1169 And Counting.....

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

THE MURDER OF JOHN CORCORAN -

- THE COVER-UP CONTINUES.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1998.

Mr John O' Donoghue :
" In November 1988 , three-and-a-half years after the murder, a person surrendered to the police in England and made certain statements about his involvement in murder and other serious offences committed in Northern Ireland (sic) and in the State. This included the murder of the person concerned in Cork in 1985.

As a result of those statements , a garda investigation file was forwarded to the director of public prosecutions with a view to prosecuting the person involved in Northern Ireland (sic) under the provisions of the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1976. However, this aspect was subsequently overtaken by events when the person was convicted on a charge of murder in Northern Ireland (sic) and received two life sentences there.

The garda investigation into the murder in 1985 is continuing. I am satisfied from a report I recently received from the garda that they are pursuing the investigations as far as they can......."
(MORE LATER).

On this day 90 years ago (18th January 1922) a group of unemployed Dublin workers seized the concert hall of the Rotunda ; this group , led by Liam Ó Flaithearta (Liam O Flaherty , author of , amongst other works, 'The Informer') , had constituted itself as 'the Council of the Unemployed' and this action was reported on by 'The Irish Times' of the day in the following manner - "The unemployed in Dublin have seized the concert room at the Rotunda, and they declare that they will hold that part of the building until they are removed, as a protest against the apathy of the authorities.....a 'garrison', divided into 'companies', each with its 'officers' , has been formed, and from one of the windows the red flag flies...."
(More here , and here.)

And now , it seems , we have come 'full circle' in relation to this same issue : "apathy of the authorities..." to the 'old' and 'new' unemployed ie State promises to establish 'task forces' (where overpaid career politicians wring their hands in 'solidarity' with the jobless) and the biggest trade union in the State has been 'outed' , along with other such bodies , in regards to just how 'cosy' they are with employers and Leinster House politicians - for a price, of course: not only are the Trade Union leadership reluctant to challenge their 'slush-fund suppliers' in Leinster House , they also shy away from fully supporting their membership least , in doing so, they come into conflict with those 'suppliers'. Now , having sold out what remained of our sovereignty to the IMF and a Brussels bank, those same overpaid career politicians can only stand back and make empty , worthless promises and excuses as the dole queue grows and the 'Departure Lounge' in airports in the State fill-up to capacity. It must now be obvious to all that this State is , to coin a phrase, 'a failed political entity' : equally , it should be obvious to all that we need a new beginning and a new outlook on how Ireland should be governed. The alternative now is either the dole queue or the 'Departure Lounge'.

40 years ago yesterday (17th January 1972),seven IRA prisoners escaped from an "escape proof" British prison ship , which was anchored in Irish waters : the ship had three decks , the top one of which was sometimes used as an 'exercise yard' for a few hours each day by the Republican POW's , with the other two 'converted' into living quarters. Approximately 850 people were present on the ship at any one time , consisting of around 700 British military personnel and 150 prisoners , including Provisional and Official IRA members and some others that were not involved with either group.

James Emerson Bryson , Tommy Tolan , Thomas Kane , Tommy Gorman , Peter Rodgers , Martin Taylor and Sean Convery , a group of Irish Republicans that became known as 'The Magnificent Seven' because of the nature of their escape from the Maidstone prison ship on January 17th , 1972 , were determined that their 'stay' on the ship would be a short one.
Of the 226 men detained following the introduction of internment in August 1971,124 were initially held in Crumlin Road Jail while the remainder were held on the Maidstone , a prison ship moored at the coalwharf in Belfast docks. The prison ship ,used as an emergency billet for British troops who arrived in 1969 , was totally unsuitable as a prison - it was cramped , stuffy and overcrowded , with the 'lock-up' section located at the stern below the deck , which was used twice a day for exercise. On January 16th , 1972 , fifty men were transferred from the ship to the new camp at Magilligan : this sudden move spurred on some of the internees who were planning to escape.

One of the group had spotted a seal slip through a gap in the barbed-wire draped around the ship and it was decided that if the seal could come in , then they could go out! The men used black boot polish to camouflag themselves and smeared each other in butter , to keep out the cold. They had already cut through a bar in a porthole which they now slipped through , and clambered down the Maidstone's steel hauser and entered the water . Several of them were badly cut by the barbed-wire , but they all managed to get through it. In single file , they swam the 400 yards through the ice-cold floodlit water to the shore : it took them twenty minutes , as some of the men could not swim and had to be helped by the others. On the bank, Volunteers of the Andersonstown unit of the IRA's Belfast Brigade were waiting with four cars to transport the escapees to safety , but the escapees landed at the wrong spot ; approximately 500 yards away. The men realised their mistake and made their way to Queen's Road bus terminus where they commandeered a bus and drove across the city to the Markets area. During the journey , the bus was spotted by a British Army Land Rover which attempted to stop the vehicle ; however , the Brits backed-off when the bus entered the staunchly republican Markets district , which was then surrounded by British reinforcements. A search of the area was carried out by the British Army and RUC , but none of the escapees were found - the 'Magnificent Seven' were long gone to a different part of Belfast !
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

THE MURDER OF JOHN CORCORAN -

- THE COVER-UP CONTINUES.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1998.

Mr. Dick Spring : " I would remind the minister - I am probably reminding him of a concern which he shares - of the concern of the Corcoran family to get full and vital information in relation to this dreadful murder. Every effort should be made not only to establish the facts and to bring those involved in this murder before the courts but to establish the truth and the sequence of events which led to the callous murder of John Corcoran. I appeal to the minister to be forthcoming and to put all the information on the record."

Mr John O' Donoghue : " When in opposition I promised that , if nominated as minister for justice by the incoming Taoiseach, I would order an inquiry into this matter. I have done that. I thank Deputy Spring for raising the matter and , being mindful of the twin perils of ensuring that I do not interfere with the independence of the director of public prosecutions or with the course of an individual garda investigation , I propose, nevertheless, to depart from precedent and to outline some evidence in this difficult and complex case because I regard it as exceptional.

The facts are that a person was murdered in March 1985 and all the indications point to a Provisional IRA assassination. A major investigation was carried out by the Garda Síochána into the murder but , as it turned out, sufficient evidence was not available to prefer charges against any persons at that time....."
(MORE LATER).

