SAOIRSE32

Irish Democrat

The Real Chief

Peter Berresford Ellis reviews The Real Chief: Liam Lynch, Meda Ryan, Mercier Press, (new edition, 2005), ISBN 1-85635-460-1, €15.95 pbk

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LIAM LYNCH (1893-1923) from Co. Limerick, has been much overlooked by modern Irish historians and, even when noticed, he has been often scathingly dismissed as merely a `gunman’. Among republican historiographers, he has been eclipsed by the exploits of Tom Barry or Ernie O’Malley.

But Lynch, as commander of Cork No 2 Brigade, was one of the farsighted guerrilla leaders whose activities in the south-west of Ireland during the War of Independence were to force England to the negotiating table.

He is perhaps best remembered for his capture of Brigadier C.H.T. Lucas, commanding the 16th Infantry Brigade at Fermoy, and two of his colonels. The professionalism of that exploit and the courtesy with which he treated his prisoners earned praise from no less a person than General Lucas himself. The general’s troops, however, ran amok in the area, destroying property and injuring innocent bystanders when news of the brigadier’s capture reached them.

Lynch stood firmly for the republic. His most famous quote was: “We have declared for an Irish Republic, and will not live under any other law”. Florence O’Donoghue used that for the title of his study of Lynch and the period No Other Law (1954) which remained the only work fully acknowledging Lynch until Dr Ryan.

As the country moved towards civil war in 1922, the majority of the former republican forces elected Lynch as Chief of Staff of the republican forces at a Dublin convention. When the `Provisional Government’ with borrowed British artillery, opened fire on the republican positions in Dublin, and the civil war became a fact, Lynch assumed command of his old division, the 1st Southern Division.

As the new government was able to recruit and arm, not from their old comrades in the republican forces, but from the disbanded Irish regiments of the British army, it soon became clear that the republican forces, initially outnumbering the Provisional government forces, were themselves outnumbered and outgunned. As the pro-Treaty forces moved into Cork, Lynch ordered his field army to split into small irregular units or flying columns.

But the forces of the `Provisional Government’ were unstoppable.

Meda Ryan’s biography, with the aid of Lynch’s personal letters and other documents, traces the life of one of Ireland’s most devoted sons who put in abeyance his own life - he was engaged to be married and had it postponed until an end of the hostilities - to serve the country.

The author shows that Lynch was not the narrow fanatic that he has been painted by some modern commentators but that he initially sought to avoid a civil war. At the same time he was unwavering in his effort to achieve a thirty-two country republic rather than a broken, partitioned land which, he well knew, would only lead to future bloodshed through subsequent generations until the country was eventually reunified and independent.

He gave his life in that cause in April, 1923, when forces of the ‘Provisional Government’ shot him dead as he made his way to a meeting of the Republican executive at which a discussion to the end of the war was scheduled.

This is an essential book, one they clears up the speculation whether Lynch was assassinated by fellow republicans who wanted to surrender to the ‘Provisional Government’ or whether he was shot after being taken prisoner. Meda Ryan examines and presents the evidence, which should finally end such speculation.

Once again, Meda Ryan, as in her book on Tom Barry, has done a great service and secured her reputation as one of the most important historians of the turbulent years of 1916-23. She has demonstrated that there is still much we have to learn about this crucial period in Irish history.

IOL

Sellafield dangers ‘could last 150 years’

14/04/2005 - 18:45:23

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Dangers posed by the Sellafield nuclear plant could threaten Ireland for the next 150 years, it was claimed today.

With the site winding down operations the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland warned discharge levels of radioactive waste would increase during decommissioning.

But Dr Ann McGarry, RPII chief executive, said the possibility of an accident was small.

“We spent considerable time during the visit discussing accident scenarios and the implications for Ireland of any significant release of radioactivity,” Dr McGarry said.

“Our overall impression was that a good start had been made, but that the scale of decommissioning works to be undertaken would present very real challenges to both the operators and regulators for many years to come.”

An RPII report on the future of Sellafield found that decommissioning and final site remediation of the 700 acre site could run until 2150.

