RSF news - Republican Sinn Fein - http://rsf.ie
Irish Republican Information Service (no. 225)
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: +353-1-872 9747; FAX: +353-1-872 9757; e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
Date: 6ú Feabhra/February 2010
Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE-Irish Freedom
http://saoirse.info
In this issue:
1. Provos to enforce British Rule
2. Lisbon paves way for EU/NATO alliance
3. Nationalist couple in Banbridge targeted by MI5 & RUC/PSNI Special Branch
4. Sinister actions of 26-County Special Branch
5. 38 years waiting for answers British government
6. ‘My father was another victim of Bloody Sunday’
7. British troops on the ground in north Belfast
8. RUC/PSNI barracks attacked
9. One person shows up to first Dromore British DPP meeting
10. RSF launch re-designed International website
11. Private firm to reap Euro1.15bn bonanza from M50 toll deal
12. Political hostages have no place in a democracy
13. Shell to Sea complains about letter
14. Spy case inquest adjourned by coroner
1. Provos to enforce British Rule
ON FEBRUARY 5 the head of the 26-County administration Brian Cowen and British prime minister Gordon Brown travelled to Hillsborough Castle in the Six Counties to announce that a deal to prop up the Stormont Assembly had been eventually agreed, confirming that the regime in Stormont led by the DUP and the Provisonals will take on British policing and justice powers from April 12.
In a statement following the announcement the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton said: “With the fervour of political converts the Provos cannot wait to administer British Police and British Justice in Ireland.
“As they don the uniforms and carry the weapons of their one-time enemy, it can be truly said that the ‘poachers have become gamekeepers.’
When the new ‘Broy Harriers’ take to the streets under Provo direction history can be accurately said to be repeating itself.
“As British rule reaches into the grass-roots in the Six Counties, British Imperialism in its updated mode seeks to make itself more acceptable. However history teaches us that it will once more be resisted.” Des Dalton said.
The head of the 26-County administration Brian Cowen and British prime minister Gordon Brown published a deal to prop up the Stormont Assembly, confirming it will take on British policing and justice powers from April 12.
The deal between the Democratic Unionist Party and the Provisionals, which includes new plans on overseeing Orange parades, comes after nearly two weeks of round-the-clock negotiations.
A six-member working group is to be established to deal with Orange Order parades. Its work will begin immediately and will be completed within three weeks.
Many nationalist communities fear part of the price for securing the deal by the Provisionals involves forcing loyalist parades on their communities as it is emerged the unionist demand for an end to the Six-County parades Commission was secured by them in the agreement.
The agreement will see the devolution of British policing and justice powers from Westminster to the Stormont Assembly within weeks, while new arrangements for overseeing loyalist parades -removing the Parades Commission by the end of the year - will meet the demands of unionists.
As well as setting a devolution date in April, the 21-page Hillsborough Agreement outlines the working of the new Six-County Justice Department.
Broken into five sections, the document also contains a range of measures.
Key points include:
• While the Six-County justice minister will have the same status as all other ministers in the powersharing cabinet, he or she will have the power to make certain decisions without conferring with the Executive while issues of British ‘national security’ remain the prerogative of the British Government and its intelligence agency MI5.
• A six member ‘working group’, appointed by the Stormont First Minister and Deputy First Minister, will formulate a framework for new Orange parade management procedures.
• Its work will place emphasis on local agreements. It is this aspect which causes most fear for many nationalist communities and how the rights of local residents and the Orange Order can be squared
• The working group will complete its work within three weeks. The Stormont Executive will then transfer responsibilities for parading legislation from Westminster and table a new bill based on the group’s proposals. The current Parades Commission will continue to adjudicate on contentious marches until the new framework comes into operation - expected at the end of 2010.
• Significantly there was no commitment to an Irish Language Bill - promised with the St Andrews Agreement in 2006- or education reform.
The talks which centred on Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, are the longest set of continuous negotiations held in the near 20-year peace process.