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

" Chief Superintendent Fleming and I conjectured as to the purpose of the exercise and it did not become apparent that the Taoiseach was bridge-building until he delivered himself of the following in the Dail on 9th May : Col. 246 No. 7 cols. 1331/2/3 - '....I had consultations jointly with Officers of the Special Branch of the Garda and the Army Intelligence Service and the Attorney General and the Minister for Defence were also present at these consultations. The Minister for Justice, who would have been the other appropriate Minister, was not present because he had entered hospital some days previously.

The purpose of that meeting was to co-ordinate as well as I could the evidence that was available from both of the special source and also to receive guidance from the Attorney General....' . As a result of the mis-statements already recorded , with more to follow , I lost respect for the Taoiseach's credibility."

MAY 1 , 1970 :

" Captain James Kelly was arrested and questioned in the Bridewell . He asked to see the Minister for Defence , Mr Gibbons. Chief Superintendent informed me of the request and I conveyed it to the Taoiseach and it was arranged that Captain Kelly would be brought to Chief Supt. Fleming's office in Dublin Castle where he would be confronted with Mr Gibbons. I warned Mr Fleming that as Captain Kelly was in custody there could be no question of a private meeting between the two and that after Mr Gibbons had indicated to Captain Kelly that he should speak up - as he had said he would , if instructed by the Minister - the Minister should be politely shown the door....."
(MORE LATER).

Results of 650-ticket Republican raffle , held on Sunday 8th January 2012 -

Getting the results out as they happen - laptops and mobiles....!

- and, once again , we ran out of tickets to sell ; so much so , that we sold more than sixty tickets for next month's raffle ! Anyway - congrats to our eight winners who , between them , won €440 on the day : Sheila , who won €200 with ticket number 46,David collected €100 with ticket number 345, 3rd prize went to Jacinta (319) , Ray won 4th prize (532), 5th prize went to Joe (322) and his near-neighbour (!) Catherine won prize number 6 with ticket number 321. The second-last prize was collected by 'Jella' ,the holder of ticket number 491 and the last prize went to 'Joey S' , with ticket number 267.
Unfortunately - for now , anyway - there can only be eight winners , but such is the success of this venture that the organising committee are looking at 'tweaking' it a wee bit , but nothing definite just yet - the adage 'if it's not broke, don't fix it...' currently holds sway , but there is huge scope with the format and the fantastic team involved to take this to a new level - 'More Later' , hopefully...!

IRA Volunteer Fergal O'Hanlon Commemoration , Sunday 8th January 2012....

....at which the main oration was delivered by Republican Sinn Féin's Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais, who delivered a timely reminder re the manner in which this corrupt State is attempting to fund itself and asked for people to "...get involved in opposing unfair and unjust taxes and cuts, and to demand a fairer deal for all...." : a 'YouTube' recording of the commemoration can be viewed here.

40th Anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' to be marked in Dublin on Saturday 28th January 2012....

...an intercepted letter to the commander of the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment , Lt. Colonel Derek Wilford , was printed on the front page of 'The Sunday Press' newspaper on the Sunday following the massacre in Derry .
It was penned by Brigadier F.P. Barclay , DSO , MCDL , Colonel , The Royal Norfolk Regiment , and says -

1/2/'72.
Dear Wilford ,
As an ex-parachute Brigade Commander I write to say how proud it made one feel to see the way , on TV , which your lads went into action against those blighters last Sunday . They looked splendid and , as usual , bang on the ball .
It seems to me and many others that prompt retaliatory action such as this is long overdue . It will have , I've little doubt , a most salutory effect . Should have happened long since!
I sincerely trust you successfully weather those thoroughly unjustified but seemingly inevitable brickbats and recriminations emanating mostly from those who either have no sense of law and order , duty or perspective , or who are spineless .
With best wishes to you and yours ,
Sincerely ,
Peter Barclay ,
Little Dunham Lodge ,
Kings Lynn , Norfolk.

After a peaceful Civil Rights march on January 30th , 1972 - from Creggan to Free Derry Corner - units of the British army Parachute Regiment opened fire with automatic rifles and shot dead 13 unarmed civilians , injuring many more . It was later revealed that some days prior to the massacre , the British soldiers involved had been briefed to "…shoot to kill.." at the march.

"This Sunday became known as ‘Bloody Sunday’ and bloody it was . It was quite unnecessary . It strikes me that the (British) army ran amok that day and shot without thinking of what they were doing . They were shooting innocent people . They may have been taking part in a parade which was banned , but that did not justify the troops coming in and firing live rounds indiscriminately . I would say without reservations that it was sheer unadulterated murder . It was murder , gentlemen."
- the words of British Major Hubert O’Neill , Derry City Coroner, at the conclusion of the inquests on the 13 people killed by the British Army on Bloody Sunday.

On Saturday , 28th January 2012 , Republican Sinn Féin will mark the 40th Anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' with a Rally in Dublin (on the traffic isle , facing the GPO in O'Connell Street) , between 12 Noon and 1.45pm : ALL WELCOME !

AND FINALLY : just another 'YES' man......

Josephine Hayden , speaking at the Eamonn Ceannt Commemoration , Dublin.

.....re our piece last week in connection with the TG4 interview with Josephine Hayden for their 'Mna an IRA' series (to be shown on TG4 on Thursday 12th January 2012 , at 10.30pm) , it seems that there are some who take offence at an Irish television station talking about Irish history !

I will go easy on the 'objector' and say that , in my opinion, he is simply out to prove to the political 'Establishment' in this corrupt State that he is a 'safe pair of hands' and, as such , could/should be rewarded with , say.... a seat in the State Senate or some other such morally useless but shiny babel , which he no doubt would consider to be most 'fitting' to what he appears to see as his 'station' in this life : were I NOT to go easy on the TG4 board member in question , he would then genuinely have something to complain about.
Thanks,
Sharon.

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

THE MURDER OF JOHN CORCORAN -

- THE COVER-UP CONTINUES.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1998.

Mr Dick Spring : " A number of very serious questions have been raised in the reporting of this matter in the public domain in recent months - it seems that some concerned members of the Garda Síochána were to the fore in supplying the media with information in relation to the circumstances surrounding this murder. I have questions I would like the minister to address :

Did the garda have prior knowledge of the IRA's plan to murder John Corcoran ?

If so , why was no action taken to prevent the murder and to arrest those who were torturing him ?

