SAOIRSE32

Telephone calls, internet use and email will be monitored by the police as part of a broad extension of the ability of the state to snoop on citizens.

By Rosa Prince
Telegraph.co.uk
15 Oct 2008

The Home Secretary has called for greater powers of surveillance and data collection to be allowed in the fight against terrorism.

The move comes after the police and the security services warned that criminals were becoming increasingly sophisticated in their use of technology to avoid detection.

Ministers were already planning a massive “Big Brother” database to log data contained in emails and phone calls but have decided to go even further in view of the current threat level.

The original proposal, which was this week criticised by Lord Carlisle, the independent reviewer of anti-terror laws, had been due to be put before MPs in the Communications Data Bill next month.

However, in a speech, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, announced that she was delaying the Bill in order to expand the extent of surveillance powers open to the security services, while consulting further on the best way to win public support for the plan.

The delay marks the third Government U-turn in as many days over its anti-terror legislation, following the abandonment of plans to detain suspects for up to 42 days and secret inquests for juries.

In the speech to the IPPR think tank, Miss Smith said communications data of the sort which helped convict Soham killer Ian Huntley and the 21/7 bombers was not at present being routinely stored, and needed to be if terrorists and serious criminals were to be prevented from striking.

The plan would not include recording the contents of people’s messages and appropriate safeguards would be put in place, but Miss Smith said it was “vital” to maintain Britain’s capacity to combat terrorism.

She added: “There are no plans for an enormous database which will contain the content of your emails, the texts that you send or the chats you have on the phone or online.

“Nor are we going to give local authorities the power to trawl through the database in the interests of investigating lower level criminality under the spurious cover of counter-terrorist legislation.”

Lord Carlile has described the “raw idea” of the database as “awful”.

But Miss Smith said that a more efficient means of storing data such as the timing and location of phone calls made by terror suspects would avoid more wide-scale surveillance of the public.

She added: “The consultation will begin in the New Year and I want this to be combined with a well-informed debate characterised by openness, rather than mere opinion, by reason and reasonableness.

“In this, as in the other work we do, my aim is to achieve a consensus and I hope that others will approach the serious issues posed for our national security capabilities in the same spirit.”

By Michael McMonagle
Derry Journal
15 October 2008

The INLA in Derry have seized a batch of deadly weapons, including martial arts knives and an imitation gun, from young people across the city.

An imitation Walther pistol, a nine inch curved blade and a kitchen knife were confiscated in the Ballymagroarty, Bishop Street and Bogside areas on Monday night.

It’s believed the gun - which was seized from a 16 year-old - was used in recent incidents in the Ballymagroarty area in which a masked and armed individual called at a number of houses, demanding cash at gunpoint.

The INLA says its volunteers seized the weapons after being contacted by concerned residents.

“The INLA is coming under increasing pressure from communities to take action against these activities,” a spokeperson for the organisation told Foyle News. “We will keep a watching brief on the situation over the next few weeks. We are calling on people not to become involved in this activity or to carry weapons.”

The INLA also issued a sinister warning to anyone identified as supplying knives and other weapons to young people. “We are warning those selling these weapons that they will be held responsible for their actions.”

Seizure welcomed

The IRSP - the political wing of the INLA - has welcomed the seizure of the weapons and is urging a “community response” to deal with knife crime.

“Following the seizure of weapons from the streets of Derry by the INLA, the IRSP wish to place on public record our gratitude towards the INLA in helping to make the streets that much safer,” said a party spokesperson.

“There has been a recent upsurge in the use of knives and guns in Derry and the pro-active approach by the INLA has undoubtedly saved people from serious injury or even death. But the INLA cannot act in isolation. There must be a united community response to this type of activity.”

CONOR LALLY
Irish Times
**Via Newshound
15 Oct 2008

PARAMILITARY PRISONERS from the Real IRA and INLA joined forces to challenge staff at Portlaoise Prison in recent days in a dispute over the searching of cells at the jail.

Prison sources said the protest resulted in full chamber pots being thrown at staff, forcing the closure of a food preparation area. The same sources said the disturbance ended yesterday afternoon only after two INLA inmates were released from segregation.

