Irish Republican Information Service (no.135)
RSF news - Republican Sinn Fein - http://rsf.ie
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: +353-1-872 9747; FAX: +353-1-872 9757; e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
Date: 6 Feabhra/February 2008
Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE-Irish Freedom
In this issue:
1. RSF condemns arrests in Down and Armagh
2. Further raids and arrests in Newry/South Armagh
3. Presence of armed RUC/PSNI at GAA match questioned
4. RSF oppose 26-County state’s funding of Orange Order
5. Acts of war not murder - RSF
6. Huge turnout for Bloody Sunday march
7. H-Block escapee may languish in US jail
8. New High Court Action to Protect Lismullin National Monument Launched
9. New film on 1981 H Block hunger strike
10. Doubts cast on Taser gun safety
11. Same snipers cut down Derry and Ballymurphy victims
12. ‘Guns in school were from Loyalist band’
13. Forum’s first meeting hears strong criticism of Lisbon Treaty
14. Spanish repressive offensive intensifies
15. 1916 medal to be auctioned
1. RSF condemns arrests in Down and Armagh
REPUBLICAN SINN FÉIN condemned the arrests of four Irish Republicans in Newry and Jonesboro on February 5. One of the arrested men is An Cathaoirleach (Chair) of Comhairle Uladh (Ulster RSF Executive). The others included two former Republican Prisoners of War. Two were released on February 6 whilst the other two remained under interrogation at the so-called Serious Crime Suite of Antrim RUC Barracks. Seven armoured RUC/PSNI Land Rovers arrived at one of the houses at about 7a.m., along with two vans and two Mitsubishi Shogun cars. Another two Land Rovers sealed off the road. A dog warden van also arrived from Tandragee, and seized a pet dog. A brother of the arrested man was searched before being granted entry to the property. The raiding party threatened to break into a Jeep until a solicitor offered to transport the key from Antrim Barracks. A floppy disk was subsequently taken from the vehicle. They did, however, break into a shed. The raid continued until Noon. Other ite
ms seized included mobile telephones, a laptop and desktop computer. The garden of another of the arrested men was excavated by the British Forces of Occupation. Responding to the raids and arrests, RSF National Publicity Officer Richard Walsh said: “Republican Sinn Féin congratulates the youth of Newry who demonstrated their resistance to the onslaught of the British Crown Forces during ongoing raids in the Derrybeg/Carnagat and Barcroft Park areas. Approximately twenty armoured Land Rovers came under attack. “Conor Murphy must now clarify whether this operation in Jonesboro and Newry is a result of the ‘critical engagement’ threatened by himself ahead of a meeting with the RUC in Crossmaglen. Whilst he pledges collaboration with the enemy, True Republicans pledge only their eternal hostility to the British Forces in Ireland.” We in Republican Sinn Féin will continue to promote our programme for a true peace with justice in Ireland in spite of ongoing harassment of our memb
ers and supporters by those opposed to Irish Freedom. We will not allow ourselves to be diverted from seeking a permanent end to the cancerous British presence in our country. “We are aware that only two of those arrested now remain in custody in Antrim. It is time for the British Colonial Police to admit that those arrested were held on the basis of a lie, and to immediately release the other two men.” Said Richard Walsh.
2. Further raids and arrests in Newry/South Armagh
There were further raids in Newry and South Armagh on February 6, a house was raided in the Armagh Road area of Newry. Mobile telephones, a telephone cable, address book and rolls of tape were taken. Raids also continued elsewhere in the town, and it was reported that a fifth person was arrested. There was continued resistance to the British presence by youths in the Derrybeg, Carnagat and Parkhead areas. A yard in South Armagh belonging to a man arrested the previous morning was also raided. Late this afternoon the Chairperson of Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive) was released. Two men had been released the previous night. “It is clear that there was no justification for these raids and arrests. They amount to nothing less than an attempt to silence the Republican voice in an area with an honourable record of resistance to English rule in Ireland. The actions of the British Colonial Police clearly show who are really ‘lashing out like cornered animals’.” Said RSF Publicity O
fficer Richard Walsh.
