SAOIRSE32

RTE News

24 September 2005 22:03

The Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, has called on the two governments to deal with the outstanding parts of the Good Friday Agreement that still have to be implemented.

He made the comments at a rally for Irish Unity outside the GPO in the centre of Dublin, a day after saying that IRA decommissioning was imminent. Up to 4,000 people attended the rally.

Dublin - Up to 4,000 took part in march

Mr Adams said he hoped the two governments and others would give as much attention to removing all of the guns out of Irish politics, including those of loyalist paramilitaries and the British army, as they did to IRA guns.

He said Irish Republicanism stands on the threshold of the possibility of achieving a united Ireland.

Meanwhile, traffic diversions were in place in Dublin as a result of the march and rally.

The march, which took place ahead of the rally, travelled down O’Connell Street and D’Olier Street, headed anti-clockwise around Trinity College before heading over O’Connell Bridge and back onto O’Connell Street.

BBC

I personally find it a bit comical that every five minutes there is a story somewhere about the imminent decommissioning, such that we hear the statement on decommissioning is due within weeks, no, days–no, wait! It is due even sooner. Wait! It could occur momentarily; however, it might not happen this week–maybe by Christmas. No, no, we are all sure it is happening even as we speak because there are all these ’signs’ that it IS happening, so it must be happening… It’s like ‘Waiting for Godot’.

The process of IRA decommissioning is in the spotlight

An announcement on IRA decommissioning is believed to be just days away and could come at the beginning of next week, the BBC has learned.

Statements are expected from the body overseeing decommissioning, two church witnesses, the IRA, as well as Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams.

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness has said the expected announcement will be “more significant” than the 1994 ceasefire.

He is to brief Irish-American politicians on developments next week.

IRA disarmament is being overseen by an independent commission headed by Canadian General John de Chastelain.

BBC Northern Ireland security editor Brian Rowan said a meeting between the general and the IRA in July had started this latest process of decommissioning.

“The story of the end of IRA decommissioning is now only days away from being told,” he said.

“Since the beginning of this month, all three decommissioning men - General de Chastelain, Andrew Sens and Tauno Nieminen - have been in Ireland to complete the job of putting the IRA’s arms beyond use.

Martin McGuinness expects a significant announcement–**and it’s not like he wouldn’t know”

“This will not be the photographed decommissioning demanded by the DUP last year, nor is there anything to suggest that the DUP nominated church witness - the Reverend David MCGaughey - will be involved.

“But, when he emerges to speak in the next few days, de Chastelain will have to be definitive. He will have to say that all IRA arms have been decommissioned.”

In July, the IRA said it had formally ordered an end to its armed campaign and said it would pursue exclusively peaceful means.

The republican organisation said it would follow a democratic path ending more than 30 years of violence.

Martin McGuinness told the BBC’s Inside Politics programme on Saturday that he believed the IRA would fulfil that commitment to complete disarmament.

“General de Chastelain, when he deliberates on all of this and explains to the world whatever work he is engaged in with the IRA, will then make an announcement which, I think, is even greater and maybe of much more significance, than the events of the summer of 1994 or even the July 28th statement,” he said.

His comments came as Sinn Fein supporters gathered to mark 100 years of the party at a Rally for Irish Unity in Dublin.

Mr Adams told the rally that republicans must reach out to unionists.

“There is a huge onus on Irish republicans to find an accommodation with unionism,” he said.

‘On the Cusp’

On Friday, Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said Sinn Fein had made it clear to the Irish government that decommissioning would happen soon.

He was speaking after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern held his first formal meeting with Sinn Fein since the Northern Bank robbery last December.

Party leader Gerry Adams said: “We believe we are all on the cusp of a future… to see democratic and peaceful structures in place.”

Mr Ahern said a verifiable act of decommissioning would put it up to unionism that they must work in partnership with nationalists.

DUP leader Ian Paisley has claimed the government had made a “secret deal” with the IRA to exclude the need for an arms witness acceptable to unionists.