Dr McGarry said potential contamination in Ireland in the wake of a serious accident or incident at Sellafield could force authorities to step in to reduce contamination in the foodchain.

And the RPII noted challenges facing British Nuclear Fuels Limited should not be underestimated.

The cost of clean-up and decommissioning could hit £150m (€220m) a year until 2020, the group claimed.

Sellafield, originally known as Windscale, and only 12 miles from the Irish coast, was built in the late 1940s and first generated electricity with its Calder Hall reactor in 1956.

However, controversy soon reigned after a fire broke out in a chimney the following year spreading radioactivity across the Cumbrian countryside.

At the time, it was the world’s worst nuclear accident and is still regarded as Britain’s most severe.

Nowadays the site includes a mixed oxide (Mox) plant. Built in 1997, it processes waste from other countries’ nuclear power plants, making the material reusable.

But it also produces vast quantities of waste water and high-level nuclear waste which has to be kept far away from humans for 250,000 years.

And Dr McGarry said BNFL had shown a greater focus on dealing with waste from the closure of other nuclear plants across the UK and on managing their own legacy wastes.

The RPII report followed a visit from the RPII last September to see first hand the facilities at Sellafield, security issues however were outside the scope of the trip.

Dick Roche, Environment Minister, said improved talks had led to increased access for Irish officials to the site.

But he warned the dangers would not disappear overnight.

“British nuclear safety, and in particular the activities at Sellafield, have long been a cause of concern for Ireland, and the RPII report shows that this is not going to change in the medium term,” the minister said.

The main activities at the site now involve the storage and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, the storage of plutonium and uranium, the fabrication of mixed oxide fuel and decommissioning activities.

The RPII report noted shutting down the plant would cause unspecified radioactive discharges.

It also revealed there were no commitments to a guaranteed reduction in discharges.

The RPII said the scope and extent of the terrorist threat assessments undertaken for BNFL were not known. Officials said they were seriously concerned about the lack of information.

The group did however discuss on-site and off-site emergency arrangements with BNFL staff and Cumbria County Council officials.

Indymedia Ireland

Australian Beauty Facing Indonesian Firing Squad

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For rest of story and to join petition to save Shapelle please click here.

Daily Ireland

Loyalists petrol bomb Belfast hotel

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A petrol bomb attack on a Belfast hotel which forced the evacuation of 150 guests yesterday has been blamed on loyalist paramilitaries.
A PSNI source said detectives are working on the theory that the attack was carried out by individual members of a loyalist group in south Belfast.
Five petrol bombs were thrown at the Days Hotel in Hope Street at around 4am yesterday.
Damage was caused to the front and side of the hotel.
Smoke travelled to the third, fourth and fifth floors of the hotel, which is situated close to the loyalist Sandy Row area.
Fire Officer Harry Dawson said it was a very serious situation.
“There were five petrol bombs in total thrown at Days Hotel, directed to the back of the hotel, convenient to the oil tank and basement area,” he said.
Panicked guests were quickly evacuated from the hotel.
“Police do not believe the attack was carried out on behalf of any loyalist organisation,” the PSNI source said.
“However, we are working on the theory that individuals connected to paramilitaries may have been involved.”
Loyalist paramilitaries have been behind a series of racist attacks in south Belfast including distributing racist leaflets and petrol-bombing homes.
Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine said he didn’t know who was behind the petrol bombing, but said it was a “shocking and stupid attack”.
“This is an incredibly nearsighted and unbelievably stupid attack,” said Mr Ervine. “I cannot work out the motives of the people involved but whoever they are, they are morons.
“This could have cost lives and it sends out an appalling message to visitors.”
The hotel owner, Lord Rana, said immediately after the attack he did not believe loyalists were responsible.
However, he called on the PSNI to get on top of the situation.
“It is more annoying than worrying – the security situation needs to be dealt with by the PSNI,” he said.
“In Sandy Row we are the only company who have made a major investment, who have helped to regenerate the area and have created more employment in that area.
“It is more a community issue. Community leaders and people living in the area – they need to look at the whole situation and deal with it,” he said.
“We could deal with the situation. We could reconsider our future plans and decide if we really want to invest in that area or not,” he said.
The Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau (BVCB) said such attacks hinder their work.
“While such events don’t help, BVCB is confident that by continuing its promotional strategy we will be able to attract visitors,” said a spokesman.