3. Presence of armed RUC/PSNI at GAA match questioned
THE VICE PRESIDENT of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton, himself a member of the GAA in Co Kildare, described as “sinister” reports that an armed member of the British Colonial police was present at the Kildare/Tyrone Allianz National Football league match at Healy Park Omagh, Co Tyrone on Saturday, February 2.
“It has been reported that an armed member of the RUC/PSNI was escorted into Healy Park Omagh before the Kildare/Tyrone National Football game on February 2 by an official of the GAA. The question must be asked as to why was an armed member of the British Colonial police in the press box for the duration of the game? Is it now official GAA policy to escort armed members of the British Crown forces into GAA grounds? Was he there to spy on members of the nationalist community? Are the GAA now collaborating with British Crown forces in such spying and surveillance? “If these reports are correct it is a sinister development and will rightly cause concern and anger within the nationalist community throughout the Six Counties.” Des Dalton said.
4. RSF oppose 26-County state’s funding of Orange Order
REPUBLICAN SINN FÉIN stated their opposition to the decision of 26-County Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon Ó Cuiv to approve funding of 250,000 euro to the Orange Order under the guise of Cadelmo Ltd, established by the Orange Order to maintain and refurbish Orange Halls in Border areas of the 26 Counties.
Speaking on the Lunchtime radio programme Newstalk 106 on February 5 Republican Sinn Féin Vice President Des Dalton said:
“We are philosophically opposed to any religious group or organisation being subsidised from public moneys. Republican Sinn Féin believes in the complete separation of Church and State and view the funding of an institutionally sectarian organisation like the Orange Order as an abuse of public funds.
“The Orange Order and Maynooth College were founded in 1795 with British government funding to oppose the radical and progressive Republican ideas of the enlightenment within the Protestant and Catholic communities respectively. Maynooth seminarians and all college employees swore an oath of allegiance to the British Crown, a practice that lasted up until 1900. Both equally played their part in acting as a prop of British rule in Ireland.
“This latest development is a part of the insidious campaign of normalising the partition of Ireland and continued British occupation.” Des Dalton said.
5. Acts of war not murder - RSF
SPEAKING after a commemorative march for the Bloody Sunday dead, Stormont Minister Martin McGuinness sought to criminalise past acts of resistance, as well as all present and future acts, Republican Sinn Féin has said. Martin McGuinness referred to ‘murders’ of RUC men and British soldiers, and accused the IRA of engaging in ‘terrible deeds’ in the past, said RSF’s Publicity Officer, Richard Walsh.” It is not the IRA which has been guilty of terrible deeds. It is the British Forces of Occupation, along with their surrogates in the Loyalist death squads, who are guilty. So too is the Provos’ military body, which destroyed arms belonging to the Irish people these were intended to secure the full freedom of Ireland. That body has also maimed and murdered those opposed to their current direction.” Martin McGuinness claimed to be speaking ‘as an Irish Republican’. However, no Irish Republican would consider legitimate acts of war to be murderous. Nor will they welcome the Commande
r-in-Chief of the British Crown Forces the murderers of the fourteen Bloody Sunday dead, to our country.
“We recognise all calls for collaboration with Ireland’s enemies to be treasonous, and demand a full British withdrawal from our country in order that the Irish people might govern themselves.” Richard said.
6. Huge turnout for Bloody Sunday march
THE SAVILLE REPORT must be given to the Bloody Sunday families at the same time it is received by the British Government, the large crowd at this year’s commemoration march in Derry was told.
Joe McKinney, whose brother, Willie, was one of those murdered on Bloody Sunday by the British army, told the crowd of more than 8,000 people at Free Derry Corner the report must be delivered to everyone at the same time.
Joe McKinney called on Lord Saville not to allow the British Government time to digest the findings of his inquiry before the families have seen it.
“When the Bloody Sunday Inquiry completes its report, it will be presented to Shaun Woodward, the British Secretary of State for the North. This may become one more part of our long struggle. Shaun Woodward is a representative of the British Government, and we ask why the British Government, or anyone else, should get to see this report before we do?
“If the British Government have this report, we do not believe that the Ministry of Defence, which represent the soldiers and officers involved in murder here on Bloody Sunday, will not have it also.
“Why should they get to see this report before us, and get time to prepare their spin and lies for their tame journalists, while we may only have a few hours to see the report before we have to respond?” he asked.
