With incidents of harassment by the PSNI rising significantly, a report
for the Stormont administration has admitted that the abuse of stop and
search powers is actually bolstering support for republican groups in
Derry.
A report commissioned by the Stormont Executive warned that oppressive
measures were backfiring on the authorities.
“It is clear that the detention of senior republican figures coupled
with the use and alleged abuse of stop and search powers are huge,
burning issues in Derry, generating sympathy for traditional republican
views and hostility towards the police,” the report warned.
It also said that those being caught up in the PSNI stop-and-search
operations include unaligned people and those openly working in support
of normalisation in the city.
Paddy Gallagher of Saoradh in Derry said there had been a big jump in
Crown Force oppression.
“Over the course of recent days and weeks we have seen a huge increase
in the number of stop and searches by British Crown Forces across the
occupied six counties, specifically in Derry,” he said.
“However, what now seems to be a worrying trend is the aggressive nature
of stop and searches and the blatant process of trumped up charges.”
One local activist was reported by Saoradh to have been sexually
assaulted in the course of one such detention. After the victim recorded
the incident on their phone, it was seized by the PSNI.
“While we strive to highlight and expose British led injustices in
Ireland others would rather bury their head in the sand,” said Mr
Gallagher.
“Pro-establishment parties, counter revolutionaries, former republicans
and most notably the Catholic Church still choose to ignore the fact
armed British militia men continue to abuse Irish citizens on a daily
basis.
“We, as republicans, have become accustomed to the daily onslaught of
abuse, intimidation and harassment meted out by British Crown Forces.
These tactics have failed in the past and will continue to fail today.”
Republican Sinn Fein also reported a rash of stop-and-search detentions
in north Armagh this week, including an illegal attempt to search the
home of one activist.
They said a dispute over bail conditions had also been used as a pretext
for the summary imprisonment of republicans Stephen Conlon and
Christopher Hamill. Both men were arrested and bailed earlier this year
over their alleged participation in a colour party at a republican
Easter commemoration.
“Two Republican Sinn Fein members are being held in Maghaberry jail on
charges which amount to at the most public order offences and do not
carry a jail sentence,” they said.
They also pointed to a case in Banbidge, County Down, where one of their
activists suffered what he described as a “very heavy stop and search”
by three PSNI as he was walking with his two daughters and two
grandchildren.
“They put me up against a wall told me they were going to search me
under the security and justice act,” he said. “They then searched me on
the main street of a Protestant town in front of the children.
“They would not let me record it and threatened to seize my phone if I
did. They also demanded to know were my car was parked which I refused
to answer.
“If they think I will be intimidated by this act of harassment then they
are very much mistaken.”
RADIO FREE EIREANN will broadcast this Saturday August 25th 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 (scroll back to 12 noon Saturday)
Radio Free Eireann, will ask MARK THOMPSON of Relatives for Justice about the “Stop the Legacy Scandal” articles running in the hard-line unionist Belfast Newsletter and why if as British crown forces say their killings were justified are they so fearful of facing British courts and inquests.
We will hear a special recording by comedian Colin Quinn on his first visit to Belfast.
Following the recent anniversary of the RUC murder of John Downes during the 1984 Internment March,we will have a special feature on newly released documents and new first insights on on why the Thatcher government banned co-host Martin Galvin and how they got away with murder..
We will also have the latest announcements on Irish Festivals and events
Mark Thompson
RFJ’s CEO Mark Thompson
Mark is a founder member and the CEO of Relatives for Justice.
Mark is responsible for the strategic development and management of Relatives for Justice and has overseen the growth of the organisation from a successful and dedicated voluntary campaigning group to the professional human rights, advocacy and support organisation that sets the bar on best practice for victims and survivors of conflict. This is an holistic model of support for families affected by conflict violations, ensuring effective support for redressing human rights abuses partnered by a range of services including therapeutic support.
Mark’s experience in pro-actively holding those responsible to account and in ensuring that the needs and experiences of victims of the conflict are identified and championed makes him one of the most recognisable and respected international figures in the debate on how we Deal with the Past. He has made representations on families’ behalf at US Congress and the United Nations, European Parliament, European Court, as well as to governments in both Britain and Ireland.
The publication by the British government of papers on a “no deal”- Brexit scenario only serve to underline how damaging such an outcome would be. The UK is far from prepared—and such is the chaos that would ensue that huge economic damage would be inevitable. The papers do start to set out the first principles of what a no-deal scenario would look like and how the UK would hope to respond. To be clear, this would be if the UK and EU do not reach a withdrawal agreement and the UK leaves next March without a deal.
