October 29, 2004

Murphy to meet UDA, UVF

British Direct Ruler Paul Murphy is to meet representatives of the UDA and other unionist paramilitary organisations next week.

Omagh relative's anger at British silence

The father of one of the Omagh bomb victims has accused the British government of misleading the victims' families about the whereabouts of an informant who warned police in advance about the 1998 attack.

Ludlow inquiry to get go-ahead

The Dublin government will recommend for a public inquiry into the 1976 killing of a County Louth man murdered by British soldiers in collusion with loyalist paramilitaries.

GOVTS MAY DRIVE TALKS AGENDA

The British and Irish governments may decide soon to present a document to end the stalemate in talks about restoring power-sharing political institutions in Belfast.

Irish immigrants threatened by US bill

A group of leading Irish Americans has issued a joint letter of protest concerning the plight of Irish immigrants living in the United States.

The letter -- a response to the ill-treatment of Irish immigrants following a change of security laws -- has been sent to representatives in both legislative houses, the Senate and Congress. It is published below.

Dissidents blamed for gun attack

Republican hardliners have been blamed for a gun attack on a County Antrim PSNI police base.

Unionists falling into the minority

By Brian Feeney (for the Irish News)

The leaks about the reform of local administration here are coming thick and fast. Let's hope most of them are correct. Why do we need more than one Education and Library Board? Come to think of it, why do we need any Education and Library Boards when there are two departments of education up at Stormont, the Department of Education, DENI, and the Department of Employment & Learning, DELNI, with thousands of civil servants staffing them?

Ahern signs Euro constitution, launches referendum

The signing of the European Constitution in Rome today has brought a mixed reaction in Ireland, where it will be put before the people in a referendum within the next two years.

October 26, 2004

PSNI gas handcuffed man

Sinn Féin in Derry has called for the withdrawal of tear gas devices following the suspension of a PSNI man who sprayed a handcuffed man with the gas.

Protest at Spanish treatment of Belfast man

An alleged IRA Volunteer has criticised Spanish authorities for denying his legal rights for ten days before handing him to members of the PSNI police.

BRADLEY’S POLICING U-TURN

In a stunning reversal, Denis Bradley, the vice-chairman of the Policing Board has warned that nationalists could reconsider their involvement in policing if the long-standing political deadlock is not broken.

US Deportees appeal

A hearing into the case of Ciaran Ferry, whose case has been compared with that of Joe Doherty, is taking place in Denver on Thursday, October 28th at 10 a.m. Supporters and members of the media are urged to attend.

DUP demanding ‘humiliation’ of IRA

Ian Paisley’s DUP has been accused of seeking to humiliate the Provisional IRA with a demand for the IRA to disarm publicly.

Bush slated on Ireland

A report published by a California-based human rights group has criticised the Bush administrations’ record on Ireland and called for the election of Senator John Kerry as United States President.

Second incident at border checkpoints

A British soldier manning a border checkpoint was the target of a second alleged ‘hit-and-run’ attack in South Armagh within a week.

The Cigar Man

By Danny Morrison (for the Andersonstown News)

Of all the memories I have of arrests, and there are quite a few, probably the most abiding is of Pierre Salinger, the former press secretary of President John F. Kennedy, nonchalantly puffing a huge Cuban cigar as he was hoisted into a jeep in Springfield Road barracks before being sent to Castlereagh for interrogation!

October 22, 2004

Millionaires go tax-free

Several millionaires in the 26 Counties are paying no income tax, according to figures released by the Dublin government.

Irishwoman abducted in Iraq

The abduction of Irish-born aid worker Margaret Hassan in Iraq has brought a united appeal by Irish political parties for her release.

Small constituencies a gerrymander - SF

Sinn Féin has warned that proportional representation is being diluted by small constituencies in the 26 Counties.

WARNING ON BRITISH INTENTIONS

The nationalist SDLP has warned that there is no sign that the British government will not cave into the hardline unionist DUP, which is demanding major changes to the 1998 Good Friday peace Agreement.

Ahern backs Finucane family on public inquiry

The Irish Prime Minister, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, has pledged to support the family of murdered defence lawyer Pat Finucane should they not back the limited inquiry which has been offered into his killing.

