Posted by Jim on May 20, 2018
The victims of the worst day of the recent conflict in Ireland should
be told the truth, a campaigner has said.
A minute’s silence was observed during the wreath laying ceremony to
mark the 44th anniversary of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings on Dublin’s
Talbot street.
The ceremony took place at a memorial to 33 killed by loyalist bombers
on Thursday. Their families want the British government to release
secret files relating to the massacre in which British collusion is
strongly suspected.
Four no-warning bombs were detonated in a co-ordinated manner on May
17, 1974. Three bombs were detonated during a Friday rush-hour on
Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street to maximise
fatalities as people made their way home and to train stations in
Dublin.
A fourth bomb exploded about an hour and a half later in Monaghan in
what was believed to be a diversionary tactic to allow the bombers
cross the border and return to the North. No one has ever been charged
over the bombings.
The Justice for the Forgotten lobby group has fought a long-running
campaign for an open inquiry into evidence that British state agents
were among those who plotted and co-ordinated the sophisticated
attacks.
Spokeswoman Margaret Urwin said: “When people talk about justice they
are often meaning prosecutions and so on. We have been campaigning now
for 25 years, since 1993 basically.
“What the families have always asked for, demanded, is for the truth
rather than prosecutions. I don’t think they ever expect justice in
that sense but what they really want to get is as much of the truth as
possible.”
After years of delay, a consultation has begun on measures to address
the past conflict, including mechanisms to reinvestigate past
wrongdoing and many unresolved killings.
Ms Urwin said: “We hope that the mechanisms of the Stormont House
Agreement will soon be established. That may also help in freeing them
up a bit more to release these documents.”
Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan also took part in
the ceremony.
He said: “We will persevere in our efforts to seek out the truth behind
those events and, hopefully, to secure some measure of comfort for
you.”
He claimed his government had worked consistently to implement the
previous motions of the Dublin parliament which call on the British
government to allow independent access to all original documents in
their possession relating to the bombings. These have all been ignored
by successive British governments, he said.
“I know you are frustrated that these motions have not yet been
responded to and I share your frustration. However, I want to assure
you that we will not give up in our efforts.”
The Minister also spoke about his determination to achieve progress
through the new consultation.
He said: “The Irish government is determined to play our part in
ensuring that the Stormont House legacy bodies are established in a way
that will meet the legitimate needs and expectations of all victims and
survivors. The Tanaiste continues his work with the British government
and the Northern Ireland parties to achieve this.
“Dealing effectively with the legacy of the past will be one way to
honour the memory of all those killed and injured in the dark days of
the troubles, including those victims of the Dublin and Monaghan
bombings who are foremost in our thoughts today.”
Posted by Jim on
Theresa May has privately ruled out a vote on Irish unity within the
north of Ireland because it could produce a majority in favour,
according to leaked reports from a secret Tory briefing.
The British Prime Minister clashed with prominent Tory Brexit supporter
Jacob Rees-Mogg over plans for the Irish border amid increasingly
chaotic discussions among senior Tories.
Rees-Mogg told May he had no doubt the Six Counties of Ireland would
remain under British rule after such a vote, known as a border poll.
He said Britain would “win” the poll and compared it with the 2015
Scottish independence vote, which unionists won by 55% to 45%.
May reportedly responded: “I would not be as confident as you. That’s
not a risk I’m prepared to take. We cannot be confident on the politics
of that situation, on how it plays out.”
The prospect of a border poll is a key element of the Good Friday
Agreement, which assigns the power to call one exclusively to the
British government.
The 1998 peace deal states the British Direct Ruler should call a
border poll if “it appears likely… a majority of those voting would
express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the
United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland”.
It was long believed that slow demographic change meant that a
nationalist majority in the north of Ireland was decades away, but
Brexit has created a paradigm shift which is now widely recognised. The
campaign for reunification has gained momentum since a majority in the
Six Counties voted to remain in the European Union, against the mainly
English desire to quit the EU.
