas in the North that this , if you like , offensive , by the revisionists and others in the South , appears to be all about blaming republicans for the current impasse...... " ('1169....' Comment - those 'rejectionists and revisionists' are the same people that have always blamed Irish Republicans for the Struggle : the Provos have handed them a new stick with which to hit them with ie 'you are not surrendering quickly enough' , an outcome which does not surprise Republicans but does seem to have caught PSF by surprise . Have they mis-judged their opposition that much ?)
(MORE LATER).

Friday, November 10, 2006

Disgusting behaviour , once again , from the 'State guardians of law and order' : in July 2005 , Ruairi O Bradaigh issued a statement in support of the 'Shell To Sea' campaign in which , amongst other things , he said the following - " It would now appear that Bertie Ahern and his government are also willing to lock up its citizens whilst at the same time allowing Shell to dictate the energy and environmental policy of the 26 Counties ... "
Not only lock-up its citizens , but terrorise them into not protesting against injustices - Irish Republicans have been at the receiving end of such treatment for countless years : this corrupt and money-grabbing State , and the gombeen men and women that are presently in charge of it , now apparently feel confident enough to extend their terrorist tactics beyond the realm of attacking Irish Republicans . These career politicians must never be allowed to forget the injustices they have inflicted on the citizens of this State . Their God may forgive them , but we should'nt.......

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 .

In the tunnel , Osgur Breathnach stated that Detective Garda Thomas Fitzgerald and Detective Inspector John Murphy attempted to pull his coat off , that he was slapped , punched , kneed , banged against a wall , that his arms were held , and that he was shouted at . He alleged further that his alleged part in the Sallins mail train robbery was being repeated over and over again to him .

When he was taken back upstairs to the Bridewell Garda Station , he alleged that Detective Garda Thomas Fitzgerald and Detective Inspector John Murphy pulled a chair from under him causing him to fall to the ground , and that he was pulled from one Garda Detective to another , that he was by this time dizzy , sore all over , confused , and had difficulty in breathing . He also alleged that he was beaten by other detectives whom he could not identify , that the statement he signed was not his own , but was concocted by the Gardai , and that he was forced to sign it in order to avoid further beatings .

The time on his statement is 6.00am on Wednesday , April 7 , 1976 - he had been in custody 41 hours at the time of his making a 'confession' . Dr. Noel Smith , who had been the Breathnach family doctor for some years , was asked by relatives to go to the Four Courts to examine Osgur Breathnach prior to the Habeas Corpus application on the afternoon of Wednesday , April 7 , 1976 : he examined Breathnach at 5.15pm that evening , just under 12 hours after the self-incriminatory statement had been signed . The report the doctor gave was shocking.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

The moment of truth is now upon us : as we spoke , at the start of the last week in February , the stalemate remained . And , while the word on the wind , ably assisted by UUP spin doctors , was that Tony Blair was preparing to back the Trimble position on decommissioning in the run up to the March 10th deadline , Martin McGuinness was laying much store on earlier indications from Mo Mowlam that , in the wake of the 'cross-community vote of determination' , she would move to trigger the d'Hondt mechanism which would automatically form the Six County 'executive' complete with two (P) Sinn Fein members .

As Martin McGuinness put it - " From here , it's over , effectively , to the British government , to Tony Blair and Mo Mowlam . The British government has the authority ('1169...' Comment - sic . What 'authority' does the British government have in Ireland ?) now to establish the shadow executive , and have indicated publicly that they would do that in the first few days of March , and that it's their intention then to have powers devolved from both Dublin and London around the 10th of March . Now , the question is : what are Ulster Unionists going to do to stop that , or do the Ulster Unionists want to stop that ? Or are they going to go ahead with that ? Or are they going to , as some people have speculated , bring a proposal before the assembly that (P) Sinn Fein be excluded , have that debate , lose the debate and then press on with the implementation of the agreement , blaming the two governments and so on ? "

