Irish Republican News: Archives

May 31, 2014

Public outrage at racist remarks

The DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson sparked widespread public outrage this week when he made derogatory comments about Muslims. He was speaking in defence of a north Belfast Pastor, who described Islam as “heathen” and “satanic”.

Renewed effort as Craigavon Two appeal is rejected

A group set up to oppose a miscarriage of justice in the conviction of the Craigavon Two has vowed to continue its campaign despite losing an appeal this week.

Orangemen seek ‘last push’ for Ardoyne; Haass rules out role

With the summer marching season approaching and the Stormont parties further apart than ever, the US peace envoy Richard Haass has ruled out returning to Ireland to broker a deal on parades, flags and the legacy of the conflict.

RUC figure wins SF endorsement as new PSNI Chief

The new PSNI Chief Constable in the north of Ireland has been named as George Hamilton, a veteran of the RUC who is currently serving as the Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) in the PSNI.

Selfish interests hiding the truth - bereaved

The brother of three south Armagh men shot dead by the Glenanne gang has accused the British government and political parties of “protecting their own deep secrets”.

Complete 2014 election results

Facts and figures of a historic election for Sinn Fein, in which it won 21% of the national vote across all 32 counties and officially became the largest party in Ireland.

Government given notice to quit

The Fine Gael/Labour government is in crisis. The election results of recent days confirm this. They have been effectively given a notice to quit by the electorate.

Watch the DUP take a hard right to outdo the TUV

Allister is now a player. He can't be ignored in any attempt to create a unionist pact for the 2015 general election.

May 27, 2014

Sinn Fein singing as it elects fourth MEP

Sinn Fein’s Matt Carthy has just become the party’s fourth MEP after being elected after seven counts in a marathon count in Castlebar, County Mayo.

May 26, 2014

Martina Anderson returned as MEP for Six Counties

Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson has been deemed elected to the European Parliament after topping the poll in the North on the first count.

Tanaiste Gilmore quits amid election drubbing

Eamon Gilmore has resigned as Labour party leader and as the Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) of the 26 County state.

Lynn Boylan is elected as Dublin MEP; SF adds to gains

Sinn Fein’s Lynn Boylan became the first Irish MEP to be elected to the European Parliament in this election, topping the poll in the Dublin constituency by a very wide margin over her mainstream party rivals.

May 25, 2014

‘Shindependents Day’ as political landscape is transformed

“Something profound has happened in the people’s attitudes to politics,” said Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, as results came in across the 26 Counties on Saturday.

May 24, 2014

Sinn Fein support surges in Dublin and across 26 Counties

An extraordinary election result is unfolding in the 26 Counties as tallies show that Sinn Fein is now the largest party in Dublin by some distance, and the three main establishment parties only winning the support of half of the electorate across the state.

May 23, 2014

Election count overshadowed by unionist sex scandal

Counting is currently ongoing in the North’s local election results, with 462 councillors to be elected for the 11 new ‘super-councils’, which have replaced the existing 26 local councils.

May 22, 2014

‘Change is coming’ - Sinn Féin

Local and European elections are taking place today and tomorrow [Thursday and Friday] in the Six and 26 Counties respectively. The elections are likely to confirm that Sinn Fein is the dominant political force on the island of Ireland and for the first time, is now equally strong in both the 26 Counties and the Six Counties.

Republicans urged to use their vote

Unionists could have a clear majority in six of the 11 new ‘super councils’ in the north of Ireland, an independent elections expert has calculated.

Miscarriage of justice declared in McAuley case

A guilty verdict against a prominent Lurgan republican has been thrown out after admissions that RUC police lied to prosecutors and tried to manipulate the case.

Stormont, PSNI to pay compensation for inquest delays

The families of six men killed by either Crown forces or loyalist paramilitaries are to be awarded damages for unlawful delays in holding inquests, a High Court judge ruled on Tuesday.

Baggott sued over failure to investigate

The family of a murdered Catholic politician have begun a civil legal action against the PSNI Chief Matt Baggott, accusing the police of repeated failures to investigate the killing.

Dail delegation warns over Maghaberry prison dispute

Former government minister Eamon O Cuiv has warned that the atmosphere in Maghaberry Prison between republican prisoners and prison authorities is on a “knife edge”.

Massacres recalled as demands for truth grow

A number of events took place last weekend to remember those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and wreathes were laid at the Talbot Street memorial in Dublin and in Monaghan town centre.

