Posted by Jim on May 11, 2019
Former UFA President
Retired Firefighter
Richard Vizzini
Engine Company 41
WAKE
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sinatra Memorial Home
499 Yonkers Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10704
FUNERAL
Thursday, May 16, 2019
9:45 AM
Immaculate Conception Church
754 East Gunhill Road
Bronx, NY 10467
All Off-Duty Members should attend in Class A Uniform.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory can be made to the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation by visiting www.nyffburncenter.com or calling 718-379-1900.
Posted by Jim on
Congressman Alcee Hastings, new Chairman of Helsinki Commission, demonstrates Irish solidarityCAPITOL HILL. Tuesday, May 7, 2019—— Since 1982, the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus has had many, manyCongressional Friends—Members of Congress who have in writing expressed support for the Caucus’ non-violent work for justice and peace in Ireland and ( since 1998) for continued United States support for the Irish Peace Process.
The latest Member of Congress to sign on is Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL).
Fr. Sean McManus, president of the Irish National Caucus, said: “I greatly welcome Congressman Hastings as a Congressional Friend of the Irish National Caucus. Irish-Americans across the United States, and particularly in Florida, are delighted he has joined. It is significant also that he is Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), ‘charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 57 countries.’ The previous Chairman, Congressman Chris Smith (D-NJ), did outstanding work on justice and peace in Northern Ireland, holding many Congressional Hearings.”
In his letter to Fr. Mc Manus, Congressman Hastings writes:‘I am writing to join the Congressional Friends of the Irish National Caucus. It is my pleasure to support the important work of your Caucus, and, most importantly, the continued involvement of the United States in the Irish peace-process. Much progress has been made since the Belfast Agreement … but there is much work to be done if all the people in Ireland are to benefit from the meaningful change and reconciliation…Thank you for all you have done to bring justice and peace to the people of Ireland. I look forward to continuing this work with you and my fellow Members of the Congressional Friends of the Irish National Caucus.’
Fr. McManus concluded: “African-American Members of Congress have an inherent feel for justice, fairness, equality, and peace. I am deeply grateful for Congressman Hastings’ solidarity—for, as St.Pope John Paul has said, peace is the fruit of solidarity.”
Posted by Jim on
An oration delivered to this year’s Ronan MacLochlainn Commemoration
by Mr Francis Mackey,
National Chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement.
The trajectory of Irish history has brought our struggle to a critical
juncture. At times in that history republican actions determined the
course of national events. Today, however, it is outside matters that
are both influencing and dictating the national narrative.
Our contribution to that political narrative must be itself political
but also infused with the true revolutionary spirit of understanding
which tactics to choose and why. The revolutionary tradition in Ireland
is structured upon truly revolutionary events and not blind adherence to
sterile repetition.
In this modern age it is the innovation of our youth which is key to
advancing our struggle. Our ability to convince them to engage with that
struggle will be the measure of our fitness to claim to represent it.
This engagement moves far beyond the superficial lure of symbolism. We
have as much duty to discourage the naive and reject the impatient as we
do to educate the interested and be educated by them in turn.
Sacrifice must never be viewed as an emotive issue. There is no room for
romance in a struggle that demands a clinical diligence. The vigour and
enthusiasm of our youth is a national asset that no political sector on
this island has a right to exploit or squander on misguided and reckless
enterprises.
The focus for Irish republicanism now is to realign around a radical
policy platform which addresses current political realities. The primary
role of Irish youth in such a process is to bring contemporary relevance
to such a policy platform and to be its principle advocate in bringing
this message to their peers.
The spurious hereditary tradition that can afflict Irish Republicanism
is a heresy to the individual thinking mind. The mantle of Irish
Republicanism can only be inherited by those who have ideas to advance
it.
The very essence of the doctrine of republicanism is the necessity of
fresh and relevant ideas that speak to each generation and persuade them
to act in both achieving and advancing a functioning sovereignty for the
Irish people.
What strengthens our conviction in this belief is the sacrifice that
young IRA Volunteer Ronan MacLochlainn made; and when we realise the
magnitude of that sacrifice, we see very clearly the absolute validity
of this strategic approach.