Why have the garda not interviewed Mr Seán O Callaghan , who has publicly confessed to carrying out this murder on IRA instructions , and why has he not been brought in for questioning by the garda since he made his public confession ?

Can the minister explain to the House the statement from the garda in December 1996 to the effect that the Corcoran case had been fully investigated and that a file was on its way to the director of public prosecutions , and the contradiction of that statement from the garda press office about one week later to the effect that the investigation had not been completed.......? "
(MORE LATER).

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

" Chief Superintendent Fleming said that he was bewildered as to why he was summounded to the Taoiseach's house as he had not been asked any questions or for an opinion. He told me that the Attorney General and the Minister for Defence , Mr Gibbons , were present, as was Colonel Delaney , Director of Military Intelligence (only since 9th April 1970 ie for 3 weeks) who was not asked any questions either - not, said the Chief , that he could contribute anything.

He said that the Taoiseach and the Attorney General did most of the talking to one another with an occasional remark from the Minister for Defence but it was inconsequential kind of talk which did not clarify any matter that he could see. While the Chief Superintendent was speaking to me the phone rang and I answered it - it was the Taoiseach. He said 'I have had a conference with......including Colonel Delaney and Chief Superintendent Fleming and I now have a better understanding of the position.'

I said - ' Mr Fleming called to my home after he had left your house and he told me that he was bewildered as to why he was present as he was not asked any question and his opinion was not sought. He also told me that Colonel Delaney was not questioned. I think that you should know this as the Chief Superintendent will be making a report on these lines tomorrow to the Commissioner.'

There was an appreciable pause and then the Taoiseach said - ' Why did he not ask questions if he was in doubt about anything ?' , and I said that nobody had told him for what purpose he had been summounded to the Taoiseach's house. The Taoiseach's voice was angry....... "
(MORE LATER).

Mná an IRA ('Women of the IRA')....

Josephine Hayden , General Secretary of Republican Sinn Féin.

".....born in County Waterford, Josephine Hayden became aware of a curious fact when she worked in a hotel for the summer as a young woman. She noticed that a large influx of people arrived around the time of the 12th July and she discovered that they came South to avoid the Orangemen’s marches. This piqued her interest and made her question what life was like for Catholics in the North. Over the years, what began as sympathy for the people she met then hardened into direct involvement in the armed movement towards a united Ireland. She served four-and-a-half years in Limerick prison for transporting arms and ammunition for the Continuity IRA...."

- from a thirty-minute television documentary to be broadcast on TG4 on Thursday 12th January, 2012 , at 10.30pm : over many years , this blog has , on regular occasions, worked alongside Josephine at various pickets , protests , meetings , commemorations and other such events and we can honestly declare that never once has she compromised her Irish Republican beliefs , whether faced with Free State 'security force' thugs or their British equivalent - and she never will !
This TG4 documentary should be well worth viewing , so make a note now of the time and date that it's on - TG4 ,Thursday 12th January 2012 , 10.30pm - because , as Josephine herself might say : "I'll be asking questions afterwards...." !

Dan Hoban speaks , unscripted , about Seán Sabhat......

Mayo Republican , Dan Hoban , pictured in Bodenstown , 2008 .

On Sunday, January 1st, 2012, the annual Seán Sabhat commemoration was held at the Republican Plot, Mount St. Lawrence cemetery in Limerick , which is the burial place of IRA Volunteer Sean Sabhat who gave his live 55 years ago in the cause of Irish freedom.
The event was organised by the Munster Executive of Republican Sinn Féin and RSF
members and supporters marched from Mulgrave St to Mount st Lawrence cemetery led by a Republican Colour Party.
The commemoration was chaired by Geraldine McNamara , national PRO of Republican Sinn Féin who ,in her opening address , said - "Sean Sabhat was a scholar, a fluent Irish speaker and a freedom fighter and we honour him today by continuing that struggle in the same honourable way that he and his comrades did.
It is an honour to be here amongst respectable members of Republican Sinn Féin who have had to endure a great deal in the past for the cause for Irish freedom...."
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the republican prisoners by Adrian O’Hare, on behalf of Republican Sinn Féin by Joan Kennedy and on behalf of the Republican Movement by Donal Malone.
A decade of the rosary was recited by John Mangan which was followed by a minutes silence and the last post.
Thomás Ó Curráin read the New Year Statement from the Leadership of Republican Sinn Féin following which the main oration was delivered , unscripted, by Mayo Republican , Dan Hoban :

