SAOIRSE32

Sinn Féin

Unionist Parties Pressed Over UUP Raid Response

Published: 15 April, 2005

East Belfast Sinn Féin Representative Deborah Devenny this afternoon contrasted the approach of unionist politicians to the raid on the UUP offices in Castlereagh with their approach to the raid on the Sinn Féin Offices in Stormont.

Ms Devenny said:

“When the Sinn Féin Offices in Stormont were raided the PSNI had briefed the media in advance to ensure maximum publicity and senior Special Branch figures including the DUPs Bill Lowry briefed selected members of the media on the operation.

“Today the offices of the UUP were raided in Castlereagh Council and the home of a senior elected representative was also raided as part of an investigation into money laundering. Correctly no media were informed until a fter the raid was completed. As republicans well know the fact that the PSNI raid a home or office does not imply any guilt. However what is stark is the approach to this news by the unionist political parties.

“In the wake of the Stormont raids despite the fact that nobody has been convicted of any offence and many of the original charges have since been dropped, the UUP collapsed the political institutions and the DUP made false allegation after false allegation accusing republicans of criminality and spying.

“It will seem to many within the broad nationalist community that an entirely different approach has been adopted today by the political leaders of unionism in the wake of these raids.” ENDS

Sinn Féin

Gerry Adams responds to request from Dr. Kieran Deeny

Published: 15 April, 2005

Sinn Féin yesterday received an e-mail communication from the Independent Assembly member Kieran Deeny requesting that the Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams withdraw the West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty from the forthcoming election to allow Dr Deeny a free run in the election.

Mr Adams today responded to Dr. Deeny and the text of this letter is below.

15 April 05
Kieran Deeney
Constituency Office
51 Market Street
Omagh BT78 1EL

Kieran a chara

Thank you for your letter of 13 April 05. You ask that Sinn Fein stand aside in west Tyrone to allow you to contest the election as an independent. I see no reason why we should do that. If you want to be elected as MP for West Tyrone then you should go forward on the same basis as all other candidates.

You ask that I withdraw the Sinn Fein candidate and outgoing MP, Pat Doherty. You should be aware that, even if I wanted to do this - and I don’t - Pat has been duly selected by an election convention and ratified by the Ard Chomhairle of our party. I have no authority to overturn this process.

You also know that Sinn Fein, led by Pat Doherty, has a record of solid campaigning on the issue of hospital services in Tyrone. You have been on joint delegations along with Pat and local MLA Barry McElduff to meet with the British Health Minister on this issue.

We have brought forward unified proposals on how to bridge the gap on acute service provision in Tyrone. Along with other parties and individuals Sinn Féin has set aside political differences to lobby along with the other six West Tyrone MLAs for a bridging of the ‘Tyrone Gap’.

The issue of hospital services in Tyrone is a major priority for Pat Doherty. So also are efforts to rebuild the peace process, advance the all-Ireland agenda and continuing work on the wide range of other social and economic issues which Pat has campaigned on over the past number of years.

Sinn Fein provides an unrivalled constituency service for the people of West Tyrone, with two full time constituency offices in Omagh and Strabane and we offer effective political representation at all levels in the constituency.

This level of service for the people cannot be provided by an independent single candidate. Neither can you hope to take up a ministerial position on the Executive when the political institutions are put in place once again. For all these reasons you should throw your weight behind Pat Doherty’s campaign.

Sinn Fein have an obligation to the people of West Tyrone who have put us into a leadership role in the constituency to once again offer them the choice of voting for our party on 5th May. If the people decide once again to put their faith in Pat Doherty then I am sure that Pat and my other colleagues in West Tyrone will look forward to continuing to work with you to address the issue of health provision and of course the other issues which matter to people in that area.

Good luck

Gerry Adams MP

Belfast Telegraph

Bar murder question for SF
‘How many members were in pub?’

By Chris Thornton
15 April 2005

Sinn Fein were told today to own up to how many members of their party were in Magennis’s bar on the night Robert McCartney was murdered.

SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell made the call after it emerged that Sinn Fein members made up more than a tenth of the 70 people in the bar when IRA members took part in the fatal attack on Mr McCartney and a friend.

