Irish Republican News: Archives

January 31, 2014

A hero’s return

Stephen Murney has been released on bail at the culmination of a farcical trial in which the prosecution openly sought to criminalise him on the basis of his republican political beliefs and his activism as an éirígí press officer.

Loyalist hate protest turns into riot

A protest by loyalist extremists against a reconciliation event involving ex-combatants and victims took place amid riotous scenes last night [Thursday] as missiles and abuse were hurled at those attending.

Jordan family vindicated after marathon legal journey

The findings of a bogus inquest into the RUC police shooting of an IRA Volunteer more than 20 years ago are to be quashed, the High Court in Belfast has ruled, and a new inquest is to be held.

Questions for PSNI’s Bloody Sunday investigation

The Bloody Sunday families have called for the PSNI to begin interviewing soldiers who killed anti-internment protestors in 1972 amid indications that a criminal investigation into the massacre is finally getting underway.

Ballymurphy families gain support

Family members of eleven people killed by the British Army in west Belfast over 40 years ago met with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Thursday. In a break from his party’s policy, the Fine Gael leader backed their efforts for a new investigation into the deaths.

Biblical reversal on ‘blasphemous’ play

A ‘blasphemous’ comedy about the Bible which was banned by unionist religious extremists in County Antrim went ahead this week after international publicity shamed the council into a u-turn.

Bloody Sunday revisited

Despite the report of the Saville Inquiry in 2010, Eamonn McCann doesn’t believe that the British have told the whole truth about Bloody Sunday.

Ireland’s Nelson Mandela

After Mandela’s death, remembrance of his struggle against the state oppression of his people reminds us of Bobby Sands, another human rights defender, who fought for the same goals in Ireland.

January 25, 2014

Baggott heads for the door

PSNI Chief Matt Baggott has announced he is to resign as head of the British police in Ireland after almost five years in the post, and will not seek a renewal of his contract when it ends in September.

Paisley lashes out at party, church

Former unionist firebrand Ian Paisley has publicly accused the current leadership of the party he founded of betraying him and of suddenly, and brutally, ousting him.

Garda chief seeks to silence Dail testimony

The possibility of whistle-blowers coming forward to expose wrongdoing is under renewed threat in the 26 Counties after the Garda police chief announced to a Dail parliamentary committee that he would take legal action to prevent any current or former Garda member speaking to them.

Cameron avoids talks role

The British government has backed away from a pro-active role in dealing with the issues of flags, parades and the past in the north of Ireland despite the collapse of talks in Belfast.

Ardoyne residents defend right to assembly

Seventeen nationalists are to sue the PSNI police and Crown prosecutors after a judge dismissed allegations that they staged an unlawful protest during a sectarian parade in north Belfast.

Rubber bullet inquest to be reopened

A new inquest has been ordered into the death of a 21-year-old Derry youth who was killed by a British Army rubber bullet in 1973.

Civil rights reversed

Without any doubt, the release from prison of Lurgan man Martin Corey will be welcomed by all persons with an interest in justice.

The DUP truth will come out

While it’s great fun watching the lying and deceit, the accusations and acrimony, what you have to understand is that the putsch against Ian Paisley in 2008 had a political purpose,

January 17, 2014

Gagged, bound and released

After almost four years in jail without charge, Irish prisoner of conscience Martin Corey was released from custody on Wednesday -- but only on condition that he stay away from the media and his home town or face being returned to jail.

Belfast talks turn sour

Sharp exchanges between Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness and DUP leader Peter Robinson have confirmed the failure of the Haass talks and the continuing difficulties within the Six-County power-sharing regime.

Outrage at spongers and crooks

The 26-County public is turning against the state’s corrupt elite as never before following revelations of secret payments at a state-funded clinic and runaway spending by the new water board, Irish Water.

‘Guantanamo Granny’ defiant in jail

There have been nationwide demonstrations over the imprisonment of 79-year old feminist and peace activist Margaretta D’Arcy for her repeated protests against the use of Shannon Airport in international wars.