2. Lisbon paves way for EU/NATO alliance
Comments by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the Lisbon Treaty provides a platform for deeper ties between the EU and NATO confirms one of the main arguments against the Lisbon Treaty according to the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton: “This bears out one of the central arguments of those who called for a rejection of Lisbon. As Republican Sinn Féin argued in both referenda held in the 26 Counties the purpose of the Lisbon Treaty was to bring the EU project to its logical next step in the construction of an undemocratic and militarised superstate
“Hillary Clinton’s comments regarding “energy security” are significant. It would appear the ground is being prepared for NATO to act as the military arm of the EU - fighting the resource wars forecast by the then President of the EU Commission Jacques Delors in 1992 - over what have been identified as the key resources of water, food and energy.
“The world vision set out by Hillary Clinton is one where the political and economic hegemony of the rich northern hemisphere over the poor south will be enforced by NATO.” Des Dalton said.
Hillary Clinton was speaking at the French military academy in Paris on January 29.
Answering a question from her audience, Hillary Clinton said EU’s energy policy in particular would benefit from closer co-ordination with NATO. “They are no longer separated. It’s hard to say that security is only about what it was when Nato was formed and the EU has no role to play in security issues,” she said.
“These, of course, are decisions for the Europeans to make with respect to the EU.”
Hillary Clinton said she recognised that national differences must be respected, “even in the time of greater European integration”.
However, the complexity of today’s world was such that the development of common policies would serve the EU and NATO. In this respect the EU would concentrate on economic, development and political issues while NATO would deal mainly with security.
“Take, for example, energy security,” she said. “It would be the EU’s responsibility to create policies that would provide more independence and protection from intimidations when it comes to energy markets for its member nation. But I can also see how, in certain cases respecting energy, there may be a role for NATO as well.”
While it was important to respect and honour “foundation institutions”, she said questions should be asked about how they could function better.
Citing moves to reform NATO, Hilary Clinton said reforms at EU level would make co-operation with the military alliance easier.
“Under the Lisbon Treaty, with more focus and specific leadership attached to foreign policy and development assistance, there will be a way to better co-ordinate,” she said.
Although “some questions” had been raised in recent months about the depth of Washington’s commitment to Europe, she said European security was “an anchor” of US foreign policy.
US military forces will remain on the European continent to “deter attacks and to respond quickly” if any occur, she said.
3. Nationalist couple in Banbridge targeted by MI5 & RUC/PSNI Special Branch
A YOUNG south Down couple are being harassed by British intelligence after refusing to spy on a prominent member of Republican Sinn Fein from Newry.
The Sinn Féin member who wanted to remain anonymous said the couple had to flee their home in January after an elaborate hoax bomb was left outside their house.
He alleged the bomb alert was the latest incident of harassment and intimidation aimed at the couple after they refused to supply information on Newry Republican Sinn Féin to MI5.
The RUC/PSNI confirmed they are investigating the incident in which a suspicious object was found outside a house in the Edenderry area of Banbridge on January 26.
The Newry Sinn Féin member claimed the couple were approached by MI5 after unknowingly being photographed with him.
“This young man was photographed with me by Special Branch,” he told the Democrat.
“When he went on holiday last year he was pulled in at the airport by MI5. They said to him that he was very close to me. When he denied it they told him that they had photographic evidence.
“They then asked him if he would be willing to work with them. They offered him money and said they would leave him alone if he did, if not they said they would make his life hell. They said if he gave me up to them in any shape or form that they would be happy.
“He refused and now they have stepped up their campaign of harassment against him.
“I believe, and the young man that has been targeted believes, that Special Branch will approach again hoping that he can give them information on Republican Sinn Fein in Newry.”
The 35-year-old man also claimed he has been subjected to harassment over the last 24 months.
And he criticised the Provisionals in their haste to administer British Policing and Justice in Ireland.
“This has happened in the backdrop of all that is happening with regard to policing in justice,” he added.
“The Provisionals seem to be bending over backwards to get this yet they will have no power in what MI5 and Special Branch does.”
In a statement Republican Sinn Féin outlined the background to the case and said it pointed to ongoing collusion between the RUC/PSNI and loyalist death-squads:
“A young nationalist couple in Banbridge have been harassed by British Intelligence agencies over the course of the past twelve months due to their friendship with a member of Republican Sinn Féin in Newry. Most recently an elaborate hoax bomb was left outside their home.