The families also revealed they have written to Shaun Woodward asking for a meeting to discuss how the Saville Report will be delivered.
7. H-Block escapee may languish in US jail
FORMER WEST BELFAST Long Kesh escapee Pól Brennan fears he could languish behind bars in the US for weeks or months before his case is reviewed.
Speaking from the Port Isabel Processing centre ¬- a US Department of Homeland Security administered facility outside Los Fresnos, Texas, the former Ballymurphy man, who escaped from Long Kesh in 1983 with 37 other republican prisoners, described the problem over his papers as a “hiccup”.
On January 27 Pól Brennan and his American wife, Joanna Volz were stopped at a US border patrol checkpoint in Texas while driving to visit friends.
“And they asked me if I was a citizen. I said no, I was an Irish citizen. And I gave them my papers. And they said ‘This has expired’.
“I still have the application pending,” said Pól Brennan. “The hiccup wasn’t on our part. I did apply for it. The hiccup was on their part.”
Since the British government decided back in 2000 to ditch its long-standing efforts to extradite him back to the Six Counties, Long Kesh escapee Pól Brennan has travelled America quite freely.
He’s visited friends and family in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and several South-Western and North-Western states, without any problem at all.
All that changed at 5:30 pm on Sunday, January 27, Pól Brennan and his American wife, Joanna Volz were stopped at a US border patrol checkpoint in Texas while driving to visit friends.
Pól Brennan has been working as a carpenter since being released from US custody in 1998, and is required to update his work permit every six months. Although he’d submitted a renewal application in 2006, US authorities had never sent him a new permit.
“I still have the application pending,” said Pól Brennan “The hiccup wasn’t on our part. I did apply for it. The hiccup was on their part.”
Pól Brennan and Joanna Volz were taken inside a nearby immigration building, where US border patrol agents began searching a computer database for any name or fingerprint matches. Almost immediately, a now lapsed Interpol warrant pertaining to his Long Kesh escape, and information about his IRA past, appeared.
“At one point there were six guards all gathered around the computer screen,” Joanna Volz said during a phone interview from the couple’s Oakland, California home. “They were so excited. It was like they caught Osama Bin Laden.”
Pól Brennan contacted his lawyer, who then faxed through reams of paperwork showing that the Ballymurphy native had been living and working openly in the US with the full-knowledge of US authorities. But to no avail. Pól Brennan was taken into custody, and sent to the Port Isabel Processing centre. Due to a backlog of cases, and a dearth of magistrates at the centre, he said it could be weeks or even months before his case is reviewed.
Joanna Volz stressed that Pól Brennan wasn’t arrested, and that no criminal charges are pending against him. “This is not news, really,” she insisted. “This is a small issue. It’s about a date on a work permit. He is not a fugitive.”
Pól Brennan was sentenced to 16 years in jail in 1977 for being caught ferrying explosives through Belfast. In Long Kesh, he joined all three phases of the republican prisoners’ protest against British withdrawal of their right to political status in 1976. In September 1983, he was among 38 IRA prisoners who broke out of the jail. Later that year, he entered the US using an alias, and evaded capture until January 1993, when he was arrested by the FBI in Berkeley, California.
Since then, he has spent two prolonged stints in US jails, as Britain pursued his extradition in US federal court. He was last freed from US custody in 1998.
Pól Brennan has remained in the San Francisco area while waiting to hear whether or not he’ll be deported for entering the US under a false name in 1983. He also has also petitioned for political asylum, on the grounds that he could be targeted by loyalist death squads if he returned to the Six Counties.
Pól Brennan said that, prior to January 27; he’d been “working steadily. I had a good job. My boss is real happy with me. I’ve been doing carpentry for a landscape company. I’m just a schmoe. Just a working stiff.”