The papers start to provide guidance to business on what measures it should take to prepare—some of which may well apply at some stage even if there is a deal. The notices suggest that special arrangements may be required for Northern Ireland on trade, tariffs and the cross-border movement of medicines, medical devices, blood and human organs.
Any kind of Brexit will be costly but a no-deal outcome would cause huge uncertainty and economic cost. Trade in and out of the UK would, the papers make clear, be subject to the rules set down by the World Trade Organisation, meaning customs checks and tariffs. There would be huge disruption in trade between the UK and EU as these new arrangements are put in place.
The EU is the UK’s biggest market and, contrary to statements yesterday by Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, no new deals elsewhere will compensate for Brexit disruption. Meanwhile, questions over rules and regulations in areas as diverse as drugs, food safety and air travel will raise a host of new issues. The UK’s presumption that the EU will agree to continue as now in many of these areas – even if the UK wants to – may not accord with the reality of a no-deal Brexit.
The documents repeat London’s intention to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and said it would “engage constructively” to avoid this in the event of a no-deal. But this brings us no further in seeing how this could happen. Businesses in the North are understandably annoyed at the suggestion they might need to talk to Dublin to see what new arrangements might apply after a no-deal Brexit. Agreeing a backstop arrangement on the Border—how to avoid the need for visible checks no matter what the outcome of trade talks—remains a key challenge.
The Government here will hope that it is sorted, as it would help clear the way towards signing a withdrawal agreement.
This would remove the threat of the UK crashing out next March and would also raise hopes of a favourable long-term trade deal. Such a deal would be in the interest of both sides, but can still not be guaranteed.
Like the UK, Ireland needs to be ready for a no-deal Brexit
A former Sinn Féin Assembly member has hit out at the denial of rights by the DUP and British government.
Mitchel McLaughlin was speaking at a march to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland when protestors marched from Coalisland to Dungannon in County Tyrone.
Following the original route on Saturday, McLaughlin gave the keynote address during the reenactment, saying that Ireland is on the verge of a seismic shift towards a “new, agreed and united Ireland.”
“Fifty years ago, likeminded people from all communities, outraged by the routine injustice and sectarianism of the six county state, came together to form the civil rights movement.
“Inspired by the bravery and determination of the black civil rights movement in the USA, they took to the streets and marched for rights and against inequality.
“The Orange state is now gone and we now have a peaceful and democratic way forward. This is a very different place than it was in 1968 and I am convinced that we are now on the verge of another seismic shift towards a new, agreed and united Ireland that will provide a prosperous and shared future for all our citizens.”
However, McLaughlin added his “deep concern” that there are “still people who want to deny rights and equality to their fellow citizens today.”
“People in the North still face attacks on their electoral and civil rights, alongside the continued denial of rights to LGBTQ couples, women, Irish language speakers, and bereaved families seeking a coroner’s inquest.
“Today, we are experiencing an unacceptable blockade on rights, imposed by the DUP and facilitated by the British government.
“Rights are also under threat by a right-wing Tory Brexit and there are unwelcome echoes of gerrymandering and the hollowing out of democracy by the recent Boundary Commission proposals.
The denial of rights, equality and respect is as wrong today as it was fifty years ago.”
DOMHNAIGH — On August 19, 1876, the whaling ship Catalpa was given a tumultuous welcome as it sailed into New York harbor. She had no whales on board, but a far more valuable cargo, six Fenian prisoners from England’s Western Australia penal colony. Clan na Gael’s John Devoy, with the help of his friend John Boyle O’Reilly, a Fenian who had once escaped from Australia himself, planned the escape. Somehow maintaining the secrecy of the mission, the two arranged to buy and crew a whaler purchased in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for the attempt. The Catalpa set out in April 1875 with most of the crew unaware of their actual mission. In March 1876, they reached Australia and soon had the six Fenians — James Donagh, Martin Hogan, Michael Harrington, Thomas Hasset, Robert Cranston and James Wilson — safely on board. The British gunboat Georgette overtook the Catalpa the next day and fired a shot across the ship’s bow, demanding the prisoners be turned over. Captain George Anthony raised the Stars and Stripes and defied the British to fire on it; they would not. Seeing Anthony would not be intimidated, the Georgette headed back to port. Clan na Gael and the Fenians had achieved one of their greatest victories over the British Empire.
was given a tumultuous welcome as it sailed into New York harbor. She had no whales on board, but a far more valuable cargo, six Fenian prisoners from England’s Western Australia penal colony. Clan na Gael’s