“One of the couple has been stopped by British spies whilst holidaying. They also tore apart his house and told him that they would have their fellow Loyalists intimidate him if he did not co-operate.
“Most recently his refusal to collaborate resulted in a bomb being left at his front door in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He was forced to evacuate through the back door and was kept out of his home for several hours.
“Around the same time his mother also received a phone call to say that her son was going to be burnt out of his home.
“These incidents show that British Intelligence agencies including those belonging to Gerry Adams’ RUC remain involved with Loyalist death squads.” The statement said.
4. Sinister actions of 26-County Special Branch
IN A statement on January 30, Comhairle Chúige Laighean, Sinn Féin Poblachtach criticised the actions of the Special Branch on January 30, 2010:
“Republican Sinn Féin views the actions of the Special Branch at the Bloody Sunday picket in Dublin on January 30 as grossly insulting and slightly sinister.
“After taking the names and addresses of several members and supporters, they proceeded to enter the GPO where they took pictures, through the window, of those on the picket. Comparing notes, they wrote down the names of those ‘in the [picture] frame.
“We object to the paid lackeys of Leinster House using a hallowed Republican building, the headquarters of the All-Ireland Republic proclaimed in 1916, to skulk in and gather information on Irish Republicans which they pass on to the British Colonial police and MI5 spymasters.
“Republicans know that such people will use any underhand methods to undermine the Republican struggle. We will continue to highlight the activities of the likes of Det Kevin Doherty and Det Joe Higgins.
“We say to people: do not let their tactics intimidate you but rather strengthen your resolve to highlight the injustice of British occupation in our country.” The statement said
5. 38 years waiting for answers British government
It is incomprehensible and unacceptable that after 38 years we are still waiting for answers concerning the way the British army acted during that sad day in Derry states Massimiliano Vitelli, spokesperson for Republican Sinn Féin in Italy in a statement to the Italian media on January 29.
“Tomorrow is the anniversary of what became known as Bloody Sunday, the term used to describe what happened in the city of Derry on January 1972, when the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment of the British army opened fire against a crowd protesting for civil rights, wounding 26 people, 14 of whom were killed.
“On March 22, 2010 Lord Saville of Newdigate is expected to present the investigation report to the Westminster administration. However, the phrase ‘is expected to present’ has already been used dozens of times in the past, without being followed by any deeds. The public inquiry ended in November 2004 and the report was expected within 2006.
“According to the British administration, the inquiry has already cost over £189.000.000, half of which due to legal costs.
“The time for truth has come. It is time for the British administration to provide answers”, Vitelli said.
Published by Republican Sinn Féin Italy,
www.irish-solidarity.net/italia
6. ‘My father was another victim of Bloody Sunday’
THE DAUGHTER of a man grazed by a bullet on Bloody Sunday - and who later developed a life-altering brain haemorrhage - says she believes her father is another victim of that day.
Donna McElhinney, who was six years old at the time of the 1972 massacre, says her father, Pius McCarron, complained of having headaches after being grazed by the bullet and, 18 months later, developed a brain haemorrhage.
She said that, at that time, he was given six months to live but remarkably - although severely brain damaged - survived until 2004.
“He was skinned by a bullet on Bloody Sunday and collapsed,” she recalled. “Everyone thought he had been shot dead.
“The next thing he knew was when he regained consciousness in a nearby house. In the days and weeks afterwards, he told my mother that he was having headaches where the bullet grazed him. He also got arrested a few times after Bloody Sunday and was taken to Piggery Ridge where he was beaten by soldiers.
“A year and a half later, when he was 32, he took a brain haemorrhage and was taken to hospital in Belfast and the doctors told my mother it was so severe that it had to have been caused by head trauma. The place where the haemorrhage occurred was exactly where the bullet skinned him.
“My mother always talks about how healthy he was before it happened. There is no doubt in my mind that it was directly connected to what happened to him on Bloody Sunday.”
Donna McElhinney says her father was “an entirely different person” after the brain haemorrhage. He died that day
“My mother was left with eight children to raise and a husband to look after and she always said he changed beyond recognition after what happened. My mother said that, in a way, he died to her that day.
“He was another victim of Bloody Sunday. He also lost his life on Bloody Sunday, not in the same way as the others did, but to my mother.”