" Friends and fellow Republicans, I feel deeply honored to be asked here today to pay tribute to Sean Sabhat the soldier of the Irish Republican Army who gave his life in the fight for Irish freedom fifty five years ago on New Years eve 1956 and in doing so he was continuing a tradition of the Irish people and those who never accepted British rule in Ireland. For 800 years the Irish people have resisted British rule and Sean Sabhat was part of that resistance movement and he gave his life on New Years eve 1956 and he also handed on that tradition to those who came after him. We have a long history of battle to liberate ourselves from British rule in this country and it has gone on for over 800 years, but in every generation we haven't been successful so far to achieve our goal, but every generation of Irish men and Irish women have come out at different times when all the forces that were against us thought they had Republicans defeated. Right up to the proclamation of 1916 when you had Padraig Pearse and his comrades who so gallantly fought in Easter week and then were executed by firing squad. At that time we had the Proclamation, the Proclamation which Republicans are still true to today, those who believe that we will achieve that ultimate goal. Many have fallen by the wayside in the meantime but Republicans have stuck together and eventually will come out and achieve that goal and one time there recently the patron of Republican Sinn Féin who is not with us here today , Ruairí Ó'Brádaigh, when he was asked in an interview is this it, have we gone into politics now ? - and are the McGuinnesses and the Adams' and all those going to take over? ; and his answer was this "while British rule remains in Ireland there will always be some form of an IRA, somebody will take on the powers that be". We had that glorious fight in 1916 and then we had the treaty of surrender in 1922 when Irish men were divided over what course we should take and at that particular time people were compromised when they went over to London and they signed a deal but then there were others, true Republicans who said we will not have this deal we will fight on and then further on down the road we had people who stood with the Republican cause decided they had enough and we had the formation of Fianna Fail, and we had De Valera and his cohorts said put your guns away they will be needed another time but the next time they were needed was to execute men in the 30s and the 40s. We have a long history and we have a long memory and we dont forget and those men who were executed during that period by Eamon De Valera and his government who knew so much about the IRA that they said they were going to defeat them for all times and when the men of the 1940s we owe a huge deal of respect to for keeping things together during those lean years, men who lay in English jails, men who lay in the Curragh, who lay in Portlaoise and the sacrifice made by men like Charlie Kerins, Maurice O'Neill , McNeela and Darcy who died on hunger strike and all the sufferings, women in jail in England who fought on and said we will have the whole thing, the Irish Republic or nothing. And at the end of that period when the people were released from the Curragh concentration camp and all the others came out of English jails De Valera and his cohorts said we have the IRA put down for all times but they were making a sad mistake but I can tell you one thing, they were the nearest people who came to defeating the IRA and they failed and when they failed nobody else will succeed. We had then right on to the 1950s campaign in which Sean Sabhat paid the supreme sacrifice along with Fergal O'Hanlon the Border campaign and many more , the Wexford men, Michael Watters and all those people kept the tradition going and that campaign then they thought it had fizzled out - they thought the IRA were gone again. But in 1969 when Bernadette Devlin and her comrades came to Burntollett Bridge a new generation of Irishmen and women were on the march again. And then we had a glorious campaign that was fought for over 30 years and with victory in sight we had men who got greedy , men who wanted power, who wanted to take part of the apple and not the whole apple and what did they do ; they had their Good Friday Agreement and everything that went with it and they turned around and said the paths of fighting are over now we will go back to the politics that our former friends De Valera and Cosgrave and all those who came before them were going to free Ireland with this type of politics. But there was only one type of politics that the British understood and that was the politics that came from the point of a gun and that was the only message that they had ever answered and so McGuinness and Adams and all his friends are lying there now in Leinster House and lying in Stormont and they are over in London and they are taking big salaries and they have forgotten about the men who died in the H-Blocks, they have forgotten about the men who have fought and struggled for the last 30 years but there are still people who haven't forgotten about them and those people will come back and they will reorganise the Republican Movement and if it wasn't achieved by a generation in the past it will be achieved by a generation in the future and there will always be men and women who are prepared to fight and to die to liberate their country and while the last generation was a great generation there will come a greater one and we have to struggle on to achieve what hasn't come to fruition. And we have all types of propaganda now from the British and from this side and that side, from former comrades , and we had recently in the last few days British papers released on something that happened over 30 years ago. They have released the papers and what the British version is on what happened on the Hunger Strike of 1981 when ten men paid the supreme sacrifice once more, and Maggie Thatcher was embarrassed by what the outside world would think about her and now they are coming along and saying that she wanted to end it, that they were attempts made to end it and that Bobby Sands was prepared when he was near to death to compromise and talk but in the previous Hunger Strike that they had to give up there was compromise and there was talk and what was given was never given so it was organised during the H-Block hunger strike in which they died that there would be no compromise and let them not try to besmirch the name of Bobby Sands or Patsy O'Hara or anyone else and saying that when they were on their death bed they were prepared to take food there was nothing on offer and they cannot take away what those men stood up and fought for, they stood up and fought for political status for Irish Republican prisoners and they fought for the liberation of their country and all these people talking from one to the other the British agent who was supposed to be an expert on it was talking to a man in Belfast and Martin McGuinness was involved in it and they are all clapping one another on the backs and they are all getting big salaries. We are standing here today as the true standard bearers of Irish Republicanism and we will continue on to encourage and support everybody who opposes British rule in Ireland and who uses whatever means is at their disposal to get rid of it that there be no peace in Ireland until the last Brit is gone out of it. Finally, I wont hold you much longer but in conclusion and coming back to Sean Sabhat and Fergal O'Hanlon : Sean Sabhat was a very inspirational figure not alone to those who fought side by side with him but to those who came after him and to many of the Volunteers who died in the struggle over the last twenty years. I am very sure that a lot of them were inspired by Sean Sabhat and I would like to conclude by saying that he was an inspiration to all of us in the struggle for Irish independence and I will conclude by referring back to the opening lines in the introduction of that famous balled that has been sung by Irish people all over the world Sean Sabhat of Garryowen and in that version of the song it said '....sad are the homes around Garryowen, since they lost their joy and pride and the banshees cries over every vale along the Shannonside the city of the ancient walls and broken treaty stone undying fame surrounds your name Sean Sabhat from Garryowen...'. An Phoblacht Abu ! "

Oration by Líta Ní Chathmhaoil at the Dáithí Ó Conaill commemoration, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, January 1, 2012...

Lita , pictured recently at an RSF Rally in O'Connell Street , Dublin.

" It is an honour to be invited here to speak at the grave of my fellow
Corkonian and comrade Dáithí Ó Conaill. His untimely death at the age of
51 was a great blow to the Republican Movement.

Dáithí came from a strong Cork Republican family. His uncle Michael O’Sullivan (17), along with five of his comrades, was bayoneted to death by British Crown forces in March 1921. He joined Sinn Féin at the age of 17 during the local elections in 1955. By the end of the following year he was on active service as a Volunteer in the Irish Republican Army , serving as an organiser under GHQ staff in Co Fermanagh.

On January 1, 1957 he was second-in-command of the Pearse Column during the attack on Brookeborough RUC barracks which resulted in the deaths of two of his comrades, Fearghal Ó hAnluáin and Seán Sabhat. Four others were wounded including the column commander. At 18 years of age Dáithí took command and led a successful withdrawal back across the border – evading 400 RUC, B-Specials, two helicopters and the British army – where they were forced to retire. He was then imprisoned in Mountjoy and the Curragh Concentration camp from where he escaped with his friend and
comrade Ruairí Ó Brádaigh in September 1958.

He returned to active service and for a period was Director of Operations. He was critically wounded in an ambush by the RUC and B-Specials in Arboe, Co Tyrone on the shores of Lough Neagh in November 1959. He made his escape but was forced to seek help because of loss of blood and his weakened condition. He was captured by Crown Forces and was sentenced to eight years which he served in Belfast’s Crumlin Road
Jail. Following his release in 1963 he reported back to active service.

In 1969/70 he again made his talents available to the Republican Movement. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said of him he possessed the 'ablest mind in the Republican Movement for over 20 years'. The sheer breadth of his ability and intellect was evidenced by his service to the All-Ireland Republic both militarily and politically. He had a central role in framing ÉIRE NUA and remained a tireless advocate of it right up to his death in 1991.