That we have reached this state of deja vu is disturbing indeed , given in particular the manner in which the 'Good Friday Agreement' was greeted throughout the world , ('1169...' Comment - " greeted throughout the world " because the Establishments involved in promoting it did so in a misleading fashion ie 'the big lie' that it was 'the end of the age old conflict in Ireland' was pushed by all anti-Republican groups , including those who really should have known better : remember the 'Tri-colour car cavalcade' on the Falls Road ?) culminating in the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize jointly to John Hume and David Trimble.......
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Martin McGuinness stated - " The decommissioning argument is all a bit of a nonsense , because over the years , the leading generals in the British army , and those in charge of the RUC , have all identified the home-made weapons that the (P) IRA have made as the most lethal weapons used against them . Things like fertiliser bombs , the rocket launchers that the (P)IRA made . All of these weapons were identified by leading military strategists as the most dangerous weapons of all . So , if the (P) IRA were totally cynical about this process , they could go tomorrow and decommission five tonnes of explosives and by the weekend make fifty tonnes ! ('1169...' Comment - ....and they could have , too , at one stage , before they also decommissioned the mindset to do so , that is . Besides - their objective of obtaining increased civil rights does not call for the use of explosives or other munitions .)

So for us in (P) Sinn Fein , more important than decommissioning is to decommission all of the injustice of the past * and to show people that there is a new future , and that politics actually works . Then we can effectively set about , in a very real way , taking all the guns out of Irish politics . " ('1169 .... ' Comment * - Claptrap ! Those "injustices of the past " were caused by the same people that are responsible for the 'injustices of the present'- Westminster . What "new future" can Irish Republicans secure by assisting Westminster in securing its 'writ' on this isle ?)

This , however , would seem to place the De Chastelain body in a political role , rather than the 'technocratic' one which it has been assumed it would adopt . But Martin McGuinness stated - " People like John De Chastelain and Senator George John Mitchell brought a much-needed wisdom to this process : these were people who were prepared to look at the global situation . They used very potent phrases , like , ' Decommissioning , if it happens , will have to be a voluntary exercise ... ' . ('1169...' Comment - .... Martin knew in his heart that his two new best friends , John and George , wouldn't let him down - they had only his best interests at heart . And this is the man the Provos chose to be their 'Chief Negotiator' ?) They (John and George , that is...) said that there should be no concept whatsoever of surrender or humiliation or defeat - for anybody . ('1169...' Comment - Picture the scene : Martin , the 'Chief Negotiator' , being interviewed by the media - " Mr McGuinness , do you feel that the Provos have surrendered ? Is the Provo organisation humiliated ? Have PIRA been defeated ... ? " Martin - " No . John and George tell me it didn't happen like that ..." !)

And those are the very emotions which the unionists and the securicrats within the British military establishment bring to all of this , because we are actually dealing with people , if the truth be told , who have never been able to come to terms with the fact that , in thirty years of struggle (sic) , they could not militarily defeat the IRA , and who have now set about , in a time of peace , trying to achieve that very objective ." ('1169...' Comment - Not so . Those people simply gave the Provos enough rope [from the Good Ship 'GFA'] to defeat themselves with .)
(MORE LATER).

GUNS TO BREAD AND BUTTER .......
EDDIE ROONEY looks at the transformation of the Official Republican movement from a revolutionary organisation run by its military wing to a social democratic electoral party .
From 'Fortnight' magazine , 1983 .

The position of long-term members of The Workers Party has become marginal , and for many of those supporters their continued support has been more due to a way of life* than to support for party policies . ('1169...' Comment * - ...which is where PSF are now : they are top heavy with 'wannabe' Chiefs and middle-management types , who , now that PSF are well on the road to 'respectability' , are elbowing each other out of the way to pick-up a salaried position within 'the party' . Their foot-soldiers [ie paper-sellers etc] are a rare sight in the pubs , clubs etc , except when they're having a few pints themselves ! It is obviously near-impossible for them to promote a political point of view of which they are not confident with themselves .)

