Irish Republican News: Archives

March 27, 2020

Anger as vital equipment runs short

Government politicians who paid tribute to healthcare workers this week have been accused of hypocrisy over their failure to supply enough equipment to protect the workers or to take care of the ill.

‘Slavishness’ of Stormont costing lives

The Stormont administration faces a mounting crisis over what has been described as an “abject” determination by unionists to follow the Tory government’s disastrous lead on the coronavirus epidemic.

Tributes paid to Toni Carragher

The death has taken place of Toni Carragher, a well-known campaigner against British army militarisation along the border, and the former secretary of the South Armagh Farmers and Residents’ Committee.

Emergency powers being abused in the North

Draconian new powers introduced at Westminster in the name of protecting the public are already being abused in the north of Ireland, according to republicans in Derry.

Unresolved sectarian murder case ‘locked down’ by PSNI

Prosecutors have refused to ask the PSNI police to reopen an investigation linked to the murder of three Catholics killed by unionist paramilitaries almost 30 years ago, despite never having received a file on the cases against four suspects, including a man identified as the killer.

Easter commemorations cancelled

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has said that her party’s planned Easter commemorations have been cancelled in their entirety due to the deterioration of the coronavirus situation.

Working class being sacrificed

A political analysis of the current economic and healthcare crises by Saoradh.

Up the Rebels

The necessary cancellation of Easter Rising Commemorations does not mean we should not celebrate these events.

March 24, 2020

Govts move to ‘lockdown’; prisoners seek help

In televised addresses, both the premiers in Dublin and London have announced stronger measures in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

March 20, 2020

Tories back away from ‘herd cull’ plan

Amid warnings that health care systems in Britain and the north of Ireland were facing a potentially catastrophic meltdown, both Tories and unionists in Ireland have ended their hands-off approach to the coronavirus health crisis.

Prisoners forced to take action over virus threat

Republican prisoners in both Portlaoise and Maghaberry prisons have voluntarily stopped visits with family as a result of the Coronavirus.

Speech cheers viewers, leaves questions unanswered

After delivering an inspirational but ultimately vacuous speech on the implications of the Coronavirus crisis, the caretaker 26 County Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been urged to take more practical action to protect lives and livelihoods across Ireland.

Genuine unity urged as crisis grows

A national government of unity could bring help to those in need during the current health crisis, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald has said.

Scottish independence referendum on hold

Plans for an independence referendum in Scotland this year have been “paused” by the Scottish Government as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Scapegoat’ prisoner denied family visits

Prison warders at Maghaberry have prevented a family visit with Paul McIntyre for a second time after he was refused bail and incarcerated at Maghaberry earlier this month.

The centenary of an Irish martyr

A tribute to Tomás Mac Curtain, Cork Lord Mayor, who was born on 20 March 1884 and died on the same date in 1920, shot dead in his home.

Stormont - where incompetence carries no sanction

Having carried out a costly 12 month long forensic investigation into the Renewable Heat Initiative or ‘Cash for Ash’ scandal, Patrick Coghlin has failed to identify any individual responsible for the fiasco.

March 18, 2020

Britain moves to renege on the Stormont House Agreement

The British government has been accused of using the cover of the Coronavirus health crisis to renege on its commitments under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and introduce an effective amnesty for most state war crimes.

March 17, 2020

In solidarity on our national day

Today is a day to celebrate being Irish. But it doesn’t feel like that when so many of us are concerned for the well-being of our families and ourselves.

Normal life shuts down as Varadkar says crisis ‘cannot be stopped’

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Monday evening that the rise in cases of coronavirus in Ireland “cannot be stopped”. The administrations in both parts of Ireland are looking to secure intensive care equipment ahead of an expected surge in the numbers of critically ill.

March 13, 2020

Ireland divided along border by virus response

Efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus have become dangerously split across the island of Ireland after a division emerged between governments in Dublin and London on how quickly the virus should be allowed to spread.

Whitewash claims as RHI report finds ‘mistakes’, clears everyone

An official report into Stormont’s infamous RHI ‘cash for ash’ scheme has been described as a whitewash on social media after it blamed only “errors and omissions” for the runaway exploitation that collapsed the Stormont Executive in early 2017.

Fine Gael clings to power while virus takes hold

Several hundred people took to the streets of Dublin last weekend to object to a Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition plan to remain in power. Many expressed concern that Ireland’s two right-wing parties are attempting to form the next government under the cloak of the coronavirus.

MI5’s incessant pursuit of informers

Two members of Saoradh have said they were harassed by the British military intelligence to turn informer when returning from a conference in Britain, while Republican Sinn Féin said they are bringing a similar case to the Police Ombudsman.

Family’s collusion concerns on 30th anniversary

The family of a former republican prisoner shot dead while under British Army surveillance 30 years ago believe the British Army’s Force Research Unit may have been involved.

Britain urged to drop ‘damaging’ claim to Lough Foyle

The British government should drop its territorial claim over Lough Foyle before it causes any further economic and ecological damage, Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson has said.

An amnesty plan worthy of a military dictatorship

The admissions by former members of the secret, plain-clothes ‘Military Reaction Force’ suggest they were responsible for killing Irish civilians in the 1970s, writes Richard Rudkin.

Deliver a government of change

A comment on the recent efforts to form a coalition government in Dublin by John Bandon.

March 9, 2020

Crisis meetings as St Patrick’s events cancelled

All St Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland have been cancelled in a bid to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. After weeks of delay, the news was leaked ahead a meeting of the acting Cabinet in Dublin on Monday. Multi-party meetings to deal with the crisis have also been announced.

March 6, 2020

State report confirms East Tyrone collusion

Concern within the British Crown Forces over MI5’s involvement in a killing campaign has emerged in a report released to families of the victims of the Cappagh killings. It is the first time a state report has confirmed collusion, according to a lawyer for the families.

SF support jumps again but party still faces exclusion

A new poll putting Sinn Féin support at an unprecedented 35% in the 26 Counties has added to public pressure for Mary Lou McDonald’s party to be involved in the next coalition government in Dublin despite the refusal of the leaders of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael to countenance the idea.