RSF news - Republican Sinn Fein - http://rsf.ie
Press Release/Preas Ráiteas

Republican Sinn Féin
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Parnell Street
Dublin 1, Ireland

Sinn Féin Poblachtach
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Sráid Pharnell, BÁC 1, Éire

For further information contact:
Des Dalton:
Vice-President: 086-329 1809
Ruairí Óg Ó Brádaigh
Publicity Officer: Dublin 872 9747,
087-648 2061

Phone: +353-1-872 9747
Fax: +353-1-872 9757
e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie

rsf.ie

For release
24 September\Fomhair Mean 2005

‘Latest GAA Move is A Betrayal’
Statement by RSF Vice President Des Dalton

Speaking at Republican Sinn Fein’s annual Eve of All-Ireland rally at the GPO in Dublin on September 24 RSF Vice President Des Dalton, himself a member of the GAA, speaking about the decision of the GAA to invite RUC\PSNI teams to participate in the Sigerson Cup colleges competion said: “The an-nouncement by GAA President Sean Kelly that the GAA intends to invite the British Colonial police to take part in the Sigerson cup colleges competition, is part and parcel of the ongoing campaign to normalise the British occupation of Ireland. British rule in Ireland will never be normal or acceptable, it is immoral and a crime against the Irish people.

On the weekend of the All-Ireland Football finals, a celebration of the historic Irish nation, when people from Tyrone and Down, can stand with people from Kerry and Mayo as equal members of that nation, this decision of the GAA leadership betrays the fundamental ethos and ideals of the association. We call on members of the GAA to make their voice heard; we call on GAA clubs and teams to refuse
to play against British forces teams. We  must step up the campaign against this latest attempt to turn the GAA into a recruiting sergeant for the British Crown forces in Ireland.”

Ends.

BreakingNews.ie

24/09/2005 - 11:46:43

Thousands of Sinn Féin supporters will gather in Dublin today to mark 100 years of the party as speculation mounts that the republican movement is ready to dump its arms.

Amid growing belief that the IRA is on the verge of living up to its commitments to end its war with Britain, party President Gerry Adams will address supporters at the major rally in the capital.

Mr Adams fuelled speculation that an unprecedented act of decommissioning was on the cards after he declared that Northern Ireland was close to a final accommodation between unionists and nationalists.

“We believe that we are all on the cusp of a future which allows those of us who want to, to see democratic and peaceful structures in place,” Mr Adams said after yesterday’s meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

“Those of us who want to see equality right across the island and those of us who want to see an accommodation between unionists and the rest of us, we are on the cusp of that happening in the wake of the IRA putting its arms beyond use.”

The “Rally for Irish Unity” is the latest in a series of events which have strengthened belief that the Provos are ready to live up to their July 28 pledge to ended armed struggle and dump its massive arsenal.

Mr Adams told Sinn Féin supporters in south Armagh on Thursday that republicans could be handed an unparalleled opportunity for major political advances.

On Friday a party delegation which included chief negotiator Martin McGuinness met with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and two of his most senior ministers.

And in a further development it has emerged Mr McGuinness is due to travel to Washington next Tuesday further intensifying speculation that IRA disarmament is imminent.

The Mid-Ulster MP last travelled to the United States days ahead of the IRA’s historic statement which declared an end to the armed struggle.

Retired Canadian General John de Chastelain is charged with the task of scrutinising IRA disarmament, but the Democratic Unionist Party has remained sceptical about any move.

Ian Paisley, DUP leader, has insisted it is unacceptable for an independent Unionist observer to witness the decommissioning to be approved by the republicans.

He challenged the British government: “Will Unionist demands for open, verifiable, photographed and witnessed decommissioning be adhered to or not? Furthermore is that what the British government has requested of the IRA and have they made it clear to the IRA that nothing else is satisfactory?