IOL

DUP ‘making it harder for SF to secure IRA stand-down’

14/04/2005 - 13:20:37

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has accused the Democratic Unionist Party of making it harder to persuade the IRA to stand down.

Speaking in Belfast this morning, Mr Adams said hardline comments from DUP members were hampering his efforts to get the organisation to commit to exclusively peaceful means.

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson has said it might take a generation before his party agrees to share power with Sinn Féin.

Mr Adams said he accepted that such comments were election-related, but said they made his task considerably more difficult.

RTE News

Student remanded over Holohan death

14 April 2005 14:24

Wayne O’Donoghue

An engineering student charged with the manslaughter of 11-year-old Robert Holohan in Midleton, Co Cork last January, has been remanded in custody for a week.

However, Judge Michael Patwell has warned that if the State seeks a further extension, he will want to hear the reasons for the delay from an official in the Office for the Director of Public Prosecutions, or from the garda in charge of the investigation.

20-year-old Wayne O’Donoghue will be back in court again next week.

Robert’s body was discovered near Inch Strand in east Cork eight days after he disappeared.

A post mortem examination showed that he died of asphyxiation.

Daily Ireland

Crews under fire

The British government was yesterday accused of underplaying more than 1,000 attacks on the North’s firefighters during the past three years.
Bricks, bottles and missiles are thrown at fire crews even as they fight fires and ambushes have also been set for firefighters, according to new research carried out for the Fire Brigade’s Union (FBU).
Other attacks include scaffolding poles being thrown through windscreens of fire engines, crews being attacked with concrete blocks, bricks and bottles, being shot at, spat at, equipment tampered with or stolen, direct physical assaults on fire crews, and equipment being urinated on.
The research also found there are 40 attacks on fire crews in the North and in Britain every week and the problem is getting worse.
The FBU claims that under-reporting of attacks means that the figure could be as much as three times higher.
Official figures from the North reveal there were 1,200 attacks on crews in the last three years, with serious concerns that the problem is being underplayed.
Jim Barbour, NI FBU representative, hit out at the North’s Health and Public Safety Minister, Angela Smith for lacking the commitment to resolve the problem.
“This research is clear evidence that the attacks on firefighters is a very serious problem, not just in Northern Ireland, but across the UK,” he said. “The research also shows that senior management, the British government and the media are brushing this serious issue under the carpet. A young boy died in Scotland during an attack on a fire crew a few weeks ago but that was underplayed by the press.”
“The FBU carried out this research to highlight the true extent of the problem across the UK, given the ineptitude of Direct Rule Ministers in Northern Ireland,” said Jim Barbour.
“We need more than crocodile tears from Angela Smyth to solve this problem and I think it’s an absolute disgrace the FBU had to pay for its own research to highlight the issue.”
FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said the number and ferocity of the attacks on firefighters appears to be getting worse.
“These attacks are inexcusable and must not be tolerated. It can never be part of anyone’s job to get a brick or bottle in the head or to be spat at. The causes appear complex and we need more than knee-jerk reaction headlines calling for ‘crackdowns’. There is no quick-fix solution but we need to start with a properly resourced, national strategy rather than it being left to cash-strapped local fire services,” Mr Gilchrist said.
However, Angela Smith has described the accusations that the British government is playing down the number of attacks on firefighters as “blatantly untrue”.
She urged firefighters to make sure all attacks were brought to the attention of the authorities.
“If that is the case, I really would urge those firefighters who report the cases to make sure that the reports are accurate, because the report themselves come from firefighters out on the ground.
“They report them to headquarters and I get the figures from them.”

Irelandclick.com

Uncovering another Belfast revolutionary
Secret local history of 1916 hero

Sean MacDiarmada

It has been well documented that Irish socialist James Connolly lived in Belfast prior to his participation and subsequent death in the 1916 Rising. Little, however, has been written about his compatriot, Sean MacDiarmada, who also dwelt in the city before his execution in 1916 – until now, that is.