Donna McElhinney says she wants what happened her father to be known.
“There are probably others who suffered in later life because of what happened to them that day. Everyone was scarred by the Troubles in some way. A lot of people saw how my father was left after the brain haemorrhage but did not understand why and that is why I want to tell his story.”
7. British troops on the ground in north Belfast
HEAVILY ARMED British soldiers were on patrol in Oldpark in north
Belfast on February 2 following a large explosion which destroyed perimeter
fencing at the Oldpark RUC/PSNI barracks.
A relatively large blast bomb was hurled at the base, which is now used
mainly for surveillance purposes. While no RUC/PSNI members are based at
the station, it is understood contract security guards were present at
the time the attack took place at around 2am in the morning, but there
were no injuries.
The following day, some 40 families were evacuated by British Crown forces
as bomb disposal squads dealt with the scene.
The device used in the attack is reported to be similar to a bomb that
was thrown into a British Territorial Army base in north Belfast in
October.
8. RUC/PSNI barracks attacked
Bessbrook RUC/PSNI barracks came under gunfire on January 31.A car pulled up outside the station in Bessbrook village on evening at about 9.00pm and opened fire.
No-one was injured. The British Colonial Police barracks in Crossmaglen has been attacked twice in recent weeks. The group styling itself the ‘Real IRA’ claimed both attacks.
9. One person shows up to first Dromore British DPP meeting
THE FIRST EVER Omagh British District policing Partnership meeting may have been held in Dromore last week, but there was a notable absence from the local community.
When the local DPP planned a previous meeting in Dromore almost four years ago, it had to be cancelled after protests were organised by republicans.
Whilst welcoming the opportunity to meet in Dromore, the new Chair of Omagh DPP, Charlie Chittick, expressed his disappointment at the lack of community participation on January 29.
Approximately 100 seats had been set out for the public to air their thoughts and views about local British policing issues, but only one was needed as Drumquin Parish Priest, Fr Kevin Mullan was the only person in the public gallery.
10. RSF launch re-designed International website
The Republican Sinn Féin International Relations Bureau is proud to announce the re-launch of its re-designed German website. Following a major refurbishment over the last two months, the website is now available under the known domain-name www.irish-solidarity.net!
The website currently contains material in three languages, English, German and Italian.
The hearts of the new website are three columns. The main column provides the latest, most relevant information and reports. The right column gives information on the current campaigns and the work of Republican Sinn Féin and its supporters in Continental Europe plus the latest issue of the republican paper Saoirse. The left column provides the menu tree as well as contact information, republican links and further permanent information.
On the top of the website, directly beneath the header you find external links to the most important documents of the Republican Movement like Éire Nua and Saol Nua as well as a History of Sinn Féin.
Note that not all articles are shown in the main section. Hence one may find two further sections in the top right corner of the website. These contain the six most current articles as well as the six most read articles.
Part of the website is in Italian language. This section contains material published by the Republican Sinn Féin activists and supporters in Italy. You can directly access to this material by using the link www.irish-solidarity.net/italia. For four years the supporters of Republican Sinn Féin in Italy distribute a monthly news sheet in the Greater Rome area named Ireland Free. A full archive of all issues is available on www.irish-solidarity.net/irelandfree.
At present there is merely a selection of Republican Sinn Féin statements and reports from the years 2007 to 2009 available online. We will upload these articles in the coming weeks.
The re-launch of the website is an important step in promoting the Irish national liberation struggle in Continental Europe. Republican Sinn Féin could establish a lively structure in Germany, Austria and Italy in the last years. The new website will give us the opportunity to further spread the message of the Republican Movement in Continental Europe.
On the other hand it gives the readers and supporters easier navigation and full access to our archived material.
We hope you enjoy the new re-designed website and we appreciate comments!
Beir bua!
11. Private firm to reap Euro1.15bn bonanza from M50 toll deal
A PRIVATE company is set to reap a massive 1.15bn Euro windfall from the M50 West-Link toll bridges it built for just Euro 58m .
National Toll Roads (NTR) almost recouped the entire construction costs in 2007 alone, when it took in 46m Euro in tolls from motorists.
