Irish Republican News: Archives

November 25, 2011

The DNA of a frame-up

There is growing concern that the trial of two men for the Real IRA attack on Massareene British Army base two years ago, currently underway, could result in a major miscarriage of justice.

Public urged to support prison camp-out

A 24-hour rally and fast is to take place overnight this Friday night, November 25th, at the gates of Maghaberry prison.

Protests over PSNI visits to Croke Park, schools

A football match later today [Friday] involving the PSNI police at the Croke Park headquarters of the GAA is to be protested by Republican Sinn Fein.

Coalition seen using leaks to plan cuts, taxes

Dublin cabinet ministers have engaged in widespread leaks this week in an attempt to ‘soften the blow’ of the worst austerity measures and to see how palatable other budget measures were.

Christmas is recruitment season for British spooks

British military intelligence have attempted to lure a man across the border with the promise of cut-price Christmas toys in order to effect his arrest.

Long memories at Leinster House

A civil-war era spat broke out in the Dail this week when Kerry North-Limerick West Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris sought to remove restrictions on prisoners released under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

A day in the life of a Maghaberry prisoner

An open letter by DD McLaughlin, an Irish republican prisoner on protest against strip-searching and other abuses at Maghberry.

An opportunity missed, or thrown away?

Now that the dust has settled on the election of the ninth President of Ireland, it is time to look back on the positives and negatives of that campaign for Irish republicans.

November 17, 2011

No to Berlin’s budget

It was revealed today that members of the German parliament have already discussed details of the forthcoming 26-County Budget, including a planned 2% hike in VAT (sales tax).

Ballymurphy delight at inquest news

The families of 11 people killed during a 36-hour rampage by British paratroopers 40 years ago have described a decision to reopen inquests into ten of the deaths as “a very important step on our journey for truth”.

Price’s pardon document is ‘lost’, Britain claims

A document which could free the North’s most famous female republican from jail has been lost by the British government, its Northern Ireland Office has said.

Pensioner battered by UDA gang

A pensioner who was attacked while trying to defend her son and grandson has described being held over a railing and punched in the face by a unionist paramilitary.

Kelly wins compensation over Martha Pope smear

Senior Sinn Féin politician Gerry Kelly is to be paid a five-figure sum by a Sunday newspaper which accused him of being involved in an affair with a US diplomat in a story published 15 years ago.

Stormont fuss over nothing

The Six-County First Minister, DUP leader Peter Robinson has been accused of contriving a “stunt” when he threatened to resign over changes to the North’s prison regime.

The Ballymurphy campaign - a landmark judgement

The decision of the north’s Attorney General to reopen 10 of the 11 Ballymurphy cases is a landmark judgement which gives hope back to those families that their long journey toward truth and justice may now succeed.

Partisan poppy serves to exclude nationalists

The decision by the new leader of the SDLP, Alasdair McDonnell, not to wear a poppy on Remembrance Sunday will be welcomed by the vast majority of northern nationalists.

November 15, 2011

Ireland qualifies for Euro 2012

The Irish national soccer team has qualified tonight for the 2012 European Football Championship, the first major soccer tournament it will contest since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.

Sinn Fein's pre-budget submission 2012 - summary

The Executive Summary, including an itemised list of proposed financial measures, savings and stimulus packages from Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission for the year 2012, published today.

November 11, 2011

Michael D. Higgins is inaugurated as President

Michael D Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland at a ceremony in Dublin Castle this afternoon. He was sworn in by the Chief Justice in front of the Taoiseach, other dignatories and invited guests. His first address as President Higgins received huge applause and a standing ovation from the assembled guests. Here is the full text of that address.

November 10, 2011

Ireland's kleptocrats

Over a hundred former government ministers are sharing an annual cash pot of almost nine million euro, it has been revealed. The figures were supplied in response to a Sinn Fein parliamentary question.

Gaza campaigners subjected to Israeli abuse, imprisonment

Irish human rights activists remain imprisoned by Israeli authorities after they attempted last week to deliver aid to Palestinians trapped behind an Israeli military blockade.

PSNI threat to arrest lawyer ‘oppression of the worst kind’

A top human rights lawyer was threatened with arrest on the eve of the opening of the trial this week of republican Colin Duffy, one of his highest profile clients.

Cash bonanza for UDA relatives, prison warders

The son of a notorious unionist paramilitary leader has received a record payment of 400,000 pounds sterling ($640,000) from the British government in a move which has angered the families of those he killed.

Provocative march set for New Lodge interface

A sectarian parade is to be held at a troubled north Belfast ‘peaceline’ tomorrow in memory of a loyalist youth who blew himself up with a bomb he was about to throw over the wall at Catholics.

EU/IMF ‘orders’ termination of cross-border peace project

The 26-County government has been accused of reneging on a deal struck during the North’s peace talks after it pulled the plug on funding for a major cross-border road link.

The INLA hunger strikers

A profile of the three members of the Irish National Liberation Army who died alongside seven IRA Volunteers, on hunger strike for political status, thirty years ago this year.

President promoted a new inclusive Ireland

It was entirely consistent with President Mary McAleese’s 14 years as president of Ireland that one of her last engagements was to open a gallery named after the Falls Road-born painter Gerard Dillon in Belfast’s Culturlann.

November 5, 2011

McDonnell is new SDLP leader

Members of the SDLP today selected Alasdair McDonnell to be their new leader.

November 3, 2011

The billion dollar giveaway

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams led a walk-out from the Dublin parliament this week in protest over the coalition government’s decision to hand over more than 700 million euro (more than 1 billion dollars) to an unknown private investor in the failed Anglo Irish Bank.

Real IRA issue statement

The ‘Real IRA’ has claimed responsibility for three bomb attacks over the past few months, and has warned that it will continue to target economic interests which reinforce British rule in the North.

Mixed feelings for Sinn Fein over election result

Sinn Fein plans to build on its 26-County presidential campaign by targeting the local elections in 2014, party officials have said.

Ardoyne protestors on trial

The trial of 22 people charged with holding a sit-down protest against a sectarian march in north Belfast this summer was quickly enveloped in controversy after the PSNI police admitted they had no evidence to present against at least two of those charged, and suggested that much of their knowledge had come from informers.