Posted by Jim on June 23, 2018
A judge in the non-jury trial of a prominent republican has admitted
the prosecution was based entirely on allegations extracted by police
threats and ordered him to be released, more than five and a half years
after he was initially charged.
Damian ‘DD’ McLaughlin was accused of moving a car which Gardai police
said was later used in an attack in which Maghaberry prison warder,
David Black, was killed outside Belfast.
The prosecution case against Mr McLaughlin rested solely on the
evidence of a Leitrim man, Stephen Brady, who was interrogated in a
coercive manner by gardai, according to the judge at Belfast Crown
Court.
The Diplock (non-jury) judge, Justice Adrian Colton, said that Gardai
in Dublin were guilty of ‘aggressive, oppressive, hectoring and
bullying’ when forcing Mr Brady to falsely identify Mr McLaughlin.
Recordings of the interviews, seen by the judge, were laced with illegal
attempts to extract false allegations. The judge said the interviews
were conducted in such a way as to “undermine the right to silence”. He
concluded that as the case was solely dependent on tainted evidence, “no
court could convict” Mr McLaughlin.
In an effort at damage limitation, prosecutors asked for a further 48
hours to consider an appeal before formally abandoning the case on
Thursday.
A statement from Mr McLaughlin’s lawyer, Peter Corrigan, said that he
had always vehemently denied the charges.
“The evidence obtained by the Gardai was significantly and fundamentally
flawed from the outset, and should never have been relied upon, nor
should Mr McLaughlin have been charged with these offences,” he said.
He added: “The techniques used by the gardai in extracting the
information from the suspect can only be described as oppressive and
inhuman. We plan to immediately proceed to make a complaint to the Garda
Ombudsman for allowing such practices to occur. If the gardai abided by
their own practice, our client would never have been before the courts.”
The saga of his prosecution saw Mr McLaughlin being returned to jail in
2012 after a previous incarceration, before he was bailed on draconian
conditions. Rearrested in Donegal after violating his bail conditions,
he was then extradited back North, despite a Dublin Court hearing that
the Maghaberry regime would violate his rights as laid out in the
European Convention on Human Rights. Remanded at the jail, he was
subjected to two strip searches a day by the prison’s riot squad.
Dee Fennell of Saoradh said the case should have far-reaching
consequences. “What has been exposed in the course of this case is the
corrupt nature of pursued prosecutions against Republicans,” he said.
“What is now apparent, ironically confirmed by a British Diplock Judge
of all people, is that DD McLaughlin was in jail because of a corrupt
Garda culture that acts unchecked and with no balances.
“It is totally unaccountable, supported by draconian legislation and
courts that have also been similarly deemed by organisations including
the United Nations and Amnesty International to be incompatible with
international law practices that commit to ensuring a fair trial.”
“This corruption is not only enabled by the Leinster House
establishment, it is encouraged by the political descendants of the Broy
Harriers and Blueshirts.”
The case has added to pressure for the abolition of the Special Criminal
Courts. On Wednesday night, a packed public meeting, in the Teachers
Club in Dublin, heard strong calls to abolish the courts, a campaign
that is being supported by a range of councillors, TDs, community
activists and trade unionists.
Mr Fennell said that scores of republicans “of various affiliations and
none” had been wrongly incarcerated by the courts and hit out at their
claim to prevent jury intimidation.
“Consistent reports, including from aforementioned human rights
organisations, can find no evidence of jury intimidation prior to the
SCC being initiated,” he said.
“When the SCC hears evidence, as in the case of an ongoing trial
involving male and female Republicans from Belfast and Dublin, even when
the sitting judges rule that evidence was gathered illegally, they
paradoxically rule this evidence admissible.
“‘Belief’ evidence is permitted, with a Garda above a certain rank
allowed identify someone they believe to be in the IRA. This evidence is
admissible and has been ruled as such even when the Garda has admitted
they had no knowledge of the defendant until after their arrest. This
alone is deemed enough evidence by the State to pass the prosecutorial
threshold.
“And of course, all this occurs after an arrested individual has their
right to silence when under questioning removed, with this also adjudged
by the 26 County administration to be supposed evidence of guilt.”
Mr Fennell warned there had been a “not too subtle” invitation from
Justice Colton to the 26 County administration to seek Mr McLaughlin’s
reverse extradition, because the Special Criminal Court in Dublin would
view the “evidence” more favourably.
“It should encourage human rights organisations, many of whom are quick
to highlight the repressive State apparatus being utilised by other
regimes, to initiate reports on the use of draconian legislation to
target political activists here at home. They should no longer be
allowed to continue their dereliction of duty in this regard.”
Posted by Jim on June 22, 2018
RADIO FREE EIREANN will broadcast this Saturday June 23rd on WBAI Radio 99.5FM or WBAI.ORG at 12 noon-1pm New York time or 5pm-6pm in Ireland or anytime after the program on WBAI.ORG – Archives
As we near July 4th celebrations of America’s Declaration of Independence, we will ask Dr. RUAN O’DONNELL, historian,Senior Lecturer at Limerick University and author of books on Patrick Pearse and Robert Emmet, about Ireland’s Declaration of Independence from Britain,and why as we near the 100th anniversary of Ireland’s Declaration of Independence there seem to be mixed emotions about celebrating.