Belfast author Gerard McAtasney has undertaken the less travelled path to write a book on one of the signatories of the Proclamation who hasn’t received as much coverage as his fellow patriots including Patrick Pearse and the aforementioned James Connolly.

Sean MacDiarmada was born in County Leitrim in 1883 and in his youth worked as a gardener and tram conductor at home and in Edinburgh. However, it was in Belfast that he was sworn into the Irish Republican Brotherhood which started him off on his relatively short but highly significant journey through Irish politics.

“Sean took a teacher’s exam called the King’s Scholarship Exam. He failed it and seemed to be at a loose end which led him to go to Belfast in late 1905. He got a job working on the trams in Belfast and may have lived in Hannahstown for a while, but it is certain that he ended up in Butler Street in Ardoyne which was close to the tram depot,” explained Gerard McAtasney.

In Belfast, Sean MacDiarmada joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians which was closely associated with the Irish Parliamentary Party. Whilst the AOH were then considered to be the custodians of Irish nationalism, MacDiarmada did not remain a member of the Order for long.

Soon after settling in Belfast he joined the local branch of the Gaelic League and became a fine Irish speaker. It was in the Gaelic League that he came into contact with such men as Denis McCullough and Bulmer Hobson, who were then leading the secret republican organisation, the IRB, and working through an open political organisation called Cumann na nGael, an advanced political movement which advocated republicanism and was founded by Arthur Griffith.

“Denis McCullough from the Grosvenor Road and Bulmer Hobson from Holywood were at that time reorganising the IRB which had essentially become a drinking club,” added Gerard.

“They made it their job to purge the useless members of the Brotherhood and recruit new members who were keen to further the republican cause. It was these two men who established the Dungannon Clubs, named in memory of the 1782 volunteers who had sworn allegiance to Dungannon.”

The original Dungannon Clubs were organised after the Convention at Dungannon in February 1782 at which the Irish volunteers demanded – and were subsequently granted – legislative independence for Ireland.
“McCullough and Hobson would travel around Ulster giving speeches, it would have been at one of the speeches that Sean MacDiarmada would first have encountered them.

“In early 1906 he joined the Dungannon Clubs himself and his personal charm, sincerity and his capacity for hard work made him the obvious choice for the IRB who employed him as a full-time organiser.”

MacDiarmada would travel mainly through Counties Antrim and Down, organising and giving speeches. He made an impact right away and became a very active member.
“The first time the public would have become aware of MacDiarmada would have been after his debut speech which he gave in Clonard Street in June 1906, from then on his name was on secret police files until his death in 1916.”

By 1907, after the amalgamation of the Dungannon Clubs and Cumann na nGael to form the Sinn Féin League, MacDiarmada became the Sinn Féin organiser in Ulster and then the Director of Elections in a North Leitrim by-election.

“This was the first time that Sinn Féin involved themselves in a British election. The hard work that MacDiarmada put in was recognised and put his profile on the national stage. Through this, he lost his Belfast base and moved to Dublin in 1908.”

In the capital MacDiarmada developed a close friendship with Thomas Clarke and became one of the founding members of the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and was Secretary of the Supreme Council of the IRB. He was a member of the Military Council and member of the Provisional Government.

Sean MacDiarmada fought in the GPO in 1916 where he was attached to the headquarters staff under James Connolly. It was MacDiarmada who read Padraig Pearse’s letter of surrender to those in the GPO. He was subsequently executed on May 12, 1916 – the same day as James Connolly.
Gerard took six years to research and complete the book, he studied files on Mac Diarmada kept in Ireland, England and the US.

“Ironically, much of the information came from secret British files made available in the 1960s and court martial papers from the English National Archives made available in 1998. These are not available in Ireland,” said Gerard.

So, why did he choose Sean MacDiarmada when most authors hone in on the more famous faces of the 1916 Rising?

“Due to my close family connections with Leitrim, I had written several books on the area in relation to the famine, but it was a publisher who approached me to write this one about Sean who was from Leitrim. I was more than happy to do so.