The disturbance began on Sunday morning when the cells of a number of INLA inmates were searched on the E4 landing of the maximum security jail. A makeshift knife was found in one of the searched cells.

The INLA inmates were unhappy that the searches had taken place claiming they had been singled out for special treatment.

On Monday morning, they staged a protest, throwing the contents of their chamber pots on to the landing of their wing of the prison.

The contents of the pots ran down on to the E3 landing below, which houses Real IRA prisoners. The contents of the pots then ran down on to an area below the E3 landing forcing the closure of an area where food is prepared.

When other prisoners were asked to clean the area, they were threatened by the INLA group not to clean up.

The INLA inmates then broke through meshing which divides their cells from the Real IRA landing below.

In an unprecedented move, the two groups of inmates joined forces and demanded that two INLA prisoners who had been placed in segregation be returned to their cells. The prisoners in segregation were released and the protest ended.

The Prison Officers Association declined to comment. However, prison officer sources said they were disappointed the prisoners’ demands were acceded to.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said the protest was “minor” and “non violent”. It had been dealt with quickly and in a non-confrontational manner.

He said the two inmates had been placed in segregation to ease tensions and not as punishment. There was no question prison management had “bowed” to the demands of inmates in releasing the pair from segregation.

There are eight INLA and 30 Real IRA prisoners held at the jail. The protest since the weekend is believed the first time that members of the two groups, usually rivals, had held a joint protest.

By Tom Brady
Independent.ie
October 15 2008

A major investigation was under way at the country’s top security jail in Portlaoise last night after rampaging INLA prisoners attacked the governor and several officers.

Some of the dissident republicans hurled the contents of their chamber pots in the direction of Governor Ned Whelan and a number of his staff.

Prison officials said last night that Mr Whelan had been splashed by the contents but was not injured in the incident.

Tensions had been rising in the wing of the prison housing renegade republicans for the past couple of days.

Last Saturday staff learned that an INLA member had created a home-made weapon out of the handle of a soup ladle, staff said.

A search of a cell on E4,the landing housing the eight INLA prisoners, including the organisation’s alleged leader in Dublin, Declan Duffy, was carried out by prison officers on Sunday morning.

The INLA inmates objected to the search and were then alleged to have poured the contents of their pots through the mesh netting, which leads to the E3 landing holding 21 Continuity IRA prisoners and the E2 landing housing 30 Real IRA inmates.

Some of the content seeped into an area housing food and a kitchenette in the Real IRA area and this was immediately shut down, pending an examination.

Members of the INLA also apologised to the Real IRA over the seepage incident.

On Monday the INLA group lodged complaints that their cells were being unfairly targeted for searches and protested that they were being selected for special treatment.

Their protests continued throughout the day and yesterday morning staff took two of the INLA men out of their cells and brought them to the segregation unit.

Governor Whelan was attacked shortly before noon as he was making his regular rounds of the jail and stopped at the INLA landing to tell the inmates that their accusations were unfounded.

While addressing the inmates he came under fire from the pots and extra staff were drafted onto the landing to restore order. However, according to staff sources last night, five of the INLA men managed to make their way through the wire netting and reached the landing occupied by the Continuity IRA inmates, who supported their protest.

Sources said staff were very concerned as the inmates could have gained access to weapons such as pool cues and balls, weights from the gym and items from the craft shop.

But following talks with senior management in the afternoon the inmates eventually returned to their cells without further disturbance.

The Irish Prison Service said last night that the group had been involved in a minor disturbance, which had been quickly brought under control.

But staff sources said it was the first time that a prison governor had been attacked by inmates in Portlaoise in over 30 years.

The Prison Service said the incidents were being fully investigated. It was learned later that the five INLA prisoners involved in the incident had been punished last night by being locked up in their own cells for more than a month without access to phone calls or visits.

- Tom Brady Security Editor

The legalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland has been shelved amid fears the controversial move could undermine the fragile peace process.

By Rosa Prince and Martin Beckford
Telegraph.co.uk
15 Oct 2008

Pro-choice Labour MPs had been preparing to table an amendment to the Embryology Bill that would allow terminations in Northern Ireland, the only part of Britain where the procedure remains illegal.