While the north of Ireland remains uncharted territory for the major
opinion polling companies, some surveys and anecdotal evidence have
pointed to a Brexit-infused surge in the numbers from both communities
and neither willing to embrace the potential for a united Ireland.
With the 100th anniversary of the 1921 partition of Ireland also
approaching, there has been growing optimism among nationalists that a
Six-County referendum can finally be called. However this strategy
hinges on the British government keeping their word, and that now
appears to be in doubt.
At an agricultural show this week, Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson
publicly confronted the British Direct Ruler Karen Bradley and demanded
a border poll.
“There is demonstrable change for a unity poll and your Prime Minister
knows it,” she said. “I think the evidence was have raised from opinion
polls shouldn’t be dismissed.”
“We are going to write on the points that were raised [by Sinn Fein
MPs],” responded Bradley. “We are going to write about it.”
“The Tory position on a border poll is untenable,” Ms Anderson said
later.
“Comments attributed to Theresa May that she believes her government
would lose a referendum on Irish reunification are an admission the
threshold to hold such a vote has now been met.
“The toxic deal between the Tories and the DUP for selfish party
political interests is at odds with the rigorous impartiality required
of them under the Good Friday Agreement and the British government is
facilitating the DUP’s denial of rights and their refusal to restore
the political institutions.”
‘FUNDAMENTAL BREACH’
Sinn Fein Deputy Leader Michelle O’Neill also insisted that May has ‘no
right’ to deny the people of Ireland the democratic entitlement to
decide their own constitutional future.
“That is an appalling display of contempt for the democratic rights of
Irish citizens. It is also a fundamental breach of the Good Friday
Agreement which clearly provides for a referendum. Theresa May has no
right to deny democratic entitlements to the people of Ireland, North
and South.”
She said Sinn Fein had raised the need for a unity referendum with the
British government on numerous occasions over recent years,
particularly in the wake of the Brexit vote.
“On each occasion they have stated that they do not believe the
threshold has been met but have repeatedly refused to clarify what
criteria they use to reach this conclusion.
“The Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent legislation states that a
poll shall be held ‘if at any time it appears likely’ to the British
Secretary of State that a majority in the North would vote to form part
of a united Ireland.
“There is nothing in that legislation that prevents a referendum from
taking place at any stage. However, even if you accept the British
government’s interpretation of the threshold, then Theresa May’s
comments are an admission that she believes the bar has now been
reached.
“However, rather than act on that by honouring her government’s
commitments and allowing people to exercise their democratic rights,
she has also indicated that she intends to actively prevent that from
happening.”
Ms O’Neill said this was “entirely unacceptable”.
“It is an affront to the democratic rights of our people and the
British government must immediately clarify their position regarding
their commitments to a unity referendum in line with their legislative
and Good Friday Agreement commitments.”
Commenting later, a Downing Street spokesman insisted the British
government “steadfastly” supported the Good Friday Agreement.
He added: “It remains the Northern Ireland secretary’s view that a
majority of people in Northern Ireland continue to support the current
political settlement, and that the circumstances requiring a border
poll are not satisfied.”
Posted by Jim on
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Brother Sir Knight John Murphy Sr. a member of John Hughes Council & the father of Brother Sir Knight John Murphy Jr. – the Chancellor of Columbus Council #126 & member of Division #35.
The arrangements are as follows :
Micheal’s Funeral Home
7922 Metropolitan Avenue,
Middle Village Queens 11379
Sunday 2-5 and 7-9
Monday 2-5
He will also be waked in
St Francis Xavier Church
Monday night 7-9
225 6th Ave Bklyn 11215
At 8:00 PM tomorrow Monday May 21st, the K of C service for SK John Murphy Sr. will be conducted by the Long Island Assembly #703 with the Honor Guard at Saint Francis Xavier Church225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn. Please try to attend. I will be leaving CC126 at 5:15 tomorrow if anyone would like a ride.
Funeral mass 9:45 am
Tuesday May 21 at St Francis Xavier Church
Please keep the Murphy family in your Prayers.
President Division 35
Eddie Velinskie