Posted by Jim on May 11, 2019
By Lasair Dhearg
This week marks the 32nd anniversary of the Loughgall Martyrs, eight
volunteers of the Irish Republican Army who died in a gun battle
commenced by ambush by British occupation forces in the village of
Loughgall, Armagh.
The IRA’s East Tyrone Brigade was active mainly in eastern County Tyrone
and neighbouring parts of County Armagh. By the mid-1980s it had become
one of the IRA’s most effective and professional Active Service Units.
Members of the unit, such as Jim Lynagh and P醖raig McKearney, advocated
a strategy of destroying bases and preventing them being rebuilt or
repaired, thus “denying ground” to forces of the occupation.
In 1985, Patrick Joseph Kelly became its commander and began
implementing the strategy. In the subsequent years it carried out two
major attacks on RUC bases often described as “spectaculars”.
The first was an attack on the RUC barracks in Ballygawley on 7 December
1985, in which two RUC personnel were executed. The second was an attack
on an RUC base at The Birches on 11 August 1986. In both attacks, the
bases were raked with heavy gunfire and then wiped out with a bomb. In
the attack at The Birches, they had breached the base’s perimeter fence
with a digger that had a bomb in its bucket. The operation being a huge
success, they planned to use the same tactic in an attack on the
lightly-manned Loughgall base.
The IRA’s attack involved two teams. One team would drive a digger with
a bomb in its bucket through the base’s perimeter fence and set it to
detonate. At the same time, the other team would arrive in a van and lay
down heavy fire on the base, with the goal of wiping out the base and
any occupation forces inside.
Both teams would then disengage and leave the area in the van. To avoid
security checkpoints, the bomb was ferried by boat across Lough Neagh,
from Ardboe to Maghery. The van and digger that would be used were
hijacked in the hours leading up to the attack. The van, a blue Toyota
HiAce, was stolen by masked men from a business in Dungannon. The digger
was taken from a farm at Lislasly Road, about two miles west of
Loughgall. Two IRA members stayed at the farm to stop the owners raising
the alarm. IRA Volunteer Declan Arthurs drove the digger, while two
others drove ahead of him in a scout car. The rest of the unit travelled
in the van from another location, presumably also with a scout car.
The IRA unit arrived in Loughgall from the northeast shortly after 7PM.
All were heavily armed, carrying H&K G3 rifles, one FN FAL rifle, two FN
FNC rifles, a Franchi SPAS-12T shotgun and a Ruger Security-Six
revolver. Wearing bulletproof vests, boilersuits, gloves and balaclavas,
the digger drove past the police station, turned and drove back again
with the Toyota van doing the same, ostensibly to check if the coast was
clear. Members of the unit felt that something was amiss, and debated
whether to continue, but decided to go ahead with the attack. Tony
Gormley and Gerard O’Callaghan got out of the van and joined Declan
Arthurs on the digger, supposedly “literally riding shotgun”, with
weapons in one hand and a lighter in the other.
At about 7:15, Declan Arthurs drove the digger towards the base. In the
front bucket was 200�0 lb of semtex inside an oil drum, partially
hidden by rubble and wired to two 40-second fuses. The rest of the unit
followed in the van with Eugene Kelly driving, unit commander Patrick
Kelly in the passenger seat whilst in the rear were Jim Lynagh, P醖raig
McKearney, and Seamus Donnelly. The digger crashed through the fence and
the fuses were lit. The van stopped a short distance ahead and the team
jumped out and began laying down fire on the building. At the same time,
the bomb detonated, destroying the digger along with much of the
building, and injuring three members of the occupation forces.
Within seconds, the SAS returned fire from hidden ambush positions in
and around the station. 600 spent cartridge cases from the SAS were
recovered with approximately 125 bullet holes in the bodywork of the
van. The IRA Active Service Unit returned fire, commencing a heavy gun
battle.
The eight IRA Vunteerd were killed in the hail of gunfire; all had
multiple wounds and were shot in the head. Declan Arthurs was shot in a
laneway opposite Loughgall Football Club premises unarmed without a
firearm in his vicinity except for a cigarette lighter close to his
right hand. A number of the wounded IRA members were shot dead as they
lay on the ground after the gun battle. The IRA members in the scout
cars escaped.