They have scrapped the move after being privately warned by ministers that with the Stormont executive close to collapse, it could tip the province’s politicians into withdrawing from negotiations.

The MPs still plan to push ahead with separate plans to make access to abortion easier in the rest of the country by removing the requirement for two doctors’ signatures and allowing nurses to carry out early-stage terminations, however.

But they face determined opposition from pro-life MPs, backed by church groups, when the Bill is debated in the Commons next Wednesday.

Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin, said the decision not to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland was a “welcome U-turn” but added: “The decision appears to be more about extending the political life of the Prime Minister - rather than the Government extending the lives of the unborn.

“It appears ministers are still determined to introduce ‘drive-thru’ abortions where mothers can bypass the advice of their local GP, drive straight to their local clinic and place an order for an abortion.”

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which also includes measures allowing human-animal hybrid embryo research and the creation of “saviour siblings”, has already been the cause of some of the most heated exchanges in Parliament in recent years.

A series of amendments to lower the upper time limit for abortions from 24 weeks was defeated after an impassioned debate in May and the Bill had been due to clear the Commons in July.

But it was suddenly halted on the intervention of Harriet Harman, the Leader of the House, who was said to be keen to see the Northern Ireland amendment pass and wanted more time to raise support for it.

Pro-choice MPs had been confident of success when the Bill returns to the Commons next week, particularly given the forthcoming departure from the Cabinet of Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, who as a committed Catholic had forced Gordon Brown to allow ministers a free vote when it was last debated.

But the Ulster political situation has deteriorated recently, with the Executive failing to meet as scheduled as a result of a disagreement between unionists and republicans over the devolution of policing and justice.

While abortion is one area where Northern Ireland’s politicians largely concur - with both Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party opposed to legalisation - ministers fear that forcing the amendment through could undermine their attempts to broker an agreement.

As a result, pro-choice Labour MPs have been taken aside and warned not to proceed with their plan.

An amendment may still be tabled to the Bill by an Opposition MP, probably from the Liberal Democrat side, but without the backing of the powerful female Labour pro-choice group, it has little chance of success.

The message was underlined at the “Ulster Fry” breakfast meeting at Labour Party Conference, where MPs mingled with Northern Irish politicians - who told them they would consider breaking off communication with the Government over the issue.

Around 1,400 girls and women travel from the province each year to have a termination on the mainland, as the 1967 Act which legalised abortion in the rest of the country was never extended to Northern Ireland.

The FPA, formerly the Family Planning Association, has now launched an online video campaign aimed at MPs urging them to end the “discrimination” that pregnant women in Northern Ireland face if they do not want to have their baby.

Julie Bentley, chief executive of the Fpa, said: “The leaders of the four main political parties and the leaders of the main church groups in Northern Ireland have all demanded that abortion should remain highly restricted but only 16.6 percent of the Northern Ireland Assembly are women.

“So the situation exists that groups of men are making decisions about women’s lives and creating a division of rights and entitlement between women, on the basis that they live in different regions of the UK.”

Irish News
15/10/08

Sinn Fein has managed to steal a march on the DUP at Stormont by out-voting it at an important committee meeting.

With two unionists absent for the vote, the committee agreed yesterday to set a five-week deadline for drawing up proposals on the devolution of policing and justice powers.

Unionists opposed the proposal, but lost out by four votes to three.

The DUP is currently refusing to set a timetable for the devolution of policing and justice, saying it needs more time to assess the IRA’s future intentions.

The move has led to a stalemate in the power-sharing Executive, with Sinn Féin blocking ministerial meetings as a result of the unionist stance.

Belfast Telegraph
Wednesday, 15 October 2008

French police have opened an inquiry into allegations that a Russian human rights lawyer may have been deliberately poisoned in Strasbourg on Monday.

Karina Moskalenko, who represents some of the Kremlin’s best-known critics, became ill after finding a substance similar to mercury inside her car.

French police said there had not been enough of the substance to endanger life, but that more tests were being carried out. Ms Moskalenko and members of her family were treated for nausea and headaches.

The lawyer’s clients include the jailed former Russian oil tycoon, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and the family of the murdered journalist, Anna Politkovskaya. Her illness meant that she was unable to travel to Moscow on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing at the trial of three men charged with Ms Politkovskaya’s murder.