A handful of people have resigned from Sinn Fein as a result of their suspensions over their murder, the party has confirmed.

A Sinn Fein spokesman has said that “one or two” people had left the party after being suspended pending the investigation into the attack, although information released by Sinn Fein indicates at least three have resigned.

Six Sinn Fein members remain in suspension, the party said.

That means more than a tenth of the 70-strong crowd in the Magennis’s Whiskey Cafe when the attack began were Sinn Fein members at the time.

But a party spokesman said it was not known how many of its members were in the bar.

Dr McDonnell said it is now incumbent on Sinn Fein to say how many of its members were in the bar.

“They need to let us know exactly how many people in the bar were members of Sinn Fein,” he said.

Yesterday it emerged that the party’s two intended council candidates who were in the bar on January 30, the night of the killing, have been placed among those suspended.

Sinn Fein Councillor Joe O’Donnell said Deirdre Hargey and Cora Groogan were not included in the party’s final list of council candidates because “anyone suspended cannot stand as a candidate”.

Those two were not among the seven people initially suspended by the party on March 3.

Ms Hargey spoke at the party’s ard fheis on March 5, two days after the suspensions were announced.

Sinn Fein had intended to run her as a council candidate in South Belfast, while Ms Groogan was reportedly meant to run in Castlereagh.

The two women were not among the seven names of party members in the bar passed to Sinn Fein by the McCartney family. Paula McCartney, one of the murder victim’s sisters, said the family only learned on Wednesday that Ms Hargey, who works for the Markets Development Association, had been suspended. Their suspensions are at least the eighth and ninth confirmed by the party, suggesting at least three people have left Sinn Fein.

Former Sinn Fein councillor Sean Hayes was also later revealed to be in the bar. His name was not among the seven passed to Sinn Fein by the McCartneys, but Sinn Fein have not indicated whether he has been suspended.

Both Ms Groogan and Ms Hargey have reportedly made statements about events around the killing to their solicitors. Those statements were then passed to the Police Ombudsman, who passed them to the PSNI. Police sources have indicated that those statements have little or no evidential value, indicating that they do not deal with the murder. The McCartneys say Ms Groogan gave a fuller account of events in the presence of a taxi driver on the night of the murder.

Meanwhile, the McCartneys say they intend to go ahead with a vigil at the scene of the murder on Sunday at 3pm, in spite of threats made to them on Wednesday.

The sisters of Mr McCartney and his fiancee, Bridgeen Hagans, said they were distributing leaflets about the vigil in the Short Strand area of Belfast on Wednesday.

Belfast Telegraph

Prison wrong to restrict Irish language: judge

By David Gordon
15 April 2005

A judge has ruled that a republican prisoner’s human rights were breached by a restriction on the use of the Irish language in jail craft works.

Maghaberry Prison inmate Conor Casey launched his High Court judicial review battle after some of his drawings were confiscated at the high security jail near Lisburn.

His legal team argued that Prison Service rules on craft works contravened the European Convention of Human Rights.

The guidelines on crafts made in cells state that the “use of any language other than English will be restricted to a simple readily understood inscription”.

They also warn that items which do not comply with this restriction “may not be allowed out of the prison”.

High Court judge Mr Justice Deeny concluded that this rule was unlawful, as it breached the right to freedom of expression under the European Convention.

Paramilitary inmates at Maghaberry are permitted, as a jail privilege, to produce craftworks in their own cells, for circulation by supporters in the outside world.

Materials required for the artistic work may be supplied by the Governor or purchased from the prison tuck shop.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Deeny referred to evidence given by a prison governor, Ian Johnston.

Mr Johnston stated that the jail employs one or more persons who can translate Irish.

This showed that the prison was in a position to translate more than a “simple readily understood inscription” within its own “reasonable resources”, the judge said.

The governor also stated in his evidence that he would not have confiscated two items that were taken from inmate Conor Casey - drawings of the General Post Office in Dublin during the 1916 Rising and the emblem of the County Tyrone Gaelic Athletic Association, which included a few words in Irish.