This has been coupled with the attraction of some support centred around the academic world which has contributed to a small but growing new Protestant (sic) membership - there is , however , a considerable gap between the political rhetoric which has attracted such new members , and the reality of the party's organisation , which has retained many of its traditional features . ('1169...' Comment - the Provos , too - for now - have also 'retained many of their traditional features' , such as Easter Commemorations etc , and will continue to do so until such time as their membership has been 'churned-over' sufficiently to allow their leadership to drop said 'traditions' . After all , those commemorated did not give their lives in a fight to obtain the 'right' to implement British policy in Ireland !)

Although , symbolically , the Workers Party's present Springfield Road headquarters may seem like a world away from Cyprus Street , it is still well within Catholic (sic) West Belfast : there have been discussions concerning the possible relocation of party headquarters to a more 'central' area but so far there is no sign of a move . The party's recent considerable investment in new social clubs has been confined to republican strongholds.......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, November 06, 2006

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 .

Subsequently , new charges were preferred against four of the original accused : John Fitzpatrick and Michael Barrett were not charged , even though Fitzpatrick had signed a statement incriminating himself in the Sallins mail train robbery , which meant that there was precisely the same 'evidence' against him as there was against Nicky Kelly and Osgur Breathnach ! No reason was ever offered for this , and John Fitzpatrick was never called as a witness to confirm or deny allegations that it was he who beat up Brian McNally on the Wednesday night of the crucial remand from a special sitting of the State District Court , back into Garda custody .

The trial of the four was aborted on the fiftieth day on the death of one of the Judges , Judge John William O' Connor : a new trial was set , and in the first few days of this new trial , Michael Plunkett was acquitted : Breathnach , McNally and Nicky Kelly were found guilty and sentenced on December 13 , 1978 . Upon appeal , Breathnach and McNally had their convictions quashed on May 20 , 1980 . Nicky Kelly was unsuccessful in his appeal to both the State Court of Criminal Appeal and the State Supreme Court : he is still in jail , serving a 12 year sentence .

THE CASE OF OSGUR BREATHNACH :
Osgur Breathnach was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act , 1939 , at 3.15pm on the 31st March , 1976 . He was taken to the Bridewell Garda Barracks , Dublin , where his detention order was extended : he was released at 2.45pm on Friday , the 2nd of April , 1976 - he had spent forty-seven-and-a-half hours in Garda custody .

He was arrested again under Section 30 at 1.30pm on Monday , the 5th of April , 1976 , and taken to the Bridewell , where his detention order was again extended , and he was released at 1.30pm on Wednesday , the 7th of April , 1976 : a total of 48 hours in Garda custody . It was during the latter part of his detention that he alleges he was beaten and forced to sign a statement , incriminating himself in the Sallins mail train robbery.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Martin McGuinness stated - " When you take away the reasons why people feel they have to fight , you can then be involved in a serious project which is about removing guns from Irish politics . ('1169...' Comment - ...time was , when , for Martin and his type , the only "serious project" in town was to do with removing from this island the un-wanted British military and political presence . Not trying to make a living from same.) But the mistake that's being made is that people look at this in the context that , in their view , there has to be a parallel approach to how you resolve that . And I actually don't think that can succeed .

The key objective of the peace process has to be showing people that politics works . I think John De Chastelain understands perfectly what the situation is . ('1169...' Comment - De Chastelain's "situation" , and that of his superiors and supporters, was to neuter the Provisionals . He must have been surprised at the level of assistance he received from the leadership of said grouping !) Now it's very important that people not misquote what's in the Good Friday Agreement , because right throughout this process we have worked on the basis that if we give our word we will keep it . ('1169...' Comment - A 'Gentlemans Agreement' , if you like , Martin . Between robber barons and those they have purchased .) We are not about leading anybody up blind alleys , (...except their own gullible supporters..) and that includes the (P) IRA and the other participants to the agreement . (....yet Martin and his colleagues were first out of the trap , whenever the PIRA were suspected of pulling a job , to tell all and sundry that 'the PIRA themselves never actually signed-up to the 1998 'agreement' !)

