SAOIRSE32

Belfast Telegraph
Thursday 28, February 2008

An Assembly Commission visit to Dublin is likely to delay a decision over Sinn Fein plans to commemorate an IRA bomber in Stormont.

The Commission, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Assembly, travelled across the border yesterday to meet its counterpart body in Dublin.

The two-day visit includes talks with the body which organises the Dail in Leinster House and senior TDs from all parties in the Republic.

The trip is likely to delay a decision, however, on Sinn Fein’s application to hold a commemoration of IRA bomber Mairead Farrell in Stormont’s Long Gallery as part of International Womens Day celebrations on March 8.

The DUP has put on hold an application for a commemoration of the SAS, which shot Ms Farrell with two other IRA members, Danny McCann and Sean Savage, in Gibraltar in 1988, until the Commission reaches a decision.

It is thought, however, if the Commission refuses permission to use the Long Gallery, Sinn Fein will stage the event in its own Stormont offices.

Meanwhile, Gerry Adams claimed yesterday that the IRA unit was gunned down after the Irish government passed on information about their movements.

The west Belfast trio were shot by undercover soldiers as they prepared to launch a car bomb attack on troops based on The Rock.

It was claimed they had been under surveillance by British intelligence and the authorities in Spain who monitored their movements as they crossed the border into Gibraltar, apparently after leaving Ireland on a flight out of Dublin.

The Sinn Fein president declared: “It is my strong view that the killings in Gibraltar were authorised by Margaret Thatcher, and it is my strong view that the Irish government of the day passed information to the authorities about the movements of those killed.

“I cannot prove that, but that is my conviction.”

Belfast Telegraph
Thursday 28, February 2008

Just one phone call could help end three years of agony for Lisa Dorrian’s tormented family.

Somebody knows what happened to the pretty 25- year-old on February 28, 2005, and where her body is hidden - but for 1095 long days they have remained silent.

Every morning her family hopes today will be the day that person breaks their silence and shares the secret that could lead them to Lisa.

On the afternoon of March 4, 2005, the PSNI issued a statement saying they were becoming increasingly concerned about a 25-year-old Co Down woman, Lisa Dorrian, who had not been seen for five days since a party in Ballyhalbert, and that a crime could not be ruled out.

From that moment, Lisa’s disappearance gripped the public’s attention.

When it was finally confirmed that a murder inquiry had been launched, the mystery of what happened to the blonde sandwich-shop assistant, with dreams of buying a house or starting a life abroad, sparked public alarm.

Overnight, Lisa’s family was launched into the spotlight as they made impassioned appeals for help to find their daughter and sister.

They issued a £30,000 reward for information, launched a website to raise awareness of Lisa’s disappearance, posted advertisements on billboards, trailer boards and bus shelters and urged people to wear blue Ribbons of Hope to show support.

As they embarked on their brave campaign they found themselves in a surreal world where they were offered support from people like US singer Donny Osmond and former PM Tony Blair, to Milltown killer Michael Stone.

When Stone offered to meet Lisa’s killers, after police confirmed loyalist paramilitaries - believed to be the LVF - were being linked to the murder, her sister Joanne summed up the family’s incredulity at the life they had found themselves in. She said: “It just goes to show you how crazy the situation my family finds itself in.”

The interest in the case has been unprecedented - the lisadorrian.co.uk website had 5 million hits in just one week - and helped keep the case in the public eye. The family’s tireless fight to find Lisa’s body has won them support from across the globe. However, the family campaign has not always been welcome.

In November 2005, they were forced to go to the Rathcoole estate on the outskirts of Belfast under police cover to remove a trailer board with a picture of Lisa after it was overturned. They have also had nasty messages posted on their website message board.

Detectives investigating Lisa’s murder insist that everything is being done to lead them to her body and killer. However, the investigation does not appear to be moving anywhere fast. Over the past three years several leads have been followed and a number of arrests made, but nobody has been charged.

The Dorrian family show no sign of giving up hope.

All it would take is one call to disclose the secret of what happened to Lisa and allow her family to lay her to rest.

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: 27 Feabhra / February 2008

Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE-Irish Freedom

http://saoirse.info

In this issue:

1. RSF TO oppose Armagh visit of English queen
2. RSF to hold annual Seán Keenan commemoration in Derry
3. British police embarrassed
4. Family of Aidan McAnespie continue their quest for truth
5. Stormont Minister ‘snubs’ invites to Irish language events
6. Huge support for Irish language parade
7. Peace Vigil at Shannon Airport
8. Eviction swoop on Tara solidarity camp

1. RSF TO OPPOSE ARMAGH VISIT OF ENGLISH QUEEN

ON Holy Thursday, March 20 Republican Sinn Féin will be protesting the presence of the Queen of England, Elizabeth Windsor, at the Maundy Thursday celebrations in St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh City.

