Posted by Jim on January 15, 2015
January 15, 2015
Letters Editor
WALL STREET JOURNAL
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Dear Editor:
In “The Scandal of Free Speech” (1/13) you note that the practice of killing blasphemers came to an end during the Enlightenment and that free speech survives in America thanks to the First Amendment to our Constitution. Much American blood was spilled to assert that right against British tyranny in 1776. In recent decades British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher inspired those who would silence the voice of others and showed the world her deadly contempt for free speech.
She was so enraged by the speeches of Sinn Fein candidates and elected officials that the British Army Special Air Services teams were unleashed to assassinate 6 elected Sinn Fein Councilors and 9 campaign workers. Those speaking in defense of victims of British injustice infuriated her. Her Minister Hogg in Parliament claimed “some lawyers were too close to the IRA ”and within months Belfast attorney Patrick Finucane was killed with the collusion of MI-5 and loyalist thugs. Inspired by their success murdering Finucane, 10 years later the same sinister security (sic) forces murdered Lurgan lawyer Rosemary Nelson by the weapon of choice, a car bomb. Her crime? She testified before Congress about police corruption and murder. Her testimony, in part, expressed a fear for her life. She, too, was Charlie!!
Allegations of systematic anti-Catholic discrimination or police corruption could not be heard by the British public. Ms. Thatcher instructed the BBC to silence the voices of Sinn Fein representatives whether they were talking about the price of milk or police and judicial malfeasance. Her greatest fear was letting Sinn Fein speakers or ex-prisoners speak in the U. S. For decades Britain literally dictated to the U. S. Departments of State and Justice a policy of arrest and immigrant harassment of potential speakers. The Iron Lady even convinced the Bush administration to deny a visa to Gerry Adams, the elected head of a legal political party, an elected Member of Parliament, an author and a man who has never been convicted of any crime!! He survived one assassination attempt by British agent Brian Nelson. He, too, was Charlie!
Ms. Thatcher knew the lawless, sectarian and violent colonial appendage called Northern Ireland could only tolerate so much truth and free speech. She was willing to do anything to limit it. She was willing to kill someone for their political or legal views that conflicted with the official spin on N. I. So how does she differ from those who butchered the journalists and Jews in Paris?
Sincerely,
Michael J. Cummings
Posted by Jim on January 10, 2015
A group of concerned individuals has established “Reclaim the Vision of
1916–A Citizens’ Initiative for 2016,” in order to reassert the
political principles and objectives that animated the 1916 Rising and to
show their continuing relevance for Ireland today.
In 1916 the Proclamation of the Irish Republic declared the right of the
Irish people to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control
of Irish destinies. They wanted to realise this in a sovereign,
independent Irish democracy that would have the welfare of all the
citizens as its guiding principle. This vision has never been achieved,
and the Irish people have borne the consequences of this failure.
We believe that the 100th anniversary of the Rising presents an
opportunity to open a meaningful dialogue among the citizens about the
principles of 1916 and how they can be applied to the task of building
an Irish democracy in the twenty-first century. In a genuine Republic
the people would have full control over their own lives; the common good
would be at the centre of decision-making; and all the citizens would
reap the benefits of a fully human society.
Reclaim the Vision of 1916 intends to organise three national events: a
National Parade of Celebration on Sunday 24 April 2016, a national
seminar in the spring of 2016, and a significant publication. It is
hoped that many individuals and groups throughout the country will
affiliate to the Initiative and participate in the national events, as
well as organising their own activities. We invite those who are
interested in joining us in this project to contact us now, and we wish
to co-operate with those who share our concerns and are organising their
own events.
The Citizens’ Initiative has set out its ideas and aspirations in a
Proclamation for a New Irish Republic, together with a Political
Statement. Alongside the programme outlined above we want to encourage
wide discussion and debate about the ideas contained in these documents.