TONY O’HARA ,a former Blanketman in the Long Kesh will talk about being blocked by the Gaelic Athletic Association from holding an event honoring his brother PATSY O’HARA one of the 1981 Hunger Strike Martyrs.
We will have a final preview of a special live WBAI performance co-starring RFE’s own JOHN MCDONAGH with MALACHY MCCOURT.
John McDonagh and Martin Galvin co-host.
Posted by Jim on
June 19, 2018 By Irish Echo Staff
By Irish Echo Staff
Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in County Tyrone have honored New York State and Suffolk County AOH for the existence and preservation of the Thomas Clarke/Kathleen Daly Clarke memorial in Manorville, Long Island.
The honors were bestowed at a special ceremony in Clarke’s hometown of Dungannon.
Tyrone AOH County President Gerry McGeough presented plaques to New York State Secretary John Manning, and Freedom for all Ireland Chairman Martin Galvin in an event co-hosted by the Thomas Clarke Gaelic Football Club at O’Neill Park.
The visiting New Yorkers, on behalf of AOH NY State President Victor Vogel, presented a signed copy of the 1918 Irish Freedom Mandate measure passed by the New York State legislature,
Said Gerry McGeough during the ceremony: “Tyrone AOH is fully aware and deeply appreciative of the work done across the United States and particularly in New York State by the AOH, most recently the 1918 Irish Freedom Mandate.
“We do not often get the chance to thank you directly. Tyrone is especially proud that Thomas Clarke was a Tyrone man and a Dungannon man.
“We learned of the beautiful memorial that New York State AOH and Suffolk County have erected at his American home site. We wanted to give special recognition to you and are grateful to your State President Victor Vogel, and to you for coming and accepting these awards.
“County Tyrone AOH continues to grow, helped by groups like the Thomas Clarke Gaelic Football Club, here with us today, and the efforts of the AOH in America.”
New York AOH State Secretary John Manning said in reply: “On behalf of the New York State Ancient Order of Hibernians and representing our state president, Vic Vogel, we are deeply grateful to County Tyrone AOH and the Thomas Clarke Gaelic Football Club for honoring us with these presentations.
“As an organization that cherishes Irish history and is deeply committed to freedom for all Ireland, we take pride that in addition to being a Tyrone man and a Dungannon man, the great patriot Thomas Clarke was also an American citizen, who lived in Brooklyn and Manorville in Suffolk County New York before returning to Ireland and beginning the work of organizing and leading the Easter Rising of 1916.
“The memorial to him at his home site in Suffolk County, and the many commemorations we hold across the state and across America, reflect our continuing commitment to see Thomas Clarke’s county and all of the six counties get the national freedom and sovereignty he and the other Easter Week leaders proclaimed and pledged in 1916.
“These awards will be carried back and displayed in a special place of honor in our AOH halls and be a sign of further cooperation between us. Our state president, Victor Vogel, has asked me to convey a message that he hopes to visit you soon.”
Martin Galvin, New York State Freedom for all Ireland chairman, presented a copy of the New York State legislature’s measure honoring the centenary of Ireland’s 1918 Mandate for Freedom to Michael Corrigan, chairman of the Thomas Clarke GFC, who hosted the ceremony.
Galvin said: “It is very special for us as New York Hibernians to receive recognition in Ireland. One of the main objectives of the AOH in America is to promote freedom for all Ireland. This year we will mark the centenary of the all-Ireland vote where the Irish people voted an overwhelming mandate for freedom for a thirty-two county all-Ireland parliament, or Dáil Eireann, and for the 1916 Rising.
“Tragically Britain answered this democratic vote for freedom with military oppression, sectarianism and partition, and the price paid here in Tyrone and across the six counties. It never again permitted one all-Ireland vote.
“New York State AOH wishes to present you with a copy of the Irish Freedom Mandate Resolution, bearing the seal of the New York State Senate and Assembly, as a token of our continuing commitment and efforts throughout the year to support your right to freedom for all of Ireland.”
Michael Corrigan accepted the mandate and announced that it would be permanently displayed in the Museum Room of the stadium alongside a framed handwritten letter written by Thomas Clarke while in prison, along with other historical items.
Other dignitaries at the gathering included Dungannon Historian Bertie Foley, GAA official Art McCrory, Ladies AOH officers Michelle Robbins and Catherine Sewell, and Sperrin mountains environmental campaign activist Martin Tracey.
Following the ceremony, Martin Galvin attended a meeting hosted by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice at its Dungannon office.
Representatives of a number of victims’ families attended.
Mr. Thompson and the families briefed Mr. Galvin on the newly published legacy consultation document made public by the British government.
According to a release, “family after family talked about the delays, stonewalling and deceit which they have suffered over decades in trying to get justice.
“These tactics have made these victims deeply worried over what will emerge from new legacy structures. They were also deeply encouraged by the congressional initiative and new awakening stemming from the Mark Thompson’s emergency tour hosted by the New York State AOH earlier this year.”
