Posted by Jim on May 11, 2019
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)
Posted by Jim on May 4, 2019
A contemporaneous account of the last-ditch efforts to save the life
of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, who died this week 38 years ago.
On 5 May 1981 IRA Volunteer, Hunger Striker and Fermanagh South/Tyrone
MP Bobby Sands died in the H-Block prison hospital at Long Kesh. He had
endured 65 days without food, and had spent his last two days in a coma.
Sands’ emaciated body, lying in state at his home in Belfast’s Twinbrook
estate, told the story of the torment and suffering which he had
endured.
Sands’ condition had deteriorated steadily until he finally fell into a
coma the previous Sunday morning from which he never regained
consciousness. Lying in another cell in the prison hospital, South Derry
Hunger Striker, Francis Hughes was reported to be periodically slipping
into unconsciousness also. And there was increasing fear that he too was
close to death.
In the weeks and days before Bobby Sands died there were two major
attempts to unconditionally end the Hunger Strike. The first was an
intervention by the European Commission on Human Rights. This was
supported by the Dublin Government and the SDLP as a way to alleviate
nationalist pressure on them to take Britain to task by supporting the
prisoners demands. The second was the visit to Sands from the Pope’s
Private Secretary Fr John Magee. Both interventions ended in failure
following re-affirmations to their relatives by Bobby Sands, Francis
Hughes, Raymond McCressh and Patsy O’Hara that they would not settle for
less than the Five Demands.
For over a week before his death Bobby Sands had been in a critical
condition with death a possibility at any moment. Several times he had
reported that he had felt himself slipping into unconsciousness but
managed to pull himslef back.
His skin had become so thin that he was placed on a water bed to prevent
his bones breaking through and a week before he died, he was so weak
that his conversation with the Pope’s envoy, left him totally exhausted.
By Thursday he had lost all feeling in his mouth and gums and was having
great difficulty talking. He was also suffering great pain and medical
staff indicated that he was on the point of death.
Of all the interventions in the Hunger Strike, possibly the most
despicable came from British Labour Party opposition spokesperson on the
North Don Concannon who, on Friday, 1 May arrived in Ireland and went to
the H-Block prison hospital where he told a dying Bobby Sands that he
and his party did not support the huinger strikers’ demands.
Concannon’s ghoulish visit- to tell a dying man that he did not support
him- caused consternation among elements of the British Labour party, 28
of whose MPs had signed a parliamentary motion calling on the British
Government to negotiate with the prisoners.
By Saturday, Sands had lost his eyesight completely and had no feeling
in one side of his face, and then in the early hours of Sunday morning
even his powerful determination could no longer keep him conscious and
he slipped into a coma.
From this point on Sands’ death could have come at any moment and his
family remained constantly at his bedside. His breathing became more
laboured as his body struggled to stay alive but finally at 1.17am on
Tuesday, 5 May, Bobby Sands died.
However prepared people may have thought they were for Sands’s death,
the news came as a profound shock to the Irish nation, outraging people
North and South. It also caused a huge international reaction.
On the streets of the Six Counties crowds gathered and prayed while
others built barricades or fought fierce running battles with the
British army and RUC.
Thousands of people in the 26 counties reacted immediately to the news
with widespread marches and vigils. Dublin’s O’Connell Street was
brought to a standstill as hundreds gathered in silent vigil throughout
the morning.
The body of Bobby Sands was brought to his Twinbrook home in Belfast on
Tuesday evening where a steady stream of thousands of mourners filed
past his open coffin which was alternatively flanked by guards of honour
from Óglaigh na hÉireann, Na Fianna Éireann and Cumann na mBan.
On Wednesday Sands’ remains, flanked by an IRA Guard of Honour, made the
short journey to St Luke’s chapel.
At around 2pm the following day, Thursday, the funeral set out for the
four-mile journey to the cemetery. Men, women and youths wept as the
cortege passed by. A piper played the tune of the H-Block song the words
of which are:
“I’ll wear no convict’s uniform,
‘Nor meekly serve my time,
That Britain might call Ireland’s fight
Eight hundred years of crime.”
The funeral stopped close to the Busy Bee shopping centre and Sands’
coffin was removed from the hearse and placed on tressels.
Then, from among the crowd of people emerged three IRA Volunteers who
fired three volleys from rifles over the coffin.
Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams officiated at the graveside ceremony which began
with the playing of the Last Post. The Tricolour was removed from the
coffin, and along with a beret and gloves was presented to Sands’
mother.
The coffin was finally carried to the grave by the IRA Guard of Honour.
In poignant scenes Bobby Sands’ seven-year-old son Gerald helped to
spade the soil that buried his father.
The funeral oration was delivered by Fermanagh republican Owen carron,
who had been Bobby Sands’ election agent. During the course of the
oration he said: “They tried to compromise Bobby Sands, they tried to
compromise his supporters, but they failed. Around the world Bobby Sands
has humiliated the British Government. In Bobby Sands’ death they have
sown the seeds of their own destruction.”
It was later estimated that over 100,000 people attended what was the
biggest IRA funeral since that of hunger-striker Terence McSwiney in
1920.