Dáithí Ó Conaill never equivocated on what was the cause of the war in Ireland or what was required to deliver a just and lasting peace for all of the Irish people. Speaking in Belfast at Easter 1973 he said: 'Today, the central issue in the war is one of conflict between Ireland’s right to freedom and England’s determination to keep us in subjection. All other issues are subordinate to this basic point. There can be no compromise on the fundamental issue as to who should rule Ireland: the
British Parliament or the Irish people. We have had 800 years of British ineptitude in ruling Ireland; we have never known rule by the Irish, of the Irish, for the Irish. Until we do, we shall never enjoy peace and stability in our land.'

In the past year we have seen the Establishments in Britain and Ireland move to cement the status quo – the British presence in Ireland. The visit of the Queen of England, which was a non-event in the eyes of most of the Irish people, has been elevated to almost a holy event where we are told 'the relationship between Ireland and Britain is changed forever'. The shoneens in the Dublin Administration would have us believe that because she spoken a few words of broken Irish the past must be forgotten and all is forgiven.

Well, that can only come about when the British presence is removed from all of Ireland and its military apparatus has gone, lock, stock and barrel. While Britain holds sway over any part of our country there will always be men and women to resist that presence, no matter how many former comrades take the British shilling and do her dirty work. Empty gestures will not bring about a 32-County United Ireland where all, nationalist and unionist, may live in peace together.

The coming year presents us all with huge challenges but also opportunities. The two fronts on which it is essential that we engage in 2012 are political and economic.
The young people in the Six Counties who took on the forces of the British Crown during 2011 were once again dismissed as 'apolitical thugs' or merely representing an anti-social sub-youth culture. We know what the truth is. These young people represent a new undefeated generation prepared to take on British rule in Ireland. They are young people simply taking their place in the latest phase of the historic
struggle for Irish freedom.

It is our duty in Sinn Féin –the only political organisation representing the revolutionary Irish Republican tradition – to give political expression and
leadership to this new generation.
I take this opportunity to send new year greetings to the Republican prisoners in both Portlaoise and Maghaberry. The situation of the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry in their fight for political status is extremely serious and the conditions they are enduring requires all of us to make a huge effort in the coming year to bring their protest to a successful end. The internment of Martin Corey and Marian Price must be ended. It is up to all of us to do our utmost to publicise the plight of the Republican POWs.

Here the 26-County Administration, faced with a choice between taxing the rich or taking from the marginalised and vulnerable, have once more chosen to put their hands in the pockets of the poor. Employers and the State are intent on rolling back any advance made by workers over the course of the last century. Whatever sovereignty the 26-County State had is now in the hands of the so-called troika of the EU/EMF/IMF and this is set to get worse in coming years. Water taxes, septic tank taxes, property taxes and waste charges are crippling people while the rich
continue to get richer.

Ninety-six years after the 1916 Proclamation the children of the nation are certainly not cherished equally. The men and women who sacrificed their lives and freedom so that we could live in a country free from foreign interference are turning in their graves as they see the mess that has been made of the country by self-serving and incompetent politicians, bankers and developers. Once again our young people are being forced to emigrate all over the world to find work and whole
communities are being decimated.

In the run-up to the centenary of the 1916 Rising those of us who follow in their path must provide the lead to the Irish people as they struggle to fight the cuts and deprivation caused by the failure of those elected to run the country, north and south. Armed as we are with clearly thought out and radical programme for real
political and economic democracy ÉIRE NUA and SAOL NUA we can take our rightful place in the vanguard of the struggle.

One final thing: There are people, some former members of our organisation who either left because they were not prepared to accept the democratic decision of An Ard-Fheis or who were dismissed for bringing the organisation into disrepute, and their camp followers who were never members, are using the honourable name of the Republican Movement while engaging in criminal and nefarious acts.

These people are doing the work of the enemy and we in Republican Sinn Féin will not allow them to continue to do so. We demand that they cease using the name of this organisation forthwith. Republican Sinn Féin is not now, nor never has, been involved in gangsterism and criminality and these people will not be allowed to besmirch our name.
Our work is clearly marked out for us. It is our duty to bring to the task all our energies and abilities. This is the most fitting tribute we can pay Dáithí Ó Conaill and all those who lie in this pantheon of our patriot dead. 'Life springs from death; and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations.'

Beir Bua agus beannacht agus Áth-bhliain fé mhaise go léir ! "

AND FINALLY....

Fergal O'Hanlon.

....we were hoping to travel to Monaghan this coming Sunday (8th January 2012) to meet some of our many comrades , colleagues and friends at the Annual Volunteer Fergal O'Hanlon Commemoration but Dublin RSF has asked that , instead , we make ourselves available (and comfortable !) in a 4-Star hotel on the Dublin/Kildare border to assist in the holding of a 650-ticket Republican raffle ; the girl that rang us , from the Parnell Street Office, mentioned that it will be busier than usual at the raffle because 'Manchester is playing with itself that day and it's going to be shown on TV.....' !
And that's our weekend 'spoke for' , as we also assist , on the Saturday of the raffle weekend , to collect some of the 650 tickets that are to be entered into the raffle on the Sunday : so we'll be in a cosy , warm hotel 'for' Manchester rather than Monaghan this weekend - but we'll manage , somehow......;-) !
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration , Dublin : Sunday January 1 , 2012 - brief report and photographs.

Republican Plot , Glasnevin Cemetery.

Approximately fifty Irish Republicans assembled at Glasnevin Cemetery Gates just before 1pm today and formed-up behind a Republican Sinn Féin Colour Party ; the assembly then marched to the grave of Dáithí Ó Conaill , for the Annual Commemoration.
The Chairperson , Andy Connolly , welcomed all those present and briefly outlined the history of the man being commemorated and began proceedings by calling on Padráig Ennis to step forward , as per the request of the Ó Conaill family, to deliver a Decade of the Rosary , in Irish.....

Padráig Ennis.

...following which Andy reminded the crowd that , unlike some today who are attempting to operate for self-gain under a cloak of 'republicanism' , Dáithí Ó Conaill had nothing but harsh words for those who tried to use Irish Republicanism for their own ends , a point which was later reiterated by Lita Ní Cathmhaoil , Republican Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle , in the main oration which she presented to the gathering.

Lita delivering.....