“People do not put mercury in your car to improve your health,” she told a Russian radio station. “The question that preoccupies me now is: was it a demonstration, which I only noticed too late, or on the contrary, did I notice it too soon, and the plan was that it should travel with us for longer?”

Symptoms of mercury poisoning can include memory loss and mood instability. High levels of exposure can be fatal, especially if it is inhaled in vapour form.

IAIS
10/14/08

A motion calling for full disclosure of information British and Irish security services received about the Omagh bomb has failed to win assembly backing.

The motion was proposed by the Alliance Party and supported by Sinn Fein and the SDLP.

A DUP amendment was instead passed by an oral vote, with backing from the Ulster Unionists.

The DUP claimed the Alliance motion failed to condemn the Real IRA bombers and lacked urgency.

The amendment called on the UK government to investigate the matter “in an open and transparent way in cooperation with the Irish government”.

Lord Morrow of the DUP told the assembly his party was “in favor of full disclosure, come what way”.

But Alliance deputy leader Naomi Long said this was not part of the amendment.

Earlier, the father of one of the Omagh bomb victims welcomed the debate on the 1998 atrocity.

Godfrey Wilson’s 15-year-old daughter Lorraine was killed in the explosion in the County Tyrone town along with 28 other people.

“The biggest worry is that this would become a political football - we’ve been waiting 10 years to get justice and we haven’t got it,” said Mr Wilson.

“I feel that there’s a lot of questions to be asked before Omagh and a lot of questions to be asked after Omagh. And with the Panorama programme in the public domain, GCHQ has questions to answer, but not only the British state, the Irish state as well.”

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: 7 Deireadh Fómhair / October 2008

Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE-Irish Freedom

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In this issue:

1. Dan Keating remembered
2. British policing board backs call for Tasers
3. Teenager shot in legs by loyalists
4. Fears of feud heighten as LVF issues threat
5. Loyalist ‘attackers laughing’ as they left Michael
6. RUC bugged Rosemary Nelson’s home for three years
7. ‘Night of shame’ as no unionist backs freedom for clergyman
8. Lessons of Derry civil rights march relevant still, conference hears
9. Aer Lingus staff to ballot for action over plan for €74m cuts

1. DAN KEATING REMEMBERED

ON SUNDAY October 5 Kerry Republican Sinn Féin marked the first anniversary of the death of Dan Keating – patron of Republican Sinn Féin and last and faithful surviving veteran of the Tan War, the Civil War and active in each decade up to his death at the age of 105 on October 2 2007 - by unveiling a plaque on his grave in Kiltallagh churchyard, Co Kerry.

Led by a colour party and a lone piper the large crowd marched from the gates of the churchyard to Dan Keating’s graveside. The ceremony was chaired by John Mangan, Cathaoirleach, Kerry Comhairle Ceantair of Republican Sinn Féin.

He began the ceremony by welcoming all present and reciting a decade of the rosary As Gaelige in memory of Dan Keating. The plaque was unveiled by the Vice President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton, Kildare. Following this the piper played a lament and the National flag was dipped.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement by Sean Murphy, on behalf of the Keating family by Jack Keating (nephew) and on behalf of the Mac Curtáin/Mac Suibhne Cumann, Cork, by Kitty O’Brien.

The oration was given by George Rice – son of John Joe Rice, veteran Kerry Republican and Republican Sinn Féin TD for Kerry North from 1957 to 1961 - who was associated with Dan Keating throughout his life. In his oration George Rice spoke about Dan Keating’s unswerving allegiance to the All-Ireland Republic: “Dan Keating devoted his long life to the cause of Irish freedom, despite compromise and betrayal by others Dan never wavered in his allegiance to the All-Ireland Republic. Liam Lynch IRA Chief of Staff during the Civil War famously said ‘We have declared for a Republic and will not live under any other law’ Dan was proud of his service with Liam Lynch and made a point of attending his commemoration each year on the Knockmealdown mountains, like Liam Lynch Dan Keating too declared for the Republic and would not live under any other law, he was faithful to the end.”

The ceremony ended with the playing of Amhrán na bhFiann.

