The Dublin government was deeply concerned at the British government’s
failure to counter growing support for Sinn Fein in 1983, historical
papers have revealed. Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald even believed a
British policy was in place to support the party and protect its
leaders from arrest.
![[Irish Republican News]](https://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/rn.gif) | ![[Irish Republican News]](https://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/harp.gif) |
December 28, 2013
Stopping Sinn Fein
The Dublin government was deeply concerned at the British government’s
failure to counter growing support for Sinn Fein in 1983, historical
papers have revealed. Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald even believed a
British policy was in place to support the party and protect its
leaders from arrest.
Time added on for Haass talks
Talks on flags, sectarian parades and the past in the North will
continue this weekend but are facing increased scepticism after the
process was announced to have ended in failure on Christmas Eve.
Shocking levels of deprivation in Catholic communities
Fifteen years after the Good Friday Agreement, there has been no sign of
a decrease in the level of poverty among the Catholic population in the
North. A new study has shown that those schools with the largest number
of children from deprived backgrounds are almost entirely Catholic.
Loyalists forced out over a thousand families in 2013 - McCord
The number of people driven out of their homes by loyalist or sectarian
intimidation in the north of Ireland is at a five-year high, according
to figures published today.
Gun attack on Fermanagh barracks
Shots were fired at Lisnaskea PSNI station in County Fermanagh on
Monday, December 23rd is the latest gun attack by the breakaway IRA
groups.
Unemployed presented with impossible choice
Unemployed workers may be required to take up new positions in 26-County
local authorities from early next year, working on projects such as
drainage schemes and outdoor maintenance for just one euro an hour, or
face cuts to their dole payments.
The 1983 papers
A review of the other main stories which emerged from this year’s
release of previously classified papers under the 30-year rule.
A united response is the only option
As families and friends gathered for a Christmas vigil in protest at
internment, the Republican Network for Unity released this commentary on
the situation.
December 20, 2013
Haass talks falter after unionist ‘histrionics’
US mediator Richard Haass has been forced to remove a reference to the
Irish tricolour flag as unionists ratcheted up their demands in ongoing
talks on flags, parades and the past in the north of Ireland.
Vicious assault in black ops incident
The discovery of a military tracking device on a workman’s van led to an
attack on a Craigavon republican at his home as Crown force personnel
brutally attempted to retrieve the device.
Persecution of prisoners extends beyond Maghaberry
The IRPWA (Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association) has
condemned the harassment of republican prisoners following their release
from jail in the north of Ireland.
Troika auditors depart amid spin, recriminations, allegations
The day-to-day oversight of the finances of the 26-County state by
international ‘bailout’ loan managers ended this week in a verbal tussle
over who should have shouldered the cost of the collapse of the state’s
banks.
British courts struggle with anti-Irish racism
An Irishman who was wrongly imprisoned for 17 years by a British court
was finally released this week -- but was forced to spend his first
night of freedom on the streets.
Adams comments on Mandela funeral
Gerry Adams was applauded at the Nelson Mandela funeral in South Africa
last Sunday, December 15th, 24 hours after joining an ANC guard of
honour for ‘Madiba’.
Remembering Irish political prisoners at Christmas
Christmas is the time when republicans traditionally think of those
imprisoned for their beliefs by sending them a greeting card.
Equality versus justice
The PSNI and the HET have vested interests
concerning what the State did during the conflict, and
are perpetuating the legacy and culture of
State impunity.
December 17, 2013
Clashes as Colin Duffy is returned to jail
Lurgan republican Colin Duffy is back behind bars today and is facing a
potentially lengthy period of internment without trial.
December 14, 2013
Second ONH bomb explodes
A small bomb exploded Friday night in the centre of Belfast, causing no
injuries but raising fresh fears of a return to a more serious level of
conflict in the north of Ireland.
State’s vengeance over republican’s brave stand
A ‘vindictive’ campaign by prison authorities in the north of Ireland
has denied republican prisoner Christine Connor medical treatment as a
result of her opposition to strip-searches.
Court finds secret evidence acceptable in PIRA convictions
A Dublin man jailed after Garda police raided what they claimed was a
Provisional IRA ‘spy ring’ was has lost a legal battle to stop the
courts accepting secret and unopposable ‘intelligence’ evidence.
Energy sellout continues: Bord Gais passes into British hands
The decision of the coalition government in Dublin to sell Bord Gais
Eireann, a state-owned energy company, to a British corporation,
Centrica plc, has been described as an act of ‘treachery’.
‘IRA’ accusations as inquiry into charities scandal is blocked
The entire board of one of Ireland’s best known charities has resigned
en masse amid a growing scandal over cronyism and inappropriate payments
in the Irish voluntary sector.
Reports of defection to FF are ‘fact free’
Suspended Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toibin was caught up in the ongoing media
campaign against the party this week when newspapers in the Independent
News and Media group claimed that Mr Toibin was intending to defect to
Fianna Fail.
Remembering the Dunnes Stores strike
A group of brave Dubliners are currently in South Africa to attend the
funeral and other events to commemorate the life of the former South
African President, revolutionary and statesman Nelson Mandela. This is
their story and their lesson.
Mandela tributes full of political revisionism
It's interesting to compare people's comments on bomb attacks by
different organisations.
December 6, 2013
Tribunal of spin
Eight years after it was established, the report of the Smithwick
Tribunal was finally published on Tuesday evening, but its contradictory
conclusions immediately sparked a storm of spin and recrimination.
UDA facing new split
Nationalists have been warned to be cautious about their safety
following confirmation that the north’s largest unionist paramilitary
group, the UDA, is in disarray.
Shots fired at PSNI patrol
A PSNI convoy in north Belfast came under fire on Thursday night with
10 to 15 shots aimed at a night-time patrol along the Crumlin Road. No
injuries were reported.
Murney charges dismissed
A number of the charges presented against eirigi activist Stephen Murney
were dramatically thrown out of court last Friday in the latest
development in a case which has been widely described as internment by
remand.
Anniversary flags protests fizzle, but tensions remain
Although with far fewer in attendance than they had predicted,
organisers of a loyalist march on Saturday sought the maximum
provocation of the nationalist community.
An ideal for which I am prepared to die - Nelson Mandela
One of Nelson Mandela’s most famous speeches, delivered
from the dock at the age of 46 as he faced four charges of sabotage, for
which he would be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Nelson Mandela - Comrade Madiba
I want to extend to the family of President Mandela, to President Zuma
and to the people of South Africa, my sincere and heartfelt condolences
at the death of Madiba on my own behalf and that of Sinn Fein.
Media’s abuse of power and Sinn Fein leader must end
Few other political leaders in this country or indeed in Britain have
been scrutinised to the same degree of bias as Gerry Adams.
December 5, 2013
Death of Nelson Mandela
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela has died peacefully at the
age of 95.
December 3, 2013
Tribunal issues conflicted report on Garda collusion
The Smithwick tribunal into the possibility of collusion between the
26-County Gardai police and the IRA in a deadly ambush has today
published a report which accepts that collusion likely took place,
without saying how, or by whom.