He said a prolonged detention would be devastating to him. “If I stay here any more than a couple of months, I’ll lose my house, I’ll lose my job, I’ll lose my transport. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
8. New High Today Action to Protect Lismullin National Monument Launched
A new High Court action, aimed at protecting the Lismullin national monument, which was discovered in the pathway of the M3 motorway last year, was be launched on February 6. A short press briefing was held outside the main entrance to the Four Courts in Dublin. Copies of the Statement of Claim were distributed. The action is being taken by Gordon Lucas, a resident of Limerick, who is seeking to enforce EU environmental impact assessment directives and the European Convention on Human Rights. He is seeking an injunction, and a declaration that the 26-County National Monuments Act 2004 is in breach of EU law. The case is being taken as a last resort, after the 26-County Administration has refused to concede to pressure and a legal action from the European Environment Commission to perform a new environmental impact assessment on the proposed demolition of the Lismullin national monument. Lismullin was recently declared one of the Top Ten Most Important Archaeological Discoveries in 2007, by Archaeology magazine, published by the Archaeological Institute of America.
http://www.archaeology.org/0801/topten
Expert evidence will also argue that Lismullin is a central part of the archaeological complex associated with the Hill of Tara, which was placed on the 2008 List of 100 Most Endangered Sites by the World Monuments Fund. A new survey by Red C Research opinion poll has shown that When asked directly, almost two thirds (62%) of all Irish adults agree that the current format set down for the M3 is wrong, and that alternatives should be found to protect the heritage sites. over half (58%) support a proposed Heritage Park solution, while less than a third (31%) agree they would prefer to keep the M3 running through the valley as already agreed. Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch said:”This is a parallel case to the case being taken against Ireland by the European Commission, which states the Irish Government (sic) is in breach of EU law. The majority of Irish people oppose the current plan, and the World Monuments Fund, as well as the Archaeological Institute of America have condemned the current works. It is ironic that the Irish Government (sic) is pushing its citizens to adopt the Lisbon Treaty, while they flatly refuse to obey current EU law with regards to protection of the environment and the national monument at Lismullin.” Contact: Laura Grealish 087-972-8603 / Vincent Salafia 087-132-3365
More information:
Archaeology Magazine Top Ten Discoveries:
http://www.archaeology.org/0801/topten
World Monuments Fund 2008 List of 100 Most Endangered Sites:
http://wmf.org/watch.html
Red C Research Tara/ Skryne Opinion Poll:
http://www.sacredireland.org/redcsurvey.pdf [.pdf]
9. New film on 1981 H Block hunger strike
BY HIS OWN ADMISSION Steve McQueen set out to convey “something you can’t find in books or archive, the ordinariness and extraordinariness of life in this prison”.
And what could be more ordinary than a film shot among the unassuming terraces of the New Lodge?
A few tweaks to the landscape of Upper Meadow Street brought all those who remember back in time. Satellite dishes off the walls, cars driven out of sight and clothes and haircuts chopped and changed left the New Lodge’s new generation wondering what exactly was going in front of the cameras last week.
Instead of the Hollywood hills and a multi-million pound purpose-built set, Turner prize-winning artist McQueen chose Upper Meadow Street with its backdrop of the BRA flag and the heaving Cliftonville Road for his first feature project.
What adds the extraordinary into the mix is the film’s subject - the last six weeks of the life of one of the most inspirational Republicans of the 20th century.
What’s even more extraordinary is the mix of actors lined up and down the street, surrounded by Tricolours, Hunger Striker posters and anti-Establishment literature.
It could easily be May 1981, shortly before Bobby Sands became the first of ten hunger strikers to die in a campaign which shook the world.
Many of the extras hired by McQueen’s back-up team were the very same men and women who lined the New Lodge streets almost 30 years earlier battering their bin lids and blowing their whistles in an unprecedented Nationalist show of strength.
By their own admission, “never in a million years” would they have pictured themselves dressed up and rehearsing a scene they played out 27 years previously, without direction or script.” We were horrified, shocked, disgusted, simply appalled,” a group of McQueen’s extras remembered. Deep down in our hearts we never thought the British government would let him die, we always believed someone would step in and stop the waste of life,” Harriet Benson said.
Such was her utter shock and disgust that Harriet was among the hundreds of people who took to North Belfast’s streets after the news broke that 27-year-old Bobby Sands had died after 66 days without food.
Banging bin lids, blowing whistles and sounding car horns, even “the youngsters” were given ladles and pots to make a ruckus of their own, Harriet recalled.
“We just wanted to make sure everyone was up and out,” said Mary Kelly.
