Irish Republican News: Archives

April 30, 2014

Adams questioned by PSNI over McConville killing

The PSNI police in the north of Ireland say thay have arrested Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams after he agreed to speak to them about the circumstances of the abduction and execution of British state informer Jean McConville in 1972.

April 26, 2014

A Rising challenge

In its Easter statement, the ‘new IRA’ has declared that it has built a “sustainable military campaign”, but that responsibility for further conflict “rests with the British government”.

Prisoners’ protest attacked by riot squad

Republican prisoners in Maghaberry jail were assaulted on Thursday night by scores of prison warders in a continuing dispute over controlled movement and forced strip searching, it has been reported.

Parties reject Charles’ and Camilla’s participation in 1916 centenary

Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have reacted strongly to the Dublin government’s plans to reinvent the 1916 Easter Rising as an Anglo-Irish ‘celebration’ including the British government and leading members of the British royal family.

Residents block water meter installations

Water meter contractors have been blockaded from installing meters in Cork and Dublin in a spontaneous campaign by two communities against the new tax on householders.

Parade passes quietly, but concerns grow over marching season

The first controversial sectarian parade of the season passed off without incident on Easter Monday, but residents in north Belfast have already issued stark warnings over the determinations of a newly-appointed Parades Commission.

Justice hopes for Leo Norney

A fresh inquest has been ordered into the British state killing of a teenager in west Belfast in 1975.

Easter statements 2014

A round up of the statements and orations delivered this week to mark the anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1916.

Drawing on the memory of the heroes of 1916

Dave Kenny’s family is steeped in Easter Rising history. Here he recalls finding a letter from the Eamonn Ceannt’s son, revealing how he lived his life in his father’s shadow.

April 19, 2014

Anglo boss goes free

The disgraced chairman of Anglo Irish Bank has been cleared this week of hatching a highly illegal loans-for-shares plot months before the bank’s collapse. Two of his colleagues were found guilty.

British statement on the past angers victims

Theresa Villiers, who implements British Direct Rule in Ireland, has set out a sharply pro-unionist agenda for her government in dealing with the past conflict in the Six Counties.

Former CIRA man shot dead in west Belfast

A man expelled from the Continuity IRA for criminal activity was shot dead yesterday [Friday] at a diesel depot he operated.

McGuinness told ‘stay away’ over banquet controversy

Sinn Fein has been urged to stay away from Easter commemorations after Martin McGuinness attended a royal banquet and toasted England’s queen, Elizabeth Windsor.

Easter commemorations face PSNI harassment

Colour party uniforms belonging to Republican Sinn Fein due to be used during an annual easter commemoration in Lurgan this Saturday have been seized during police raids in Craigavon.

Loyalist racists confront Irish language demo

Loyalists greeted members of an Irish language rally last weekend with Nazi salutes.

Calls for recognition of Travellers’ distinct identity

A committee of the Dublin parliament has recommended that Travellers be recognised as an ethnic minority to combat discrimination as the issue begins featuring in local election campaigns in the 26 Counties.

The Battle of Clontarf

A struggle to free Ireland of foreign domination resulted in a heroic victory -- but the death of a great Irish leader -- a thousand years ago this week.

April 17, 2014

Easter commemorations 2014

Dates, times and places are subject to change - please contact your local organisers to confirm. Please also contact us regarding any errors or omissions.

April 11, 2014

Banquet gesture draws Tory hate

Efforts to boost reconciliation between the 26 County state and Britain during the formal visit to London by 26-County President Michael D Higgins were undermined by a leading Tory’s call this week for the murder of Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness.

Governments working together to manage Rising commemorations

The Dublin and London governments have signalled a major effort to combat nationalist sentiment in the run-up to the anniversary of the 1916 Rising following this week’s heavily promoted state visit to London by 26-County President Michael D Higgins.

UDA violence linked to Larne arrests

The unionist paramilitary UDA are understood to be planning riots this weekend in the town of Carrickfergus, in County Antrim following serious disturbances last night.

Belfast language protest as Irish speaker faces court

Recent protests over discrimination against Irish language speakers in the north of Ireland are to reach a climax on Saturday with a major demonstration through Belfast city centre.

High-profile arrests and prosecutions as OTR furore continues

Well-known loyalist Willie Frazer attempted to personally “arrest” a republican he alleged was ‘on the run’ from a conflict-related prosecution this week. The victims’ campaigner tried moved towards mourners at a funeral in County Down, but was blocked by a line of PSNI police.

McGurk’s report to be released uncensored

Families of those killed in the McGurk’s Bar massacre have succeeded in forcing the British authorities to release an unedited report into the bombing, it has been confirmed.

Five things we know after last night in Windsor

Relations between Britain and Ireland have now entered the realm of the surreal.

On meeting monarchy

It is obviously a matter for Sinn Fein who they meet but from the outside this looks like another ‘leadership initiative’ which has nothing to do with improving the material conditions of the working class or advancing towards the Republic.

April 8, 2014

McGuinness salutes the queen at royal banquet

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness this evening stood for the British national anthem and toasted the “health and happiness” of the English queen in the most symbolic gesture yet of his party’s support for the status quo in the north of Ireland.

Easter subscription campaign

A Chairde, if you have not already done so, please consider taking out an annual subscription. We need it to help keep us going.

April 6, 2014

McGuinness defends royal banquet trip

Sinn Fein has confirmed reports that Martin McGuinness is to visit Windsor Castle to attend a royal banquet with the English queen this week.

April 5, 2014

No charges over UDA mob terror

Between 100 and 200 armed loyalist paramilitaries ransacked houses and assaulted residents in Larne in a mob attack carried out with apparent impunity by the south Antrim UDA.

Voters abandon coalition after justice system scandals

Continuing public anger over illegality, corruption and delinquency in the 26 County justice system has seen support for the Dublin coalition government slide to its lowest levels for several years.

Adams blocking Six County progress - Robinson

DUP leader Peter Robinson has blamed Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein’s other southern-based politicians for a failure to advance an agreement on welfare cuts in the Six Counties

Armed actions in Strabane

A surge in activity by republican militants in the Strabane area of county Tyrone has seen the PSNI police twice targeted by explosive devices and a nearby village declared a ‘no go’ area for the force.

More courtroom hypocrisy on parades

Seventeen members of a loyalist flute band have been cleared of defying a ban on them marching past St Patrick’s Church in Belfast in the latest sign that the courts do not intend to hold loyalists to account for parades infractions.

Anger at British ‘freedom’ claim at Glasnevin

British Direct Ruler Theresa Villiers was accused of a “final, carefully calculated insult” to Ireland’s republican martyrs in a ceremony of Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin last Monday, March 31st.

The legacy of Cumann na mBan

The revolutionary women’s movement, Cumann na mBan, was set up 100 years ago this week. It maintained the struggle for independence following the Easter Rising and in 1921 became the first organisation to reject the treaty which partitioned Ireland. A look at their stand for equality and unity.

Culture of entitlement

Angela Kerins has finally resigned as the CEO of Rehab in a scandal over the salaries and bonuses paid to her and other senior executives of the charity for the disabled, but those left behind must pick up the pieces.