The judge said Mr Johnston’s acknowledgement “does appear to indicate that at times the policy is either ambiguous or is misinterpreted by some prison officers”.

Mr Justice Deeny concluded his ruling by suggesting that the rules should state: “The use of language which cannot readily be understood by the application of the prison’s current resources will not be permitted.”

BreakingNews.ie

Money laundering probe police raid UUP offices

15/04/2005 - 15:52:32

Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland

Ulster Unionist Party offices were raided today as part of a continuing police investigation into money laundering.

The party office inside the Castlereagh Borough Council office was visited.

A party spokesman said computer equipment and paper files were removed.

The home of Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland - also a member of castlereagh Council - was also raided by the police, party sources said.

A Police Service spokesman said: “As part of our investigation into money laundering police have carried out a number of searches in east Belfast and Castlereagh.

“Two Production Orders have been executed under the Proceeds of Crime Act in the Castlereagh and North Down areas.”

There have been a series of raids and arrests in east Belfast and its outskirts in the past fortnight as part of the police money laundering investigation.

Former Ulster Defence Association “godfather”, Jim Gray, 47, was the first to be arrested – just days after he was ousted as one of six so-called ruling “brigadiers”.

The flamboyant loyalist has been accused of possessing and concealing criminal property.

His girlfriend, 34-year-old Sharon Moss, has also been charged with 16 counts of money laundering.

A prominent Belfast estate agent, Philip Johnston, 39, – who runs a chain of six branches – was also charged of involvement in money laundering by the same team of detectives who charged Gray.

Daily Ireland

McCartneys’ ‘hostile crowd’ claims rejected

The Short Strand residents involved in an exchange of words with the McCartney family on Wednesday afternoon have described as “rubbish” media reports that a dozen people were involved.
Reports in yesterday’s media said a dozen republicans surrounded the McCartney sisters as they handed out leaflets appealing for information about their brother Robert’s murder.
Robert McCartney was killed outside Magennis’s Bar on 30 January in a row with republicans.
Paula McCartney said the crowd gathered and “screamed abuse” at the family.
She also said one of the crowd had threatened to put her out of the area and senior republicans were among the crowd.
However, Short Strand resident Mary King, who was involved in the incident, said only four people were involved – herself, her sister and two children.
“These reports are completely false,” she said.
“The only people there was me, my sister and two kids. My sister was handed a leaflet by the McCartneys and she let it drop to the ground, as is her choice.
“As soon as that happened the McCartneys started shouting abuse and one of them behaved really aggressively. They were shouting and swearing at us and then my son came and told us to leave it.
“I couldn’t believe it when I read there was a dozen people there and that threats had been made. Words were exchanged for sure, but that was it and it came from both sides.
“You can take it from me, I was there and I know what exactly what happened. There was no crowd of men, no senior republicans or otherwise.”
However, Paula McCartney maintained yesterday that a “hostile crowd gathered” and that insults about her dead brother triggered the row.
“They started calling Robert a coward and said the men who killed him were real men. They are fascists, we told them they should be ashamed of themselves. The men joined in and starting shouting sexual abuse at us. It was a disgrace, we are going through enough without this sort of behaviour.”

Irelandclick.com

Taking the heart out of a community

The news that Belvoir Library is to fall under the axe of the South Eastern Library Board has rightly infuriated residents of the already under-resourced estate.

In this Playstation age parents and teachers struggle to lure children away from the front of a television and get them interested in using their imagination and extending their vocabulary through the world of books.

A library is more than just a place to pick up a holiday read. They also supply internet services that are widely used by children whose families find it impossible to keep up with the costs of modern technology that is not just required but expected in this modern age.

The money saved by shutting not just Belvoir but three other libraries including Dunmurry cannot compare to the massive negative effect that these closures will have on the communities that rely on them.

A library helps to shape a community from the pensioners who pop in several times a week for a chat and a book to help alleviate their loneliness to the avid young bookworm with a thirst for knowledge and the young student, struggling to achieve their full potential.

Books such as the Harry Potter series helped reintroduce our children and young people to the magical literary world. However just when we should be celebrating this revival instead the South Eastern Board are preparing to close the door in the faces of our children.

