Posted by Jim on October 27, 2018
A Catholic priest who comforted the bereaved after the Greysteel
massacre 25 years ago has said he believes the revulsion felt after the
savage mass-murder helped move the North of Ireland towards peace.
“It was very true of Greysteel that those who suffered the most were
quickest to forgive, to look for peace,” Fr Stephen Kearney said ahead
of the 25th anniversary.
On October 30, 1993, loyalist gunmen entered the Rising Sun pub in the
quiet, rural village in County Derry during a Halloween party and, with
the words ‘trick or treat’, opened fire. At first, those inside believed
the gunmen were playing a Halloween prank.
The shootings at the Rising Sun Bar claimed the lives of seven people,
and another who died from his injuries six months later. Six of the
deceased were Catholics, while two were Protestant.
The attack was claimed by a group styling itself ‘Ulster Freedom
Fighters’, a cover name for the UDA. The attack was said to have been
in revenge for an IRA attack which targeted a UDA meeting on the
Shankill Road in Belfast days before.
It took place just before 10pm, when three gunmen – Stephen Irwin,
Geoffrey Deeney and Torrens Knight – entered the busy pub. Irwin was
armed with an automatic rifle, Deeney with a pistol, and Knight with a
sawn-off shotgun.
The Czechoslovakian-made VZ-58 assault rifle used by Irwin was one of
several hundred smuggled into the north with the help of UDA member
Brian Nelson, who was working for the British Army’s Force Research
Unit.
Knight was also widely alleged to have been an RUC Special Branch agent
after it emerged he had been paid tens of thousands of pounds from an
unidentified source. Unanswered questions remain about the role of
collusion in the massacre.
Fr Kearney, who is now based in County Tyrone, told the Derry Journal of
his memories of the aftermath of the shooting ahead of the 25th
anniversary this week.
He said his colleague, the late Fr Jack Gallagher, had been the first
person to enter the bar after the carnage.
“The place was lit up with the lights of cars,” he said. “The first
person I saw coming out was Fr Jack Gallagher. I didn’t know how many
were actually dead. We couldn’t have counted them.”
He recalled a “haze of grey dullness” hanging over the village in the
immediate aftermath.
“I remember certain moments,” he said. “One was when I was standing
outside the chapel the next morning. I hadn’t been to my bed until that
morning. I was over for the nine o’clock Mass in the chapel and I saw a
few people standing there.
“They were barely able to speak, in shock. It was a dry, cool autumn
morning. If I could paint the picture I wouldn’t have to describe it –
everybody seemed to be grey, everything seemed to be grey, everyone
seemed to have been wearing grey clothes. Everything was in a haze of
grey dullness.
“One of the people I saw was John Duddy whose wife had been killed.
“I had given her a lift home a few days before and she had arrived at my
door with an apple tart as a reward for leaving her home. She was a
lovely woman. They were there, a middle aged couple out for a drink that
night, as were most of the people there. They were mostly older people.”
Asked how the community reacted to the terrible events that night, Fr
Kearney said: “The people joined into their suffering. In the immediate
aftermath there were some who found it hard to cope, who were saying
things that wouldn’t have been normal for them to say, out of anger or
hopelessness.
“But most were neither hating, nor angry, nor hopeless.”
But he said “there was a strength that came out of the people” when they
felt least strong. “It has been said that the Troubles had its origin in
Derry, but it had the beginning of its end in Derry.”
The dead were Karen Thompson (19), Steven Mullan (20), Moira Duddy (59),
Joseph McDermott (60), James Moore (81), John Moyne (50), John Burns
(54), and Victor Montgomery (76).
Posted by Jim on
Collusion continues to be suspected in the murders of Gerard and Rory
Cairns, who were killed by a UVF murder squad 25 years ago this week.
During the conflict several sectarian attacks were carried out against
the Catholic community in the wider Bleary area. The remains of nine
victims, including the Cairns’ brothers, are interred in the small
graveyard adjacent to nearby St Colman’s Church in Clare.
The mother of Gerard and Rory says she can never forgive their loyalist
killers. Sheila Cairns said she wants to know why her sons were
targeted.
“All I would like to know is why,” she said. “Why were they singled out
and why were they murdered?”
She said that despite the passing of time she will not forgive the
killers. “I don’t care what happens, my sons (are) in the Clare
graveyard at the minute, no, I couldn’t forgive anybody.”
Her son Liam agreed. “I certainly can’t forgive at any cost, it’s
something I could never do,” he said. Liam says he wants to know who
had knowledge of the murders. “I am more interested in how far it goes
up the ladder, where it stops,” he said.