There are many ways in which we can remember and keep alive the vision
which Ronan had for the Irish people. We can build monuments of engraved
stone that can withstand the ravages of rain and time. We can inter his
remains alongside some of the greatest revolutionaries that have made
immense contributions to the struggle for Irish freedom.
Or we can build a monument of ideas, on the firm foundations of Ronan’s
sacrifice, that reaches into the passion and ardour of our youth so as
to reinvigorate the republican struggle and to once and for all get it
over the line.
We make this call to the youth of Ireland; come to us with your ideas,
with your criticisms, with your perceptions and with your alternatives.
You will find in us a willing and openminded audience.
To all in the Republican family we say this: grasp the nettle of the
reality which is staring you in the face. The momentary sting of that
reality will pave into nothing set against a lifetime of regret for not
having done so. We have already done so and now we are in honest
discourse with the people of Ireland.
Beir Bua!
Posted by Jim on
The proliferation of loyalist banners supporting killer British Army
soldiers has been denounced as a hate crime.
A banner in support for ‘Soldier F’, who is currently facing Bloody
Sunday murder charges, has been erected on Main Street, Garvagh. It is
the latest to appear for the benefit of the British Army’s murderous
Parachute Regiment, which was behind two of the worst massacres in the
North of Ireland.
The PNSI police have shown no interest in the banners, the latest of which
was erected across the main street of Garvagh in the County Derry town
overnight on Monday, joining Carrickfergus and Portadown. A number of
Parachute Regiment flags have also been erected in Garvagh and in
locations across the North.
SDLP assembly member, John Dallat has said he believes the erection of
the Garvagh banner was in breach of hate legislation.
“The banner is not a true reflection of the people of Garvagh,” he said.
“This banner is an incitement to hatred. It is everything that the
people of Garvagh do not want as an image of their village.”
The banner has also been condemned by Sinn F閕n councillor Sean Bateson,
who said it was designed to hurt the victims of Bloody Sunday and to
cause community division.
“The banner proclaiming support for a murder suspect is not
appropriate,” he said. “The victims of Bloody Sunday deserve the truth
just as much as any victim of the conflict. This banner should be
removed immediately.”
A similar banner has been erected in Loughgall, County Armagh, where
eight IRA Volunteers were killed in 1987 in an ambush by the British
Army’s SAS. Last week marked the 32nd anniversary of the attack.
The banner, which reads “Loughgall supports our troops”, carries the
logos of the SAS and Parachute Regiment.
A sister of one of the victims has called on the British government to
distance themselves from a banner she claims mocks his death. Mairead
Kelly’s brother Paddy Kelly was one of nine men, including a civilians,
who were killed on the day.
“I think if a different flag went up somewhere else there would be a
loud outcry,” she said. “I think it’s insensitive particularly because
the SAS killed nine people in that area. It shows a total disregard for
the sensitivities of the families. I don’t think anybody should mock or
take delight in the killing of anyone.”
Ms Kelly said “these symbols on this banner are MoD [Ministry of
Defence] symbol The MoD has to distance themselves publicly or take
responsibility and have the banner removed.”
Independent councillor Barry Monteith also said the banner is “very
provocative” and caused distress to relatives of those killed.
“I would support the families in their call to have it removed,” he
said.
TIME FOR TRUTH II
Meanwhile, a second ‘Time for Truth’ march in Belfast will highlight the
continued intransigence of the British state on dealing with the legacy
of the past next month.
A march in February last year saw more than 7,000 people take to the
streets. Victims of the conflict behind the campaign have called for the
2014 Stormont House Agreement legacy mechanisms to be implemented and
adequately resourced.
They have also called for resources for the Lord Chief Justice’s
five-year plan to clear a backlog of legacy inquests and for the Police
Ombudsman’s office to allow it to complete outstanding historical
investigations.
This year’s Time for Truth march will take place on Sunday June 9.
Spokesman Ciar醤 Mac Airt said: “Yet again, the continued intransigence
of the British state and its failure to deal with the legacy of the past
has forced our families to take to the streets to seek our basic human
rights.
“Some of our families have been fighting for nearly half a century for a
proper investigation or inquest into the death of loved ones.”
Posted by Jim on
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.