2. BRITISH POLICING BOARD BACKS CALL FOR TASERS

IT was reported on October 3 that the British policing board has backed the RUC/PSNI chief constable’s call for the deployment of Taser electric stun guns.

The board, approved the deployment of the weapon.

Tasers were used once in Derry last August since they were brought in under a pilot scheme in January. The decision is the subject of a legal challenge which is due to be heard early next year.

The announcement that the deployment of Taser stun-guns has been approved throughout the Six Occupied Counties demonstrates the failure of those who had claimed to be entering these bodies to hold the RUC to account, a spokesperson for Republican Sinn Féin said:

“Once again we have the use of lethal weapons by a Provo-sponsored force being authorised against the Irish people by a Provo-sponsored body,” said Director of Publicity, Richard Walsh. “As such they must accept collective responsibility for this horrendous decision by the so-called ‘Policing Board’ within the Six Counties.

“Already in recent weeks we have witnessed the highly inappropriate deployment of Taser in Derry City. With the extension of the scheme, it is inevitable that such incidents will increase. CS gas was reintroduced within the past number of years and its use has become widespread – often as a weapon of first, and not last, resort.”

3. TEENAGER SHOT IN LEGS BY LOYALISTS

MEMBERS of a loyalist death squad were believed to be behind the shooting of a 16-year-old boy in Co Derry.

Ryan Golagher was shot in both legs at a house in the Crescent area of Coleraine at around 10.30pm on October 2. He was in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
According to the RUC/PSNI two masked men forced their way into the house and assaulted the teenager before opening fire.

It is understood the attack took place in front of Ryan Golagher’s girlfriend.

4. FEARS OF FEUD HEIGHTEN AS LVF ISSUES THREAT

THE British-backed death squad the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) issued a threat on September 29 to the people who destroyed a plaque to its assassinated leader Billy Wright on Mourneview estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh recently, raising fears of a renewed loyalist feud in the mid-Ulster region.

In a statement issued to the media, the loyalist death-squad warned that those who attacked the memorial would be made to account for their actions.

They also said those responsible must “contemplate their own fate and motives”.

The statement fuels speculation of a renewed power struggle within loyalism in the area, with the LVF seen as weakened in mid-Ulster.

Some people have gone as far as to claim the group started by Wright is “finished” in the area and that people on the Mourneview estate are fed up with its activities. The threats would seem to suggest the loyalist group is still in existence.

5. LOYALIST ‘ATTACKERS LAUGHING’ AS THEY LEFT MICHAEL

THE loyalist gang who allegedly chased and attacked Ballymena teenager Michael McIlveen were seen “laughing” as they walked away, his murder trial has heard.

The court heard that shortly after the assault on Michael, a young girl met the gang.

“I just seen all them ones walking back down laughing,” she said.

The witness, who cannot be identified because of her age, said there were “10 or 15” of them and named one as Christopher Francis Kerr (22), from Carnduff Drive, who is accused of murder.

Watching her video-taped RUC/PSNI interview Antrim Crown Court also heard her say that Kerr had been among the group of young loyalists who had pursued Michael and two other nationalist teenagers.

Earlier a different witness told the court that Kerr had shown him a baseball bat up to four weeks before the fatal attack which he claimed to have for protection and “for giving Catholics a beating”.

Michael McIlveen died on May 8 2006 from head injuries after being allegedly beaten with a baseball bat and kicked more than 60 times.

Mervyn Wilson Moon (20) from Douglas Terrace has pleaded guilty to murder and will be sentenced at the end of the trial of six other people from the town.

Five of the accused are charged with murder and one faces lesser charges.

Under cross examination on October 1 the 17-year-old girl acknowledged that she had not mentioned Christopher Francis Kerr until asked about him by the RUC/PSNI, 74 minutes into the 81-minute recorded interview.

A second witness, Sarah Ann McCormick, said that when Michael and his friends arrived at a cinema car park on the night of the attack she did not know them but someone in the crowd of “about 20” said “there’s Taigs coming” and named two, including Michael.

The court heard how Jeff Colin Lewis (22), from Rossdale, had asked Michael to “go fair digs” with him but Michael had refused.