“In a way I suppose we expected he would have died sooner but deep down we never actually believed it would go that far.” Standing in the streets that night it seemed like civil war was about to break out. “Margaret Thatcher’s attitude stank and we wanted to show the British we would not stand for being treated worse than dogs in the street. That’s all we were to them and we had had enough.”
Filming for the screening, aptly entitled ‘Hunger’, began back in September and McQueen’s journey as a director has taken him full circle from Bobby Sands’ protest in Long Kesh to the streets of North Belfast in a bid to capture the revolutionary reaction to the young Rathcoole man’s death. Due to be broadcast on British TV’s Channel 4 later this year, the film will have “international and contemporary resonance” according to its director and co-writer.
“It is the final act of desperation, your own body is your last resource for protest,”McQueen said. “One uses what one has, rightly or wrongly. Yet also the film is an abstraction in a certain way, a meditation of what it is like to die for a cause.”
Whether or not it is ever possible to understand what it is to die for a cause, perhaps in turning the camera to the people on the ground, the future of whom Sands died to secure, McQueen has come that one step closer to comprehension.
Despite the then Six-County British Direct Ruler Humphrey Atkins’ belief that Bobby Sands’ was a “needless and pointless death”, the feelings on the ground were somewhat different.
“Bobby Sands’ name will live on forever, he was a hero, a fighter to the very end and he will never be forgotten,” said Anna-Marie Casey.
“We have respect for all ten of the hunger strikers but because Bobby was first to die he will always be the one that is remembered first.
Taken back all the promises that were made were taken right back, there was no trust, no respect and Bobby’s death won more support for the Republicans than ever before.” We’re really doing this for the young people,” several of the extras chorused.
“They hear about hunger strikes, they know Bobby Sands’ name but they can never understand just how tough it was.
“At least maybe with this film they will be able to better understand what these men died for and why Sands’ name will live on forever.”
Bobby Sands died on 5 May, 1981 after 66 days on hunger strike in the Maze Prison.
The 27-year-old had served five years of a 14-year sentence for possessing a gun when he died.
Shortly before his death he was elected as TD for Fermanagh/South Tyrone prompting the British Government to pass a law prohibiting anyone who had served more than one year in prison from standing for election, a tactic similar to that used against Republican prisoners Tom Mitchell and Phil Clarke following their election for Fermanagh/South Tyrone and Mid Ulster respectively in 1955.
10. Doubts cast on Taser gun safety
TASER STUN GUNS may not be as safe as its manufacturers claim, research conducted in the US has suggested. Specialist units of the RUC/PSNI have been armed with the weapons, which emit 50,000 volts, after under-going a two day training course. Scientists at the trauma centre in Chicago’s Cook County Hospital stunned 11 pigs with the guns for two periods of 40 seconds at 15 second intervals. All of the animals suffered heart rhythm problems and two later died. The details were revealed by the Canadian Broadcasting Company. Bob Walker, one of the lead researchers on the study, said the fact that one of the pigs died three minutes after being stunned cast doubt on the weapon’s safety. “It says that the effect of the Taser shot can last beyond the time when it’s being delivered,” he said. “So, after the Taser shock ends, there can still be effects that can be evoked and you can still see cardiac effects.” The RUC/PSNI has purchased 12 of the weapons. They are being used in a pilo
t scheme by British Colonial police Special Operations Branch which began on 25 January. However, Dr Andrew Dennis, a trauma surgeon and ex-police officer who also worked on the Chicago study, said police officers needed to question themselves every time they thought about using the weapon. “They need to have the understanding that this is not a truly benign device,” he added.
11. Same snipers cut down Derry and Ballymurphy victims
TWO BRITISH ARMY PARATROOPERS who shot dead six people on Bloody Sunday are understood to have killed up to four people in the Ballymurphy Massacre, just five months earlier.
Truth campaigners now say that Bloody Sunday might never have happened had the British army been brought to book for the Ballymurphy slaughter.
Between August 9 and 11, 1971 - the beginning of internment - 11 innocent civilians were shot dead by the British Army in the greater Ballymurphy area.
Two of the dead, Frank Quinn and Fr Hugh Mullan, were killed by two snipers from the British army’s 1st Para firing from the roof of the Henry Taggart Memorial Hall on the Springfield Road.