Recent meetings of An Ard-Chomhairle (National Executive) and Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive) agreed that the presence of the English Queen in Ireland would be actively opposed.

National Publicity Officer, Richard Walsh, said: “Until such time as England withdraws from Ireland and hostilities cease, we are opposed to the presence of British royals in our country. Whilst the British Occupation of Ireland continues, Elizabeth Windsor can only be viewed as an enemy of the Irish people.

“Her visit will not go unopposed.”

2. RSF TO HOLD ANNUAL SEÁN KEENAN COMMEMORATION IN DERRY

THE annual Seán Keenan Commemoration will be held on Sunday, March 2, at the Seán Keenan Memorial (Celtic Cross) on Fahan Street in the Bogside area of Derry City at 3pm. The main oration will be delivered by veteran Mayo Republican, Dan Hoban. Seán Keenan was made an Honorary Vice-President for life of Republican Sinn Féin in the late 1980s.

3. BRITISH POLICE EMBARRASSED

THE RUC/ PSNI was embarrassed this week after mistakenly claiming that a UVF bannerette carried during last year’s Twelfth of July Orange Order parade might be ‘OK’ because it referred to the organisation’s early gun smuggling days of 1914.

The banner bears the names of two men who had links to the UVF, Sam Rocket who was murdered by loyalists in 2000 and William Hanna shot dead by the British Army in 1978.

It was carried by members of The Pride of Ardoyne Flute Band along the Crumlin Road last July in a clear violation of the British Parades Commission’s rules which say “no paramilitary-style clothing is to be worn at any time during the parade and flags, bannerettes and symbols relating to a proscribed organisation should in no circumstances be displayed”.

4. FAMILY OF AIDAN McANESPIE CONTINUE THEIR QUEST FOR TRUTH

ON February 21 Aghaloo GAA club hosted a weekend of Gaelic football and cultural events to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Aidan McAnespie (24) who was shot by a British soldier as he walked to attend a game at the club grounds on February 21, 1988. The weekend highlighted the ongoing quest to uncover the truth regarding the shooting.

The remembrance events commenced on February 21 with an anniversary Mass at the nearby Clara Chapel at 8pm, followed by a céili in the marquee at Aghaloo GAA grounds. On February 22 there was a dance in Quinn’s Corner with music by Pat Casey and Gerry Cunningham. On February 23 an under-18 boys football tournament was held at Aghaloo with the final taking place the following day.

The minor final acted as a curtain-raiser for the senior clash between Aidan McAnespie GFC, Boston and Cormac McAnallen GFC, Australia. On Sunday a host of GAA stars past and present - including Peter Canavan, Joe Brolly, Brian McGuigan, Ryan McMenamin, Enda Muldoon, Larry Reilly, Anthony Tohill, Nudie Hughes, Greg McCartan and Ollie Murphy – took part a special football match to commemorate the 24-year-old’s life at 3pm at Aghaloo GAA club.

Also in attendance was the GAA president at the time of the killing, Dr Mick Loftus. Following the shooting of the young Aghaloo clubman, Dr Loftus, along with the late Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Tomas Ó Fiaich, described the incident as ‘murder.’

The British army claimed Aidan had been hit by a ricochet when the weapon had discharged accidentally as the soldier was moving the gun with wet hands. Charges were initially brought against a Grenadier Guard for manslaughter but were dropped prior to prosecution.

The day after the killing, the 26-County Administration appointed Garda Deputy Commissioner Eugene Crowley to investigate the incident. The results of the investigation were received by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Gerard Collins on April 8, 1988, but have never been published. An RUC investigation also took place which concluded that the killing was accidental.

Aidan’s sister, Eilish said the weekend was one of mixed emotions for the McAnespie family. “It will bring back painful memories for the family with 20 years without Aidan,” she said. “It feels like it happened last week as if time had stood still. It will be a very difficult time for my mum and dad. It is a comfort to us that he is being remembered in such an honourable way and that helps to ease the pain for us slightly. Aghaloo O’Neills could not be praised enough for the effort they have put into this. They were excellent at the time of Aidan’s death with the funeral and the support they have given us.”

Speaking of the on-going campaign to get to the truth regarding the shooting of her brother, Eilish said, “We have not received justice for what happened to Aidan. We are still actively pursuing this case… There has been information covered up and when you know the truth has been hidden it does make you very, very angry. It is 20 years on and we still feel that injustice. This weekend will be a commemoration and to keep Aidan’s name to the fore to highlight the injustice that happened.”