Building a community is no easy task in areas where resources have been stripped, anti-social behaviour soars, the elderly are left to fend for themselves, lonely and isolated. Only by saving our vital services can we begin to form friendships and a community spirit that ensures areas such as Belvoir, that have suffered from poor infrastructure for years, can claw their way back.

The accountants and number crunchers who are silently plotting to close our libraries need to get out of their ivory towers and visit the very places they are planning to close and see just what the effects of their decisions will have on future generations.

Irelandclick.com

Belvoir Library is set to close

Exclusive
by Victoria McMahon

Despite claims by the South Eastern Board that no decision has been made on the future of Belvoir Library an internal memo leaked to the South Belfast News has confirmed that the service, in the already under-resourced estate, is to be axed as part of widespread cutbacks

According to an internal memo obtained by the SBN, circulated to NIPSA staff involved in discussions with the Board, Belvoir branch is amongst four other libraries named on a list and it was warned, “there may be others.”

Tullycarnet, Braniel, Gilnahirk and Dunmurry were the other library branches named in the memo.

Despite receiving a 7 per cent rise in their budget for the forthcoming year from DCAL (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure) the South Eastern Board has estimated a shortfall of £430,000. It is understood the cash will be found by closing the five libraries named.

The memo detailed that following meetings between Nipsa Branch 518 committee reps and senior management of the Board, “It is intended there will be branch closures as part of an internal review undertaken by Library senior management.”

As news of the decision spread infuriated Belvoir residents have been meeting to discuss what action can be taken.

“Belvoir is easy pickings,” said Brian Dunwoody, Secretary of the area’s Community Association. “The local community will be fighting this tooth and nail. The general impression is very black for the library and we will not be waiting for the Board to make their decision public in June. This is a real blow to the heart of the community here.”

Mr Dunwoody said he is calling for face-to-face meetings between the Board and local people to put their views across in the hope of reversing the decision.

“I don’t think they have thought about this decision at all. It’s no use saying for us to go to the nearest library up the road if Belvoir closes because there is no direct transport to it. How can children and pensioners get to it?” he asked.

Beth Porter, Chief Librarian for the South Eastern Board confirmed that despite the increase in the Board’s budget there would be a cash shortfall. She said she could not confirm which libraries would be closing. She confirmed the Board is not able to sustain all 25 libraries on their budget, as £430,000 must be found for stock.

“We [the Board] have nothing on paper. NISPA have drawn their own conclusions on the matter.”

She added, “But we can’t sustain everything as it is now.”
Ms Porter said the increase in their budget had been ‘wiped out’ by increased staffing costs.

“We need to find about £430,000 for the stock budget. The effect on staff budgets is inevitable and will have some effect on our ability to keep all libraries open,” she confirmed. “We are faced with difficult decisions. No matter what way you look at it, it comes back to the number of libraries. We are in a very grave position.”

The Nipsa memo reaffirms the situation as it also states “relocation of staff in branches and library headquarters is inevitable”.

Belvoir resident Gordon Davis said, “To keep the library opened would cost buttons. The whole estate here uses it. I was there five, 10 minutes ago and it was filled with a lot of pensioners. School kids come in after school and here the story telling it is always bunged with kids.”

According to the Belvoir resident the facilities at the library helped him get on to the ‘Bridge to Employment’ programme and he is hopeful for employment in the future. “It would be such a loss,” he said.

South Belfast MLA Esmond Birnie said, “It’s a bad decision and I hope it can be reconsidered.”

The UUP candidate for Balmoral added, “One in five adults are functionally illiterate in Northern Ireland and that’s just at the moment. Obviously shutting libraries near communities with various degrees of social deprivation is going in the wrong direction.

“One of the strengths of Belvoir Library is that it has a high usage by the people in the area so it seems perverse that they are closing a library in an area that uses and needs its services.”

According to the UUP MLA staff at Belvoir library have been warned their positions are under threat.

Journalist:: Staff Reporter

BreakingNews.ie

Number of police agents in terror groups ‘declining’

15/04/2005 - 12:08:50

Around a quarter of police agents operating in Northern Ireland’s paramilitaries have been deactivated, a nationalist member of the Policing Board claimed today.