“We have a right to ask that question and to receive the straight answer, yes or no. Unionists are not going to be pushed over by the duplicity of either the IRA or the two governments. We have a right to know the truth. The day for deception is over, the day for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth has come.”

The Irish News Online

By Barry McCaffrey

A row over DUP decommissioning nominee Rev David McGaughey will not be allowed to overshadow the IRA’s largest act of decommissioning, senior republicans last night insisted.

On Thursday, DUP leader Ian Paisley accused the British government of brokering a secret deal with republicans to exclude the presence of an acceptable Protestant churchman to witness the IRA’s expected fourth act of decommissioning.

Mr Paisley claimed that while the IRA had agreed to allow Protestant and Catholic churchmen to testify that weapons had been destroyed, they would not witness the actual destruction of weapons.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said the DUP should have talked to his party if it wanted to nominate its own witness to decommissioning.

“It’s a bit rich when unionist paramilitaries are using heavy-calibre shoulder weapons to shoot at British troops and PSNI officers, and profess to be loyalists, that the DUP would be concerned about IRA weapons which are silenced and, which we all hope and pray, are going to be put beyond use in the period ahead,” he said.

Republicans accuse unionists of attempting to move the ‘goal posts’ from actual decommissioning to public humiliation of the IRA.

When General John De Chastelain was appointed to verify decommissioning in 1998 it was thought by the British and Irish governments that his credentials would satisfy unionist concerns.

However, under decommissioning guidelines, General De Chastelain can be obliged to keep details private until all weapons, loyalist and republican, have been destroyed.

Unionists reacted angrily in October 2003 when the general was not allowed to give details of what IRA weapons had been decommissioned.

Privately republicans believe that the DUP is attempting to increase pressure on Sinn Fein in the event of an expected call from the British and Irish governments for political talks following IRA decommissioning.

“The DUP were offered an input into the decommissioning issue but for their own reasons they chose not to take it,” said a republican source.

“They know De Chastelain’s terms of reference and the verification procedures that have been agreed.

“They are trying to stretch republicans for their own political means.

“The danger for them is that decommissioning will go ahead without them and be accepted by all the other main players, namely the British, Irish and American governments.

“The question for the DUP is whether they want to see decommissioning or are more interested in trying to humiliate the IRA.”

However, it is still unclear whether the DUP’s decommissioning nominee, former Presbyterian Moderator David McGaughey, will be acceptable to the IRA.

The former RUC reservist, who is a strong anti-agreement unionist, is considered to be on the right wing of Presbyterianism when it comes to both politics and theology. In 1994 he was criticised after refusing to take part in ecumenical services.

He had previously complained when the SDLP’s Seamus Mallon had invited then Irish government minister John Wilson to visit his Newry and Mourne constituency.

“Is it right that our government should always be looking over its shoulder to see whether policies please states that should have no part in the running of our affairs?” he said.

The Irish News Online

By Sharon O’Neill

THE father of Catholic murder victim Michael McGoldrick last night issued an impassioned plea for an end to ongoing violence. Michael McGoldrick Snr, below right, was speaking ahead of a special reconciliation service on Monday at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

His comments came as sectarian attacks continue, and after the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) published its dossier on loyalist activity linked to the feud between the UVF and LVF, which since July has claimed four lives.

Mr McGoldrick’s son, also Michael (31), was shot dead by renegade UVF members at the height of the Drumcree march crisis in 1996.

The part-time taxi driver, a father-of-two, was last seen picking up a fare on July 8.

His body, slumped over the wheel of his car on a remote country lane near Aghalee, was found by a man out hunting.

The trial of prominent loyalist Clifford McKeown, who was convicted of the murder in 2003, heard that the killing was carried out as a birthday present to the now dead loyalist Billy Wright.

He formed the LVF after splitting with the UVF in the wake of Mr McGoldrick’s murder.

On Monday, the victim’s father will attend a special inter-denominational event at St Anne’s with former UVF prisoner Jim Tate.