Bereaved have been fobbed off to conceal difficult truths

A landmark High Court ruling that the relatives of six men are to be awarded compensation for lengthy delays in holding inquests gives hope to countless others in similar situations.

May 17, 2014

Sectarian killing unpunished

The trial of a loyalist gang involved in the death of Catholic community worker Kevin McDaid has ended with all of the charges against them being dropped or reduced to minor ones.

Shock as British Army gunmen’s admissions are dismissed

A decision by the PSNI police not to investigate the admitted sectarian murders by an undercover British army unit is being described as a devastating injustice against the families of the victims.

Sinn Fein eyes election gains despite new Adams smear

With his party on the brink of local and European election successes, party leader Gerry Adams has taken legal action against 26-County media group Independent News and Media (IN&M) over a recent news report.

Graphic election fight for smaller republican parties

Posters for eirigi candidate Maire Drumm are being vandalised in the Colin area of West Belfast, the party has said, as Sinn Fein and rival republicans continue to contest the visual spaces open to their communities.

Dublin/Monaghan families to sue for justice

Victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which took place 40 years ago this week, are to sue the British government for failing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Limavady bandsmen mark territory for July Twelfth

There have been calls for action to be taken in the county Derry town of Limavady after two loyalist bandsmen urinated at the gates of a parish priest’s home during a parade in the town.

Noonan revisits failed Fianna Fail policies

The 26-County Minister for Finance Michael Noonan took part in a grovelling welcoming party for billionaire businessman Donald Trump at Shannon airport earlier this week.

European and local election candidates

The most recent compiled list of Sinn Fein and other republican candidates contesting this week’s elections, with short biographies of the Euro candidates.

May 10, 2014

Jubilation and recrimination as Adams is freed

A high stakes game in the North’s unfinished peace process played out before the world’s media last week. But almost twenty years after the Provisional IRA’s ceasefire, the shock detention of Gerry Adams on allegations of past IRA activity ended in a dramatic triumph for the Sinn Fein leader.

Enmities inflamed after Adams arrest

Despite a display of unity for the start of the Giro d’Italia international bicycle race in Belfast this week, political relations are at their lowest for years following the arrest and interrogation of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

Report identifies serious Garda misconduct, cover-ups

A new Minister for Justice was hurriedly appointed on Thursday less than 24 hours before the release of an official investigation which concluded that the former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter had failed to investigate a disturbing litany of corruption and malpractice.

Protestors determined to stop water meters

Two people have been injured in clashes between residents and Irish Water workers as protests against the new water tax have spread.

Sudden end to PIRA membership trial

Two men and two women due to stand trial charged with Provisional IRA offences were dramatically cleared this week, after the prosecution said it offered no evidence against them.

The Dublin and Monaghan bombings

The worst day in the history of the recent conflict took place 40 years ago this week. A report from Justice for the Forgotten, which was formed in 1996 and continues to campaign for truth and justice for the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

What were my accusers’ motives?

His four days of interrogation was an assault on the peace process itself, writes Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

Oh for someone with the guts to tackle the past

Painful though it is to admit it, the only politician talking sense over the past week was Peter Hain.

May 7, 2014

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter resigns

A long saga of scandal, corruption and the abuse of power came to a sudden end today with the announcement that the 26 County Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has resigned.

May 5, 2014

Adams’s address to the media following his release

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams’s remarks to a press conference in west Belfast tonight following his release from Antrim PSNI station.

May 4, 2014

Loyalists fail to block Adams release

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has emerged from a PSNI base this evening some two hours after his discharge from custody was confirmed by the force.

Unionists demand Adams face charges

The DUP has accused Sinn Fein of attempting to “bully” the PSNI into not charging party leader Gerry Adams over IRA activities. Mr Adams is undergoing a fourth day of interrogation following his arrest on Wednesday.

May 3, 2014

Political chaos as Adams is arrested, interrogated

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams is facing a fourth night in jail at a notorious British Crown force interrogation centre in Antrim as a crisis over the failure to deal with the past conflict in the north of Ireland begins to threaten delicate policing agreements.

Ballymurphy families reject ‘shameful’ treatment

The Ballymurphy Massacre Families have expressed their outrage at the British government’s response to their call for an independent panel to be established to investigate the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971.

PSNI handling of loyalist flags violence illegal, judge rules

The PSNI illegally facilitated violent and intimidatory loyalist flag disturbances, according to ruling by a High Court judge in Belfast this week. The PSNI’s handling of the demonstrations also breached the human rights of a nationalist resident subjected to the disorder.