....the main oration.

The Chairperson then asked ex-POW , Seán Ó Sé , to play a tin-whistle Lament to The Dead , following which a wreath was laid on the grave by Republican Sinn Féin President , Des Dalton -

RSF President , Des Dalton , laying the wreath.

- and the Chairperson then asked the gathering to stand to attention as the Colour Party dipped their flags in honour of Dáithí Ó Conaill :

RSF Colour Party dipping their flags.

Bringing proceedings to a finish , the Chairperson requested the Colour Party to stand to attention as the National Anthem was played on the whistle by Seán....

The RSF Colour Party stands to attention for our National Anthem.

....after which those present - apart from the six armed 'Special Branch' operatives - were invited to a local pub for refreshments. A full report , including the complete text of the main oration, will be available in the January 2012 issue of 'Saoirse' ,which goes to print on Thursday , the 12th of the month.
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

THE MURDER OF JOHN CORCORAN -

- THE COVER-UP CONTINUES.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1998.

Mr Dick Spring : " The matter I am raising on the adjournment this evening is one with which the minister for justice, equality and law reform is familiar - he raised it himself on many occasions when he was opposition spokesperson. This is a matter of fundamental importance to the public interest in relation to the administration of justice and the protection of human life.

In March 1985 , the body of John Corcoran of Riverview Estate , Ballyvolane , County Cork , was found dumped outside Cork city , the murder apparently having taken place in County Kerry. It has been widely reported in recent times that he was murdered by the IRA on the instructions of the chief of staff and that the Garda Síochána were aware, from information received over some days previously, that Mr Corcoran was going to be murdered.

A statement issued by the Department of Justice on 8 December 1997 stated that the minister for justice had sought a full report on all aspects of this matter a short time after he took up Office in the middle of 1997. What I would like to know this evening is whether the minister has that report and if he is going to make it public......."
(MORE LATER).

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

APRIL 30 , 1970 :
" The Taoiseach sent for me , and told me that he had seen Mr Blaney and Mr Haughey and that the matter was ended , that there would be no repetition. I asked incredulously - 'Does this mean that Mr Haughey remains Minister for Finance ? What will my position be ? He knows that I have told you of his conversation with me on 18th April and of the earlier police information.' The Taoiseach replied - ' I will protect you .' I felt a very sorry man returning to my Department where I told the tale to my usual colleagues.

It is interesting to read the Taoiseach's entirely different account in the Dail : Volume 246 , No. 7 col. 1331 - '...but I had said to both of them....that the information that I had would justify my asking for their resignations...the Minister for Agriculture asked for some time to consider the position. Because of the condition of the Minister for Finance I felt I just could not possibly pursue the enquiries with him...' The Taoiseach makes it clear at the foot of col. 1440 that he was speaking of his meetings with the Ministers, separately , on Wednesday , 29th April.

The Taoiseach phoned me later that evening to have the Head of 'S Branch' at his home at 8.00pm . I had assured him that this was the Garda officer who had the most knowledge of the arms conspiracy. I informed the Commissioner and , later, had a phone call from Chief Supt. Fleming for information as to the purpose of the meeting and who would be present . I told him that I knew no more than that he was to be at the Taoiseach's house at the time stated. 'But' , he said , 'you know more than anybody else. Will you not be there?' I replied that I had not been asked and that I did not know the purpose. Later in the night , at about 9.30pm , Chief Supt. Fleming called to my house......."
(MORE LATER).

Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration , New Years Day , Sunday 1st January 2012 , Dublin -

- the annual Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration will be held in Dublin on January 1 , 2012 , in Glasnevin Cemetery. Those attending are asked to assemble at the Cemetery Gates at 12.45pm. More information on Dáithí can be read here.

Seán Sabhat Commemoration , New Years Day , Sunday 1st January 2012 ,Limerick -

- the annual Seán Sabhat Commemoration will be held in Limerick on Sunday , January 1 , 2012 , at the Republican Plot in Mount St Lawrence Cemetery : those attending are asked to assemble at the 'Horse and Hound' Pub, Mulgrave St , in Limerick City, at 12.30pm.

AND FINALLY , re the recent CABHAIR Swim...

.....we forget to mention that the Organisers presented all the swimmers with a Republican handkerchief , all five of which had recently been decorated in Portlaoise Prison by Irish Republican POW's , and we also forgot to mention that a raffle was held at the event at which only the five swimmers had been given tickets for : the prize was a bodhrón which , as with the 'hankies' , was made in Portlaoise Prison , and was won by Dougie who , next year , will now be able to supply his own drumbeat before he belly-flops into the water....!

And really , really finally : as this will most likely be our last post in 2011 , we have to say a big 'Go Raibh Maith Agat' to all our readers (we are quickly approaching 475,000 overall 'hits' !) and wish you all a Happy New Year ; we'll be back on Wednesday 4th January 2012 for definite , and possibly before then , if anything 'out there' takes our fancy.....!
Thanks,
Sharon (and Team!).

Monday, December 26, 2011

CABHAIR CHRISTMAS SWIM , 25th DECEMBER 2011 :

On what was , compared to last year's event , a Summer's day , the CABHAIR organisation 'fed and watered' approximately 100 people over the three-hour period that the Swim event lasted for - the CABHAIR Crew arrived on site at , as usual , 10am and packed-up 'shop' at about 1pm , in between which five sponsored swimmers 'earned their keep' (Lee , David , Dougie , Paddy and Tony) : the sixth swimmer , Declan , from near-by Driminagh , was asked repeatedly not to swim , as he had a small , fresh cut on his leg and , for safety reasons , the Organisers insisted he not enter the water which - eventually - he agreed was for the best. Those that sponsored Declan - he had two full sponsorship cards and one card half-full - will be offered their money back over the next few days.

Anyway ; the 'Declan Dilemma' (!) was one of three 'upsets' at the event - the nuisance caused by the eight 'Special Branch' men who , as usual, tried to turn people away from attending the Swim and the fact that three of their number had 'detained' Santa and two of his 'helpers' in a near-by street for twenty-five minutes (and actually repeatedly stood on his feet to stop him from moving away from them) were the only 'mishaps' in an otherwise flawless enterprise , and all of them outside of CABHAIR control.