5. STORMONT MINISTER ‘SNUBS’ INVITES TO IRISH LANGUAGE EVENTS

STORMONT culture minister Edwin Poots admitted on March 26 that he has not accepted an invitation to any Irish language events since he was appointed, despite attending five Ulster-Scots celebrations.

Edwin Poots said he turned down invitations to four Irish language events since the restoration of Stormont in May 2007.

However, he has attended five Ulster-Scots projects including a re-enactment of the 1798 Battle of Saintfield in August as part of the Saintfield Liberty Days Festival.

Janet Muller from Irish language group Pobal said they had invited Edwin Poots to attend a march in support of official recognition for the language in June but never received a reply.

“It could just be coincidence that he hasn’t attended any Irish language events,” she said.

The news comes just two weeks after it was revealed that Stormont funding for the promotion of Ulster-Scots is to outstrip Irish language projects over the next three years.

Figures from DCAL show Ulster-Scots projects will get around £1 million more in funding than Irish language schemes between 2008/09 and 2010/11.

Meanwhile, Pobal has said they will raise DUP assembly member Jimmy Spratt’s comments on the Irish language act with British Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.

Janet Muller said they will also speak about the issue with the monitoring bodies for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

At a meeting of the DUP’s Tandragee branch at the weekend, Spratt said that “thanks to DUP policy”, a proposed Irish language act had been “rubbished” by Edwin Poots.

“We have also seen devolution deliver greater funding for our culture,” he said. “For the first time, funding to Ulster-Scots will be greater than funding to the Irish sector. This money can be used for capacity building in order to increase community activity within the unionist and protestant family.”

Janet Muller said Mr Spratt’s comments showed the DUP’s “opposition to the [Irish Language] Act is purely based upon narrow party political interests”.

6. HUGE SUPPORT FOR IRISH LANGUAGE PARADE

THOUSANDS of people took to the streets of Belfast city centre on February 23 to show their support for the Irish language and cultural diversity.

The march, organised by POBAL, the umbrella organisation for Irish language groups in the Six Counties, was hailed by the Chief Executive of POBAL, Janet Muller, as a huge success.

A 20-foot Chinese dragon led supporters from West Belfast to Writers’ Square in the city centre for an afternoon of music and poetry from Irish language speakers and multi-ethnic groups from as far away as Poland and Ghana.

Several groups attended to show support not only for the Irish language and cultural diversity itself, but also for Ciste Craoltóireachta na Gaeilge (the Irish Language Broadcast Fund) which is under threat at present. They were also supporting the call for an Irish Language Act and backing the threatened Irish language paper Lá Nua. Ms Muller said the large crowd and colourful atmosphere showed the depth of support for the ‘Say Tá to the Irish Language’ campaign.

“It was an extremely lively, noisy and colourful march and the multi-ethnic atmosphere showed just how wide the support is,” she said.

“We had traditional Irish music from Marcas Ó Murchú and Oisín Mac Diarmada, poetry readings from Jamaican and Ghanaian poets and ethnic music from Polish and Slovenian musicians, so it shows how wide the cultural support for this is.

“People from all walks of life were here and they came from all over Ireland to show their support. A lot of what you can hear about the Irish language can be bad and this event proved just how colourful and joyous it is. The great turn-out showed the wealth of support there is out there for the Irish language.”

Janet said that in recent months, the language itself was under attack, with the decision not to introduce an Irish Language Act, the threat to the broadcasting fund, and now the threat of the imminent closure of Lá Nua, Ireland’s only daily Irish language newspaper.

Before the parade took off the organisers held a an international food fair in Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich, and storytelling in An Ceathrú Póilí bookshop, also in the Irish language arts centre on the Falls Road.

A large number of Gaelscoil pupils also participated, with the march being led by salsa drummers from Dublin and Coláiste Feirste, and a Chinese dragon created by Year 7 in Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh.

7. PEACE VIGIL AT SHANNON AIRPORT

ON February 17, Cosantori Siochana hosted what is now a monthly vigil at Shannon Airport to highlight Ireland’s participation in a war raging around the globe. This dignified witness was supported by Amnesty International and several Quakers from Limerick City.

Standing at the entrance to Shannon Airport, the group of peace-mongers held banners calling for the demilitarisation of the Airport and to end the use of Shannon by CIA torture taxis. This low key vigil is gaining numbers since peace activists resumed a monthly presence in December with just five people.