His sister Paula, who abandoned her studies in England after her
brothers were killed, believes they were targeted because of their
Irish culture.
She believes the killers were helped by loyalists in the wider area. “I
would like to know who actually set us up,” she said. “Who would have
singled you out otherwise, there had to be somebody local.”
Notorious serial killer Billy Wright was one of nine loyalists
questioned about the murders. Fellow UVF men Mark Fulton and Robin
Jackson were also arrested and questioned but later released without
charge.
Paula has no doubt there was collision in the murders. “I would like
for it to be admitted that there was collusion, because it was evident
and that sticks in me. It sticks in all of us.”
Forensic evidence and interviews with the suspected killers were all
destroyed after the RUC claimed they were “contaminated with asbestos”
while in storage.
The boys’ father Eamon has little faith in the British justice system
to provide the truth about the murder of his sons.
“If they deny that truth, being honest and open about it, to me that’s
fair enough but leave my country and, above all else, take your
judicial system with you,” he said.
Posted by Jim on
British Direct Ruler Karen Bradley has been accused of subverting
democracy after postponing Stormont elections for up to ten months while
prioritising the interests of unionists during Brexit.
New legislation introduced by Bradley at Westminster includes new
provisions for direct rule of the north of Ireland from London. It will
also postpone any attempt at reviving the political process in the North
well into next year, when Brexit will have taken effect.
It means that the Six Counties will probably be without an assembly for
two-and-a-half years, despite the continuation of salary payments to the
politicians elected to Stormont in March 2017. It also means the next
elections in the North of Ireland will probably be the local government
elections in May.
Bradley’s vague new legislation allows British civil servants to take
decisions which are “in the public interest” of the Six Counties.
Because it stops short of full, explicit Direct Rule, it leaves Stormont
departments open to legal challenges as to the extent of their powers.
The main goal of the legislation appears to be to neutralise
nationalists amid ongoing concessions to the unionist DUP, who still
prop up the minority Tory government at Westminster.
This week, the Guardian newspaper reported the British Direct Ruler as
defending Brexit on the basis that 60% of the North’s unionists voted to
leave the EU — ignoring the fact that the Six Counties rejected Brexit
overall by 56% to 44%.
Bradley is also quoted as warning that much of what the EU have put
forward in regard to the border through Ireland is ‘not acceptable’ to
unionists and the British government.
“This is not the first time Karen Bradley has caused controversy with
her comments on voting intentions in the north but it is the first time
she has made such a public admission of her government’s intention to
prioritise unionism,” Sinn Fein Conor Murphy said.
“In doing so, she is doing a disservice to everyone in this society by
attempting to make Brexit a green and orange issue.
“Karen Bradley is supposed to be a co-equal guarantor of the peace
process who is legally and duty-bound to act with impartiality yet here
she is publicly stating that it is only the votes of unionists that
matter.
“Never mind the fact that the majority across the North as a whole voted
against Brexit. Never mind the fact that nationalists overwhelmingly
opposed it, this British Government is quite prepared to subvert
democracy in order to pursue its reckless agenda.
“Karen Bradley’s government is in a pact with the DUP and has acquiesced
to that party’s refusal to share power on the basis of equality.
“And with these comments, the British secretary of State has clearly
indicated that her government will continue to prioritise unionist votes
over equality and the rights of citizens.”
Posted by Jim on
The British Army were involved in a dawn raid on the national
headquarters of Saoradh in Derry as concerns increase over the
increasing use of British military units in political oppression.
The PSNI police confirmed the 5am operation on Thursday morning in Derry
city centre included a ‘military search’ unit of the British Army. The
raid was followed the next day by separate British Army searches in and
around a farmyard and green areas in the Creggan area.
Saoradh said the recent actions by British Crown forces follows on from
weeks of surveillance operations which have included helicopters,
drones, planes, and undercover members of MI5 and the Special
Reconnaissance Regiment of the British Army.
For its part, the PSNI said it had removed 300 Halloween fireworks from
the Saoradh offices. It claimed that the British Army had been required
to deal with “explosives”, but later admitted that the store-bought
fireworks they found had already been destroyed.
Saoradh said they had confiscated and destroyed the fireworks in
response to community concerns over anti-social activity.
“Having patrolled the area continuously for a number of weeks, Saoradh
activists seized a large quantity of fireworks, something that we have
openly and publicly displayed,” the party said in a statement.