During a lunch of a nationalist SDLP document outlining six steps to crack down on loyalist paramilitaries, West Belfast Assembly member Alex Attwood claimed headway was being made in the fight against both loyalist and republican organised crime.

Mr Attwood said: “I think that recent events across the North (of Ireland) demonstrate that the PSNI (the Police Service of Northern Ireland) under the leadership of Hugh Orde is now beginning to tackle, pursue and prosecute those involved in organised crime, both loyalist and republican.

“Recent events in the courts and the in the public domain are firm proof and the surest evidence that that is beginning to change.

“The fact that the SDLP also drove a review of police agents over the last year arising from various reports including Stevens (an investigation into allegations of collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens) and the fact that it is my understanding that in or around 25% of police agents have been closed down or deactivated is proof that the policing culture of the past is being replaced by a better culture now and in the future.

“The SDLP, through the Policing Board and every other means available to us, will ensure that never again you have a Brian Nelson case, you never again will have a situation where loyalist agents involved in fierce criminality have any relationship with the forces of law and justice within the state.”

BreakingNews.ie

Probe into police station rape claim

15/04/2005 - 11:43:12

A claim that a police officer raped a junior colleague in a Belfast police station is being investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, it was learned today.

The female officer is understood to have made the allegation against a superior officer following an incident in recent weeks at a station in the east of the city.

A PSNI spokeswoman confirmed: “The police are investigating an allegation of a serious sexual assault in the Castlereagh area.”

PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde is being kept informed about the investigation into the alleged rape, which is understood to have occurred after an evening event at a police station.

Irish Independent

**Via News Hound

McDowell accuses Ferris of IRA links

15 April 2005

SINN Fein TD Martin Ferris and Justice Minister Michael McDowell clashed in the Dail yesterday with the minister claiming Mr Ferris was a member of the Army Council of the IRA.

It occurred during a debate on the Garda Siochana Bill as Mr Ferris was making his contribution and setting out his party’s views on policing.

Mr Ferris said Sinn Fein aspired to establishing an all-Ireland police service that was among the best in the world. They were ambitious to create real security in their communities and had positive policy alternatives to offer, he said.

And he added: “I will defend absolutely my right, and that of each Sinn Fein deputy, to speak on this bill and the issue of policing.”Mr Ferris referred to a member of Sinn Fein, the late John O’Shea, whose family wanted an independent investigation into the circumstances of his death.

“Is it because he is a member of Sinn Fein that his family was denied that,” Mr Ferris said to the minister. He said people elected him and the other Sinn Fein members and Mr McDowell had no right to treat them as second-class citizens.

Mr McDowell added: “I have a right to point out that people like the deputy got elected under false pretences. The deputy never told the people that he was a member of the Army Council.”

Mr Ferris said the minister had abused his office in denying Sinn Fein a response to the case he referred to. The debate on the Bill continues.

Geraldine Collins

BBC

Car device was ‘crude but viable’

The civic centre was staging a performance of a musical

A bomb left near a crowded civic centre “had the potential to cause serious injury or worse,” police in County Antrim have warned.

The “crude but viable” device was left in a car outside Lisburn’s Lagan Valley Island Civic Centre.

About 350 cast and audience members at a performance of the musical Carousel by a local theatre group had to leave following an anonymous phoned warning.

Army bomb experts dismantled the device and removed it for further examination.

The alert began at about 2010 BST on Thursday when police were warned that a bomb would explode in 25 minutes.

The area remained cordoned off until 0830 BST on Friday.

Appeal

Police have appealed for anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity to contact them.

Condemning the attack, Chief Superintendent Ken Henning said it had “the potential to cause serious injury or worse to any member of the public at the centre”.

He said the bombers had nothing to offer the people of Lisburn apart from “inconvenience, disruption and the potential to maim and kill”.

He added: “It’s an absolute disgrace.”

One of those moved from the building, Patricia Carleton, said it was “most unfortunate”.

“My two grand-daughters are involved in the show,” she said.