And it is going to get up to Euro50m per year for the next decade in compensation from the 26-County State, which bought out the notorious tolled link in 2008.
NTR made Euro2.3m from the toll bridge during the first year of its operation in 1990.
But as traffic volumes on the M50 increased, this figure rapidly rose to Euro4m the next year, Euro8.2m in 1995, Euro17m in 1997 and peaked at Euro46m in 2007.
According to the 26-County State’s National Roads Authority (NRA), NTR’s total earnings from the link, from 1990 to 2020, will be a staggering Euro1,155,786,122.
Labour transport spokesman Tommy Broughan said the deal signed with NTR in 1987 was a “grotesque rip-off of the State”.
He added: “I really think it should be investigated again how that contract came about.”
At the 26-County Assembly’s Public Accounts committee in December, Tommy Broughan questioned whether the contract, which was signed by former Fianna Fail 26-County Environment Minister Padraig Flynn and former Dublin assistant city and county manager George Redmond, was a result of a “grotesquely incompetent or corrupt agreement”.
The Flood Tribunal has heard evidence that Flynn was given a political donation of £8,000 in 1992 by NTR.
It also heard evidence that former NTR head Tom Roche Snr gave a IR£10,000 donation to Redmond for his help in acquiring land to build the toll bridge on.
There was no termination clause in the West-Link contract, which left the 26-County State in a weak position when it wanted to buy out NTR to introduce barrier-free tolling on the M50.
National Roads Authority (NRA) chief executive Fred Barry said he was not provided with any evidence of corruption in the awarding of the contract. But he agreed it had led to a “windfall situation” for NTR, while the 26-County Department of Transport said it was like “winning the lotto”.
According to a consultants’ report commissioned by NTR, the cost of building the original West-Link bridge in 1990 was IR£27.6m (Euro35m). The building of a second span in 2003 to expand the number of lanes cost Euro23m — bringing the total cost of the West-Link to Euro58m.
The NRA has confirmed that NTR will earn Euro1.15bn from the link. But this does not include the toll income it had to pay to the 26-County State until 2008 under a revenue-sharing agreement.
In that year, the 26-County State agreed to buy out NTR’s contract to operate the tolls, which was due to run until 2020. Barrier-free tolling was introduced and the State is now making annual payments to compensate NTR for lost toll revenue.
A spokesman for NTR defended the deal it signed with the 26-County Administration to buy out its interest in the West-Link.
“While the company might have liked to continue operating the West-Link, fair agreement was reached and since the agreement was reached, there appear not to have been any complaints by the NRA, the Government (sic) or the Comptroller and Auditor General,” he said.
The spokesman was asked about the appropriateness of NTR’s company slogan “securing a greener future” — given that it is still earning up to Euro50m annually from cars using the West-Link toll bridge.
“What you’re demonstrating is a misunderstanding of NTR as a company. Most of their business is now in North America investing in solar, wind and ethanol production, and waste management,” he said.
National Toll Roads (NTR) began as a humble operator of toll bridges.
It was founded in 1978 to build the first tolled facility in the country — the East Link Toll Bridge in Dublin, which proved an enormous success for the company.
It then went on to build the West Link Toll Bridge on the M50. But it has used the massive revenues from motorists to expand into several new business areas, including waste, energy and telecommunications.
It now describes itself as an international renewable energy group, with businesses in Ireland, the UK and North America. Its companies include Arizona-based solar energy firm Stirling Energy Systems (SES), Wind Capital Group in Missouri, and Nebraska’s Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE), an ethanol producer. NTR’s businesses here include Greenstar Waste and Irish Broadband.
Its chairman is Tom Roche Jnr, who co-founded the company with his father, the late Tom Roche Snr.
Tom Roche Jnr said last year that the 26-County State’s buy-out of the West Link Toll Bridge had decimated the company’s toll business in Ireland “albeit at a good price”.
“However, despite that, I can’t really complain. The family is not poor and NTR is great fun,” he told a breakfast briefing at UCD’s Smurfit Business School.
In 2009, NTR posted an operating loss of Euro64.9m for its half-year to the end of September due to lower activity levels in the waste sector and its disposal of the West Link toll.