“MacDiarmada’s spell in Belfast was crucial to the formation of his Irish republican outlook, it was here at the young age of 22 that he first became involved in Irish politics. He reigned supreme in reactivating old Fenian clubs of republicanism and setting up new IRB branches throughout Belfast and the surrounding areas.

“The influence that Belfast, which was then considered the cradle of republicanism, had on Sean MacDiarmada can not be understated.”

• Sean MacDiarmada, The Mind of the Revolution is available in most bookshops priced £15.

Irelandclick.com

Reverse Suicide decision
Community anger after BRO funding is refused

Local representatives, community workers and politicians are enraged by the decision to refuse funding to a project aimed at raising suicide awareness in West Belfast.

The news comes as West Belfast comes to terms with the death of two more young men who took their lives in the past number of days.

Last month the Andersonstown News reported on a unique project which deals with the agonising issue of suicide via a stage play. The play, which has yet to be named, was being developed by St Peter’s Immaculata Youth Club in conjunction with the Dubbeljoint theatre company and the project workers claim they were virtually guaranteed the £5,000 required to stage the show by a very interested Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO).

This week, however, those involved in the project were dealt a cruel blow when BRO announced that they would not be funding the project. Danny Murphy, a youth worker at St Peter’s and the organiser of the play, says those involved are furious with the decision.

“We have been working on this for a long time and we’ve essentially had the carpet pulled from beneath us. We are all set to go ahead with the play scheduled for this summer and our work and the work of all those involved will not go to waste despite this insensitive decision.”

A determined Mr Murphy revealed that numerous people had contacted him following the feature in the Andersonstown News

“We had people ringing to enquire about the play, asking when it will begin, not only grieving relatives but support networks and the general public. We have committed to these people and will not be letting them down. If we don’t get the money from the BRO, we will be raising the money ourselves.”

Mr Murphy said the play was just one aspect of the whole project and that the community groups had planned to do follow up discussions to raise awareness and talk about suicide prevention strategies.

“This isn’t just a play, it’s about empowerment, prevention and guiding people to the relevant resources. We realise it is a dark and grim topic but it has to be addressed, it will certainly break hearts but will also act as a wake-up call. The BRO can talk about not being able to afford £5,000 for funding but the communities most certainly cannot afford to lose any more people through suicide.”
Evelyn Gilroy lost her daughter Denise to an overdose almost four years ago – she is equally upset at the announcement. “This decision was made against the backdrop of yet another suicide conference. It seems to me that the bureaucrats are paying lip service to the issue of suicide, they are always talking about it but we don’t see any action. Here we had the community doing something constructive and positive to highlight the issue and now we’re told that they cannot fund the project for £5,000. That type of money is a drop in the ocean for these statutory groups and it’s a shame that they are refusing to fund it.”

Local Sinn Féin councillor for the area, Fra McCann, said the announcement wasn’t a one-off, isolated incident. “This is a play put together to highlight the difficulties faced by young people, it was made by the community for the community. BRO had indicated a specific interest in funding it and whilst it is a shame that they have decided against it, this is just the latest in a litany of West Belfast community groups being on the wrong end of decisions taken by BRO. They appear to be denying the impact that community groups can have and at this late hour of the project I would urge them to have a prick of conscience and reverse the decision.”

West Belfast MP Gerry Adams welcomed the initiative by the North and West Belfast Health Action Zone to discuss forming a Suicide Task group for the area but added:

“Community-based services providing a lifeline to those at risk in West and North Belfast are being under-funded by millions of pounds. The Department of Health and others, such as the Belfast Regeneration Office, know this but their approach is putting lifeline services at risk. Sinn Féin has demanded that the funding inequality is reversed. We will continue to campaign for an effective, properly resourced regional strategy for suicide prevention.”
A spokesperson for the BRO said, “DSD received over 500 expressions of interest for Neighbourhood Renewal Phase II funding of which St Peter’s Youth Club was one. Therefore, it has been necessary to prioritise for appraisal key organisations that are vital to the implementation of Neighbourhood Renewal.