We had very forthright discussions with the Irish government (sic) about the decommissioning issue and we told them - 'We can't deliver decommissioning' . (...you and yours would deliver your granny on a platter , Martin , if you thought it would further your political careers !) So it's not that we signed up to decommissioning . We didn't ! What we were prepared to do was to work with all the other participants to try to bring that about within a two-year period....... "
(MORE LATER).

GUNS TO BREAD AND BUTTER .......
EDDIE ROONEY looks at the transformation of the Official Republican movement from a revolutionary organisation run by its military wing to a social democratic electoral party .
From 'Fortnight' magazine , 1983 .

In Craigavon , County Armagh , where The Workers' Party holds two council seats , (P) Sinn Fein's recent reorganisation has led to the emergence of a young and enthusiastic political machine , intent on removing Tom French and Paddy Breen from their seats .

Some senior Workers' Party members have interpreted (P) Sinn Fein's success as signifying the need to revive the party's radical 'republican' links : however , so far all that has emerged has been a renewed interest in commemoration ceremonies , a slightly stronger line on repression , and a sporadic slackening of the reins on the Official IRA - measures designed to retain the loyality of remaining republican-minded members rather than to attract broader support . On the other hand , the leadership's anti-nationalist line has been publicly reinforced and there are even signs of pressure from Southern members to sever links with the party in the North .

The success of (P) Sinn Fein is unlikely in itself to cause the political demise of the Workers Party in the North : hatred of the Provisionals remains one of the strongest bonds uniting Workers' Party members , and if nothing else , it is likely to retain a residual anti-Provo vote - but major long-term problems are likely to arise within the party , as many party members who would consider themselves 'radical republicans' , and who have not drifted away or been expelled , have for some time been disillusioned with the current leadership and its political stance ....... (.....history repeats itself..)
(MORE LATER).

Saturday, November 04, 2006

.....but they have moved with the times - Fianna Fail no longer publicly carry a placard like that featured in our picture . But the intention of that organisation remains the same .

Less than one mile from where we type this post , the Fianna Fail party are holding their '70th Ard Fheis ' in the salubrious surroundings of City West Hotel in Saggart , County Dublin . It is expected (!) that , before this weekend is out , the party delegates will rise up and challenge Bertie Ahern and the other millionaire suits on why the aims and objectives of those that founded the party in 1926 are no longer a priority for the party :
1) IRISH UNITY .
2) THE IRISH LANGUAGE .
3) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMME .
4) TO MAKE THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY SUBSERVIENT TO THE PEOPLE .
5) DECENTRALISATION OF INDUSTRY .
6) SELF-SUFFICIENCY .
7) TO KEEP THE IRISH PEOPLE ON IRISH LAND .

None of the above have been achieved . And , actually , five of them have been either quietly dropped or reversed , while two (language revival and unity) exist only as pieties , for raising cheers at party meetings.
The Fianna Fail party helped itself to €87,500 a week , every week , from the State taxpayer , in 2003 (Source - 'The Sunday Business Post' newspaper , 3rd April 2005) : it would be fair to suggest that its 'take' from the State taxpayer now would be at least €100,000 per week . The political parties in Leinster House deemed it necessary to award themselves taxpayers money in order that they remove the temptation for funding from other institutions . And we all know what happened then (see above picture) .
However , it has to be said that , in our opinion, Fianna Fail are no better or worse than any of the other worthless political leeches in Leinster House . A plague on all their houses .

Friday, November 03, 2006

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 purpose of this article is not to examine the conduct of the judicial system in relation to this case , it is to examine the conduct of the Gardai . This examination requires an exhaustive presentation of the background and evidence in the case and we start with the stories of the three accused persons - Osgur Breathnach , Brian McNally and Nicky Kelly .

THE STORY OF THE ARRESTS
On the 5th , 6th and 7th days of April , 1976, there were in excess of twenty persons arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act , 1939 , in connection with the robbery of the Sallins mail train which had taken place on the 31st of March , 1976 : the arrests were made in Dublin , Cork , Wicklow , Limerick and Carlow .

