Irish Republican News: Archives

February 29, 2016

No betrayal of our voters - Adams

With the final result in the 26 County general election not expected until Monday at the earliest, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has dismissed any idea that his party would support one of the traditionally dominant right-wing parties in Irish politics, Fine Gael or Fianna Fail.

February 28, 2016

Civil war parties in race for first place as count continues

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are in a dead heat in the race for Dail seats as counting has reached the half-way point in the 26 County election, with 19 out of 40 constituencies completed.

February 27, 2016

Kenny out of options, but refuses to quit

With all of the first count results in the 26 County general election concluded, Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s government has suffered a resounding defeat but he has ruled out resigning as leader of Fine Gael.

Sinn Fein ‘has broken the duopoly’

Prominent figures in the Dublin government are set to lose their seats as early estimates from the count centres have borne out exit poll predictions that revealed a last-minute swing back to the opposition parties and independents, with Sinn Fein now in a pivotal position.

Graphic novel angers Sands family

The family of Bobby Sands has called on the Bobby Sands Trust to disband after a row over a graphic novel which claims to depict the life of the hunger strike martyr.

Hope for Jordan family as inquest opens

A fresh inquest into the controversial killing of an IRA Volunteer almost 25 years ago opened in Belfast this week.

Concern over anti-Irish sentiment in Scotland, USA

A council in Scotland has unanimously voted against flying the Irish flag over a number of its buildings to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising.

Injunction sought to end MI5 harassment

A west Belfast taxi driver has begun legal moves to stop repeated approaches by MI5 agents.

Villiers condemned as Brexit referendum is set for June

British prime minister David Cameron has named June 23 for a referendum on leaving the European Union after negotiating what he said were special reforms of the EU to protect British interests.

Two brothers fighting two very different wars

The fascinating story of the two Ceannt brothers, Eamonn the Easter Irish Revolutionary, and, Bill the Great War British soldier, illustrates the diverse allegiances amongst families and the political complexity of Ireland in the early part of the 20th Century.

The media campaign against Sinn Fein

The most alarming feature of this general election has been the ferocious campaign against Sinn Fein. The State has never witnessed such a biased agenda across all media organisations against a political party.

February 26, 2016

Exit poll shows Fine Gael/Labour govt has been ousted

An exit poll for today’s general election carried out by the Irish Times indicates no possibility of a return to government for the current Fine Gael/Labour coalition.

Voters crowd polling stations after rancorous campaign

Turnout in the 26 County general election is being described as high, despite cold and rainy weather in many areas. Voting began at 7am and closes at 10pm in an election that opinion polls indicate could be witnessing a late swing back to the government parties.

February 20, 2016

Smears and set-ups by government and media

The coalition government has been accused of resorting to a campaign of scare tactics and media manipulation as it faces being ousted when votes are counted next weekend.

Giant pre-election rally in Dublin

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has lent his support to tens of thousands attending a Right2Water / Right2Change protest in Dublin today [Saturday, February 20] ahead of Friday’s general election.

Colin Duffy released from Maghaberry prison

Lurgan republican Colin Duffy, a prominent victim of state injustice in the North, was released on bail on Thursday after a period of internment lasting two years and three months. Two other senior republicans, Alex McCrory and Harry Fitzsimons, were also freed last Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Sanders backed Irish cause as Vermont mayor

Bernie Sanders wrote to Margaret Thatcher in 1981 in a bid to put a stop to the “abuse, humiliation and degrading treatment” of Irish republican political prisoners who were on hunger strike, documents show.

Noonan accused of abandoning abuse victims

Finance Minister Michael Noonan “did a runner” from families of sex abuse victims who tried to speak to him about abuse allegations when he was minister for health.

Orange link to cancellation of housing plans

Former Housing Minister Nelson McCausland opposed houses being built in a nationalist part of his constituency in spite of the area being plagued by a lengthy housing waiting list.

Right2Change - Policy principles for a progressive government

A summary of the policy principles of the progressive Right2Change alliance and a list of those candidates in this year’s general election who have signed up to those principles.

A time for change

Elements of the conservative media have been busy trying to spin the yarn that the election is ‘boring’. The truth is very different. In my travels across this state there is a clear desire for change. For new politics.

February 13, 2016

Drugs gangs run amok

Serious questions have been raised about the handling of policing by Fine Gael’s Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald following two shocking gang-related killings in Dublin..

Villiers makes brazen defence of Crown Forces’ murder campaign

British Direct Ruler Theresa Villiers has been condemned by the families of victims of the conflict after she accused them of a “pernicious narrative” in alleging Crown force collusion and state killings.

British secrecy efforts multiply

A British government minister has approved the withholding of files from the inquest of a schoolgirl abducted in County Donegal in 1994 over ‘national security’ concerns.

Gardai attack anti-fascist protestors

Gardai chaotically clubbed anti-fascist protestors as well as members of the media when a racist event in Dublin city centre last weekend was opposed by left-wing and republican groups.

Voters to get their say on juryless courts

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has backed Sinn Fein’s position on abolishing the non-jury Special Criminal Court, and condemned the manipulation of the issue for short-term electoral gain.

Racism and bigotry from unionists

Loyalist campaigner Willie Frazer has claimed that “Fenian-looking” people are “snaking about” the Markethill area of County Armagh and watching his house.

Leonard Peltier - My 40 years in prison

I believe that my incarceration, the constitutional violations in my case, and the government misconduct in prosecuting my case are issues far more important than just my life or freedom.

When national security undermines human rights

It's worth noting that Britain’s security elite systematically invests time and energy in long-term planning and forecasting.

February 6, 2016

Inquiry demanded as alleged informer flees

A former commander of the Provisional IRA in Ardoyne has said he has been forced to flee his home after receiving death threats over allegations he was a state agent, which he denies.

‘Stakeknife’ repercussions become public

A row has broken out among republicans in Belfast over the impact of infiltration by informers in the aftermath of the apparent exposure of another highly-placed double agent within the Provisional IRA.

Fine Gael flounders as election campaign gets underway

The 26 County general election campaign has begun with a major embarrassment for the coalition parties after their annual spending plans were found to have overestimated available state funds by several billion euro.

Strength and resilience at Bloody Sunday commemoration

Several thousand people took part in a rain-soaked march in Derry last weekend to mark the 44th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday killings.

Politicians in a flap as ‘Brexit’ likelihood increases

Concern is mounting in Ireland at the prospects of a British withdrawal from the European Union and the implications this would have for border crossings and the economy.

British Army link to Larne killings revealed

It has taken the British authorities 35 years to tell the family of a Catholic man that his killer was a former British soldier.

RTE’s ‘Rebellion’ series, and its propaganda value

Three valuable hours of my life has been wasted on what RTE describes as a ‘commemorative drama’ to herald the beginning of the Centenary year of the 1916 revolution.

Eight years on and it is political business as usual

Nothing has changed and no one is held accountable in Ireland, and this is a government promising more of the same.

February 3, 2016

Election called for February 26th, parliament dissolved

The 26 County President, Michael D Higgins, has dissolved parliament at the request of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who has called a general election.