“In the longer term, the Neighbourhood Partnership Boards will consult with local communities to set the priorities under which future funding will be available. DSD recognises the importance of work being undertaken to address suicide and self harm which is why Belfast Regeneration Office is represented on the Suicide Task Group launched yesterday.”

Journalist:: Staff Reporter

Irelandclick.com

Falls jobseeker invited to apply for spy post

A West Belfast jobseeker was left dumbstruck when he was invited to apply for a job in British Military Intelligence – on the Falls Road!

The local man, who was looking for a job on a visit to the Falls Road Jobs and Benefits Office, nearly fell off his chair when he accidentally typed the wrong reference number into the computer database of jobs and was invited to consider a career monitoring “the activities of the nation’s enemies”.

Disturbingly, a job heading, ‘Operator Military Intelligence, Intelligence Corps’ popped up on screen before him.

The job advert outlines the duties of the post as: “The linguist (Operator Military Intelligence) is employed in a real-time operation to monitor the activities of the nation’s enemies. This requires the ability to intercept enemy radio messages, unravel their meaning and submit reports to the appropriate headquarters.”

The advert goes on to say that the suitable candidate will have: “A high degree of aptitude in a foreign language and the ability to operate in the IT field.

“The task is a complex and demanding one but the product delivered from the application of the linguist’s skill and experience is vital to an operational commander.”

Qualification requirements for the post are GCSE grade C in English, a foreign language, two other academic subjects and to be eligible for a British passport.

Disgusted Sinn Féin Councillor Fra McCann says he can’t believe that the job would be advertised in West Belfast.

“I was shocked when I saw the ad that he retrieved from the computer in the jobs centre on the Falls Road.

“It is strange that this is advertised in a place where the only experience of British intelligence in the past has been their involvement in the murder of republicans and nationalists.

“They are still heavily involved in undercover operations and gathering intelligence on local people. The British government can’t give people here real jobs and a living wage, but they can offer careers in spying and skullduggery.”

Andree Murphy, a spokesperson for Relatives for Justice, said that the tone of the advert reflected badly on the security forces. “This job is advertised with the old militaristic, cold war mindset. They clearly have not taken on any human rights training that they have informed us that they had committed to.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Employment and Learning told the Andersonstown News: “The vacancy concerned has been widely advertised in the press and is a bona fide one posted by a Government agency. Job Centre online carries a significant number of government vacancies at any given time.”

If the local man had been inclined to apply for the spook position, it is likely that he would have been deterred by the wage. After completion of training, the pay offered is £219 per week for a 48-hour week, which works out at approximately £4.56 per hour. This is 29p below the minimum wage, which stands at £4.85 per hour for people aged 22 and over. However, the MoD is able to offer their £4.56 per hour wage because the British armed forces are exempt from minimum wage legislation.

Journalist:: Staff Reporter

Irelandclick.com

President visits the home of late Uncle
Mary McAleese in West Belfast to pay respects at wake house to teacher and GAA stalwart Pat Trainor

PRESIDENT’S UNCLE IS BURIED

Large crowd at Andersonstown funeral of Pat Trainor, the well-known local teacher and GAA stalwart

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, made a whistlestop visit to the Ardmore home of her uncle, local school teacher and GAA stalwart Patrick Trainor, who passed away on Sunday. President McAleese attended the wake on Tuesday evening but prior commitments prevented her from being able to be present in person at yesterday’s funeral.

However, the President was represented at the funeral by her husband, Martin McAleese, who joined the throng of mourners for the huge funeral at St Agnes’ church at midday on Wednesday. As a mark of respect, Holy Child Primary School took the unprecedented step of sending the children home early and closing half-day on Wednesday.

Patrick Trainor, a much-loved and widely respected Holy Child teacher, died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Born in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast, Patrick attended St Patrick’s Primary School in Donegall Street during the 1940s before progressing to St Mary’s Grammar School in Barrack Street.

A keen hurler, Patrick played with Pearse’s GAC in Ardoyne, but that club’s priorities lay with football and so he switched to Éire Óg where he won the Junior Championship in 1968. There he played with the Rice family and his wife-to-be’s brother, Declan McManus.