The same British soldiers were also in the building when Joseph Murphy and Danny Teggart were brought there after being shot by the British Army.
Instead of receiving medical treatment the men were beaten and then killed, it’s claimed. The British army snipers are suspected of involvement in these deaths.
No British soldier has ever faced a court in relation to the Ballymurphy Massacre.
Five months later - on January 30, 1972 - the British army’s Parachute Regiment was sent on to the streets of the Bogside in Derry. In a carbon-copy of what happened in Ballymurphy, although over a shorter period of time, they killed 14 unarmed civilians.
Two British army snipers, identified as ‘F’ and ‘G’ in the Saville Inquiry into the slaughter, were responsible for six deaths in Derry.
Truth campaigners believe they are the same British soldiers who killed up to four people in the Ballymurphy Massacre five months previously.
On February 1 Andree Murphy of Relatives for Justice (RFJ), which represents the families of the Ballymurphy dead, called for an independent, international investigation into the Ballymurphy shootings.
She said: “Bloody Sunday could have been prevented if the Paratroopers had been held accountable for Ballymurphy. If Ballymurphy had been investigated properly, circumstances would have prevailed which would have prevented British soldiers from shooting people with impunity in Derry.”
British army Lieutenant-Colonel Derek Wilford commanded 1st Para at the time. Prior to the Ballymurphy Massacre he ordered his troops to take action that would “shock and stun the population”, according to documents uncovered in the British National Archive by truth campaigners. Snipers from 1st Para’s elite anti-tank platoon mixed with other British army regiments on the roof of the Henry Taggart Memorial Hall overlooking Ballymurphy.
Throughout August 9 they opened up on any moving target in the firing zone - killing Fr Hugh Mullan and then Frank Quinn, who had bravely rushed to the aid of the dying priest.
Danny Teggart and Joseph Murphy were shot the same day. British soldiers brought them into the Henry Taggart Hall, where they were tortured, according to locals.
Danny was already dead; however Joseph survived for another two weeks before passing away.
The British army snipers were in the hall at the time of the torture. Danny and Joseph were beaten and had rubber bullets fired at them from point-blank range, it’s claimed. It is also reported that the victims were lifted into the air with bayonets pushed deep into their bullet wounds.
Andree Murphy believes that in many ways Ballymurphy was worse than Bloody Sunday.
She added: “This was random, indiscriminate killing and torture. In many ways it was worse than Bloody Sunday because it lasted three days.
“The British government needs to make a statement acknowledging the role of its soldiers in the Ballymurphy Massacre and the hurt and pain they caused, as well as the innocence of those shot dead.
“Forty-three children were left without a parent after it ended.
There needs to be an inquiry into how this was allowed to happen, it cannot stop now, it has to go further.”
The Ballymurphy Massacre victims were Fr Hugh Mullan (38), Frank Quinn (19), Noel Phillips (19), Joan Connolly (45), Danny Teggart (44), Joseph Murphy (41), Joseph Corr (43), Eddie Doherty (28), John Laverty (19), John McKerr (49) and Pat McCarthy (44).
12. ‘Guns in school were from Loyalist band’
A STASH of imitation guns and camouflage clothing found in a primary school belonged to members of a Loyalist marching band according to senior council sources in Glasgow.
They said some of the material found by police at a gym hall in Blairtummock Primary in Easterhouse, Glasgow, which included balaclavas, ski masks, camouflage gear, and white gloves, “related to the Loyalist tradition”.
Council figures claim it belonged to members of a band which has used the school as a practice area. It is not known how many members were involved.
However, it is understood the haul was hidden by a school employee not involved in teaching. The individual was on sick leave when the material was found and has not yet returned to work.
Strathclyde Police refused to comment publicly on the claims, but said they were investigating all individuals or organisations which had access to the gym. The replica weapons were uncovered on January 25 by a member of staff.
The head teacher immediately contacted police and more than 100 children were sent home. It was initially believed the weapons were authentic, but it then emerged they were toys and capable only of firing plastic pellets.
