October 28, 2005

Rustlings in the unionist undergrowth

Struggle continues for Blanketmen

Murders blamed on RUC

IRSP anger at provocative raids

FEAR AND LOATHING IN DUBLIN

Being told to stand up straight by Quasimodo

Church’s child abuse exposed

Unionists in denial about decades of injustice

October 24, 2005

UUP claims victory

Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey declared military victory over the Provisional IRA at his party’s annual conference at the weekend -- while sounding a warning over Sinn Fein’s political progress.

Case reopened into drowning of republican activist

A new investigation is to be held into the mysterious death of a republican political activist three years ago.

Brown reveals Special Branch death plot

A new ‘whistle-blower’ book reveals that members of the RUC Special Branch tried to have a fellow officer killed by unionist paramilitaries.

Victims to probe link between attacks

Relatives of those killed in the McGurk’s bar bombing in Belfast are to meet families of those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan explosions after a possible link has emerged with those suspected of being involved in both bombings.

HIERARCHY OF VICTIMS EXPOSED

The appointment of a trustee for the former RUC police as the North’s new Victims’ Commissioner has been met with dismay by nationalists.

Adams sets out vision for Ireland

As part of the Sinn Fein Cead Blain celebrations, Gerry Adams has published a new book setting out his vision for the future direction of Irish Republicanism in the years ahead.

The fault line in southern politics

There has always been a degree of confusion within Fianna Fail about the pursuit of the republican ideal.

Ahern parades claim to republicanism

The announcement that a military parade by the 26-County army will be held to commemorate next year’s 1916 Easter Rising has been greeted with scepticism by Irish republicans.

October 20, 2005

Ireland goes smoke-free

A planned smoking ban in the North will make the entire island of Ireland a smoke-free zone by 2007.

Irish journalist released in Iraq

An Irish reporter has been released unharmed in Baghdad after being abducted in the Shia-controlled Sadr City yesterday afternoon.

Adams makes high-profile visit to South Africa

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has spoken to a specially convened session of the South African Parliament in Capetown as part of an official visit to South Africa.

SANCTIONS LIFTED

The British government has ended financial sanctions against Sinn Féin following the publication of a British intelligence report on IRA and unionist paramilitary activity.

US action alert

The US State Department has denied Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness the ability to fundraise while in the country. Sinn Féin supporters in the US have been asked to send letters, e-mails, and call officials to reverse the policy.

The following action alert is from Irish Northern Aid.

New tranche of DUP demands expected

The DUP has revealed it plans a second series of demands before it considers whether it will share power with Sinn Féin.

North divided over local justice schemes

A major row has broken out over policing reform in the North of Ireland, with members of the North’s unionist-dominated Policing Board expressing fears over plans to enhance Community Restorative Justice (CRJ) schemes.

Ian knows a thing or two about fascism

By Anne Cadwallader (for Daily Ireland)

Baroness May Blood and others are correct in one sense. It’s a reasonable assumption to make, after both President McAleese and Fr Alex Reid compared unionist domination to the Nazis, that this is a sub-conscious psychological thread in the minds of many Northern Catholics.

October 16, 2005

Special Branch disgraced by TV documentary

A former senior figure in the PSNI police Special Branch has admitted stealing confidential files relating to murder investigations in a bid to frustrate the work of the Police Ombudsman.

PSNI to investigate priest over 'hate'

A Catholic priest who compared the treatment of Catholics under unionist rule to Nazi-era Germany is to be investigated by the North’s police over the remarks.

Returned OTRs could face charges

The British government is expected shortly to publish legislation dealing with republicans “on the run” from outstanding conflict-related prosecutions.

Monaghan anger over hospital tragedy

There have been calls for a full inquiry after an elderly man was allowed to die from a bleeding ulcer in Monaghan hospital.

ENCOURAGE LOYALISTS - AHERN

The 26-County Prime Minister Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said today that unionist paramilitaries need “space, encouragement and support” to end their murder campaigns.

A history of inequality

A look at the consequences of the partition of Ireland for northern nationalists.

Concessions to DUP ‘might not be enough’

The British government is to reconstitute the North’s Policing Board next April to give the DUP more seats, and is also to provide Ian Paisley’s party with new British Lordships.