Mr Tate, who was convicted of arms offences in the early 1970s, turned his back on violence after being released from jail.

After meeting Mr Goldrick at his Co Armagh home, the pair have struck up a close friendship.

“For him to offer the hand of friendship had a great impact on my life,” recalled Mr Tate.

“We talked about our situations. It was a great time of forgiveness and asking for forgiveness, especially from me being an ex-loyalist prisoner.

“Monday is about healing the hurts of the past. It is a time of testimony, reconciliation and prayer.”

Mr Tate is dismayed by the continuing violence and that linked to the UVF.

He appealed:“Stop, there is no call for it”.

“I think it is atrocious, I totally disagree with it. I had respect for people like David Ervine (PUP leader), people within the Catholic community were gaining respect for him.

“Unfortunately the militants appear to have got the upper hand.”

For Mr McGoldrick the key is forgiveness: “After what happened to myself and my wife, as a Christian you are obligated to forgive…

“Through a healing process, life is better. People have to realise, if you get hatred and sectarianism out of your heart, you feel better within yourself.

“In my humble Christian opinion God does not want them (the paramilitaries) to hurt their fellow man.

“I would appeal to everybody to put out the hand of friendship. We have to do that to make this world a better place for everyone..”

Monday’s service commences at 8pm.

The Irish News Online

By Staff Reporter

THE son of a Catholic woman whose home in Ballymena was targeted in a paint-bomb attack has said she was lucky not to have been hurt.

The man, who didn’t wish either himself or his 54-year-old mother to be named, said police told them three paint bombs were thrown at the house at around midnight yesterday.

“My mum was in the house on her own at the time and she had just gone to bed two minutes before one of the bottles came through the window, showering the room with glass,” he said.

“If she had been sitting in the chair a bit longer she could have been hit – she was very lucky. She was up all night after it and was shocked.

“We are Catholics and this was sectarian.

“Probably what saved more damage from being done was the leaded windows,” he said.

“The curtains were covered and the paint was all over the floor.”

The man said the part of the town where they live is mainly Catholic, although they have a number of Protestant neighbours.

The Irish News Online

By William Graham

Sir Joseph Pilling, who was once labelled by Sinn Fein as being the “top securocrat” at the Northern Ireland Office, has retired.

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness had earlier this year criticised Mr Pilling but the NIO Permanent Secretary was defended by the then Secretary of State Paul Murphy who emphasised his support for the Good Friday agreement.

According to Sinn Fein the Permanent Secretary had once told a private meeting in the United States that the worst case scenario would be that SF would become the largest party in the north.

It was announced yesterday that Jonathan Phillips (53) has been appointed Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office and succeeds Sir Joe Pilling.

Mr Phillips takes up his new position at the beginning of December.

The Irish News Online

By Staff Reporter

PARISHIONERS at a north Belfast church yesterday arrived at Mass to find it had been vandalised in an early morning attack.

Paint had been thrown at the front doors of St Gerard’s church on the Antrim Road.

SDLP councillor Pat Convery said the attack had sectarian overtones.

“There can be absolutely no excuse, no explanation for any act of vandalism or violence against a place of worship of any kind,” he said.

“Everyone needs to condemn acts like these in the plainest and most direct language and everyone needs to support efforts by the police to apprehend those responsible.”

It is understood that the vandals struck at some time between 5am and 9am.

It is the third time the church, which is not far from the Whitewell interface, has been targeted in this way.

The Irish News Online

By Staff Reporter

A mural depicting the history of the Whiterock Road area of west Belfast was unveiled yesterday.

The painting, which has been mounted on a wall at Daisyhill Court in Westrock Gardens, shows how the area looked in bygone years when a Victorian brickworks was located there.

A famous hill of daisies which was a landmark in the area, surrounded by countryside, is captured in the mural.

The mural was painted by artist Eithne O’Kane as part of an Upper Springfield Development Trust Public Art in the Community project.