Tribute to George

By Bernadette McAliskey (for the Blanket)

I met George the very first time I went to America, in 1969 ‘straight from the Bogside front-line.’ I met a lot of people then, and thereafter, but there remains a small core of stalwarts, who have been my friends, compatriots, and companeros ever since that momentous trip; foremost amongst these, were my two great mentors Paul O’Dywer and George Harrison, both gone from us now.

Star’s anger at British harassment

Renowned Irish musician Christy Moore has spoken out against anti-Irish harassment after enduring victimisation at the hands of British police.

The Waiting Game

By Gerry Adams MP (for the Irish Voice)

This week saw a little flurry of media speculation around the talks process. This attention was sparked by remarks from both the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, and the British Secretary of State Paul Murphy. They separately indicated some optimism that the process could see a breakthrough in the short term.

October 19, 2004

Sectarian attacks in Belfast

A Catholic father-of-four came under brick and petrol bomb attack in their home on Sunday.

Extreme poverty in west Dublin

A report published today paints a disturbing picture of poverty, social exclusion and deprivation in west Dublin.

British Army chopper incursion

The British Army has admitted that a Puma helicopter crossed the border into County Monaghan at the weekend.

PSNI, IMC admit “mistakes”

The PSNI police has apologised for providing false information on the death of Michael O’Hare, which was described as sectarian in the report of the International Monitoring Commission earlier this year.

TALKS INTENSIFY

A breakthrough in the North’s political process may be just “weeks away”, Britain’s Direct Ruler has said.

Coalition possible only for change

By Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams (for Village)

The question of Sinn Féin involvement in a future coalition government is one which appears to particularly exercise Fianna Fáil. For some years now that party’s leading lights have returned again and again to this issue. Depending on who is talking they either signal a willingness to form a coalition with Sinn Féin or they rule that out.

Coalition possible only for change

By Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams (for Village)

The question of Sinn Féin involvement in a future coalition government is one which appears to particularly exercise Fianna Fáil. For some years now that party’s leading lights have returned again and again to this issue. Depending on who is talking they either signal a willingness to form a coalition with Sinn Féin or they rule that out.

Ahern dampens coalition speculation

Fianna Fáil has appeared to row back on suggestions that Sinn Féin could form part of a coalition government in Dublin following the next 26 County general election.

5,000 troops -- a funny sort of normal

Keen to accentuate the positive, our politicians point to the several thousand British troops going home and sing mum on the thousands who will remain.

October 15, 2004

George Harrison

George Harrison was perhaps the most unrepentant Fenian of them all.

Call for halt to Gaza attacks

Sinn Féin has called on the international community to urge Israel to end its two-week military operation on the Gaza strip.

‘ORANGE LINE’ - TEN YEARS ON

Unionist paramilitaries have declared Protestant housing estates to be no-go areas for Catholics.

Looking back in sadness

Ten years ago, on October 13th, 1994.the Combined Loyalist Military Command, representing the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando, declared a ceasefire.

Extradition in IRA bomb case

The arrest of a Belfast man on holiday in Tenerife has been described as s “petty, vindictive and unnecessary”.

Furore over FF-SF coalition report

There has been a strong reaction to suggestions of a possible Sinn Féin coalition with Fianna Fail following the next general election.

British military blamed for inquiry delay

British soldiers involved in the killing of civilians on Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972 are threatening legal action which could delay publication of the report of the public inquiry or lead to a dilution of the findings.

Challenge facing the DUP

By Gerry Adams

Each negotiation within the peace process presents its own particular and peculiar set of difficulties. It also presents opportunities. The current negotiation is no different and in many ways it is probably the most challenging any of us have had to face so far.

October 12, 2004

Save Tara campaign launched

A high-profile environmental campaign has begun a bid to stop the construction of a motorway close to the historic seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

McGuinness sets Halloween deadline for talks

Sinn Féin has set a deadline of Halloween for a peace process deal involving the hardline unionist DUP.