The Proclamation for a New Irish Republic states:
We affirm that the only solution to this failure and crisis will be
found in a sovereign, independent Irish democracy that puts the common
good at the heart of government and where sovereignty rests with the
people and democratic power is exercised by them.
We want Ireland to develop a culture that fosters and encourages
independence of thinking and action. We recognise that there may be
differences between us about how our vision can be implemented, but we
insist that everyone who believes in the democratic right of the people
to govern themselves should support our shared struggle for a better
society for all.
In such a democracy, the common good would come before the freedom of
capital and the markets or the pursuit of private profit. The wealth of
the country belongs to the people, and the natural resources, industries
and services must be utilised in the interests of all the people and
subjected to their democratic control.
At the end of this initiative we hope there will be a deeper
understanding of the need for a real Irish democracy and what that would
mean, and that as many people as possible will have been drawn into the
circle of discussion, thinking, and participation.
Reclaim the Vision of 1916–A Citizens’ Initiative for 2016 will be
officially launched at a public rally in Dublin at Easter 2015. We will
be contacting the widest range of individuals and groups to discuss
these ideas and to see how we can work together to ensure that the
centenary of the 1916 Rising is properly celebrated.
Signed: Robert Ballagh, Finbar Cullen, Eugene McCartan
Posted by Jim on
A murder investigation into the Bloody Sunday massacre will restart
ahead of the 43rd anniversary of the killings in Derry, it has been
announced.
Lawyers for the victims have been told the investigation into the events
of January 30 1972, in which British soldiers killed 14 civil rights
protestors and injured another 22, is to be resumed.
The original inquiry was stopped last year just three days before
investigators were due to start interviewing the soldiers responsible
for the killings.
Lawyer Peter Madden, who represents the majority of Bloody Sunday
families, said the PSNI told him that a number of its members have now
been assigned to the case.
“We lodged judicial review proceedings on behalf of the Bloody Sunday
families and wounded challenging the decision of the Police Service of
Northern Ireland to effectively end its murder investigation into the
events of Bloody Sunday,” Mr Madden said.
“Since that time, and in advance of a court hearing, we have engaged in
extensive and detailed correspondence with the PSNI, challenging the
legality of its decision and decision making process and as a direct
consequence of issuing proceedings the PSNI has now decided to
recommence the investigation.”
Mr Madden said his firm “cautiously” welcomed the new development.
It is understood the new investigation team will again consider
interviewing former members of the notorious Parachute regiment who
carried out the killings in Derry on Bloody Sunday.
John Kelly, whose brother, Michael was one of those killed, said the
re-opening of the investigation was a step in the right direction.
“It’s a second bite at the cherry but hopefully this time we’ll get to
eat the full cherry,” he said.
The original Widgery report on the Bloody Sunday massacre was
discredited as a whitewash and a cover-up. However, the 2010 Saville
Report concluded that British soldiers from the Parachute Regiment had
opened fire on victims who had been entirely innocent, and British Prime
Minister David Cameron said in Westminster: “I am deeply sorry”.
As a lengthy justice campaign by the families entered its fifth decade,
a police investigation was finally promised. However, in November it was
revealed that most of the Bloody Sunday investigation team was to be
laid off because of “budget cutbacks”.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Raymond McCartney has welcomed the news that
the investigation will restart.
“Sinn Fein supported te families’ call that this investigation be
properly resourced to ensure the relatives get access to justice,” he
said.
“This will help engender public confidence in the investigation. We will
continue to support the Bloody Sunday families in their campaign for
truth and justice.”
The investigation will be handled by a new PSNI legacy unit until the
creation of a new ‘Historical Investigations Unit’ (HIU), as proposed in
the Stormont House Agreement, to take over responsibility from the now
defunct Historical Enquiries Team (HET).
Posted by Jim on January 8, 2015
Police are due to recommence their investigations into the events of Bloody Sunday later this month.
Lawyers for the family said 12 new detectives had been assigned to the case and would begin work soon.
Thirteen people were shot dead by the British Army on 30 January 1972 at a civil rights march in Londonderry. A 14th man died later from his wounds.