“They just had to leave all their clothes, as had all the cast.”

Roy McIlwrath of Lisnagarvey Operatic Society which was putting on the show, said they were half-way through the performance when the alarm was raised.

“It was a bitterly cold night and the cast, as you would expect, were out in costume, including about 16 young people appearing in the show,” he said.

“Some of them were out in their bare feet, with very little on but the costumes they were wearing - it became a priority to look after them.”

BreakingNews.ie

Police seize bomb-making equipment

15/04/2005 - 07:38:10

Bomb-making equipment has been seized during raids in Northern Ireland, police said today.

The find was made when a number of houses in the Co Antrim village of Bushmills were searched last night.

Police said the operation was part of an ongoing investigation into the activities of loyalist paramilitaries in the area.

No explosives were found but officers took away substances which, when mixed together, would be explosive, said the spokesman.

A blank firing pistol and other items which could be of use to terrorists, including balaclavas and combat-style, clothing were also seized.

No arrests were made during the operation.

An Phoblacht

UDA internal feud escalates

Andre Shoukri

Sources close to the UDA are warning of an internal power struggle within the loyalist paramilitary organisation.

East Belfast UDA boss Jim Gray was ousted from his position last week and there is now speculation that UDA leaders in North and West Belfast, Andre Shoukri (pictured) and Jim Spence, are also under threat.

Reports say that South Belfast UDA leader Jackie McDonald is vying for overall control of the organisation. The convicted extortionist is attempting to control the entire UDA, which has been traditionally split into six brigades areas, North, South, West and East Belfast, South Antrim and Derry/North Antrim.

Shoukri has been accused of skimming money from UDA funds to pay for his gambling habit, while Spence has been accused of being a Special Branch agent.

Spence incurred the wrath of rank-and-file members of the West Belfast UDA when he stood down a number of longstanding members in 2003.

However, attempts to oust 26-year-old Shoukri in the north of the city could be difficult, as he has the backing of young hardliners in the Tigers Bay, Westland and Ballysillan areas.

Meanwhile, former East Belfast brigadier Gray appeared at Banbridge Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with possession of criminal property and concealment of criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

The court was told that, when arrested outside Loughbrickland on Friday, Gray had in his possession a Northern Bank draft for €10,000 and £2,720 and €270 in notes.

When charged on the first count, Gray replied that he could account for all the possessions found on him, but said he did not understand the second charge.

Magistrate Paul Copeland remanded him in custody to re-appear before Banbridge Magistrate Court by video link on Thursday.

An Phoblacht

McNeela and Darcy die on hunger strike - Remembering the Past

In the third week of April 1940, 65 years ago, Seán McNeela and Tony Darcy died on hunger strike.

“When Seán Russell became Chief of Staff of the IRA in 1938, he immediately appointed Seán McNeela as OC (Officer in Command) England and Tony Darcy as OC of the Western Command.

After a few months of tense activity preparing for the forthcoming bombing campaign, Seán McNeela was arrested and sentenced to nine months imprisonment. He returned to Ireland in 1939 and was appointed Director of Publicity and started to produce a weekly internal newspaper called War News. Seán was arrested three weeks later with members of the IRA’s Radio Broadcast Staff and imprisoned in Mountjoy Jail. He was OC of the prisoners from February 1940 and shared a cell with Tony Darcy, who had been arrested at a GHQ meeting in 40 Parnell Square in Dublin. Darcy was serving a three-month sentence for refusing to either account for his movements or give his name and address when he was arrested.

A crisis developed in the prison when Nicky Doherty, of Julianstown, County Meath, was sentenced to five years penal servitude. Instead of being transferred to Arbour Hill (where other republican prisoners had political status), he was lodged in the criminal section of Mountjoy.

Seán, as OC of republican prisoners, met the governor of the jail and requested that Nicky be transferred to Arbour Hill on the grounds that he was a political prisoner. The request was ignored.

Seán and his prison council met to consider the situation: it was decided they would go on hunger strike until the demand was accepted.