Student spooked by post-exam ‘gift’ from MI5

A young student activist who was returning from a morning exam was this week the target of the latest MI5 approach in the north of Ireland. It involved a feeble £50 and a quote from Karl Marx.

Stormont’s treatment of Irish language slammed

The Council of Europe has accused the Stormont administration of blocking the growth and promotion of the Irish language in the north of Ireland.

Stories of ordinary volunteers in the Easter Rising

A new collection of personal stories contained in the Military Service Pensions Collection has now been published online.

Ulster Says NO to Haass

Irish Republicans have stretched ourselves in the negotiations and we are up for the challenge the Haass proposals contain, writes Gerry Adams.

January 15, 2014

Martin Corey released, say campaigners

The release of long-term republican prisoner of conscience Martin Corey took place earlier today. While the circumstances of the process remain unclear at this time, the Martin Corey Campaign has confirmed and welcomed his release.

January 11, 2014

Talks must go on - DUP

Unionists have sought to play down comments by US talks chair Richard Haass in which he blamed them for the failure to reach an agreement on his draft proposals dealing with the issues of flags and emblems, parades, and the past.

Paisley condemned over Dublin-Monaghan comments

An attempt to revamp the hardline image of former DUP leader Ian Paisley has backfired after he told a BBC interviewer the 26 County state got what it deserved in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.

Marian Price case concluded

Former prisoner of conscience Marian Price will not return to jail after an outstanding court case ended with a suspended sentence.

Informer recruitment targets face legal limbo

A County Armagh lorry driver has said he fears for his life after being stopped on a Scottish roadside by PSNI Special Branch police who offered him thousands of pounds to gather information on republicans.

Loyalists to take on nationalist housing protest

A loyalist mob is planning to confront a nationalist parade seeking housing equality in north Belfast.

Bank scandal documents disappearing

Key documents have disappeared ahead of an upcoming inquiry into the collapse of the Irish banking system, it has emerged.

Bloody Sunday March for Justice 2014

A look at the background and current context of this year’s Bloody Sunday March for Justice, which will mark the anniversary of a massacre in which 14 civil rights protestors were shot dead by the British Army.

Lead by example

Official calls are constantly being made by government figures including David Cameron for a resolution of the past here. But they themselves by their inaction are preventing the very resolution that they are demanding.

January 4, 2014

Haass of history?

Talks on a range of contentious issues involving the North’s main political parties collapsed for a second time within a week on New Year’s Eve, with mediators Richard Haass and his colleague, Meghan O’Sullivan, again returning swiftly to the US.

Ambush inquest described as ‘charade’

Relatives of two IRA Volunteers shot dead by the British Army’s SAS regiment in County Tyrone 30 years ago are to sue the British government after a new report found that they were shot in the back.

Trial begins for loyalists accused of mob killing

A court has heard how a group of men shouting “We’re the UDA” descended on a Coleraine street and set upon two Catholic men, leaving one dead, after Glasgow Rangers FC won the Scottish Premiership title in May 2009.

Repartition plan considered by Thatcher

Extraordinary plans to redraw the partition of Ireland, including the possibility of west Belfast being governed by the 26-County state, were considered by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, according to previously classified state papers released today.

Prisoners key to international peace moves

Basque political prisoners have agreed to endorse a political strategy as part of a number of key statements by the prisoners aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing independence struggle in the Basque Country.

Talks fail to deter parade tensions

The parades issue is continuing to provoke confrontation and incident, particularly at the Ardyone interface with the loyalist Twaddell Road in Belfast, where loyalists engaged in a protest camp are again planning a major sectarian parade through the city.

An Gal Greine

As politicians examine the issue of flags and symbols, a look at the Gal Greine or Sunburst Flag (Banner), one of the few symbols that can claim to have authentic native Irish roots.

New Year statements

A round-up of the statements issued at the turn of the New Year by various republican groups.