Two civilians travelling in a car were also shot by the SAS. The two
brothers, Anthony and Oliver Hughes, were driving home in a white
Citroen. About 130 yards from the base, SAS members opened fire on them
from behind, killing Anthony and badly wounding Oliver. The Citroen had
approximately 34 bullet holes.
The villagers had not been told of the British operation and no attempt
had been made to evacuate anyone, or to seal off the ambush zone, as
this might have alerted the IRA.
The Loughgall Martyrs were gallant and brave heroes, who did not shirk
from their responsibilites when it came to opposing the occupation. We
remember them with pride.
Posted by Jim on
The offices of political party Saoradh in Derry have once again been
raided as MI5 are reportedly under orders to ‘bring down’ Thomas Ashe
Mellon, a 43-year-old republican activist who is a leading figure in
the party.
PSNI Special Branch police were involved in the search operation,
described by Saoradh as a “heavy handed rapid entry raid”. They claimed
it had followed a call by political leaders, including Sinn F閕n, for
British forces to put in place “a tangible plan of action against
republicans”.
The PSNI are now said to be working with British military intelligence
and the British Army’s Special Reconnaissance Regiment to jail Mr
Mellon. He was previously charged with ‘directing terrorism’ and found
not guilty by a judge in a prosecution that was described by a source
for the Sunday Life newspaper as “a holding charge” aimed at “getting
him off the streets”.
He was convicted recently of taking part in a banned Easter
commemoration last year through the Creggan, a conviction which is
currently under appeal.
Saoradh denounced the raid as “a culmination of unprofessional
journalism by some, a near hysterical clergy all being dragged
nose-first by the crocodile tears of former republicans”.
They said members have been under “overt surveillance” in recent weeks
as part of an effort “to thawrt any and all republican activism”.
“It is clear that our party headquarters, our party members and our
support base are being actively targeted in a futile attempt to stop
the public availing of the free services we offer,” they said.
“As local Republicans and members of our community made their way
towards Junior McDaid House this morning, colonial foot soldiers hurled
abuse. Proof, as if it were needed, that British Crown Forces are
intent on harassing and intimidating Republican communities.
“While so called elected representatives sit at home watching live
videos of Republicans being harassed and our community coming under
attack, our activists are on the ground responding. Attacks like this
will do nothing to thwart Republican activism and will only harden our
resolve.”
Posted by Jim on
Sinn F閕n leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she believes an agreement
can be reached after round-table five-party talks began in Belfast this
week for the first time in more than a year.
The wide-ranging talks were kickstarted as a result of a public outcry
over the death of journalist Lyra McKee during a riot in Derry last
month.
“We need agreement and all-party power-sharing institutions back in
place,” Ms McDonald said. “The two governments are not spectators or
referees in this process, they are co-equal guarantors of the people’s
agreements and rights.”
The last DUP/Sinn F閕n powersharing coalition collapsed in January 2017
when the late Martin McGuinness quit amid allegations of DUP corruption
in a ‘green energy’ scheme. It had followed a long-standing impasse at
Stormont over the Irish language, same-sex marriage and the legacy of
the conflict. A veto mechanism used by the DUP to block political change
since 2007, known as a petition of concern, is among the issues the
current talks will look at.
It is not yet clear if Sinn F閕n will seek to resurrect a deal which DUP
leader Arlene Foster was understood to have agreed last year. A copy of
the draft deal, which included concessions on both sides, was refuted by
the DUP, triggering the current stalemate.
Ms McDonald said actions of the British government — their deal with
the DUP, Brexit and their refusal to honour their obligations on the
legacy issues of the past — had dogged the process since 2017. She said
she would be raising them directly with the British Prime Minister on
Monday. But she added: “I believe an agreement can be reached and
genuine power-sharing can be established.”
Ms McDonald said her party was ready to “do the business”.
“The current stalemate is not acceptable and not sustainable, there are
outstanding issues that need to be resolved, and we believe they can be
resolved,” she said.