Among those subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and with actual robbery of the mail from the Cork-Dublin train on the morning of the 31st of March , 1976, were Osgur Breathnach , Brian McNally , Michael Plunkett , John Fitzpatrick , Michael Barrett and Nicky Kelly . Four of the accused signed statements whilst in Garda custody , incriminating themselves in the robbery : Breathnach , McNally , Fitzpatrick and Kelly .

They alleged that the statements , amounting to confessions , were signed in order to stop beatings they were receiving at the hands of the Gardai . All six charged were discharged by State Justice O hUadhaigh the following December, because of the failure of the prosecution to produce a book of evidence against the accused . But the State wasn't finished yet.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

The most likely scenario is that (P) Sinn Fein will 'use its influence' to ask the (P) IRA to decommission ; the (P) IRA will refuse * - end of obligation under the agreement . The guns will then remain in the dumps , and the issue unresolved . ('1169...' Comment * - that did not happen : instead , on August 8 , 2001 , the PIRA stated that it had agreed [with the British decommissioning body] " ...to put its arms completely and verifiably beyond use.." , then , on October 23 , 2001 , the PIRA implemented the scheme agreed with that British body to put its arms beyond use ! The PSF membership were told by their own people that the Adams leadership would "use its influence" with PIRA , which would then refuse , allowing Adams and company to 'play both sides of the fence' . The PSF membership were 'sucker-punched' by their own leadership , but most of them stayed , unwilling to admit even to themselves that they had been lied to .)

To the literal eye , unless David Trimble and Co. back off , this suggests an irreconcilable dilemma which can be met only by some form of fudge . But it's not that simple , according to Martin McGuinness - " The decommissioning section of the agreement dealt with the reality of the situation , which is that we were working against a background of the non-acceptance of all of the armed groups of the decommissioning issue . Now , against that background, an agreement was made that all of the participants would try and use whatever influence they had to try and make that happen within a two-year period . And we are absolutely committed to trying to do that . In fact , I have met John De Chastelain more often than all the other parties put together * . " ( '1169...' Comment * - ...winner of 'The Puppy Most Likely To Please Its New Master' Award !)

So , what do they talk about after the initial "no way!" and "right , so... " have been dispensed with , we asked Martin ? - " What I say is what I say to you in this interview . A conflict resolution situation in my mind is about taking away the reasons why people feel they have to fight * ....... " ('1169 ...' Comment * - those "reasons" do not include the 'objective' of obtaining 'better' civil rights and financial crumbs from a 'bad master' .)
(MORE LATER).

GUNS TO BREAD AND BUTTER .......
EDDIE ROONEY looks at the transformation of the Official Republican movement from a revolutionary organisation run by its military wing to a social democratic electoral party .
From 'Fortnight' magazine , 1983 .

The Alliance Party appreciates the healthy trasfer of votes received from Workers' Party candidates : in 1974 , the Officials (WP/OIRA) described The Alliance Party as a "...bunch of political vagabonds....based on middle-class venality and cowardice.." . More recently , the Officials have complimented The Alliance Party on their "...progressive.." stand and their commitment to "...democracy.." !

The quest for 'political respectabilty' and the obsessive hatred for the Provisionals have led the Workers' Party into embarrassing situations . ('1169....' Comment - ....and that same quest has had that effect on the Provisionals - not only are they taking salaries and expenses from the State 'establishment' and from Westminster , but they see it as a badge of honour to be photographed on stage with the likes of Henry Kissinger !) Although they had been at the forefront of the original campaign for the introduction of special category status , they opposed the H-Block campaign for its re-introduction . ('1169...' Comment - ....much the same with the Provisionals - campaigned long and hard for political status for Irish republican prisoners , then signed that status away in 1998 in part-payment for their 'foot-in-the-door' part-admittance to 'respectable' politics.) Their own prisoners (OIRA) , however , retained their special category status .

