A County Tyrone republican has lashed out at the justice system in the
North of Ireland after charges against him and four others were quietly
dropped by Crown prosecutors this week -- after more than 14 months
held without bail at Maghaberry prison.
After almost 18 months interned without trial, a court in Derry has
insisted that Irish political activist Marian Price should remain
incarcerated despite the evidence of prison and UN doctors that she is
unfit to stand trial.
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said that the attainment of Irish unity
through reconciliation would represent the “big democratic phase” of his
party’s struggle as he and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin clashed
over the mantle of constitutional Irish nationalism this week.
British spy agency MI5 investigated Irish construction workers in
England during the 1970s through a bogus consulting company and had them
blacklisted with major employers as a result, it has emerged.
It would be useful if in the process of shaking off its
recent past, rebranding and reviving Fianna Fáil, whether as the
republican party or the party of a new form of republicanism, that Mr
Martin would go beyond old platitudes.
The 26-County Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out any political moves
towards a united Ireland by 2016, the centenary of the Easter Rising,
despite a historic step towards Scottish independence this week.
The anti-Catholic Orange Order is to hold yet another march past St
Patrick’s Catholic Church in Belfast, despite again failing to talk to
the nearby Carrick Hill residents’ group.
The man who shot Pearse Jordan dead has finally given evidence at his
inquest, despite having previously refused to take part in proceedings
for nearly a decade.
The first meeting of the North-South Inter-Parliamentary Association has
been held, over 14 years after it was planned as part of the 1998 Good
Friday Agreement.
The family of one of two IRA Volunteers shot dead by the British Army’s
‘elite’ SAS unit has won permission to challenge an inquest verdict that
the killings were justified.
More than two million pounds worth of financial assistance has been
granted to a sectarian marching organisation from the European Union’s
PEACE III programme.
An Irish children’s charity has been inundated with complaints after it
engaged a unit of a murderous British Army regiment to take part in a
charity fundraiser.
There have been calls for a full investigation into cases of torture,
including waterboarding, by members of the RUC and British army in
Ireland during the 1970s.
Four west Belfast nationalists facing charges of membership of the
Provisional IRA have been named by a court in Belfast -- after almost
three months of legal wrangling.
Families of the 10 men and one woman killed by the British Army’s
Parachute Regiment in Ballymurphy in Belfast during the early days of
internment in August 1971 have demanded a Hillsborough style
investigation.
Supporters of human rights across the world are urged to write an
individual letter to British Direct Ruler Theresa Villiers and their
local elected representatives to call for the release of Marian Price.
The response to the crisis in the 26 County economy has been a relentless assault on the disadvantaged, accompanied by protestations by the government of the day that everything possible is being done to protect the vulnerable.
A number of protests took place in Dublin this week as the 26-County
government faced a mounting corruption scandal and a wave of anger over
policies which favour the wealthy over the poor.
There have been calls for the Parades Commission to be scrapped after
legally-binding restrictions on the giant Ulster Covenant parade were
again ignored by Orangemen and loyalist bands on Saturday.
More than 1,000 senior members of the notorious RUC police who left the
force as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement have been rehired, it
has emerged.
A High Court bid to prevent the PSNI police taking possession of
confidential academic interviews with a former IRA Volunteer has been
refused after a PSNI member said there was no increased threat to the
interviewer.
A general strike in Greece, massive protests by the indignados in Spain,
public transport strikes in Portugal (and Spain), and industrial action
by aluminium, steel and public sector workers in Italy headlined this
week.
A north Belfast republican activist who was arrested and twice refused
bail on an unsubstantiated charge of rioting early this summer, was finally
released on bail this week. A commentary from Sean MacDiarmada (1916
Society Ard Eoin).
Why should any of the predominantly paramilitary-linked bands that the
so-called loyal orders swagger along behind pay any attention to the
Parades Commission?