In 1965 Patrick married Ann McManus at Holy Cross Church in Ardoyne, having met her through his sister Josephine. The couple had three sons, Tim, Patrick and Damien, and three daughters, Aine, Roisin and Clodagh, and the family lived in Dalebrook before moving to Ardmore in 1976.

Qualifying from St Joseph’s Teacher Training College, he took up his job in Holy Child Primary School in 1964. He loved his life teaching at Holy Child, and that was reflected in the fact that it was to be the only teaching appointment he ever held, devoting over 40 years to generations of pupils who remember him with fondness.

Through his love and care of the children, he developed the academic, sporting, and spiritual aspects of their lives. The welfare of local children was his priority, even outside of work. He organised summer schemes and camping holidays to Newcastle during the dark years of the Troubles to allow the children of West Belfast some respite from the violence of the times. Patrick was also a hard-working youth leader in St Michael’s Youth Club, Finaghy Road North.

As Treasurer, Patrick was involved in Cumann na mBunscoil, the sporting association of primary schools. Helping to organise competitions in the various Gaelic games, including hurling, handball and football, he helped the organisation grow from humble beginnings into the success it is today.

In his last weeks it was apparent how well loved Patrick was in the constant stream of visitors to his hospital bedside and, finally, in the very large crowd at his funeral. Patrick will be sadly missed by his family, colleagues, pupils, friends and the West Belfast community.

Journalist:: Staff Reporter

Belfast Telegraph

Kiss of life: surgeon says future’s bright for brave Pearce

By Nigel Gould
14 April 2005

Ulster prayers for Pearce Gilmore were answered last night when the little boy’s US surgeon declared: “He has got his life back.”

Speaking exclusively to the Belfast Telegraph from the Montefiore Children’s Hospital in New York, Dr Rick Abbot said the Coleraine youngster’s progress since his brain op several days ago had exceeded all expectations.

And he revealed that the tumour - part of which was removed - was benign.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Dr Abbot predicted a future for the nine-year-old, who was so desperately ill a few weeks ago that his dad, Seamus, was fearful his little boy would not live to see his 10th birthday in six days’ time.

But the contrast between then and now could not be greater.

“Things couldn’t be any better for him,” Dr Abbot said. “We are very happy. He is extremely well.

“We have relieved the pressure so the brain can work better.

“He had problems with control on the right-hand side of his body. Now his co-ordination has improved and his speech is better.

“He has found his humour again and is playing about with his family and joking around. He is a different kid.

“When he came here he was in a hole. Now he is in good shape.

“He was not far from becoming wheelchair-bound.

“He would have ended up severely disabled over a period of years had he not had this operation.

“But right now things couldn’t be any better.

“He is now where he was some four months ago.”

Dr Abbot said he may now recommend that the youngster has special radiation treatment which will stop the tumour growing.

“He may be going home next week if he can receive the radiation in Northern Ireland,” Dr Abbot said.

“If not, we will keep him here to have it.”

More than £40,000 was raised by readers of the Belfast Telegraph across Northern Ireland to send Pearce to the US.

As well as the cash, there were many phone calls and emails to our office from wellwishers from all over the world.

Pearce travelled to the US last week with his dad, mum Sophie and other members of his family.

Just days after his surgery he was up joking with nurses and playing with his family.

He has also been eating small amounts of food.

Since he went to America, calls have come in every day to the Telegraph from readers wanting an update on Pearce’s condition.

One caller yesterday simply said: “Please tell Pearce we are praying every day for him.”

Recently, Mr Gilmore said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of Ulster people who contributed to Pearce’s fund.

BBC

Protests after first NI Asbo

Campaigners for children’s rights say they are disappointed that the first Anti-Social Behaviour Order has been served in Northern Ireland.

The Asbo restricts the behaviour and movements of a Coleraine teenager in the area over the next eight weeks.

Koulla Yiasouma from Include Youth said there was no evidence to prove the restricting orders worked.