Questioned by the prosecution Sarah Ann McCormick confirmed that she had heard Kerr being urged to hit one of the nationalist friends and that the target might have been Michael.

The 19-year-old said Kerr had not done so and that some girls told him he could not hit the teenager because, she thought, “he was too young”.

Sarah Ann McCormick named Lewis and Kerr as having been among a group of “four or five” who ran after Michael and his friends.

She also told the court that she later saw the group together with Moon who had walked for a short distance before joining the chase.

However, under cross examination from Kerr’s lawyer the witness conceded that it was difficult to be certain about who had been running because it had been dark.

6. RUC BUGGED ROSEMARY NELSON’S HOME FOR THREE YEARS

THE RUC bugged a house belonging to solicitor Rosemary Nelson and wanted to tap her office phone, the inquiry into her murder has learned.

The inquiry revealed RUC Special Branch recorded the “minutiae of her life” for almost three years before Rosemary Nelson was murdered by a car bomb.

The inquiry, which resumed hearings this month, is expected to explore whether RUC Special Branch respected the legally privileged talks she had with her client.

The then Six-County British Secretary of State Mo Mowlam approved the operation to bug the home owned by Rosemary Nelson — and occupied by suspected Provisional leader Colin Duffy — but there is no paper trail to show what happened to a second application to eavesdrop on her office.

The inquiry’s leading lawyer says the lack of a paper trail suggests the wiretap did not take place. However, another intelligence report gives details of a conversation Rosemary Nelson had with Martin McGuinness in her office, several months before the RUC application to tap her phone.

The Committee on the Administration of Justice — Rosemary Nelson served on its executive committee — indicated it was concerned about the revelations.

“We are opposed to any breach of lawyer-client confidentiality arrangements,” said CAJ director Mike Ritchie.

RUC Special Branch was hostile to Rosemary Nelson because she represented republicans/nationalists and the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition in the Drumcree dispute.

The inquiry is beginning to explore intelligence questions around Rosemary Nelson’s murder in March 1999, and has noted the absence of a British Colonial Police file on her — in spite of a number of intelligence reports devoted to her movements and associations.

Rory Phillips QC, lead counsel for the inquiry, said that from April 1996 RUC Special Branch began collecting intelligence “specifically relating to” Rosemary Nelson.

“The volume and the detail of the reporting gives rise to a series of questions. Why was Special Branch recording information of this kind relating to Rosemary Nelson’s private life, including details of her family, friends, people who worked in her solicitor’s office?”

Given “this intense focus”, Rory Phillips said, the question arose as to whether “there was in fact a file on Rosemary Nelson in existence at the time of her murder?”

The intelligence materials suggest the RUC were collecting intelligence on Rosemary Nelson but not apparently analysing it.

Rory Phillips said there are no “reports, notes, memoranda or documents produced by E3 (Special Branch’s Republican desk) containing analysis of the intelligence on Rosemary Nelson”.

The inquiry has found two bugging applications relating to Rosemary Nelson.
One concerned Operation Indus, the plan to bug the house in Deeny Drive, Lurgan, then occupied by Colin Duffy and owned by Rosemary Nelson. An earlier application to tap her office phone was also made by an RUC Special Branch sergeant in Lurgan.

7. ‘NIGHT OF SHAME’ AS NO UNIONIST BACKS FREEDOM FOR CLERGYMAN

THE voting down of a motion to grant the freedom of Limavady to former Presbyterian minister the Rev David Armstrong has been described as “a night of shame” for the town.

The proposal fell on September 29 when unionist councillors voted en masse against the move.

David Armstrong was forced to leave his Limavady parish in 1984 in face of a hostile reaction from loyalists after he had wished his Catholic neighbours a happy Christmas the previous year following a loyalist attack on the local Catholic Church.

Limavady SDLP councillor Michael Coyle had proposed that David Armstrong, now an Anglican priest in Co Cork, and Fr Kevin Mullan – who was a Catholic priest in Limavady at the time – be granted the freedom of the borough in recognition of their work for reconciliation.

The proposal was defeated when it failed to attract the required support of two thirds of councillors.

Limavady’s six unionist councillors remained silent throughout the short meeting and did not address the motion. They refused to make any public comment after the meeting.