Shannon Airport has seen over 1,000,000 US troops pass through to Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, the government was criticized by the Irish Commission for Human Rights for not searching CIA and Military flights at the airport. Several of these planes have been involved in the US’s Extraordinary Rendition programme where prisoners were transported to other countries for outsourced torture.

Speaking at the vigil, a local peace activist said “We have come back to show that this is still an issue with the people of Ireland. It is great to see Amnesty and the Quakers here. Both groups are well known in the peace movement and bring a strong presence to the vigil.”

Commenting on the large amount of Gardai positioned near by, he said, “Judging by the amount of security here, it seems that the government knows that any protest at Shannon highlights their complicity in America’s military failures. Obviously this threatens the state and they will continue to pour taxpayers money into securing the myth that it’s business as usual at Shannon Airport.”

After initial contact with this peaceful group, An Gardai Síochána kept a visible distance reminding these citizens that they were at hand. Three local detectives interrogated one of the youngest members of the group as he went past their unmarked patrol car. When confronted by the young boy’s irate father, the driver said: “We were just engaging in conversation!” Detective Sergeant Michael Houlihan sitting in the back seat refused to tell the father if they had recorded the boy’s details. The member in the front seat had an open notebook on his lap.

The next vigil will happen at Shannon Airport at 5pm, 23rd of March. Please bring flowers to commemorate those who died since the Iraq war started five years ago

8. EVICTION SWOOP ON TARA SOLIDARITY CAMP

ON February 25 a large number of Gardaí, along with SIAC Ferrovial private security

conducted a swoop on the Tara solidarity camp, located beside Rath Lugh and Lismullin national monuments in Country Meath, which contains approximately 30 demonstrators.

A large number of ‘paddy wagons’ arrived on the scene, and a lot of large machinery arrived and prepared for demolition works in the area of Rath Lugh, the site Minister Gormley placed a Temporary Preservation Order on late last year.

The camp is located on wooded land that is publicly owned by Coillte, and has been occupied by a large number of protestors for over a year. However, instead of treating this as a civil trespass matter, Gardaí arrested people and charged them with criminal violations. At least one person was taken into custody.

It is believed this action is a continuation of Garda ‘Operation Bedrock’, a policing plan created to deal with Tara demonstrators. Minister Lenihan claimed “Operation Bedrock is in place to uphold the law in the context of the construction of the M3 motorway”, in response to an official complaint that was lodged, alleging breaches of civil and human rights, as a result of ongoing assaults on peaceful demonstrators.

Police have threatened arrests on a grand scale, unless demonstrators disperse. The situation is currently ongoing and is being monitored.

Laura Grealish said:

“We lodged a complaint with regards to the mistreatment of demonstrators with Minister Lenihan last week. There has been no written reply, and this escalation seems to be his response. This is clearly a joint operation between the Gardaí and private security for SIAC Ferrovial. They are rushing to make the M3 a fait accompli, even though cases are before the High Court and the European Court of Justice.”

Vincent Salafia said:

”This operation is taking place on the same day that Minister Dempsey is launching his so-called ‘sustainable transport’ initiative. The M3 is the most unsustainable project ever invented in Ireland, and is illegal according to the European Commission. What we have here is business as usual.”

ENDS

News Letter
27 February 2008

It was one of the most heinous crimes during Northern Ireland’s bloody past. Ten years on, the pain and suffering is as raw for the parents of Phillip Allen and Damian Trainor as it was on the night when the life­long friends were murdered in the Railway Bar in Poyntzpass.

On March 3, 1998, LVF killers Stephen McClean and Noel McCready burst into the quiet bar, riddling it with bullets from handguns. Phillip and Damian were shot dead and two other men were injured in the horrific attack.

The mothers of the murdered men have told how their lives changed forever that night and how there is not a day goes by when they don’t think of their sons.

‘’I'm trying my best to go on with life but every day is the same, I can picture Damian working across the road in the garage,'’ said Damian’s mother An
n.

‘’Faith has got me through the last 10 years, I don’t pray but others pray for me and it’s a comfort.

I have received a great deal of support from the community and it’s great.'’ Ethel Allen can also remember that dreadful night and the scene which met her as she entered Canavan’s bar.

‘’As I was making my way to the bar, I thought Phillip had maybe been shot in the arm,'’ she said.

‘’But when I went into the bar he said, ‘mum, I’m dying, I’m dying’.

I told him I loved him and not to worry and that we would follow him to Daisy Hill but he died before he got there.'’ Both women believe the men who murdered their sons should rot behind bars forever.

Ann said McClean and McCready are both ‘’pure evil'’.

‘’Please God I hope they don’t get out of prison,'’ she said .

‘’They will suffer one day and I hope I see that day.'’