In a joint statement, the Dublin and London governments said party
leaders will meet at least once a week to assess progress, while the
process will be reviewed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime
MInister Theresa May at the end of the month.
The fresh talks do not as yet include an independent chair, which was
previously demanded by nationalists.
The issue of ongoing violence in the North is notably not on the agenda
for the talks, which are focused on restoring the Six-County Assembly at
Stormont. However, the British government separately announced more than
�0m in funding for Derry. The funds are intended to tackle
“deprivation and youth unemployment”, and are in addition to �0m
already pledged to Belfast.
After the initial discussions, DUP leader Arlene Foster described the
engagement as a “good first meeting”.
“It has to of course be a balanced way forward and one that everyone in
Northern Ireland is comfortable with, whether they are unionist,
nationalist or indeed other � and I think that’s very important,” she
said.
Sinn F閕n urged optimism as the process got underway.
“We will go into these talks with hope and positivity,” Ms McDonald
said. “We will also go in with our eyes wide open, because we have been
to his place before. Whatever happens, we’re very clear that the current
political stalemate cannot continue. It’s simply unacceptable at this
stage.
“In the event that we cannot resolve the equality issues, that the DUP
cannot join with us to hard-wire equality into the system of governance
. . . in those circumstances then the two governments will have to
intervene,” Ms McDonald said.
Sinn F閕n negotiator Conor Murphy said his party would expect delivery
of assurances it received last year that the British government would
pass the necessary legislation if Stormont failed to do so.
But Mr Murphy’s idea that if the five-party talks fail, the Tories
should directly legislate for nationalist demands was described as
“running to Westminster” by newly elected Aont� councillor in Derry, Dr
Anne McCloskey.
“For a republican, who avows that the British government should not by
right have any authority in this country… to boast that his [British
friends] will keep him and his party sweet on this or any other issue is
Alice in Wonderland stuff,” she said.
Posted by Jim on May 9, 2019
Update from National Freedom for All Ireland Committee Chairman Martin Galvin.
A chairde,
We are hoping to have Congressmen and staff meet Mark Thompson -Mark McGovern and also highlight Malachy’s case DURING THE DAY ON June 4TH OR 5TH
WE WILL BE ASKING AOH-LAOH to ask their local MEMBERS TO MEET the three of them -HOPEFULLY IN A GENERAL MEETING OR IF NECESSARY IN INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
MARK THOMPSON-MARK McGOVERN BOOK LAUNCH TOUR
Mark Thompson and Professor Mark McGovern are launching a new book COLLUSION- COUNTERINSURGENCY in NORTHERN IRELAND in May and are planning to do an American launch from June 1st to June 10th.
This groundbreaking book will put the lie to the claim that Britain forces were responsible for only about only 10% of the north’s killings and expose how they armed, directed, paid and protected their loyalist agents to carry out hundreds of killings then denied any blame.
They have asked AOH help to plan and organize this tour.
I have a personal interest in the book because my close friend Liam Ryan, who lived near me in the Bronx and was murdered at the Battery Bar in Ardboe, (a site visited during the FFAI tour) is one of the cases of collusion included in the book.
I am asking for your ideas and help to set up the most effective schedule for them including book launch venues-political support-colleges-embassy receptions etc along with events where we can bring in people and help defer expenses.
Am trying to confirm dates
Philadelphia-McSwiney Club Sunday June 2nd
New York O’Lunney’s Time Square-June 3rd
4th and 5th-Washington Dc- trying to confirm book launch events at National Press Club and Irish Embassy-but will be holding Congressional meetings centering on Collusion and Malachy McAllister’s case
6th being rescheduled
7th Boston
9th Fairfield
10-Irish American Heritage Museum Albany-conclude at Assembly 11th
Will be in touch with key people to speak about each venue
Unless something major opens up and subject to final approval by National officers this will be finalized plus filling in openings
Will contact all New York City areas about Monday June 3rd
hoping everyone close to Albany will support events on Monday 10th
EVERYONE CAN HELP GET CONGRESSMEN AND STAFF at DC meetings!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jim on May 5, 2019
Counting has been completed in the local elections in the north, with
Sinn Féin picking up last minute gains on Belfast City Council.