“These fireworks were then taken to Junior McDaid House where they were
dismantled and soaked in water in preparation for other community
representatives to safely dispose of them.”
The raid follows on from others on the homes of local Saoradh activists
where family phones, computers and children’s school work have been
taken seized. The party’s local chairman and vice chairman were also
arrested before being released unconditionally in recent days.
Spokesperson Paddy Gallagher said it was “no coincidence” that the
latest raid came as Saoradh were holding a high-profile launch of a
policy document on Brexit. The party had also been preparing for a
protest to mark the visit of 26 County Taoiseach to the headquarters of
the loyalist marching body, the Apprentice Boys.
He added: “Over the course of the past week British Crown Forces have
directed an onslaught of harassment towards Saoradh activists and this
has culminated in a combined British Army and British Military
Intelligence raid on our party headquarters, despite former Republicans
telling us there is no British Army operating within the Six Counties
anymore.
“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.”
He said British military personnel, British military intelligence and a
Tactical Support Group had been openly operating in the Creggan estate.
“Despite the same old narrative spewed by former republicans and
constitutional nationalists, British soldiers of occupation continue to
remain active within the Six Counties and while they remain we will
continue to oppose them.”
Independent Creggan councillor, Gary Donnelly, said there was anger in
the community at the office raid.
“This reinforces for me the real nature of British policing in Ireland,”
he said. “It’s not community policing. They don’t care about the
community.”
Cllr Donnelly said it was alarming a political party had been targeted
in this manner.
“They were backed up by British soldiers to raid the office of a
political party to score cheap political points. There is anger.”
He pointed out there had been broad support for Saoradh’s seizure of the
fireworks, which, he said, were a scourge in the Creggan area and
elsewhere.
“It was my understanding that they [the PSNI] were told by people who
would support policing about the fireworks problem but that they refused
to act. But when people within the community removed the fireworks,
which are a danger and a menace, then they poured all the resources of
the State into an early morning raid whilst at the same time these
people ignore crime within our community.”
Posted by Jim on
FDNY ANCHOR CLUB
On Sunday, October 28, the FDNY Anchor Club is sponsoring a “Visit to Calvary Hospital” located at 1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY. The visit will start at 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Lunch will follow. The event will resume from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm. The outline for the day includes visiting patients, distributing candy and flowers, and providing some light entertainment. All off-duty members, their families and friends are invited to participate. For additional information, please contact William Greco, Engine 68, at 917-575-1012.
FDNY CSU – SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT GROUP
On Monday, November 19, join the FDNY CSU Special Needs Support Group to hear an important presentation about setting up your assets to best benefit your special needs child and your family. The Special Needs Support Group will be joined by: Matthew B. Levens, Director of Wealth Management at RMR Wealth Builders, Inc.; John McGuiness, VP of the Strategic Benefits Group; and Attorney Cole Schotz, P.C., Steven M. Saraisky. The guests will talk about estate planning and wealth management for your special needs child and your family, along with everything you need to do to secure your child’s future, from setting up wills to special needs trusts, and will answer your questions. The meeting will take place on Randall’s Island in the Auditorium from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. To RSVP, contact Kim Ahearn Young at the CSU at 212-570-1693 x 322 or Kimberly.Young@fdny.nyc.gov or Captain Eugene Kananowicz (aka K9) at ek953@icloud.com.
50TH REUNION OF ALL PROBIE CLASSES OF 1968
New York Retired Firefighters of Orange County Retired Lieutenant Ralph Quaglia and Retired Chief Nick Visconti are planning the 50th reunion of all probie classes of 1968. The event will be held at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on December 3rd and 4th. Cost will be $200 per person based on double occupancy, which includes two nights hotel room and dinner on December 4th. Please contact Ralph at the updated email address rquaglia@hvc.rr.com. Please designate your room partner and include your email address for contact.
MANHATTAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
540 W 53rd Street Apartments (http://www.540w53.com/) is a newly constructed, rent stabilized luxury affordable housing building in historic Hell’s Kitchen. This Affordable Housing Lottery for 102 units includes elegant studio, one, two and three bedroom residences in this 13 story building adjacent to a community garden with rooftop views, nearby cultural institutions, public parks, and with zoning for neighborhood public schools. @TheActorsFund is happy to share this NYC Affordable Housing Lottery opportunity with you and encourages you to apply at https://a806-housingconnect.nyc.gov/nyclottery/lottery.html#current-projects today, before the lottery deadline of December 7, 2018. Please check the guide at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/renters/ready-set-apply.page for assistance.
|