Seamus Lynch's response to this was to publicly deny the existence of his own prisoners (....the Provisionals have done much the same - see #8 here) , a move which did little to promote his own credibility or that of his party in nationalist working-class circles . The electoral success of (P) Sinn Fein , which has adopted a rhetoric reminiscent of the Officials in their more radical days , has placed a major constraint on the Workers' Party - although their numerical vote has so far not dropped dramatically , it is clear that the already difficult task of translating votes into seats is going to cause even more problems for it in the future.......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, November 02, 2006

1905 - 2006 .

Congratulations to the Republican Movement on its 102nd Ard Fheis , which will be held in a Dublin venue on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November next . It is a long , hard road that members and supporters of this Movement are on - its Offices are under constant surveillance by those that wish to drive it out of 'business', its people are continually harassed by those same groupings and attempts have been made to financially cripple the organisation . But still it persists , and long may it do so : the many injustices on this island need to be addressed by morally uncorrupted , and uncorruptible , people , such as those in that Movement . Congratulations again !

Confirmation received in relation to the group of Irish republicans who have been under water for the past 29 years : soon to be 30 years !
The event , which will surface (!) on Christmas day next , in Inchicore , Dublin , will feature before then on this blog . Stay tuned....

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

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 .

In this article we are attempting to show that there is substantial evidence of a great deal of collusion between individual Gardai in the presentation of their evidence , notably in their statements in the Book of Evidence and that this suggests strongly that there was in fact a conspiracy among some Gardai to commit perjury ie to subvert the course of justice .

We further seek to show that at no stage did the Gardai or any other authority attempt to investigate these matters , in spite of the persuasive nature of the evidence involved . And we seek to show that those recommendations to ensure that these abuses could not happen again have been entirely ignored by successive Dublin governments . The case raises the most serious questions about the character of the Garda Siochana , especially the failure to hold any investigation into the affair.

Of course there are serious inferences in respect of the courts - the (State) Special Criminal Court , the (State) Court of Criminal Appeal and even the (State) Supreme Court - as well . All these courts failed to come to grips with essential evidence in the case , notably the extraordinary circumstances whereby the accused persons were remanded into Garda custody having been charged in the (State) District Court on the evening of April 7 , 1976 : it was that remand which created the sceanario whereby the Gardai could claim that the injuries suffered by the accused were mutually inflicted.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Martin McGuinness stated - " Quentin Thomas and Stephen Leach , from British Intelligence , were , in my view , always the two people who had invented decommissioning , and effectively gave the weapon to John Major as a plausible reason why he shouldn't involve himself in negotiations with (P) Sinn Fein . And the agenda , obviously , was to stop negotiations and to prevent (P) Sinn Fein's participation , and to effectively rebuff the juggernaut of the Irish government , (sic) the SDLP , (P) Sinn Fein , Irish-America , supported by the international community ie - the peace process (sic) . "

" But there is also another military dimension to it , which is absolutely about people injecting an issue into the process that they knew hadn't a snowball's chance in hell of ever succeeding *. Because the very people who invented the decommissioning issue knew the mindset of the (P) IRA better than anyone else in the equation . And while it had both a military and a political objective in preventing negotiations taking place , it was always my view that this was an issue about dividing republicans (sic - McGuinness was referring to fellow constitutional nationalists , as he lost the right to speak on behalf of republicans in 1986 : * .....but succeed it did , with the same Martin McGuinness leading the charge for the PIRA to decommission !) and causing confusion . "

While there is no doubt that no precondition exists in the agreement* (*the 1998 Stormont Treaty) requiring (P) Sinn Fein to achieve (P)IRA decommissioning in advance of being admitted to the Stormont Executive , there is , however , a difficulty in that some process of decommissioning is envisaged . The (P) IRA has said , unambiguously , there will be no decommissioning - ever ! ('1169...' Comment - the PIRA has , since then , not only decommissioned its arms and munitions, but also its mindset of active opposition to British interference in Irish affairs . They now implement British policy on this isle as Michael Collins , amongst others , did , before them . It remains to be seen if they will get the same 'reward' as Collins did ).......
(MORE LATER).