UDA, DUP blamed for intimidation

A former loyalist politician has described how he and his family have been targeted over the past 18 months in a unionist paramilitary campaign of intimidation.

SF FOR COALITION - AHERN

Ireland’s new foreign affairs minister Dermot Ahern tonight said he looked forward to the day when Sinn Féin is in government in both parts of Ireland.

The Anglo-Irish negotiations of 1921

Talks leading to a deal which saw the Six Counties partitioned from the rest of Ireland began 83 years ago this week.

Ireland may lose gold medal in doping furore

Ireland’s Olympic gold medallist Cian O’Connor has denied his horses were doped with sedatives to enhance their fence-jumping in the Athens Games.

Charges dropped in bogus IRA case

Charges of gathering information “likely to be of use to terrorists” have been dropped against a West Belfast man in the latest such case to collapse or be downgraded.

Brighton – The Price they Paid

by Danny Morrison (for the Andersonstown News)

Twenty years ago, in the early hours of tomorrow morning, 12 October, a 100lbs bomb exploded inside the Grand Hotel in Brighton. It had been planted by the IRA some weeks earlier using a long-delay timing device and it was aimed at Margaret Thatcher and senior Tories who were staying at the hotel during the Conservative Party conference.

October 8, 2004

Belfast jobs go as airlines cut back

The future of Shorts in Belfast and its 5,500 employees is threatened after parent company Bombardier Aerospace laid off another 560 workers.

Sinn Féin support continues to rise

A poll has shown a rise in support for Sinn Féin, which could hold the balance of power after the next 26-county general election.

UVF, UDA threaten nationalists

Nationalists in Derry have been urged to review their safety after a joint statement from unionist paramilitaries warned of attacks on the nationalist community.

IRA confirms wrongful killing

The Provisional IRA has said it killed 15-year-old Bernard Teggart in 1973.

EARLY DEAL UNLIKELY

Amid wrangling over what might constitute the fundamentals of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Ian Paisley’s DUP has again cast doubt that a new agreement may be reached in the short term.

George Harrison

George Harrison, patron of Republican Sinn Féin and celebrated veteran Irish Republican, died on October 6th at his home in New York.

The following article by Jimmy Breslin for Newsday recounts a life in struggle against British colonialism, oppression, racism and inequality.

Kenneth Bigley killed in Iraq

The beheading of Kenneth Bigley, who had been held hostage in Iraq for 22 days, has dismayed those campaigning in Ireland for his release.

Wounded pride may take yet another fall

By Brian Feeney (for the Irish News)

The thing about it is this. Sinn Féin and the DUP did not negotiate the Good Friday Agreement: it was the SDLP and the UUP. Furthermore, in 1998 it was presumed by all concerned, especially Dublin and London, that no arrangement in the north would work that did not enjoy the support of the SDLP and UUP.

October 1, 2004

Merry-go-round for Dublin ministers

Only three new faces appeared in the Dublin Cabinet yesterday as Bertie Ahern carried out a long delayed reshuffle designed to refresh his coalition government’s image before the next General Election in the 26 Counties.

Orde says money needed to alter bases

The PSNI police in the North of Ireland need extra funds to remove fortification from its bases as part of the planned “normalisation” process, PSNI chief Hugh Orde claimed yesterday.

Mary McAleese declared President for second term

Mrs Mary McAleese has been returned to office unopposed for a second seven-year term as President.

Arms finds follow feud murder

A man has died following a gun attack in Derry in what is believed to be a feud among unionist paramilitaries in the city.

INSTITUTIONS ‘MUST ADAPT’ - BRITAIN

Nationalists have reacted angrily to a suggestion by the British government that it could make significant departures from the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Dermot Ahern

A profile of Dublin’s new minister of foreign affairs, Dermot Ahern.

Why do our politicians trust Blair?

By Brian Feeney (for the Irish News)

In 1973 Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize despite policies in Vietnam, Chile and Cambodia which led, in the case of Cambodia, to the collapse of the state and the rise to power of the murderous Pol Pot whose crazy regime killed at least a million Cambodians.

Adams appeals for Bigley

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams yesterday appealed for the release of Iraq hostage Ken Bigley on Arabic TV.

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