The National Flag flew high and proud from the Naas Road-entrance point , surrounded by three CABHAIR banners , at one 'end' of the Swim Site Irish Rebel music blasted-out from twin speakers whilst at the other 'end' , a man with a guitar entertained a section of the crowd with a sing-song , an almost endless supply of 'soup' (including two bottles of a stronger brew!), lemonade , mince pies , crisps etc , and Christmas crackers , were consumed by the crowds , the weather held-up nicely for all concerned , the neighbours came out in force to cheer-on the five lads and the local swan family were easily distracted by some well-placed tit-bits ! All foodstuffs , including the 'Swan Bait' (!) were donated by local shops and pubs etc , and were gratefully received by the organisers and the crowd.

As always , the CABHAIR people are to be congratulated for this much-needed event and , as mentioned by one of the organisers , all monies raised go directly to the families of the Republican POW's in Maghaberry and Portlaoise Prisons : we publish with this report a few pics from the day in question and, down the bottom of this post , we publish a link to three videos and over 80 pics from the event - so put the kettle on now and be prepared to say goodbye to the next hour or so !

'Swim Stall' 2011 ;" The Right of the People of Ireland..."

All 'Gold' winners , not Silver....

One makes a break for it...

....two find the exit.....

...whilst these three are caught in the act !

This wannabe escapee was roasted on the fire....

...and his comrade was caught by a cameraman-cum-guard !

Two swimmers , linked by the Green !

Santa 'hip-hops' his way to the Swim Site!

Sing-Song at the 2011 CABHAIR Swim!

Finally - Congrats as well to the 3 swimmers who also braved the (fine summer's day!) elements for CABHAIR in Craigavon Lake and the 5 swimmers in Wexford who took the plunge : well done , Men - fair play to ye all !
The three videos and over 80 Swim pics I mentioned earlier can be located here - but you might need a 'Facebook' account to view them. Once again , CABHAIR have more than held their own , and our Irish Republican Prisoners , and their families have , once again , being reminded that they are not forgotten by their comrades , colleagues and supporters on the 'outside' - and they never will be !
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

THE MURDER OF JOHN CORCORAN -

- THE COVER-UP CONTINUES.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1998.

According to 'The Kerryman' newspaper of November 29 , 1988 , Seán O' Callaghan said in an interview (with the editor of that newspaper , Gerard Colleran) : " I personally shot Corcoran using a machine gun. I felt no remorse for the murder.....I had to travel to Monaghan to meet the IRA's Chief of Staff to get permission to shoot [Corcoran].......[leading up to the murder] John Corcoran spoke to me. I taped most of what he said. I sent the tape to his family. [Prior to the murder] we were sitting in a field chatting for three or four hours. He didn't try to get away. He was not arguing. He was not blindfolded. He knelt down on the ground and I shot. I said a prayer, an act of contrition, before I shot him. He turned his back. He was shot in the back of the head. Corcoran said 'go easy'. That was it."

O' Callaghan gave similar accounts in interviews later with the 'Sunday Times' and the 'Boston Globe' , detailing in these interviews how he had informed the gardaí of where John Corcoran was being held and of the imminence of his murder.

" An Absolute Disgrace...."
On Wednesday , January 28 , 1998 , former Tánaiste Dick Spring raised the issue in an adjournment debate in Leinster House. The following is the full text of Mr Spring's speech and the reply by the minister for justice , John O' Donoghue .......
(MORE LATER).

.....the CABHAIR organisation , which seeks to financially aid Irish Republican POW's and their families , held a fund-raising raffle on the 11th December last , in a hotel on the Dublin-Kildare border : the event was over-subscribed and , even though all 650 tickets were purchased in advance (with 50 being held back for 'on-the-day' sales) another 100 tickets , at least , could have been sold had they been available !
However : the lucky eight winners were -
1st..........John...............243...........Seller,
2nd........Theresa..........269............Laois,
3rd.........Liam Roberts...346..........Carlow,
4th.......Kevin Kavanagh...281......Enniscorthy,
5th......John Power..........460.......Arklow,
6th.....John Gilraine.......585.......Dublin 1,
7th......Eileen.................095......'H',
8th.....Declan................296......Mullingar.

- all prizes have since been claimed , and the next raffle will take place in early January 2012 : details to follow.

CABHAIR CHRISTMAS SWIM....

....for the 35th consecutive year , the CABHAIR organisation will hold a sponsored Swim in the Grand Canal , in Inchicore , Dublin , on Christmas Day at 12 Noon : preparations , which were finalised two weeks ago , have been checked and re-checked and declared 'AOK!' , Santa has been booked for an hour - by 'Special Request' of the many kids that would otherwise run riot (!) at the location , although he may be too 'tired and emotional' to make it to the other two CABHAIR Swims which are being held that same day (details here) - and the local community has , as always , been more than generous with the 'Goodies' offered , which will be more than enough to sustain swimmers , on-lookers , passers-by and the swans , which have to be bribed with tit-bits to vacate the area for an hour or two!

Last years Swim can be read about here , and pics from it and previous Swims can be seen here : this blog will try its best on Christmas Day to give a report and supply a few pics from this years Swim , but we can't promise anything - the CABHAIR Swim Crew have asked us to assist with 'catering' at the event , which includes making sure that all guests , on-lookers and passers-by etc are 'fed and watered' and that's a very dodgy place to put us on what is otherwise a 'dry day' as far as the pubs are concerned..... !

UP THE REPUBLIC - OUR DAY WILL COME !

NOLLAIG SHONA DAR LEITHEOIRI !

Ar eagle an dearmaid ....

Ba bhrea an rud e siocháin bhuan bunaithe ar an gceart a bheith againn in Éireann . Is i an bronntanas is fearr a d'fheadfaimis a thabhairt duinn fein agus dar gclann .

Coinniodh an ceart agus an tsiocháin uainn le breis agus ocht gcead bliain , de bharr ionradh , forghabhail agus miriaradh na Sasanach. Socrú ar bith a dheantar in ainm mhuintir na hÉireann agus a ghlacann le riail Shasana agus a dhaingnionn an chriochdheighilt , ni thig leis an ceart na an tsiocháin bhuann a bhunu .

Ni dheanfaidh se ach la na siochána buaine a chur ar an mhear fhada agus an bhunfhadb a thabhairt do ghluin eile . Tharla se seo cheana nuair a siniodh Conradh 1921 agus cuireadh siar ar mhuintir na hÉireann e in ainm na siochána . Is mór ag Sinn Féin Poblachtach Éire a bheith saor agus daonlathach , an cuspoir ceanna a bhi i gceist ag Wolfe Tone agus ag na Poblachtaigh uile anuas go dti 1916 agus an la ata inniu ann .