Speaking as the mural was formally unveiled, Ms O’Kane said working on the project had been “very nice”.

“A lot of the things in the painting are in the memories of residents,” she said.

“It was community-driven, which is important for these projects.”

BBC

Police are conducting an internal investigation after a gun was fired during a visit by schoolchildren to a PSNI station in County Down.

One shot was accidently fired by a civilian PSNI worker after the gun was shown to them at Newcastle barracks.

A police spokesman said the incident which happened in the past few days was being examined by the PSNI internal investigation branch.

Police also confirmed the person who fired the gun had not been suspended.

The spokeman said the weapon was “currently in safe-keeping”.

No-one was injured during the incident.

Belfast Telegraph

By Alan Erwin
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
24 September 2005

NORTHERN Ireland Security Minister Shaun Woodward has put lives at risk by sending police a confidential dossier on an alleged Special Branch plot with loyalist paramilitary killers, it was claimed last night.

The authors of the report into ex-RAF man Raymond McCord’s murder are incensed by the decision to give Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde a copy.

Alleged rogue police officers and UVF agents who, it is claimed, ordered the brutal killing in 1997, are named in files prepared by the British Irish Rights Watch (BIRW).

Mr McCord’s father Raymond Sr believes Special Branch blocked the investigation and demanded the report be withheld from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

BIRW director Jane Winter, who sent copies to the United Nations and the United States Congress as well as the Government, said she was stunned by Mr Woodward’s decision.

“If anybody in a position of responsibility read our report they would have seen why we did not send it to the police,” she said. “There’s a real danger that it will end up in the hands of the UVF, if the collusion and protection of informers we allege is still going on.

“That’s why it was so irresponsible of Shaun Woodward.”

Irish Independent

Pat Rabbitte

LABOUR Party leader Pat Rabbitte launched a scathing attack on Sinn Fein last night, accusing its leaders of promoting inter-communal hostility in the North.

He said the party had no real interest in implementing the Good Friday Agreement but was more interested in generating instability and divisions between the two communities.

Mr Rabbitte singled out the Sinn Fein campaign ‘Make Partition History’, arguing that this was being launched against deepening sectarian divisions and aimless loyalist street violence.

“It is bizarre that the movement that has done most in this country’s history to copper-fasten partition should consider itself in any way suited to set about the task of uniting this country,” the Labour leader added.

He asked how Sinn Fein, of all people could now remove the bitter and enduring consequences of the IRA’s campaign of violence, destruction and division.

Mr Rabbitte questioned why Sinn Fein could not see that the real problems on this island do not derive from the partition between North and South but from the endemic partitions within the North itself.

The Labour leader said Sinn Fein had done nothing to persuade the people of the South that the best solution to Northern Ireland as “a failed political entity” would be to collapse that failed, dysfunctional and still violent entity into the jurisdiction of the Republic.

“If the communities that go to make up the North cannot function together, why in God’s name should anyone believe they would function better by attempting to smother them within a largely uninterested Southern embrace?” he asked.

It should be a precondition of any consideration of Irish unity that Northern Ireland should first be a functioning entity.

Sinn Fein, he argued, has shown that it was never all that much concerned about devolved institutions within the North, or about their restoration.

“When the institutions collapsed, it was first to call on both governments to produce their Plan B, the plan being a Sinn Fein-dictated way of running Northern Ireland on a joint authority basis,” said the Labour leader.

Mr Rabbitte said the “Plan B campaign” and the campaign to ‘Make Partition History’ were both calculated to increase the trend towards inter-communal hostility which makes power-sharing within Northern Ireland difficult if not impossible.

Those campaigns, he said, showed that Sinn Fein’s real interest was never in bedding down the Good Friday Agreement and working its institutions in good faith.

Instead, Mr Rabbitte claimed that Sinn Fein wanted to create “a persistent atmosphere of crisis, in which normal politics is impossible and extremism thrives”.

Brian Dowling
Political Correspondent