Posted by Jim on
Brian Feeney relentlessly reminds us that the DUP has never accepted the Good Friday Agreement (GFA). This is even hard for someone like me to fully accept, but there is no escaping of it. Feeney, uncomfortably, makes us face it in this article below: ‘The DUP has never accepted the GFA. Instead of agreeing to accommodation offered by Sinn Féin they retreated to wallowing in flags, glorifying [Protestant] murder gangs, provocative Orange marches, denigrating Irish, opposing modernizing legislation, commemorating annually sedition, treason, armed insurrection against their British government and at the same time deploring and condemning anyone engaged in the same activity against the Northern administration.’”—Fr. Sean McManus.
Brian Feeney. Irish News. Belfast. Wednesday, June 20, 2018
THE outgoing President of the Methodist Church here, the Rev Dr Laurence Graham, addressed the Sinn Féin ard fheis at the weekend on the matter of reconciliation.
For some years now, since the Rev David Latimer of First Derry Presbyterian Church spoke in 2011, Sinn Féin have endeavoured to include a Protestant or unionist speaker at ard fheisanna. It’s part of the party’s ‘outreach’ strategy.
Dr Graham reminded delegates that reconciliation is not a project but “a process which never ends”.
Of course, they knew that, but the evidence is that as far as political Unionism is concerned, it’s a blind alley.
Reconciliation has several meanings, the two main ones being restoring friendly relations and making one view, belief or position compatible with another.
You can see that’s never going to happen here. First there never were any relations between Sinn Féin and political unionism, friendly or otherwise, and secondly the views and beliefs of the two are inherently incompatible.
The fundamental mistake Sinn Féin is making is allowing religious concepts and definitions to be confused with politics.
Once you start banging on about reconciliation in the north you immediately enter favourite unionist religious territory of repentance and apology.
In a nutshell, for many DUP people you can’t have reconciliation until you repent of what they, in their insufferable self-righteousness, see as your sins – religious drivel that has nothing to do with politics.
However, before he got onto religious aspects – not, mind you, those of the DUP ‘exclusive brethren’ variety – Dr Graham did suggest one useful element which is essential for successful politics.
He recommended sitting down and having a chat over coffee with someone of different views.
“Get to know the person,” he advised. That, unfortunately, is something DUP politicians refuse to do.
Their behaviour at Stormont (and councils) was/is appalling. They refuse to enter lifts with Sinn Féin people, or in many cases even pass the time of day.
Ironically the only person who developed close personal relations was the most egregious bigot, Paisley.
You won’t remember this, but 25 years ago or so when a trip to South Africa was organised in the futile belief it would broaden the minds of unionists they refused to go into the same room as Sinn Féin even to hear an address by Nelson Mandela, a man who had something to teach about political reconciliation.
So when Mary Lou McDonald says, “People suffered, were hurt, endured pain, inflicted pain. We can’t make that go away but we can say sorry to each other – I believe it’s important that we do”, her voice travels into a void.
There’s no echo from political unionism, no reply, no reciprocation, zero.
No unionist politician has ever apologised for the stinking political slum their forefathers jerry-built here or the way they, with their political police and armed militia, treated northern Nationalists[Catholics].
On the contrary, after the rotten structure collapsed in catastrophe in 1972 they spent 30 years trying to recreate it, refusing to share power with the harmless, hapless SDLP even at council level – laughably at a time when councils had no powers.
Even after the Good Friday Agreement was ratified by 72 per cent in a referendum in 1998 most unionists switched to DUP to reject that democratic decision.
The DUP has never accepted the GFA. Instead of agreeing to accommodation offered by Sinn Féin they retreated to wallowing in flags, glorifying [Protestant] murder gangs, provocative Orange marches, denigrating Irish, opposing modernizing legislation, commemorating annually sedition, treason, armed insurrection against their British government and at the same time deploring and condemning anyone engaged in the same activity against the Northern administration.
Not for a second does it occur to any Unionist [Protestant] political representative that for many Nationalists and Republicans [Catholoc], still, The North has no legitimacy politically or constitutionally.
However, given the reforms and the guarantees of the Good Friday Agreement, Nationalists and Republicans were prepared to cooperate in running The North on the basis of equality of status and parity of esteem.
The DUP bought none of that. None of them has ever praised the concept of sharing power.
You can see the distance they have to travel if they won’t even have a chat with a Republican over coffee.
Posted by Jim on
Tuesday, June 26, is Federal Primary Day and turnout is needed for the following UFA endorsed candidates.
Congressional District 11 Dan Donavan
9:00 AM
Campaign HQ, 109 New Dorp Plaza, Staten Island 10306
Congressional District 12 Carolyn Maloney
Monday, 6/25, 5:00 – 9:00 PM (phone banking)
Tuesday, 6/26, anytime from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
204 E23 Street, New York, NY 10010 – 4th Floor
Congressional District 14 Joe Crowley
Help needed in 2 locations:
Bronx
9:00 – 11:00 AM or 4:00 – 6:00 PM
1640 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461
Queens
9:00 – 11:00 AM or 4:00 – 6:00 PM
80-22 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY 11371
We support candidates that support our members and their families.