Irish Republican News: Archives

May 28, 2016

Gardaí in crisis

As ordinary Gardai police struggle to contain the escalating gangland war, Garda chiefs have been warned by a policing watchdog that public trust in the force is fading over repeated scandals and failures.

Unionists take full control of Six County justice department

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness has been accused of handing unionism a “triple lock” on justice after nationalists were sidelined in the administration and scrutiny of the department’s functions.

A struggle to understand as Ambassador grapples with protestor

A bizarre intervention by the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland has drawn international attention to a revisionist state event in Dublin which honoured the British soldiers who died in 1916 fighting to maintain British rule in Ireland.

Fianna Gael pact overcomes water charge hurdle

Sinn Fein has accused Fianna Fail of acting in coalition with Fine Gael by abstaining in a motion to scrap water charges.

Somme trip and royal visit as outreach efforts continue

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness has said he will visit the Somme battlefields of World War One as an act of reconciliation, to recognise human suffering and to reach out to his unionist neighbours in the north.

Anniversary of Eddie Fullerton

Representatives from across the political spectrum attended a wreath- laying ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the assassination of Inishowen Sinn Fein Councillor Eddie Fullerton in Buncrana in 1991 on Wednesday evening.

Release Tony Taylor

Nationalists, republicans and socialists are coming together to support a campaign for the release from his internment of prominent Derry republican Tony Taylor.

‘Brexit’ vote denies the national rights of the Irish

The upcoming ‘Brexit’ referendum holds significance for Ireland given Britain’s continuing claim to sovereignty over the Six Counties and her ongoing occupation of the North.

May 21, 2016

SDLP quits Stormont Executive

The SDLP has quit the devolved administration in the Six Counties in the latest development to hit the formation of a new Executive in the North.

New leader for Labour as Kenny digs in amid justice scandal

Wexford TD Brendan Howlin has been named as the new leader of the Labour Party in the 26 Counties as the politic system in Dublin continues to stumble following the formation of a minority government earlier this month.

Truth and justice ‘not the property of the few’

On the 42nd anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, which killed 33 people, a Dublin government minister said he would continue to repeat demands that the British security papers on the attacks be opened.

Craigavon Two campaign in Downing Street

Family members of Brendan McConville and John-Paul Wootton took the ‘Justice for the Craigavon Two’ campaign to the official residence of the British Prime Minister this week.

Loyalists may attempt to block anti-internment march

Loyalists have said they will not seek permission to oppose the annual anti-internment march, which will take place on Sunday, August 7. The move could spark a confrontation as up to 5,000 people and at least four bands are expected to take part in the march.

Reconstruction takes place on anniversary of boy’s death

One Derry family has renewed hopes for justice following a re-enactment of the murder of Irish schoolboy Manus Deery by the British Army. It follows a directive from the Six County Attorney General, John Larkin, that a fresh inquest into the killing of Manus Deery should take place.

Loughgall remembered

Republicans from Tyrone and its Monaghan and Armagh hinterland gathered at the Drumfurrer Monument to IRA Volunteers Jim Lynagh and Padraig McKearney for a family-led Independent Commemoration for the Loughgall martyrs.

Writing about the hunger strike

35 years ago, on May 5th 1981, Bobby Sands died on hunger strike after 66 days without food. He was the first of 10 men to die in the H Blocks of Long Kesh that terrible summer of 1981.

May 14, 2016

Stormont resumes with UUP as ‘Official Opposition’

The leader of the unionist DUP, Arlene Foster, and Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness have been formally returned as the Six County First Minister and Deputy First Minister respectively ahead of formulating a ‘Programme for Government’ for the Stormont Executive.

Protestors arrested as water charges regime falls apart

Following a decision by the new coalition government that water charges are to be suspended for at least nine months, it has now been announced that penalties for non-payment of water charges are also to be suspended.

New investigation into death of internee shot in the back

Six County Attorney General John Larkin has ordered a fresh inquest into the death of a County Tyrone man shot dead while trying to escape from Long Kesh internment camp more than 40 years ago.

Republican targeted by PSNI using his own academic work

Attempts by the PSNI police to gain access to a former IRA Volunteer’s interviews for an American university project are just a “fishing expedition”, a court has heard.

Departure of Burton sets up Labour leadership contest

The long-awaited announcement by Joan Burton of her resignation as leader of the Labour Party has triggered a power battle within the party.

Executed Rising rebels honoured

Commemoration events have been taking place to mark 100 years since the executions of the leaders of the Easter Rising. The state events took place in the Stonebreakers’ Yard in Kilmainham Gaol, on the spot where most of the men died.

The executed leaders of 1916

Short biographies of all of the executed leaders in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising, including nine who were not signatories of the Proclamation of the Republic.

‘We shall rise again’

In an excerpt from her memoirs, Nora Connolly O’Brien talks about her father’s final days and the courage and inspiration that James Connolly gave to her and continues to give to republicans today.

May 7, 2016

Protest vote ‘cannot be ignored’

The final results of the Stormont election show a small drop in support for Sinn Fein and the rival nationalist SDLP, and no change at all for the unionists, with the Green Party and socialist People before Profit making small gains.

New government faces old problems

Scepticism remains high over the future stability of the new Dublin government as the new Cabinet held its first meeting at Áras an Uachtaráin, the President’s official residence.

Informer protected in cover-up of republican’s death, court hears

A lawyer acting for the family of a former republican prisoner who died in a PSNI police barracks branded a potential witness a Crown informer in the coroner’s court yesterday.

Victims’ anger as inquest plan is spiked by Stormont

Amnesty International has accused the Stormont Executive of denying justice by blocking funds for a series of inquests into conflict-related killings.

PSNI move against republican funeral

Levels of Crown force harassment have jumped in the Derry City and Strabane area following the arrest of fifteen people at the funeral of former republican prisoner Mickey Barr in Strabane on Thursday.

Sinn Fein struggles to explain after N-word nightmare

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been forced to issue a number of apologies for the use of a racial slur word in a late night Tweet on Sunday.

‘The Great Escape’ 1976

A reprint of an article from The Starry Plough, detailing a historic escape by Republican Socialists from Long Kesh prison 40 years ago this week.

Sinn Féin must beware the left-wing surge

The large votes for People Before Profit candidates remain the story of the election. Left wing candidates did most damage to Sinn Féin and the SDLP.

May 6, 2016

Socialist breakthrough only crack in Stormont edifice

The left-wing People Before Profit Alliance (PBP) have made an electoral breakthrough in the Six Counties as the established Stormont parties saw their support drop following Thursday’s Assembly election.

Enda Kenny re-elected as Taoiseach after ‘tawdry deals’

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has received the seal of office of Taoiseach from the President after being re-elected this afternoon with the help of nine independents and the tacit support of Fianna Fail, who abstained as part of an historic agreement with their traditional foes.