GUNS TO BREAD AND BUTTER .......
EDDIE ROONEY looks at the transformation of the Official Republican movement from a revolutionary organisation run by its military wing to a social democratic electoral party .
From 'Fortnight' magazine , 1983 .

Immediately after the 1975 feud between the Officials and the Provisionals , sweeping changes were brought in to bring the Official organisation in the North of Ireland fully into line with their more 'moderate' comrades in the South of the country . 'Militants' within the ranks were condemned at the Ard Fheis (the annual conference) in January 1976 , and a decision was taken to set up the 'Irish Democratic Youth Movement' (IDYM) as a replacement for Na Fianna Eireann , considered to be the IRA's youth movement . Billy McMillen had taken a great personal interest in the development of the Fianna , and they had remained committed to his brand of socialist thinking .

The 'IDYM' was carefully vetted by the leadership of the Officials and never really got off the ground : in one move, the Officials in effect wiped out their own youth wing in the name of ideological conformity . In the North , the members were told to prepare themselves for "... a period in the wilderness.. " while attention was focussed on building up the political wing in the South .

The new mood was embodied in the name changes and the publication of 'The Irish Industrial Revolution' , a thoroughly confused document which reflected the end of the Officials' anti-imperialism and their emergence into the arena of social democratic reformism . Seamus Lynch portrays the new image of the Workers' Party - more 'working-class-kid-made-good' than explicity middle-class : he had earned the respect of those once considered his main enemies . Gerry Fitt has recently listed seeing Seamus Lynch's future political success among his remaining ambitions....... !
(MORE LATER).

Monday, October 30, 2006

Correction/Clarification/Update.......

.......we received the following today , Monday 30 October 2006 :
" Hey dude could you please remove the bit of news about my dad as he wasn't a loyalist and he was apparently murdered cos the UVF wanted his mates legally held gun : " ' 19th April : Francis Galbraith (29) was shot by loyalists near the Sydenham by-pass , close to his parents home in east Belfast . A nephew of loyalist supergrass Joseph Bennett , Mr. Galbraith was apparently killed in an internal loyalist dispute over weapons . He leaves four children .' " Thanks."
The above is in reference to a piece we published here on March 8 , 2005 , which we came across in 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1989 .
That killing is also covered here and here .
We hope this post goes some way to clearing up the matter .
Sharon .

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

The (P) Sinn Fein position is already well documented , but Martin McGuinness has a certain fascination with the manner in which the idea was introduced to and maintained within the 'peace process' for almost five years : " I think it's absolutely vital that people contexualise why all of this is happening . I remember before the (P) IRA ceasefire ever took place , in the summer of 1994 , decommissioning was a word none of us ever heard of . I had been given responsibility within theleadership of (P) Sinn Fein to open up a channel of communication with the British government * , which I did in October of 1990 ." ('1169...' Comment * - ...much the same , in all probability , as Denis Donaldson was .)

" And right through from then until the (P) IRA ceasefire of1994 , I could have contacted the British government , 10 Downing Street * , within seconds , and they could have contacted me , any day of the week , any hour of the day , night-time , whatever . " ('1169...' Comment * - Notice how well got Martin considered himself to be with Westminster . And how comfortable he felt in being able to speak openly about his ability to contact Westminster "within seconds" , should he need assistance . Sickening .) " And never once during that whole period was the word decommissioning ever mentioned . And when it was mentioned eventually , I had to get a dictionary and look it up . " ('1169...' Comment - It was obviously a faulty dictionary as it informed Martin that decommissioning had nothing to do with handing over arms and munitions.)

" And the very first meetings of the delegation that I led , with the British government civil service , was to this very building . ('1169...' Comment- Most men would speak like that in such fond terms of their first date with their then girl-friend ; but Martin , with tears in his eyes , no doubt , fondly remembers one of his first encounters with his future employers !) And the first people we met , it was clear , that the architects of the decommissioning issue were across the table from us , people like Quentin Thomas and Stephen Leach , from British Intelligence....... "
(MORE LATER).