8. LESSONS OF DERRY CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH RELEVANT STILL, CONFERENCE HEARS

THE marking of the 40th anniversary of the Derry civil rights march of October 5, 1968, should help provide lessons for the modern era, a Belfast conference has heard.

Michael Farrell, a lawyer, author, rights campaigner and student activist in 1968 told a special seminar at Queen’s University the anniversary should not be marked by triumphalism or a reopening of old wounds.

He told the conference on October 3, 1968: Civil Rights, Then and Now, that the NI Civil Rights Association was born out of anger at unionist corporations mainly in small towns across the Six Counties over issues such as housing, jobs, gerrymandering and local democracy.

Placing it in an international context, he linked the anniversary with the 60th anniversary of the UN declaration on human rights. Civil rights activists in the Six Counties in 1968 identified with blacks in the southern US and with “a Baptist minister named after Martin Luther”, he said.

He contended that the Six-County state was “too brittle” to accommodate the demands of the Civil Rights Movement, while the British government ignored it as best it could. The vast array of national and international tools and instruments which are now available for the purposes of seeking redress were simply unavailable in the late 1960s.

Bob Purdie, author of Politics in the Street, doubted that Capt O’Neill “could have pulled it off”, arguing that the former leader’s determination was not enough. Like Dr Purdie, Edwina Stewart, a NICRA member, admitted that she and many of the 1968 generation had made “many mistakes”. She told the conference of a sense of naivety which marked the early days of the movement and the first marches in the Six Counties. Kevin Boyle, of the University of Essex, said the Civil Rights Movement preceded “the human rights era” and argued that ideas were now transferred globally and rapidly thanks to the extraordinary development in information and communications technology.

The weekend’s commemorations continued on October 4 with a major international conference in Derry on the civil rights legacy.

9. AER LINGUS STAFF TO BALLOT FOR ACTION OVER PLAN FOR €74M CUTS

STAFF AT Aer Lingus are to ballot for all-out industrial action in protest at a €74 million cost-saving plan put forward by management.

Siptu has described the plan, which would involve 1,500 job cuts through outsourcing or redundancy, as well as the introduction of a pay freeze and new contracts for staff, as “Irish Ferries Mark II”. The trade union Impact, which represents cabin crew and pilots, said the proposals were “severe and draconian”.

Aer Lingus has said that the measures are necessary to ensure the future viability of its operations. The company lost €22 million in the first six months of the year and has forecast a bigger loss for next year.

The company has said that unions could produce alternative proposals that would generate similar levels of savings. However, it wants an agreement in place by the end of November.

Under the proposals the airline would effectively eliminate its in-house ground operation (check-in and baggage handling), cargo and catering divisions at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. Staff in these areas would be offered a transfer to a new service provider or invited to take a voluntary redundancy package.

For cabin crew, Aer Lingus proposed closing down its bases in Shannon and Heathrow in London. Staff would be offered a transfer to Dublin or Cork.

It has also proposed that from next summer its services to Boston, New York and San Francisco would be operated by cabin crew recruited in the United States by the company on revised terms and conditions.

For staff remaining at Aer Lingus a pay freeze would be introduced until the end of 2009 under the proposals. The company also said that it intended to introduce new performance-based contracts for head office and support staff and abolish the current system of increments.

Siptu national industrial secretary Gerry McCormack said: “This is Irish Ferries Mark II. It represents a fire sale of good quality jobs by a management that can see no further than the next quarter’s profit and loss sheet.”

Gerry McCormack said that the union was perfectly willing to discuss savings with the company and would be entering a process to be chaired by Kevin Foley of the 26-County Labour Relations Commission. “But, as we have made clear from the start, we are totally opposed to outsourcing.”

Aer Lingus said that the proposed staff cuts would generate savings of €50 million. It also wants to save €14 million in advertising and distribution costs as well as a reduction in professional fees and airport charges. The airline also said that reducing the number of long-haul aircraft from nine to eight would generate a further €10 million in savings.

Shannon-based Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy said 51 Aer Lingus jobs have already been lost at the airport this year and locals feared that “once more the airport is being singled out”.
ENDS