Irish Republican News: Archives

January 30, 2021

Britain signals readiness for debate on Irish Unity

An acknowledgement by the head of Britain’s government in Ireland that there should be a ‘conversation’ about Ireland’s constitutional future has been welcomed.

UDA/UVF in talks with Britain over Brexit ‘anger’

A group of loyalist paramilitary representatives have held a meeting with British officials to demand an end to the Irish Protocol of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, raising questions over London’s attitude to loyalist paramilitary violence.

Warning as unhinged loyalist killer released

Loyalist serial killer Michael Stone has been released from prison despite warnings he could resume sectarian attacks against nationalists and republicans.

Paisley insists armed struggle was ‘genocide’ by ‘Catholic IRA’

The DUP MP Ian Paisley has doubled down on an absurd remark in which he compared the Nazi Holocaust to the actions of the “Catholic IRA”.

Family of late republican blast funeral critics

The family of Derry IRA veteran Eamon ‘Peggy’ McCourt have denounced politicians who criticised his republican funeral and made insensitive allegations that it had broken Covid-19 restrictions.

Loughgall families take action over social media hate campaign

The sister of an IRA Volunteer shot dead by the British Army has called for tighter regulation after images of his remains were repeatedly posted online.

MI5’s sinister policing of the 26 Counties

To believe that Drew Harris is not still in the employ of the Government which had placed him at the top levels of their intelligence apparatus in the six counties stretches credulity to the limit.

Nothing reckless about affording people a democratic choice

If ever we needed a reminder of the stark flaws and practical problems associated with the partition of our island, then the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit have exposed them like never before.

January 23, 2021

Pressure on govts to facilitate Irish Unity poll

A clamour for a realignment of borders in the aftermath of Brexit has seen the most senior figure in David Cameron’s former Tory Cabinet join increasing numbers of unionists in admitting that Ireland could soon be reunited.

British Army Covid stunt rejected by republicans

A deployment of British Army paramedics to hospitals in occupied Ireland has angered nationalists, particularly among families of those killed and injured by British soldiers.

Relief for family of victim of cold-blooded killing

The family of Paddy McElhone, who was aged 24 when he was shot and killed by a British soldier near his Tyrone home, have said the truth of his 1974 murder has finally been heard at an inquest.

Further claims of responsibility by armed groups

The Continuity IRA have issued a second statement with specific details of a gun attack on a PSNI helicopter last week.

Legal challenge to airport harassment

A north Belfast community activist has won High Court permission to challenge a decision by the PSNI to detain and interrogate him at an airport.

Questions mount over cronyism in Ireland’s health system

Top health officials in Ireland provided doses of Covid-19 vaccine to their own family members and friends ahead of frontline workers, care home residents and other vulnerable people, according to reports this week.

January 22, 2021

Bloody Sunday March 2021

The Bloody Sunday March Committee is organising a week of online events and a virtual march for justice for the 1972 massacre of 14 civilians by British forces in Derry, under the banner ‘It’s Never Too Late For The Truth’. It has published a context and programme of events for the week.

Avoidance and denying rights is not sustainable

A total of 3,500 relatives of victims have signed an open letter calling on the London and Dublin governments to implement previously agreed proposals to deal with the legacy of the recent conflict in the north of Ireland. A commentary by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice on the background to the letter, included below.

January 16, 2021

Helicopter attacked as armed groups remain active

A high powered gun attack took place against a Crown Forces helicopter on Thursday near Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh. The attack took place in the border area near where the Continuity IRA launched a booby-trap attack in 2019.

‘For God and Asda’ – ‘onslaught’ threat over bare shelves

Unionists have claimed they been “screwed over” by a new regulatory border in the Irish Sea, with senior MPs hitting out at the Tory government in London over shortages of some items in foodstores, and calling for some Brexit regulations to be scrapped.

Prosecutors refuse to reveal MI5 role in case

A lawyer acting for a group of republican activists held after an MI5 entrapment operation has said that British military intelligence “appears to be ignorant of the rule of law”.

Wake harassed by PSNI over presence of republicans

Eight PSNI vehicles, including six armoured Land Rovers, swarmed a family home in west Belfast on Thursday night, and harassed mourners attending a wake.

Report on Mother and Baby homes ‘a cop-out’

A Commission of Investigation has established that some 9,000 babies and children died over eight decades in Irish ‘Mother and Baby’ homes, but a limited report and an official State apology have only increased demands for full redress for a history of murderous neglect and misogyny.