Four men volunteered to go on hunger strike with McNeela and Darcy. They were Tomás Mac Curtáin, Cork (only son of the martyred Lord Mayor); Jack Plunkett, Dublin (son of Count Plunkett and brother of Joseph Mary Plunkett); Tommy Grogan, Drogheda, County Louth; and Michael Traynor, Belfast (later Ard-Rúnaí of Sinn Féin).

Seven days after the commencement of the hunger strike, Special Branch officers came to take Seán to Collins Barracks for trial before the Special Court. Seán refused to go. They told him they’d take him by force. A hasty meeting of the prison council was held to decide on how to resist.

Barricades were hastily erected in the D Wing of the jail. Beds, tables and mattresses were piled on top of each other and general preparations were made to resist the removal of Seán, their OC.

A large contingent of the Gardaí arrived, together with the Special Branch at full strength. The Gardaí charged the barricades with batons; the Special Branch men kept to the rear and looked on while the Gardaí were forced to retire by prisoners armed with chair legs.

The most effective weapon possessed by the prisoners was a quantity of lime, liquefied by some Mayo men and flung in the faces of the charging Gardaí. It was reminiscent of the evictions of the Land League days.

Finally, the fire hydrants were brought into use and the force of the water from the hoses broke down everything before them. The barricade was toppled and the prisoners, drenched to the skin, could not resist the pressure of the water; they were forced to take cover in the cells.

Tony Darcy and Seán McNeela got into a cell and closed the door. After a few minutes it was burst open and in rushed about five Gardaí. Tony, standing under the window facing the door, raised his hand but was silenced by a blow of a baton across the face that felled him senseless. Seán was beaten across the cell. Blood teemed from his face and head. These wounds on Seán and Tony never healed until they died.

Seán was taken away that evening and tried and sentenced by the Special Court. He was charged with” conspiracy to usurp a function of government” and sentenced to two years. He had been running a pirate radio station when arrested.

On the eve of St Patrick’s Day, all six hunger strikers were removed to St Bricin’s Military Hospital.

On the 54th night of the strike, Tony Darcy cried out, “Seán, I’m dying”. Seán replied, “I’m coming, Tony”. The other prisoners appealed to Seán not to get out of bed as he was very weak and they felt it would kill him but Tony’s cry pierced Seán’s heart and he got up and staggered across the room to his friend and comrade.

Later that night, Tony was taken out to a private ward. The IRA Volunteer from Headford, County Galway, died the following night.

The day following Tony’s removal from the ward, Seán’s uncle, Mick Kilroy, a Fianna Fáil TD, came to see him.

Alas, he didn’t come to give a kinsman’s help, but attacked Seán for “daring to embarrass de Valera” the “heaven-sent leader” by such action and demanded that he give up his hunger strike at once. Seán ordered him out of the room.

The next day, 19 April, Seán McNeela, IRA Volunteer from Ballycroy, County Mayo, died.

The strike had been called off the day before by the IRA’s GHQ but word had not got into the prison in time to save Seán.

• On Sunday 17 April at 3pm, Galway Sinn Féin will commemorate the sacrifice of Tony Darcy and Seán McNeela at the Donagh Patrick Cemetery. The speaker will be former Hunger Striker, now Derry MLA, Raymond McCartney.

BBC

Centre is evacuated in bomb alert

Army bomb experts have been called to the scene

About 350 people have been moved out of a civic centre in County Antrim because of a security alert.

The Lagan Valley Island Civic Centre in Lisburn has been evacuated while an Army bomb disposal team examines a suspect vehicle.

Chief superintendent Ken Henning said an anonymous call was received at 2010 BST, saying a vehicle with a bomb on board was at the back of the centre.

The caller said the bomb was due to explode in 25 minutes.

Mr Henning said police officers subsequently observed a package in the back of a white car.

“We had a number of events in the civic centre tonight and all of those people had to be evacuated out into the cold, which is an absolute disgrace,” he said.

“This whole place has been completely disrupted.”

The alert happened during a performance of Carousel by a local theatre group.

One of those moved from the building, Patricia Carleton, said it was “most unfortunate”.

“My two grand-daughters are involved in the show,” she said.

“They just had to leave all their clothes, as had all the cast.”