Rinne a lan fear agus ban croga iobairti mora , thug a mbeatha fiu , ar son na cuise uaisle seo .

CEART . SAOIRSE. DAONLATHAS .

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

A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TO OUR READERS !

Least we forget ....

A just and permanent peace in Ireland is most desirable . It is the greatest gift we could give to ourselves and our children . We have been denied justice and peace for more than eight centuries , because of English invasion , occupation and misrule of our country .

Any arrangement which , in the name of the Irish people , accepts English rule and copperfastens the Border , will not bring justice and lasting peace . It will only postpone the day of permanent peace , handing over the basic problem to another generation .

This happened before when the Treaty of 1921 was signed and was forced on the Irish people in the name of peace . Republican Sinn Féin cherishes the objective of a free , democratic Ireland , as envisaged by Wolfe Tone and all Republicans down to 1916 and our own day . Many brave men and women sacrificed a lot , even their lives , for this noble Cause .

JUSTICE . FREEDOM . DEMOCRACY .
From the '1169...' Crew , December 2011 : we'll be back before the years end! Thanks for reading , Sharon.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

THE MURDER OF JOHN CORCORAN -

- THE COVER-UP CONTINUES.......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1998.

We should expect a further twist to this case in the next few months , with the publication in May of Seán O' Callaghan's account of his life in the IRA and his role as a garda informer.

It is obvious that O' Callaghan will deny his involvement in the murder of John Corcoran and that he will have some elaborate but ultimately unbelievable explanation of why he earlier said he was involved.

However incredible that explanation will be , it will be seized upon by the gardaí as yet another reason for closing the file on the John Corcoran case forever - so , for the record , let us recall what Seán O' Callaghan said previously about his involvement in that murder.......
(MORE LATER).

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

23rd APRIL 1970 :

" On Thursday I had a telephone call from my Minister , Mr O Morain , from his home : he seemed to be in great distress. He asked me to get him into some nursing home immediately , that he felt seriously sick. With some difficulty , I got the Minister the suite in Mount Carmel Hospital which I had occupied in 1969 and he was admitted on April 24th ('1169...' Comment : no change there , then - if you are 'well connected' and/or have money [both, in this particular case] you will get the best of medical treatment immediately but if you're unemployed or just an 'ordinary' employee , you can expect between eight and fifteen hours of a wait in A+E before you're even looked at...) .

In the afternoon I saw the Taoiseach and told him off Mr O Morain's illness and of my arrangements - he said that he had ticked him off on Wednesday , saying that he would be hearing from him again. I concluded that this was what had triggered off Mr O Morain's break down.

The Taoiseach then told me that he had had a visit from the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners who had told him of my threat that 'heads would roll' : the Taoiseach said - " You had no business saying that and you had no right to tell him that I had ordered the police investigation." I was taken completely aback , and replied - "But you gave me instructions that the police were to make a full investigation and the Commissioner complained that the customs people were stalling deliberately and he asked for my assistance, and I felt that it was my job to get co-operation." The Taoiseach said - " I don't understand why you are playing such a personal part in all of this , why do you not leave it to the police..."

I was dumbfounded : I had expected to be praised , not blamed......."
(MORE LATER).

€100 HOUSEHOLD TAX 'MUST BE INCREASED' - EU/IMF.....

In January 2012 , a new tax of €100 is to be imposed on approximately 1.6 million households in this State ; at least 240,000 households will be exempt , for now , due to their financial circumstances ie if those living in them qualify for mortgage interest supplements , if they live in social housing units , if they live in unfinished housing estates , if they are living in rented houses (although the owner/landlord will be liable which , in turn , means a rent increase....) , if the occupier meets certain social welfare criteria and tenants who live in local authority housing.

The households that will be instructed by the politicians in Leinster House to suffer the imposition of this unjust tax will be given until the 31st March 2012 to pay it or a 'fine' (a financial penalty) will be issued , before court cases proceed - if the household tax is not paid by that date , and if arrangements have not been made to pay it in four installments of €25 , then 'late payment fees' will be added to the amount owed . If , after two years, the tax remains unpaid , then the householder will 'owe' €280. Those who are deemed by the politicians to 'owe' this tax but don't pay it will be taken to court under the 'Fines Act 2010' and , depending on circumstances , will be ordered by State representatives to hand over between €1,000 and €2,500.

What is not so widely known in relation to this new tax , however , is that , on Friday 29th July 2011 , an 'MoU' ('Memorandum of Understanding') was issued by a joint committee comprising EU and IMF management stating that the €100 tax must be increased by December 2012 due to what that committee called "fiscal consolidation" issues - and the State Department of the Environment in Dublin has admitted that that is the case , although they attempted to claw back some dignity by declaring that the rate of increase has not been agreed upon ie they have not yet been told by the EU/IMF how much to increase it by !

And there's worse to come : in 2014 , another household tax will be enforced - again , at the dictat of the EU/IMF - which will be based "on the site value of each house" and a new company , 'Irish Water' , will be established to oversee the installation of water meters in all domestic dwellings : these three new taxes (€100 Household Tax , Site Value Tax and Water Tax) were demanded by the EU/IMF and signed-off on by the rich, useless , careerist time-serving suited muppets in Leinster House in the 'MoU' that was given to them by the EU/IMF on Friday 29th July 2011 , and it was in that same 'contract' that the latter shower agreed to enter into "discussions" with that EU/IMF committee in relation to how finances are controlled in this State.

The options facing those of us who retain a moral compass is clear : picket , protest , riot in the streets , cause civil unrest and havoc, and bloodshed , if need be - but , above all , DO NOT PAY the Household Tax , or the Site Tax , or the Water Tax ! Or.....take the 'easy' option : pay all new taxes plus the inevitable increases in the 'old' taxes plus the lower wage you'll be working for / lower welfare payments you will be on (if they don't 'knock you off' the welfare money altogether) and then decide , on a daily basis , whether you will put food on the table OR turn the heating on. Because it really will be that simple - hand your money over to them or fight to keep it. And you're going to have to make that choice very soon.....
Sharon.

1169 And Counting.....

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

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