Legacy of sectarianism is the enemy within

By Tom McGurk (for the Sunday Business Post)

At last week’s Downing Street meeting between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Irish government was adamant about adding a new part to the wider peace process agenda, post-IRA decommissioning.

October 11, 2005

Speculation over LVF statement

The unionist paramilitary LVF may announce an end to its activities in a statement later this week, according to reports.

Good Morning, Northern Ireland

British troops in Ireland are to get their own radio station. Based in Lisburn, County Antrim the station will go on air on FM in the new year.

Media promotes anti-IRA hoax

Allegations in the mainstream media that properties worth over 40 million Euros have been connected to the Provisional IRA have been discredited in a press conference on Tuesday.

PEACE TALKS SEEN IN NEW YEAR

The British Prime Minister and 26-County Taoiseach have vowed to press for a political deal in the North of Ireland as they hailed the disarming of the Provisional IRA during talks in London.

Costello commemoration speech

The following was the keynote speech at last Sunday’s Seamus Costello Commemoration by the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) in Bray, County Wicklow.

Due to illness, it was delivered on behalf of Eddie McGarrigle by another member of the IRSP Ard-Chomhairle, Tomas Gorman.

Untimely death of Brian Campbell

Republican playwright and journalist Brian Campbell died suddenly near his home in Newry on Saturday.

Unionists blamed for bomb, arson

A bomb left by unionist paramilitaries at a primary school outside Ballymena has caused anger and concern for the children’s welfare.

Running scared in decommissioning headlights

By Damian Kiberd (for Daily Ireland)

Why is it that the most fearsome enemies of the armed IRA are now running scared in the headlights of an unarmed republican movement?

October 6, 2005

Fresh unionist demands at talks

DUP leader Ian Paisley has presented British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London with 64 pages of fresh demands as efforts are renewed to restore power-sharing government to the North.

‘Repulsive’ threat to Catholic graves

Unionists have threatened to urinate on the graves of Catholics unless the bodies are disinterred and removed from Carnmoney cemetery in County Antrim.

CIRA dispute over Portlaoise prisoners

The hardline Continuity IRA is reported to be in disarray after a number of its prisoners in Portlaoise jail left the organisation.

Who killed Jim Gray?

Suspicions of collusion have been raised in the murder of former unionist paramilitary ‘brigadier’ Jim Gray.

PEACE PROCESS RAIDED

Highly publicised police raids on alleged IRA properties in northern England have derailed crucial talks on reviving the peace process, taking place at the same time in London.

A Bleak Future

While it is correct for the physical force tradition to claim that no republican died to ensure what Sinn Féin achieved, equally so none died so that republicans could become pariahs.

Massive wastage by Dublin government

Two large computer projects commissioned by the 26-County Department of Health are to be suspended as costs for the faltering projects ballooned into hundreds of millions of Euros.

Equality means the end of this sad little state

By Jude Collins (for Daily Ireland)

Nationalists did an odd thing in 1998: they turned their back on a core element of nationalist belief. Until that point, nationalists had argued that Ireland’s affairs and the shape of Irish political life should be a matter for the people of Ireland to decide.

October 1, 2005

British spy team uncovered

An undercover British army unit has been found attempting to install a spying device in the home of a County Tyrone family.

Bomb attack in Ballymoney

A couple and a three-year-old boy have escaped injury in a unionist paramilitary bomb attack on Thursday.

Rossport Five are freed

The Rossport Five were released on Friday ahead of a major rally in Dublin to stop energy giant Shell building a high-pressure gas pipeline past their homes in County Mayo.

Police forces launch exchange programme

A member of the 26-County Garda police is to be deployed to the PSNI in the North as part of a new exchange programme.

Historic announcements as IRA destroy weapons

General John de Chastelain, head of the arms decommissioning body, confirmed before the world’s media at the Culloden Hotel in Belfast, the Provisional IRA had put all of its weapons beyond use.

ARMED FOR PEACE

Unionists have called for an “extensive testing period” following the announcement this week that the arms of the Provisional IRA have been totally and unilaterally destroyed.

What they said

Reaction to the announcement on IRA arms was swift and varied.

DUP exposed as political pygmies they are

Once again the leaders of unionism have positioned themselves where they are happiest - isolated, beleaguered and looking stupid.

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