A historic six out of seven seats in the Black Mountain ward served as a
reward for Sinn Féin’s renowned vote management skills and capped a
battling performance in the city in the face of a surge in support for
the smaller parties and independents.
It also helped it to an overall performance which is the best of the
four largest parties, as it retained the same number of seats as it
began the election.
Sinn Féin remains the largest party on Belfast council and the overall
dynamics will remain largely the same, but with nationalism overall in a
stronger position. On Derry and Strabane council, the SDLP and Sinn Féin
are now at equal strength after Sinn Féin lost five seats.
Elsewhere, the rise of Alliance has weakened the traditional political
alliances, particularly in unionist areas.
In a statement at counting was winding down this weekend, Sinn Féin
leader Mary Lou McDonald said the election had been marked by the growth
in support for progressive politics, inclusion, equality and change.
“There is an onus on all of the progressive parties to use their
mandates in the coming talks to deliver equality, respect and the rights
of all and re-establish genuine power-sharing and institutions operating
to the highest standards,” she said.
“The people have spoken, a new and more progressive society is emerging.
It is the responsibility of political leaders to reflect on these
results and commit to resolve the outstanding issues in the coming
talks.”
The following is the full result in terms of the number of seats
(compared to 2014):
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 122 (-8)
Sinn Féin (SF) 105 (-)
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 75 (-13)
Social Democratic & Labour Party (SDLP) 59 (-7)
Alliance Party 53 (+21)
Green 8 (+4)
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) 6 (-7)
People before Profit (PBP) 5 (+4)
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) 3 (-1)
Aontú 1 (+1)
Independent 25 (+10)
The following is the breakdown by council area (compared to 2014):
Belfast:
SF 18 (-1)
DUP 15 (+2)
Alliance 10 (+2)
SDLP 6 (-1)
Green 4 (+3)
PBP 3 (+2)
UUP 2 (-5)
PUP 2 (-1)
Derry & Strabane:
SF 11 (-5)
SDLP 11 (+1)
DUP 7 (-1)
PBP 2 (+2)
Alliance 2 (+2)
UUP 2 (-)
Aontú 1 (+1)
Ind. 4 (-)
Fermanagh and Omagh
Sinn Féin 15 (-2)
UUP 9 (-)
SDLP 5 (-3)
DUP 5 (-)
Alliance 1 (+1)
Ind. 5 (+4)
Ards & North Down:
DUP 14 (-3)
Alliance 10 (+3)
UUP 8 (-1)
Green 3 (-)
SDLP 1 (-)
TUV 1 (-)
Ind. 3 (+1)
Antrim & Newtownabbey:
DUP 14 (-1)
UUP 9 (-3)
Alliance 7 (+3)
Sinn Féin 5 (+2)
SDLP 4 (-)
Ind. 1 (+1)
Lisburn & Castlereagh:
DUP 15 (-5)
UUP 11 (+3)
Alliance 9 (+2)
SDLP 2 (-1)
Sinn Féin 2 (+2)
Green 1 (+1)
Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon:
DUP 11 (-2)
SF 10 (+2)
UUP 10 (-2)
SDLP 6 (-)
Alliance 3 (+3)
Ind 1 (-)
Causeway Coast & Glens:
DUP 14 (+3)
SF 9 (+2)
UUP 7 (-3)
SDLP 6 (-)
Alliance 2 (+1)
PUP 1 (-)
Ind 1 (-)
Mid & East Antrim:
DUP 15 (-1)
UUP 7 (-2)
Alliance 7 (+4)
TUV 5 (-)
SF 2 (-1)
SDLP 1 (-)
Ind 3 (+1)
Mid Ulster
SF 17 (-1)
DUP 9 (+1)
SDLP 6 (-)
UUP 6 (-1)
Ind 2 (+1)
Newry, Mourne & Down
SF 16 (+2)
SDLP 11 (-3)
UUP 4 (+1)
DUP 3 (-1)
Alliance 2 (-)
Ind 5 (+2)