12. Political hostages have no place in a democracy
MARKING THE 34th year of imprisonment for Native American Rights activist Leonard Peltier, on February 5 political activist Michael Rooney of Mayo Greenpeace e-mailed a letter to the US Dept of Justice.
Michael Rooney
65 McHale Road
Castlebar
County Mayo
Ireland
Phone: 094 9060921
Mobile: 087 7934982
February 5th, 2010
For the Attention of the Attorney General
Re: Leonard Peltier
A Chara,
Today is the anniversary of 34 year of injustice for Leonard Peltier.
This man has been a political prisoner of the US government for all this time and I am demanding that his case be brought up for an Executive Review immediately.
Political hostages have no place in a democracy.
Every person has the right to freedom until they commit a crime against humanity. The right to speak out against a government is not a crime.
By keeping this man imprisoned, you are guilty of the crime of apartheid.
Is mise,
Michael Rooney
13. Shell to Sea complains about letter
Corrib gas protesters have been told by 26-County Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan that there was no intention to interfere in the planning process with a letter sent by a Department of Energy official to An Bord Pleanála.
The letter was criticised by by representatives of Shell to Sea, who met Ryan at 26-County Administration Buildings.
On November 2 the planning board determined almost half the proposed route for the project was “unacceptable”.
A spokesman for Eamon Ryan said the official’s letter was a restatement in writing of testimony given at An Bord Pleanála’s oral hearing.
Shell EP Ireland was given a three-month extension on February 2 to submit a revised application to An Bord Pleanála for the controversial Corrib gas pipeline route in Co Mayo.
On November 3 the planning board determined almost half the proposed route was “unacceptable” on safety grounds, and directed Shell to examine an alternative partial route up Sruwaddacon Bay, away from housing.
The 26-County Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources challenged parts of An Bord Pleanála’s handling of the issue in a letter on January 20. In it, aspects of the November decision are criticised, particularly the “risk assessment methodology espoused in the Board’s letter” to Shell. The department’s chief technical officer Bob Hanna said this is based “solely on consequence”.
“To illustrate by way of example, a ‘consequence only’ approach means that one would have to design and build an aircraft which would protect its passengers from harm when it crashes,” the letter stated.
Rossport resident Monica Muller questioned Shell’s intention of bringing the pipe up the bay. “In the board’s decision of November 2nd last, they directed Shell to examine the possibility of redirecting part of the high-pressure pipeline route up Sruwaddacon Bay, thus bringing it away from houses in Glengad, Aughoose and Rossport. But Shell has not referred to this in any of the correspondence since to the board,” Monica Muller said.
14. Spy case inquest adjourned by coroner
CORONER DR Denis McCauley on February 4 warned that he must see progress in the 26-County Police inquiry into the murder of Provo/British double agent Denis Donaldson within six months.
He agreed to further adjourn the inquest. But he would not go as far as gardaí sought – a minimum of nine months.
Dr McCauley said as it was the fourth occasion on which the Donaldson inquest was being adjourned he would expect an indication as to whether a prosecution is pending or if there was serious progress in investigations.
Donaldson was murdered in his remote home at Classey, Cloghercor, near Doochary, Glenties, Co Donegal, on April 4, 2006.
At the inquest in Letterkenny Supt Michael Finan said he would be requesting an adjournment and that continuing investigations had uncovered several important matters.
He was asked by the coroner: “You are acting with vigourEuro” Supt Finan replied: “Very much so.” The coroner then said: “I would adjourn for six months, but at six months I would need an update. You would have to give me a very good reason as to why you will not go forward at that stage.”
The inquest was adjourned until August 26.
Ends/Críoch
Pc Stephen Carroll, 48, was gunned down as he answered a call-out in Craigavon.
Since early on Tuesday morning, about 60 Garda detectives have been searching homes and business premises in Cork city and in the north of the county.
The moves involve the INLA and an ‘Official’ republican splinter group.
The South Down MLA beat South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell in the contest to replace outgoing Mark Durkan as the head of the party.
The conference also heard from the two leadership candidates Alasdair McDonnell and Margaret Ritchie.
The move took place in recent weeks and is expected to be confirmed on Monday by the INLA and General John de Chastelain, head of the IICD.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands