Posted by Jim on September 10, 2018
Ballymurphy Massacre update
The high praise for the new documentary on the terrible British Army massacre of innocent, unarmed civilians has been greatly welcomed on Capitol Hill.
Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus, introduced the Ballymurphy Massacre Committee to Members the US Congress in 2010 and arranged for them to testify before Congress on March 16, 2011.
Fr. Mc Manus explained:”On August 9, 1971, the British Government introduced Internment (imprisonment without charge or trial for, in effect, Catholics in Northern Ireland). That abhorrent—but all too common Northern Ireland policy— was brutally implemented by the British Army. Over the next three days, the marauding storm troopers, including the murderous Parachute Regiment, slaughtered eleven Irish Catholics, including a Catholic priest, in the Ballymurphy area of West Belfast.
The Massacre left 46 children without a parent. The Massacre was condoned and covered up— giving the murderous Parachute Regiment license to massacre another 13 innocent, unarmed civilians at a Civil Rights March in Derry on Bloody Sunday, January 30, 1972.”
Fr. McManus continued:” I was deeply impressed and inspired by the extraordinary dedication of the Ballymurphy Massacre Committee. These ordinary working -class men and women, without funding or any great resources, kept at it—relentlessly, doggedly, fearlessly. They brought their message to the U.S. Congress, and now, this documentary will vindicate their struggle before the whole world. I am proud to have helped them in their struggle. Indeed, I was happy to delay the 2011 Ireland publication of my Memoirs: My Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland in order to include the attached photo of Alice Harper, Briege Voyle, John Teggart and me.This photo is also in all later American editions of my Memoirs.”
Fr. McManus concluded:”The Ballymurphy Massacre Committee is a perfect example of the indomitable Irish spirit that British injustice can never vanquish. I am delighted this documentary film acknowledges and vindicates their long, relentless and inspiring story. God bless them, and God rest their massacred loved ones.”
Praise for film shining light on Ballymurphy massacre
Allison Morris. Irish News. Belfast. Monday, September 10, 2018
There has been huge online reaction to the network premiere of Massacre at Ballymurphy, the hard-hitting documentary by award-winning film-maker Callum Macrea which screened on Channel 4 at the weekend.
The film, which was previously premiered at Féile an Phobail, was shown on Saturday, with a reconstruction and forensic examination of the events which started on August 9, 1971.
The documentary contains personal stories from relatives of the 10 people shot dead in west Belfast by members of the parachute regiment over three days of horrific violence.
Paddy McCarthy, considered the 11th victim, died of a heart attack after British soldiers fired shots over his head.
Among the dead were mother-of-eight Joan Connolly and Fr Hugh Mullan, who was shot dead going to the rescue of another victim.
The film details a shocking re-enactment of the circumstances of Daniel Teggart’s death.
He was shot 14 times, and most of the bullets entered his back as he lay injured on the ground.
Following the programme Unionist Irish language activist Linda Ervine posted on Twitter: “Before watching #MassacreAtBallymurphy I had no knowledge of what took place all those years ago. A terrible wrong has been done”.
Another documentary maker, Seán Murray, said he hoped the screening of the film by Channel 4 “awakens the British public to the actions of their government during the conflict. Well done to my friend Callum Macrae and all involved”.
Journalist and broadcaster Eamonn Holmes tweeted in support of Mr Macrea, saying: “Regardless of your political persuasion or views on the Northern Irish Troubles, I would urge you to both hear what this man has to say and watch his film if you can. The year is 1971. The subject is the killing of civilians by the Parachute Regiment in Ballymurphy West Belfast.”
Ian Katz, director of programmes at Channel 4, said: “Ashamed to say I knew nothing about the Ballymurphy massacre – the 1971 killing of 11 men and women by the British army in Belfast – till I saw Callum Macrae’s meticulous and shocking reconstruction of it.”
Scottish political activist Tommy Sheridan said it was “absolutely shocking”.
“I am ashamed that despite my limited knowledge of British army atrocities in Northern Ireland I didn’t know about these state murders in Ballymurphy,” he said.
“No wonder the British Establishment have hidden such massacres from the general public for 47 years.”
Former soldier Glenn Bradley said he had “met the Ballymurphy families some years ago and have supported their call for truth since”.
“I watched Massacre At Ballymurphy and my lasting thought is how docile and compliant were the media then”.
Belfast boxer Michael Conlan said: “Watching Ballymurphy Massacre and listening to what families have gone through and still going through, my eyes are filling up, very sad stories to poor innocent families”.
Former Antrim football captain Anto Finnegan said: “This is not rewriting history, this is shining a light into that dark place those in power want to keep hidden.”
Posted by Jim on September 8, 2018
After admitting to a parliamentary magazine that she hadn’t understood
how the North of Ireland is divided politically, British Direct Ruler
Karen Bradley has introduced legislation at Westminster to halt Six
County Assembly elections until 2019.
A judicial review before the High Court in Belfast this week could have
ordered Bradley to hold an Assembly election, which has been due since
April 2017. The new law legislation will now mean there is no
requirement for a Stormont vote until at least April 2019.
Her announcement on Thursday also brought the Six Counties a step
further towards full Direct Rule from London, with civil servants given
greater powers to make decisions. She also suggested the possibility of
an “external facilitation” for talks — an independent chair — and
introduced a measure which threatens to cut the salaries of Assembly
members from November.
The Stormont assembly has not sat since January 2017 when it collapsed
over allegations of corruption. However, assembly members have continued
to receive their annual salary of #49,500. The political deadlock has
left the Six Counties entirely in the hands of civil servants.
Introducing the new legislation, Bradley avoided declaring a return to
full Direct Rule or the abandonment of the democratic process at
Stormont.
“This will provide a further opportunity to re-establish political
dialogue with the aim of restoring the executive as soon as possible,”
she said.
Tony Lloyd, Labour’s spokesman on the north of Ireland, condemned what
he said was “governance by judicial review”, referring to the legal
dilemma which is understood to have provoked Bradley’s action. A judicial
review is currently before the courts on behalf of victims of historical
institutional abuse who had been promised financial compensation. One
argument the victims’ lawyers are using is that the British government’s
refusal to call a fresh assembly election is unreasonable.
Sinn Fein Deputy Leader Michelle O’Neill said Bradley had only acted
because of the imminent prospect of the courts ordering her to do so.
She said it was a “retrograde step”.
“Any attempt to move away from the Good Friday Agreement or towards
Direct Rule will fail,” she said.
“Clearly, the British government’s reliance on the DUP remains a central
problem and if any process around restoring the institutions is to be
credible, Karen Bradley must begin prioritising the rights of citizens
over Tory Party self-interest.”
She said that in the absence of rights-based institutions, the British
Irish Intergovernmental Conference is “the proper forum to ensure the
full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, to resolve the issue
of rights and to address the oversight of the political process.”
‘NO UNDERSTANDING’
Separately Ms Bradley, from Staffordshire in northwest England, revealed
that she had no understanding of the North of Ireland when she was
appointed to her role in January.
“I freely admit that when I started this job, I didn’t understand some
of the deep-seated and deep-rooted issues that there are in Northern
Ireland,” she told the Westminster parliament’s ‘House’ magazine.
Mrs Bradley, who ironically has the sole power to call a border poll on
Irish reunification under legislation dating from the 1998 Good Friday
Agreement, said: “I didn’t understand things like when elections are
fought for example in Northern Ireland — people who are nationalists
don’t vote for unionist parties and vice-versa. So, the parties fight
for the election within their own community… That’s a very different
world from the world I came from.”
She added: “That is so incredibly different and it’s when you realise
that, and you see that, that you can then start to understand some of
the things that the politicians say and some of the rhetoric.”
The comments have drawn cynicism and derision. Sinn Fein said they were
a reminder of where the North comes in the British government’s
priorities, but Downing Street insisted that the prime minister, Theresa
May, retains confidence in Ms Bradley.
Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said Ms Bradley
had “really made an effort to understand Northern Ireland” since taking
the role.
“She didn’t have a lot of experience of Northern Ireland before being
appointed there, but she’s an experienced, very smart politician,” he
said.
Sinn Fein’s former Stormont finance minister Mairtin O Muilleoir said he
had gone “beyond being shocked by the British government’s ignorance of
affairs” in the North. “When it comes to appointing their representative
in Belfast, the only requirement was that that person would take the
orders of Theresa May, who of course is taking her orders from the DUP.”
Posted by Jim on September 7, 2018
FDNY Gaelic Football Club. Come out and support a great cause. Friday, September 7, 2018 at 7 pm at Gaelic Park.
4000 Corlear Avenue, Bronx, NY (West 240 Street & Broadway). Entertainment by the Narrowbacks). All money raised by the FDNY will be donated to the family of former teammate Terence Lorino, Ladder 51. Terence lost his battle with cancer leaving behind his beloved wife Jackie and his children Nolan (1) and Charlotte (9). Please contact: FF Tommy Enright, Ladder 117 at 347-996-2830; FF Andrew Donoghue, Ladder 36 at 917-923-4178; or FF Kevin Donovan, Squad 61 at 845-987-2837. Tickets may also be purchased atFDNYGAELICFOOTBALL.COM. $10 in advance. $15 at the gate.
Posted by Jim on September 6, 2018
9/11 MEMORIAL CONCERT
The Schiller Institute NYC Chorus will perform a Memorial Concert at St. Anthony’s of Padua, 154 Sullivan St., NY, NY, on September 11, 2018, at 7 pm. The Chorus and Soloists will memorialize with Beethoven, Brahms, and the Spirituals — those who died, those who survived, and those who continue to lose their lives as an effect of 9/11. For more information, please visit www.sinycchorus.com or http://bit.ly/911concert. The Schiller Institute NYC Chorus is honored to extend complimentary tickets to Firefighters and their immediate family members for this event. If interested, please email recordingsecretary@ufanyc.org with your name and number of family members attending so that seats may be reserved for you at the front of the church for the concert.
JOLLY 51 CREW FUNDRAISER
The Jolly 51 Crew Fundraiser will be held Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at The Boardy Barn, 270 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY. A $40 donation includes hot dogs and burgers. There will be a cash bar, and Chris Raguso’s father’s band, The Meade Brothers Band, will perform. There will be 50/50 raffles and t-shirts available. All proceeds will go to the families of the Jolly 51 Crew. Donations can be made at www.fdnyfoundation.org. Please email Tim Stevens at tstevens0767@gmail.com or Frank Thomas at fft17@yahoo.com with any questions.
JACK FANNING MEMORIAL FOUNDATION DINNER DANCE
On Friday, October 26, 2018, the Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation: “Angels for Autism” will hold their 15th Annual Dinner-Dance at the North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, New York. The Foundation honors Battalion Chief Jack Fanning’s memory through their commitment to assisting organizations who work with children and adults with autism to live productive lives to the best of their individual ability. For additional information, a Dinner-Dance Sponsor donation form (deadline for submission is Monday, October 1), or if you would like to attend the Dinner-Dance, please contact Eileen Vogel at 516-489-8773 or jffangels@gmail.com.
LET US DO GOOD FUNDRAISER
On Saturday, September 8, 2018, from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, the Genovese Family will be hosting their 2nd annual BBQ fundraiser in honor of the memory of their son and brother Matthew Genovese at The Redwood Club, 2680 Schurz Ave, Bronx, NY 10465. All proceeds will go to a memorial fund in Matt’s name to support the work of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers (T2T) Foundation. For a donation of $25, guests will be able to partake in a BBQ with one ticket for a complimentary beer or wine. Kids 12 and under are free. In addition to accepting donations, there will be an array of raffled gift baskets, prizes, a 50/50 raffle, music and entertainment. If you are unable to attend the fundraiser, you can show your support by making a donation online at https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/matts-grand-old-pacers. To inquire about cash or check donations, please email MattGT2T@gmail.com.
Posted by Jim on September 5, 2018
The Voice of the Irish in America
FREEDOM for ALL IRELAND BULLETIN
August 2018
A chairde:
FFAI ISSUES UPDATE
A-Retaliatory arrests of NO STONE UNTURNED filmmakers-Trevor Birney, and Barry McCaffrey, whose thrilling documentary film exposed collusion and cover-up in the Loughinisland murders, were arrested in retaliation. Just before the 1994 ceasefire, patrons watching Ireland play Italy in World Cup soccer were marked for death. Six were murdered and others wounded. Items containing DNA, including the getaway car, weapons, and clothing were recovered. A gunman’s wife posted a letter and made an anonymous call to the constabulary naming the murderers. Her voice gave away her identity, since she worked for the RUC. The film title, NO STONE UNTURNED, quoted an RUC member who pledged no stone would be unturned in the search for loyalist killers. It became a term of scorn for families who saw no killers charged, despite massive evidence, because the loyalist criminals were protected as British agents. The families turned to investigative journalists and ombudsman Michael Maguire. The filmmakers found and filmed one of the killers. The AOH FFAI noted “these arrests say it is ‘NO STONE UNTURNED’ when it comes to going after journalists who reveal truths the crown wants kept hidden.” Families also turned to filmmakers about the Ballymurphy Massacre and collusion killings. These arrests send a chilling message that the crown will go after press and filmmakers who embarrass them. The two men were released but documents were seized and the threat of prosecution hangs over them. The pretext for the arrests seems to be that they “stole” items which they explain in the film were sent to them anonymously. The action came weeks after Constabulary Chief
George Hamilton was welcomed to the West Belfast Feile. As Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin comes to Washington, on September 12-14,lawyer Niall Murphy wants the AOH to brief Congressmen to raise this issue.
B- British trash investigations on Ballymurphy Inquest eve-With the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquest set to begin on September 10th, past and current British commanders began rubbishing any legacy investigations of British crown or collusion killings as a “witch-hunt”, “macabre charade” or” legacy scandal”. They are timed to discredit the Ballymurphy families who have waited 47 years for truth and justice. After the first Internment raids, Paratroopers barracked in Ballymurphy came out and opened fire without warning. A Catholic priest, waving a white handkerchief, Fr. Hugh Mullan, nineteen year old Francis Quinn, mother of 8 children, Joan Connolly, were shot dead going to wounded victims. Daniel Teggart, felled by a bullet to the leg, was shot a total of 14 times. Noel Philips was shot dead that first night. Joseph Murphy was wounded, taken into custody and shot a second time inside the barracks before his death. Edward Doherty, John Laverty, Joseph Corr and John McKerr were murdered over the next two days. An eleventh murder victim, Paddy McCarthy, died of a heart attack, when troopers placed an empty gun inside his mouth in mock execution. British Royal Military Police whitewashed troopers making the dead guilty. With the Inquest set to begin September 10th, British Army Commander Nick Carter proclaimed that British Troops in the north had done a “remarkable job”, were “chased by people making vexatious claims” but “that will not happen on his watch.”Former British commander Bramhall wrote that the Britain “must by whatever means put a stop to this “macabre charade.” Colonel Tim Collins, wrote in the first in a series of “STOP THE LEGACY SCANDAL” essays in the BELFAST NEWSLETTER that almost all British crown forces “shootings were within their legal duty.” Why are British Army commanders so worried about the verdicts and findings of their own British courts and judges?
C-DUP will not budge on Irish language act says Foster-Almost 600 days after the collapse of power-sharing, former First Minister Arlene Foster said her DUP party would never accept an Irish language act, which was “non-negotiable”. Foster and the DUP also staged a “Sinn Fein end the boycott” protest in front of Stormont, demanding that nationalists return, while talks on outstanding issues take place. It is unclear how any talks could progress, if main issues are “non-negotiable”. Ironically Foster’s red-lining of an Irish language act follows Sinn Fein removing its redline over Foster as First Minister. The late Martin McGuinness resigned on January 9,2017 over Foster’s refusal to stand aside while her Renewable Heat Initiative(RHI) “money to burn” scandal was under investigation. Foster blames approval of a 500 million pound plan paying a profit to burn fuel, on her advisors. This scandal is under an ongoing public inquiry. In February 2017,Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein said power-sharing with the DUP had been ten years of “deliberate provocation, arrogance and disrespect.” Talks earlier this year ended in a Valentine’s Day breakup after the DUP reneged on a deal for an Irish language act coupled with Ulster Scots and an overriding Respecting Languages Bill.
D- Unionist fury at Limerick Hurlers’ song-Unionists were outraged that Limerick hurlers sang Sean South of Garryowen at Croke Park, while celebrating their All-Ireland victory. They did not watch the match or post-match singing live. Apparently video of the spontaneous celebration was distributed online by Unionist groups, to get complaints. The song, by the Wolfe Tones about the 1957 IRA attack on Brookborough Barracks, includes the lyrics “And the leader was a Limerick man- Sean South of Garryowen”. The incident came weeks after outrage at the Wolfe Tones singing Celtic Symphony at the West Belfast Feile or Festival. Unionists feel entitled to parade and play Orange songs a everywhere in the six counties then dictate that Republican songs not be sung anywhere in Ireland.
FFAI NATIONAL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
In order to do the work of being “the voice of the Irish in America” on FFAI across the country, our national leaders have directed formation of a National FFAI Committee. This committee is tasked with being the major information resource for members and Divisions on FFAI issues. The initial appointments by our National President and officers were made in early August, however since then, I received several other requests and recommendations and we are looking to expand the National Committee in the near future. The initial appointments are:
1-Past National President and Former FFAI Chair Brendan Moore, for overall experience and guidance;
2-Jim McLaughlin- of Virginia whose location allows him to assist anytime we go to Washington, as well as coordinate in the south.
3-Gerry McHale-Philadelphia is a current state FFAI Chair in the key FFAI state of Pennsylvania;
4-Sean O’Dowd in Chicago will be working throughout the Midwest.
5-Malachy McAllister-in New Jersey and overall help with political, publicity and fundraising initiatives.
BALLYMUPHY MASSACRE CALL TO ACTION
The voice of the Irish in America must be heard in support of the Ballymurphy Massacre families and their fight for justice. National Vice-President Danny O’Connell and Secretary Jere Cole will be in Belfast to meet the families and to show AOH support. Carmel Quinn, whose brother John Laverty was murdered by British Paratroops is coming to us to give the AOH an up to the minute report on the inquest. This tour has been expanded to take in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and other locations. We also want show the British that American Congressmen and Senators are watching. During the Ballymurphy Massacre Tour we will be circulating a draft sign -on letter for Congressmen expressing concerns of their constituents and notifying the British they will monitor the evidence and verdict.
REMEMBERING IRISH PATRIOTS WITH PRIDE
Ruan O’Donnell, of Limerick University will give the Hibernian Lecture at Notre Dame: “America and the Irish Revolution 1916-22” on September 21st at 4:30 pm at McKenna Hall. Professor O’Donnell says that our work for FFAI is part of a long history and without America no part of Ireland would be free! It is open to everyone.
James McGlashin will speak at the Robert Emmet Statue, 1700 24th street NW Washington DC on September 30th at 11:30am.
Please contact me at MGALVINESQ@AOL.COM.
Martin Galvin