Detectives want to re-interview former soldiers and civilians who gave evidence to the Saville Inquiry.
In 2010, the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday was heavily critical of the Army, finding that soldiers fired the first shot without issuing a warning.
The report also found that all of those who were killed were unarmed. It said some of them were clearly fleeing or going to the assistance of others who were dying.
Detectives announced last January that officers were to begin questioning more than 1,000 witnesses.
However, police cuts meant the majority of the team that was in place were laid off in October.
Peter Madden, of Madden & Finucane, who represents the families of those killed and wounded on Bloody Sunday, lodged judicial review proceedings in response to the police decision.
“Since that time, and in advance of a court hearing, we have engaged in extensive and detailed correspondence with the PSNI, challenging the legality of its decisions and decision-making process, and as a direct consequence of issuing proceedings the PSNI has now decided to recommence the investigation,” Mr Madden said.
“We cautiously welcome this development.”
The new team of 12 detectives, which is being led by Det Ch Insp Ian Harrison, will begin work on 12 January.
Mr Madden said he would be meeting with Mr Harrison soon.
Posted by Jim on January 1, 2015
Anglo-Irish relations ‘brought to lowest point by parade decision’
Éamon Phoenix. Irish News ( Belfast). Tuesday, December 30, 2014
This year’s release of previous confidential state files from Stormont and the Northern Ireland Office covers the year of 1986. The Public Record Office in Belfast has released 749 files relating to that year. Reporting on the Belfast files for The Irish News is political historian Dr Éamon Phoenix with additional reporting from Gavin Cordon for the Press Association
THE difficulties posed for the Anglo Irish Agreement over an RUC decision to allow an Orange parade to pass along the Garvaghy Road area of Portadown on 12 July 1986 are highlighted in declassified files released this week.
Despite an initial RUC decision, communicated to the Secretary of State Tom King, that only a Church parade on 6 July would be permitted to pass through the Nationalist area of the north Armagh town, the RUC finally decided, after negotiations with Orange and Unionist leaders, to allow a July 12 march through the Catholic Garvaghy Road. This decision was seen by nationalists in general as ‘provocative and triumphalist’.
To make matters worse, it became clear that the RUC had refused a request for consultations from the local Nationalist community.
The march was followed by Loyalist attacks on Catholic homes in Rasharkin, Co Antrim and elsewhere.
In a confidential report on the Portadown decision for the Secretary of State, dated 17 July 1986, J E Mc-Connell of the NIO felt that the only winner had been the DUP leader Ian Paisley ‘who gained the kudos for having led “successful negotiations with the RUC”‘ while upstaging local UUP politicians who ‘were trying to reach an acceptable compromise’.
The most worrying aspect of the Twelfth and its accompanying violence, he noted, was the inevitable increase in community tension across NI and ‘the re-emergence of vicious sectarian attacks’.
The RUC decision in Portadown provoked a strong statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter Barry on 15 July 1986 alleging that ‘members of the minority community had been left unprotected’. It was ‘intolerable that provocative demands by the Unionist marchers had been listened to and that the Nationalists had been denied equal treatment under the law’. The Minister’s statement and a riposte by Tom King, supporting the RUC and seen as a rebuke to Dublin, had, in the words of the NIO official, ‘brought Anglo-Irish relations in general, and Barry-King relations in particular, to their lowest point’ since the signing of the Agreement in November 1985.
In the wake of the violence the British received a seven-page analysis from the Irish, passed through the Maryfield Secretriat on 16 July as representing Mr Barry’s position. Its main points were that a) ‘expectations had been raised among Catholics that the 12 and 14 July marches would not be allowed through Catholic areas’, especially in light of the AIA; b) that police assurances that the march would not be allowed down Garvaghy Road had been ‘treacherously breached’ (‘the word current in Dublin’, the official noted) and c) that the decision to allow the march ought to have been a purely policing one.’