Irish Republican News: Archives

May 26, 2022

Red letter day for the Irish language

A new sense of empowerment was evident in the largest ever demonstration for Irish language rights in Belfast last weekend, as up to 20,000 people demanded overdue legislation to protect the rights of Irish speakers under British rule.

US politicians intervene to protect Good Friday Agreement

An international furore has erupted following the decision of Britain’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to introduce legislation at Westminster last week to unilaterally alter the Brexit deal. The European Union has again warned that “action calls for reaction”.

Legacy ‘bill of shame’ getting rushed into law

A coffin was carried to Downing Street by relatives of victims of the conflict as protests increased at British government legacy plans which amount to yet another breach of the Good Friday peace Agreement.

Family’s concern at Tory bid to shut down legal options

The daughter of a Catholic man killed by an undercover British army unit 50 years ago this month has said his killing tore her family apart.

Strip-searches of children condemned

The PSNI has strip-searched children on 34 occasions last year with the overwhelming majority of the searches finding nothing, it has been revealed.

Loyalist disturbances in north Belfast

Homes and businesses in the Oldpark area of north Belfast have been attacked by loyalists throwing bricks, bottles and timber.

Timely US visit confirms protocol is here to stay

The visit of Richie Neal and his congressional colleagues to Brussels, London, Dublin and Belfast could not have occurred at a more opportune moment.

No Irish celebrations for an imperial monarch

Irish Republicans, and indeed Republicans throughout the world, will never celebrate the lives of any monarch and especially one who resides in massive palaces in England.

May 19, 2022

Britain lurches from ‘law, law’ to ‘war, war’

Fears of a trade war and renewed conflict in the north of Ireland have increased dramatically after the British government this week tore up the Irish Protocol of Brexit in a flagrant breach of international law.

Outrage as details of amnesty bill emerge

There has been intense anger at British government plans to introduce an amnesty from conflict prosecutions from which former political prisoners would be disbarred.

Liam Campbell extradited

Louth republican Liam Campbell has been extradited to Lithuania after being arrested by Gardai police on Monday. He was handed over to Lithuanian authorities at Dublin Airport.

Crisis becomes circus in Belfast

A stream of political posturing and grandstanding has masked the DUP’s refusal to accept the result of this month’s election to the Stormont Assembly, in which Sinn Féin emerged as the largest party.

Confusion over trigger for Irish unity vote

The Sinn Féin vice president has said there is a need to fill in a grey area of the Good Friday Agreement on the circumstances for holding a referendum on constitutional change.

‘Low-level informer’ flees Derry

An alleged informer in Derry has been defended by his family who said he had been coerced into collaborating with the British forces.

Even in death, are lies exposed

Scenes from occupied Jerusalem, where the funeral of state-murdered journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was attacked by Israeli forces, have recalled for many the murderous and oppressive actions of the British forces in Ireland. Maureen Clare Murphy writes from Palestine about a dark week for the conflict there.

Brown family show tenacity in campaign for justice

In the 25 years since the brutal murder of Sean Brown his family have been repeatedly frustrated in their campaign for justice.

May 17, 2022

Flash: Britain moves to renege on Brexit Protocol

The British government has initiated the process of formally reneging on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement with the introduction of unilateral legislation to “disapply” parts of the protocol on trade in the north of Ireland.

May 12, 2022

Old order fails to grasp seismic change

Rejectionist unionism continues to be indulged by the British government, despite Sinn Féin winning the Stormont Assembly election and nationalist parties outpolling unionist parties in a Six County election for the first time.

Election adds to pressure for Border Poll

A referendum on Irish unity must be held after the Assembly election result showed there is “no majority for the union any more”, according to a group of prominent nationalists.

Dismay, scepticism as Britain parades plans for new laws

Victims’ groups have hit out a British government reworking of a planned amnesty plan as a “sinister denial of rights”.

Liam Campbell extradition allowed by Supreme Court

Prominent republican Liam Campbell could soon be extradited to Lithuania following a ruling by the 26 County Supreme Court in Dublin, despite the fact he never set foot in the country.

Hypocrisy of funeral Covid fines

Two prominent Tyrone republicans fined for attending the funeral of a friend during the Covid-19 lockdown are to appeal the decision.

PSNI refuse to say who lied about massacre bomb

The families of victims of the McGurk’s Bar massacre have again been refused a meeting by the PSNI.

Loughgall massacre victims remembered

A large crowd gathered in Tyrone on Sunday past to honour the memory of eight brave volunteers of the East Tyrone Brigade killed in action at Loughgall on 8 May 1987, while a new monument was unveiled across the border in Monaghan.

Election round-up and results

Sinn Féin’s performance in the Assembly election saw an increase in its vote share to 29%, with more of its candidates elected on the first count than in 2017.

May 7, 2022

DUP to block formation of Executive after losing election

As a Sinn Féin First Minister was historically elected to head the new power-sharing Stormont Executive tonight, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has confirmed he will veto its formation.

McDonald calls for Irish unity vote within five years

With counting continuing, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party remain the big winners from the Stormont Assembly election, with Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill now certain to become First Minister-elect.

May 6, 2022

Flash: Nationalists outvote unionists in North for first time

First election results across the north of Ireland show that nationalist candidates have outvoted unionists in the Six Counties for the first time, triggering a key requirement for a referendum on Irish reunification.

Tallies show Sinn Féin on course for historic victory

Sinn Féin could be on its way to becoming the largest party in the Stormont Assembly. If tallies from count centres are borne out in final results from Thursday’s election, Michelle O’Neill is set to become First Minister-elect and the first nationalist to lead a Six County administration under British rule.