Paddy Kelly from the Children’s Law Centre said research showed that the orders could make the situation worse.

Asbos are aimed at preventing behaviour which causes alarm or distress to other people.

However, Ms Yiasouma said using Asbos meant that children were ending up with a criminal record for actions which were not criminal.

“They are civil orders which means that you do not get a criminal record,” Ms Yiasouma explained.

“However, if you break the Asbo, you will get a criminal record. The evidence is that most children do break them.

“Therefore, children are ending up with a criminal record for actions that are not criminal.”

Ms Kelly said the decision to serve the order marked a “very sad day” for those people who were suffering as a result of anti-social behaviour.

“All the independent research in England and Wales suggest that Asbos do not work,” she said.

“In fact, there is research emerging now to say that they exacerbate the problem.”

Exclusion

Ms Kelly said she had been speaking to people in Belfast’s Falls and Shankill communities who were amongst those who had suffered most because of anti-social behaviour.

She said they were opposed to Asbos. Ms Kelly said the orders excluded children from the community and drained money from projects which might actually work.

“What the communities are saying is: ‘Let’s get something that will actually work’,” she said.

The youth on whom the first order was placed cannot be named for legal reasons. A full hearing will take place in June.

The legislation for Asbos came into force in the province last August.

BBC

Pastor’s home is attacked by gang

The home of Pastor Jack McKee was attacked

The home of the Belfast pastor and community worker Jack McKee has been attacked by a gang.

The front windows of his house in the Shankill area were smashed and his car was destroyed by a petrol bomb in the overnight attack.

Pastor McKee said he had no doubt that the incident was linked to his Christian based taxi firm, Liberty, which was set up recently.

He also said the attack was linked to public statements he had made.

“Some group of men sat down somewhere recently and discussed my name and what they were going to do with me,” Pastor McKee said.

“They found me guilty of something in their eyes and I kind of wonder what they found me guilty for.

“Am I guilty for speaking the truth? Because that’s what I do.”

The pastor said he had brought jobs to the area with his taxi firm which was set up earlier this year.

Pastor McKee and his family were in bed when the attack on his home happened.

He said he saw three men running away, although he believes five or six may have been involved.

DUP assembly member Diane Dodds condemned the attack on Pastor McKee and his family, who she said had been involved in the community life of the area for many years.

“This is a disgraceful incident and is repugnant to all the ordinary people of the Shankill,” she said.

BBC

McCartney sister is ‘threatened’

Paula McCartney said she was threatened

A sister of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney has said she was threatened at her home in the Short Strand area.

Paula McCartney said a woman told her she would be put out of the area.

The family also said they had to stop handing out leaflets about a vigil in her brother’s memory when they were confronted by about a dozen people.

Mr McCartney, 33, was stabbed after a row in a Belfast bar. The IRA has been blamed for the murder and interference with evidence and witnesses.

The family said Mr McCartney’s partner, Bridgeen Hagans, was also told to get out of the area.

The incidents happened on Wednesday in the Short Strand area of east Belfast.

Paula McCartney said the crowd who confronted them as they handed out the leaflets “were screaming and shouting abuse and telling us to get out of the district”.

She said it was a very threatening situation and that the family had made a complaint to the police.

Vigil

Sisters Paula, Gemma, Donna and Clare McCartney, along with Ms Hagans, were distributing leaflets seeking support for a vigil outside Magennis’s bar in Belfast.

Paula said the crowd which gathered “tried to provoke us into physical confrontation but we did not rise to it”.

“This was blatant discrimination, very loud and threatening and they were trying to blacken Robert’s name,” she said.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday, Sinn Fein councillor Joe O’Donnell said he was aware “an altercation had taken place in the area while the McCartney family were distributing leaflets”.

“I had been approached by some members of the family and asked to assist in helping them resolve the situation,” Mr O’Donnell said.

“Subsequently other residents claimed they had been the victim of threats and abusive language by some members of the McCartney family.”

Mr McCartney had been involved in a row in Magennis’s bar on 30 January. He was later found seriously injured near the bar and died in hospital.

No-one has been charged in connection with the murder.