Senior figures within Glasgow City Council claimed the weapons and paraphernalia were used by members of a flute band, some of whom are understood to have donned paramilitary-style gear and posed for photographs at the school. These are understood to have been posted on internet sites frequented by Loyalist death squad sympathisers and far-right groups. Another said: “Some of the items found were definitely of a Loyalist tradition and bore the inscriptions of an outlawed terrorist group from Northern Ireland (sic).”Glasgow City Council was unable to reveal the name of the flute band or the individual who booked the gym, citing data protection legislation. The band involved could not be contacted.
Grant Thoms, SNP councillor for North East Glasgow, added: “I would question the wisdom of community facilities being allowed to be used by groups such as Loyalist bands, and call for an urgent review of the council’s procedures to ensure that no groups or individuals can abuse our facilities for narrow sectarian ends.”
A council spokeswoman added: “We are obviously working closely with the police during their investigations. At this stage we have no plans to suspend any employee.”
A police spokesman said: “Inquiries are ongoing to trace the person or persons who placed these items in the school. We are looking at all individuals and organisations who had access to the gym as part of the inquiry.”
13. Forum’s first meeting hears strong criticism of Lisbon Treaty
NOBODY should be “guilted” into voting for the Lisbon Treaty, said a speaker from the floor at a meeting organised by the National Forum on Europe in the Dublin suburb of Blanchardstown on February 5.
Nor should the European Union be given the credit for the 26 County state’s economic boom, which was mainly due to the efforts of the Irish people themselves, the speaker told the meeting, the first in a 26-County wide series to be held by the forum.
Several other speakers strongly criticised the treaty, echoing the critique of former Socialist Party TD, Joe Higgins, who had already condemned EU military ambitions from the platform. Opponents of further EU integration formed a high proportion of the well-attended meeting in Blanchardstown public library, which attracted some 200 people. Labour MEP for Dublin Proinsias De Rossa, another platform speaker, came under attack for his pro-treaty views and his praise for the EU role on climate change. A man who said he was an ordinary citizen said the EU was “a rich man’s club” and “an oligarchy”. He added: “The big boys are going to rule this thing.”
Another speaker suggested the EU was weakening workers’ rights. Yet another contributor felt the EU’s role in dealing with climate change was being exaggerated.
A community development worker encouraged people to use their vote and complained that there was “disempowerment” of the public who were being “railroaded” by the lack of official information about both sides of the argument.
“I’m desperate to get some information,” said a man from Buncrana, Co Donegal. But he had made up his mind to oppose the treaty. “It wipes out any kind of pretence of democracy within the EU,” he said.
14. Spanish repressive offensive intensifies
BASQUE PRO-INDEPENDENCE spokespersons Pernando Barrena and Patxi Urrutia were arrested on February 4 by Spanish police. The arrests come just 24 hours after the pro-independence movement launched a campaign of public talks to inform the Basque people about the failed negotiation process and to gain support for the “Proposal for a Democratic Framework”. This new repressive attack is being seen as an attempt to silence the pro-independence movement when there are just a few weeks left until the Spanish general election of March 9.
The “Proposal for a Democratic Framework” is an attempt to find common ground among Basque political parties, trade unions, social movements, and its aim to bring about the end of political and armed conflict in the Basque Country.
It falls short of seeking full independence and instead proposes autonomy for the four southern Basque Provinces as well as the three northern Basque provinces under French rule.
More information is available at:
Related Link: http://www.irishbasquecommittees.blogspot.com
15. 1916 medal to be auctioned
THE GRANDSON of William Patrick Partridge is selling his grandfathers 1916 medal. Sid McAuley, whose mother Constance was a daughter of William Partridge, lives in Plymouth in England and works for the British Ministry of Defence.
William Patrick Partridge was a friend and comrade of James Connolly. He was an active trade unionist and involved in the 1913 Lockout in Dublin when William Martin Murphy, owner of Independent newspapers and other employers, locked out the workers for nine months in an attempt to break the Trade Union movement. William Partridge was also a captain in the Irish Citizen Army and fought alongside Countess Markievicz in the College of Surgeons in 1916. He was also a member of Sinn Féin, and founder of the Irish Labour Party.
He was sentenced to 15 years after the Rising and was sent to Dartmoor prison in England. He was only 43 when he died of kidney disease in 1917.
The medal, which was issued in 1941, is expected to fetch between £5,000 and £7,000
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